Acres of Love Newsletter
November 2003
This month we have been blessed with Saturday visits from Elias – Sam,
Matshudu and Phendula’s 13-year old brother. It has been established
that when life was really hard for the boys, Elias – then about 10
years old – took responsibility for his 3 younger brothers, killing
insects and birds to feed them and generally just trying to keep them safe
and sheltered. When Sam, Matshudu and Phendula came to us, Elias was placed
in the Rhema home with other children his age. Through his social worker
and Acres, contact between the brothers has been re-established. The excitement
over visits for all four of them is tangible and a privilege to witness!
In watching Elias, I see a child burdened by a huge sense of responsibility,
as well as carrying deep scars of pain. It is a joy to watch him learn
that it is safe to be a child – to laugh and play with his brothers.
His silent tears, when he is hugged or memories of the past come up, are
testimony to his deep-seated fear of going back and losing what he has
now gained. His social worker has reported to Liz that since Elias has
had contact with his brothers, his attitude has changed and he smiles more
often! How often do we take the simple privilege of having something to
smile about, for granted?! What a desperate situation, when for a child,
this becomes a gift and not a right! We ask you all to pray that God will
send a miracle and offer a home and parents to these four beautiful boys.
Under Liz’s loving care, the 4th house has become a very special
home. The boys are a cohesive group. They are well mannered, disciplined
and extremely proud of their home. In the safety of this environment, they
have felt free to share with Liz the wounds of their pasts and express
their fears of today. With her ‘no nonsense’, consistent and
caring approach, the boys know how much they are loved. In loving them
they grow. In growing they learn to give love back.
The 8 boys also now have their own toy boxes in which to store treasured
possessions. Liz reports that it is quite an adventure to go into them
and see what they value. I am a firm believer that whilst sharing is an
essential attribute, respect for one’s own belongings and those of
others, comes from the pride of having one’s own things to treasure.
The boys also now have piggy banks and receive pocket money each week from
Liz to save.
Ranging from 3 to 7 years and being all boys, we are always looking for
volunteers to keep them active. Des and her sons, Evan and Michael, play
football every Thursday with them, which they love! We would love to find
someone who could give them a karate or judo lesson once a week. Thorn
Coatings are so generously donating a wooden jungle gym, which will be
much appreciated. One of the favourite outings is to go with Liz to the ‘snow
machine’ – the car wash! ‘Macho’ Matshudu sits
with a mixture of excitement and terror on his face repeating “I’m
not scared!”
Liz and the boys are desperately wishing for a radio/ cd /cassette player
to add some music to their lives. As in the other 3 homes, TV watching
is very strictly controlled.
Yesterday morning – in the early hours of Monday 3rd Nov – Bongani
died in Coronation Hospital. Kimberley, who has proved to be an awesome
mother, loving each child as her own, had gone way beyond the call of duty
and was sitting with him, rubbing his back when Jesus took his hand. I
believe it is no act of chance that both Sonny Boy and Bongani were handed
to God by two of His very loyal servants – Sister Linda and Kimberley.
Our role becomes so clear to me when these frail, sick children come to
us – never having known the unconditional love and gentleness of
human touch. To have the opportunity to hold these souls and let them know
that they are loved means that we really do ‘suffer little children
to come unto Him’!
Tony will be holding a memorial service for Sonny Boy and Bongani at 9h30
on Friday 7th Nov at no. 31 under the ‘lapha’. All are welcome!
We have been blessed with arrival of Zola – about 18 months and Maserame – about
5 months. They are both beautiful girls. Karubo has moved to no.31 to be
with Maserame and Zola has become part of a trio with Lulu and Caroline
at no. 29. It is always awesome to witness how the children welcome newcomers.
They seem to have this intuitive sense of a common bond, of the need to
belong, and would put most adults to shame in the way they immediately
bring the newcomer with pride into their circle of love and caring. Even
Ronel, when she moved from no. 33 to 29, was offered the VIP treatment
with chairs being fetched for her, tours of the house and the toys and
general friendship. Admittedly, within a couple of days, her ‘sisters’ expected
her to assume responsibility for herself, but was no less loved! Without
words being spoken, I have witnessed the younger girls trying to eat up
the last morsels from their plates, get up and go across to one of their
big ‘sisters’, who will stop eating and feed the younger child.
How these children are our teachers!
We had a hairdresser visit no.29 to do the girls’ hair. They all
look wonderful! I barely recognised big Lerato with her braids, filled-out,
little face and huge smile - a far cry from the waif of a girl that arrived
at Acres.
Huge excitement is brewing with Sarah, Sam and Celimphilo going to the
Sharonlea Primary School on Sat 8th Nov for the open day. They will all
be starting Grd 1 there next year and are going to get their stationery
on Saturday. I think this is a far greater step for Acres than for them,
as the dream of seeing these children through school becomes a reality!
Next year we will be looking for 100% committed volunteers to assist with
homework in the afternoons.
Our community continues to bless us with donations. This month we have
received from the Brescia House debutantes, Sandi Thompson’s dad’s
golf team, Intel through Fatima and SAB Charles Glass Society through Lindy.
It has been decided not to host our own Christmas party this year as several
companies will be treating our children with gifts and parties. Tony continues
to work tirelessly on fundraisers with the Theatre Evening and Golf Day
being the most recent. As Tony said, at Acres we are privileged to witness
the good in people as they open their hearts and give so generously.
Anyone interested in hosting children over the Christmas period is to speak
to Janis. Melissa will be coming back in December for a while, to assist
whilst the regular ‘mommies’ take much-needed leave. It will
be a treat to see her again!
Barry and Joan Lubbe visited this month and once again delighted in the
girls at no. 29 and spoilt them with exquisite clothing!
With Rachel, Samuel and Peter all walking at the same time, chaos abounds
as they delight in the simple joy of movement – dancing and marching
around as they assert their independence!
“
When I approach a child, I have two feelings.
Affection for what he is today
And respect for what he can become.” Janusz Korczak – A Voice
for the Child.
May God Bless you all
Kathy Buys.
