Friday - Pfunani

​We began the morning with a hearty cooked breakfast at Wits, and on our walk back to the room we were greeted by playful monkeys darting around the trees a lively start to the day!

As we made our way toward the gate, zebras appeared along the roadside, their striking stripes a reminder that we were truly in the heart of Africa. The excitement was palpable.

Journey to Pfunani 

On the drive to Pfunani, we checked in with each other — reflecting on how we felt after yesterday and sharing what we were most looking forward to today. Music is always part of our mini bus rides, but as we approached the Care Point something special happened: we all joined in singing 10,000 Reasons, followed by In Christ Alone. The unity and power of those voices together was unforgettable.

At the Care Point 

The Care Point quickly became a hive of activity. Some of us chopped vegetables and grated beetroot, while I collected water from the JoJo tank. I had a lovely chat with Sharon, the Care Point co-ordinator, who is working hard to improve her English. We talked about the World Cup, and she was fascinated by Jack’s hair asking endless questions with a big smile. She has South African papers so her children have never attended the Care point but she felt she wanted to help the vulnerable children.

We also spent time connecting with the Care Workers, sharing how we were feeling and encouragement. Initially, we weren’t sure if we’d see any children, but they were let out of school early. The Care Workers told us we’d be playing with them instead of visiting holy home visits and soon the place was buzzing with joy.

Playtime with the Children 

The children threw themselves into games: football, cricket, bubbles, stick ball, skipping, diggers, parachute play, and the inflatable ball. Their laughter was infectious, filling the air with pure delight.

Before lunch, we were asked to lead dancing. Freya, Rachel, Ben, and Jack guided the children through energetic moves, and the kids responded with enthusiasm. Then, they proudly showed us their own dances a beautiful exchange of joy and culture.

Wrapping Up 

We ate a quick lunch before heading back to the hub. The journey was slowed by traffic, but we managed to pick up supplies for our upcoming Kruger adventure. Back at the hub, we enjoyed burgers, potato wedges, and pear crumble the perfect comfort food after a full day.

With an early start tomorrow for Kruger, we tucked into bed early, hearts full from the laughter, music, and connections of the day.

Blogged by Carolyn 

Thursday - Pfunani

Today we went to Pfunani Care Point, where some of the team had been before. 

Here is the profile of the community of Pfunani that we visited today. These profiles add context to the Home Visits and communities that we visit. 

https://www.handsatwork.org/southafrica/welverdiend

As we arrived we were greeted by the care workers before getting to work, filling 5-6 barrels with water and wheelbarrowing them over to the cooking station and somehow some of our team ended up in the wheelbarrow as well! 

We then got started on cutting and grating vegetables and making sure the jungle gym was safe and secure for the children to play on later on. 

As we all finished off doing our jobs we were asked to sit in the shelter and get to know one another better and share what we were excited for the duration of the day. During this time Sharon shared a few words of encouragement based on the bible verse Proverbs 62 1:2 and we also got to see the baby that Sally was able to hold 2 years ago  and see how they had grown up.

We then found out after this that Virginia’s daughter had given birth to a baby boy so this had touched our hearts but especially Lesley’s because she had helped and cared for the daughter to let her know that she would be safe. So Virginia had asked for us to give the baby a middle name which took us no time to come up with as well all agreed to give him the middle name Chris. 

After all this and knowing each other better we were put into small groups for the holy home visits (which will be sent in extra detail in another blog post). 

As we got back to the Care Point, children started to arrive so we spent time playing with them before getting some peoples favourite part which was the singing and dancing before having to send our heartfelt goodbyes. 

As we left to go on the bumpy road we were greeted with a very nice sunset that took a little while to find the perfect picture and losing our navigator for a couple minutes. 

We then arrived back at Witz and thought it would be a great idea to go for a nice relaxing swim in the ice cold pool.

Finally, at the end of the day we had our daily debrief on our highlight of the day and how the day went in general before having a group cup of tea, coffee and chocolate.

Blogged by Jack 

Thursday - Holy Home Visits - Pfunani

​Holy Home Visit 1 (Ben, Freya and Jack) 

After a lovely, inspiring relationship group, Jack, Freya and I went out for our Holy Home Visit. On our way to the home we were told that we would be visiting one of the most vulnerable families in the community. We were told that the people living there were Gogo, mother, 7 grandchildren and one of their girlfriends.  

As we arrive at the house, the Gogo was away doing some piece work at the school. Therefore we spoke to the mother and her eldest son who had finished school last year. The Gogo is the only person in the family who earns any sort of income which is 500 rand (approximately £25) a month. Two of the teenage boys in the family had run away from the home and gone to initiation camp which will cost the family in excess of 1500 rand to get each child back. 

The Gogo was the only one with South African papers, however they are “non-citizen” meaning it is not easy to get the mother her papers. We learned they would need to go to Nelspruit (approximately 3 hour drive) to try and sort the papers out which is difficult with little to no money. 

We were also notified and asked to pray for the Gogo as she was struggling with a painful leg. As this is one of the most vulnerable families with early malnourished children, Hands provide specifically for this family, giving them breakfast and dinner to go alongside their meal at the Care Point. Before leaving, we prayed together about the safety of the children, the health of the Gogo, for the mother to get her South African papers and some more, stable sources of income.

Blogged by Ben 

Holy Home Visit 2 (Alice, Carolyn and John) 

Today’s journey was one of both hardship and hope. Together with John, Alice, Tembi, and Selina, we set out along dusty tracks under the blazing African sun. The heat pressed down on us, but our purpose carried us forward a holy home visit to a family whose resilience is as strong as their struggles.

The home we reached belonged to a mother of eight children and two grandchildren. Her husband passed away eight years ago, leaving her to shoulder the weight of survival alone. Their story is marked by displacement, fleeing Mozambique in 2010 with three children, they arrived without papers, and to this day, that absence shadows their lives.

The family lives in a three-roomed building, unfinished since the father’s passing. Rainwater leaks through the roof, a constant reminder of fragility. One daughter manages to earn a little through piece work, but the rest depend on what little the land provides. Vegetables grow in abundance, yet without staples to accompany them, meals remain incomplete.

Chickens roamed freely as children darted in and out of the house. Two little ones settled on a colorful mat their mother had woven a symbol of her creativity and quiet strength.

We prayed together for papers to restore dignity, for safety in uncertain times, and for the wellbeing of every child in that home. It was a moment of faith, of community, and of hope that tomorrow might bring relief.

This visit reminded me that resilience often blooms in the harshest conditions. The mother’s mat, the children’s laughter, and the vegetables in her garden are all signs of life persisting against the odds.

Blogged by Carolyn 

Holy Home Visit 3 (Lesley and Lucy) 

So we (Lesley, Audrey,Angel and myself) had a short walk to one of the care workers’ sister house. We established on our walk the reason for visiting this family was due to the children having had a skin infection for the last couple of months and being unable to attend the carepoint due to it potentially being infectious (they were still getting a meal as the care workers were taking it to them ) . We met the lady not far from her home. 

She kindly got a bench and some chairs for us to sit on under a small tree away from the direct sun ☀️, it was extremely hot so pleased we only had a short walk! 

She shared with us that the children were much improved but still visiting the clinic and the children were also receiving vaccinations which could only help their overall health. The GoGo updated us more about her 5 children including about her 18 year old daughter who regularly disappeared to another community. The GoGo also informed us that she currently had piece work, cleaning an elderly man’s house and doing cleaning 🧹, this earnt her 500 rand (£25) a month to live on . To put in to context a bag of maize for her size family currently costs about 140 rand … not leaving much to live on; especially as they are not entitled to any government grants as they’re from Mozambique. The father of the children was South African but had died and therefore they were unable to get papers for the children. 

The GoGo and her family currently live in a house ( 1 room) which they are borrowing, she owns some land nearby  and hoping to get some extra piece work to pay for a house to be built in the future . 

We prayed at the end for the children to continue to get better, that her piece work continued and that she may find more soon to enable her to build her own home 🏠. I felt more uplifted by the end of the visit as the GoGo was keen and aspired to improve her and her families life and she had hope that this was possible. We then took photos and said our goodbyes .

Blogged by Lucy 

Wednesday - Holy Home Visits - Seville B

​Holy Home Visit 1 (Lesley, Ben and Carolyn)

After a bumpy ride to the Care Point we set out on our Holy home visits today. 

This gave me an opportunity to talk to Loneck and get to know each other better. 

It was a dusty walk and getting hot when we arrived at or first destination to find nobody was there so we were guided to another home. 

There the grandmother (Gogo) prepared chairs outside and she sat on a mat. Around her, were 5 of her grandchildren being cheeky peeping around corners and then eventually sitting with her. All of them were quite young. 

We introduced ourselves, and the Care Workers translated as we built up a picture. 

This lady like many does not know her exact age as she has no papers. The children don’t have SA papers. 

As a refugee from Mozambique she had 6 children herself but sadly 4 had died. 

We discussed her garden and how much she had planted but next doors goats were eating some by getting through the fence!  

One of her children was working and did some house cleaning a few times a week but the money she earned was little. 

I asked about the meals they had in a day. She said porridge in the morning  am and dinner later but 6 days a week they ate at the Care Point.  We later found out that the Care Point provided the additional food for the family as they are most vulnerable in the community. It was a valuable lesson because in the face of it - it appeared that they were more well off as they had extra food without realising this was provided from the Care Point. 

Her daughter returned pushing a wheelbarrow with large sticks of wood for the fire to cook on. Children scrambled to get in it after it was empty. 

The grandmother told us she had a daughter in hospital ready to give birth... An another mouth to feed for this slightly built, Mother Teresa figure. 

We had a bit of a smile from her when I said I also had 9 grandchildren but I'm not strong like her to look after them all! 

She had, had a fall and now had some pain down the length of her right arm. This was one of her prayer requests together with peace for her household and delivery of the new baby. 

I've learnt there is an African saying... 

It is good to have visitors as it makes a house a home. 

So they were happy to see us. 

It does say in the Bible that we should be hospitable. This family had nothing but we got a warm welcome outside this grandmothers house today. 

Blogged by Lesley

Holy Home Visit 2 (John, Jack and Lucy) 

We visited a Gogo and her family, originally all from Mozambique, they had come to South Africa in 1984, went back for family reasons ten years later, and returned in 2016, escaping the Civil War in their own country. Although the lady doesn’t know her age, we would approximate that she is mid to late seventies, and is suffering with pains in her leg and shoulder, needing attention from the clinic. She lives with her son, his three children and his three grandchildren, on a reasonable sized plot of land. The son has a one room, earth built, home and the Gogo sleeps in a corrugated tin shelter with the children, in addition they have a cooking shelter and a toilet.

The family live under constant stress from having no official papers to stay, live and work in South Africa. This means that they could be forced by the authorities to go back to Mozambique or put in prison, something which recently been happening to a number of families. Because of their lack of residency papers, and therefore no path to a permanent job, some members of the family, who are able, search for piece work - which pays very little. They try to grow a few crops, but have no money to buy food; the day we visited they had caught a large lizard which they were cooking to feed the family! The three young children, two of which are old enough to be in school, attend the care point where they receive the only proper meal they will eat each day.

The Gogo asked us to pray for them; for a solution to their residence status, that they might receive papers; and we prayed for their safety, health and wellbeing. We prayed that God’s protection and blessing may be upon them, for peace in their hearts and some way out of their current situation.

Blogged by John

Holy Home Visit 3 (Sally, Alice, Freya and Rachel)

Our home visit in Seville B was to the home of Primary Care Giver Doris just along the road from the new care point site. Audrey explained that Doris lives in the house with her daughter in law and four grandchildren. While her son and his family were visiting from Mozambique the son had been arrested by the police for working in South Africa while not having papers and is currently in prison. Now Doris must care for her daughter in law and her grandchildren. 

Audrey explained that Doris is struggling with the current situation. The combination of supporting the family and worrying about her son is taking its toll on her. Her son has already spent three months in prison and it is not clear exactly when his case will be heard or what the outcome will be. 

Both Doris and her daughter in law get up at five o’clock every morning and walk several kilometres to do piece work - cleaning and preparing food - in houses in a nearby affluent neighbourhood. They do this three days a week, returning to Seville B at about 10am. They have to carry the youngest children with them. They get paid 300 rand per month. This is approximately £14 per month. Doris is sending some of this money to her son in prison, leaving with her with very little to buy food. 

Doris was clear that without the support of the care point her grandchildren would be stealing food and probably even be dead. The care point provides a hot meal for each of the children six days a week. She said that she feeds them what she can on a Sunday but it is not enough to feed the growing children. Doris has been able to show her gratitude by helping with the clearing of the site of the new care point and is trying to rally other primary care givers to help if they are able. 

While we chatted, Doris offered us all oranges which she had picked from an orchard that morning. Audrey reassured us that it was okay to accept her hospitality - Doris was honoured to invite us into her home and would be offended if we did not accept. The oranges were delicious - very sweet and juicy. We all made quite a mess of peeling them though! 

Care worker Romy who had joined us on the visit shared that her situation is very similar. She also has a son in prison for a similar reason. She and Doris were able to talk together about this and share their concerns. 

We prayed for the family before we left them - for their safety, for their health and for a swift resolution of the situation with her son. We have thanks for the oranges and for the work Doris has done to support the development of the new Care Point.

Blogged by Sally 

Wednesday - Seville B

It was an early start for us all today as we were travelling to the Bushbuck Ridge where we were going to stay for a couple of nights! So with overnight bags packed, toys organised, shared lunches prepped we headed to Hazyview to pick up Audrey and Prudence! 

Here is the profile of the community of Seville B that we visited today. These profiles add context to the Home Visits and communities that we visit. 

https://www.handsatwork.org/southafrica/seville-b 

We arrived at the Care Point to a lovely warm welcome which felt very special considering they had never met some of us before. 

We sat in a circle with the Care Workers and the Service Centre Team who were joining us for the day and introduced ourselves sharing how we were feeling. 

We then split into 3 groups to go out into the community on Holy Home Visits. Before we visited the different homes, we walked together to the land of the new Care Point. 

If you remember from when the team came out in 2024 that they were trying to secure land for a Care Point as we’re currently operating out of a Care Workers home. That land didn’t work out but land was given by the village chief for the Care Point. They even secured it with a fence to demarcate the area! Building of toilets is already underway and nearly completed and the Care Workers and Primary Care Givers have already cleared the majority of the land! It is so spacious! I stood on the land and could really feel the vision and heart for the Care Point and the impact it will have on the rural community. 

Whilst the necessary buildings are being built the Care Workers are currently using a local preschool but there are many restrictions such as unfortunately the children are not able to use the outdoor play equipment, so the Care Workers are so keen to have their own dedicated base! 

Check out the separate blog tomorrow morning about our home visits. 

Upon our return to the Care Point we exchanged with each other how our visits had gone and then the children shortly arrived. 

It was then time to hand out the food to the children …today’s meal was beans 🫘 samp and butternut squash; which we all also enjoyed! It was then confirmed that we had time to get out the toys! 

Well, what an amazing time was had by all; Freya, Rachel and Jack got out the bubbles … well what a reaction. The children swarmed around the 3 of them … then came out the football which John and Ben and some of the older lads enjoyed playing with. The long skipping rope also proved as popular here as in Mafambisa. Then some time later, Alice had blown up an inflatable ball ⚽️ and wow how much fun did those children have … they ran across the Care Point and spent much time playing with it … lots of squealing went on. 

The last 15 minutes was then all about the dancing. This was magical … everyone at the Care Point joined in. The joy on the children’s face as they copied Ben, Freya, Rachel and Jack - it was such great fun and felt very special! They seemed super quick at picking up the actions. 

We then had a couple of photos and said our goodbyes before heading off on what became an “eventful “ (mega bumpy “roads” and a road closure 400 metres from the entrance meaning a 35 minute detour 🙄) journey to Witz where we were sleeping for the next couple of nights. Witz is the rural campus for the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.

 

Lovely rooms with en-suites and a super supper was had before we all ventured off to bed promptly so that we were recharged ready for another exciting day in the community! 

Blogged by Lucy