Hilary in Africa
The Reverend Hilary Murphy who was a curate here for three years, lived in South Africa for a number of years and has recently returned to the UK.
The Word - Good News
When I visited the UK last year, I spoke at All Saints Church Halifax, where a lady came to me after the service and told me that she was deeply moved by what she had heard. She decided to donate money to buy Bibles, which I purchased from The Bible Society in Bloemfontein. Catherine has written to explain a little more.
 |
Catherine Pasek who donated the money for the Bibles |
When my 11-year-old daughter, Charlotte, suddenly announced out of the blue that she wanted to be Christened my heart soared. I have three children from my marriage which is now over, partly because my ex husband was not a Christian - and as time went on this was creating a huge chasm between us. One of my regrets was that he did not allow me to Christen any of our children saying they could make their own minds up if it was important to them when they were old enough to choose for themselves.
I am a regular worshiper at All Saints', Skircoat Green, Halifax and Charlotte comes with me each week. One day last summer I had done the bible readings for the service and she announced in the car on the way home that she would like to be Christened as she wanted to "belong to God properly". I was thrilled that she had come to this decision herself and for the right reasons. The week before the Christening Hilary Murphy led our morning service and talked about the wonderful work she is doing in South Africa. I was moved to tears, especially with the images she showed us of people reading the bibles. The look on the faces of those people in the pictures instantly told me how to thank God for Charlotte's decision to "properly belong" to her heavenly father. I hope that our donation to purchase more bibles, in grateful thanks for Charlotte's important next step in faith, will reveal the good news to many more people. We will remember in our prayers everyone who will be able to share the love of Christ and God's word as a result. Please remember us in your prayers too.
God bless you all. Catherine Pasek
 | Bibles purchased from the Bible Society in Sesotho, English, Afrikaans, Xhosa and Tswana - 5 of the 11 languages spoken in South Africa. Also childrens Bibles. |
|
 | The well worn pages of a Bible show the way people value the Word of God |
|
 | Simon with his Afrikaans Bible |
|
 | Naomi and Joseph with their Sesotho Bible |
|
 | Koolie overjoyed with her Bible |
|
 | Children in a Township Creche |
|
 | A widowed lady reads the scripture from her new Bible as we share the word and prayer together |
|
 | The smiles show the joy of the people |
|
Item posted on the 15th May 2010
Update on Sarah
Sarah has gained confidence and her health has improved. Her eyesight is still much diminished. We have just managed to gain a grant for her which should be permanent. I say should be, because the government seem to change their minds and can at any time decide to stop grants.
In her words she said 'Now I can live like other people.' She held me and kept kissing me saying Thank you Lord, Thank you Lord.
One day we visited and the Municipality had visited her and told her to move her shack - it was too near the road, and they were going to widen the track. We arranged for a few of the people we have got to know to come and dismantle and rebuild the dwelling. The women washed her washing and cleaned the furniture, and helped her rearrange things, once the men had finished.
 | Dismantling the shack |
|
 | More progress |
|
 | As the shack moves notice Sarahs bed in the background |
|
 | Some of the team. |
|
 | Celebrating the move! |
|
 | So proud of her new home |
|
Cross Workshop
I arranged a workshop with some people from the township annd with the Mothers Union. It was a very special time for us all, and especially for the people from the township who had never done anything like this before. They showed the hidden treasure they hold within them as they created the beautiful crosses which were to be taken out into the township at Easter.
 | Cross workshop - people from the township with the Mothers Union at St Margarets Church in Bloemfontein |
|
 | Chris and Gladys being very creative, enjoying themselves |
|
 | Agnes painting a candle tin |
|
 | Cross workshop |
|
 | Cross workshop |
|
 | Beautiful crosses depicting the hope and resurrection |
|
 | Distributing the crosses in the township |
|
 | Hope and beauty for young people in desperate situations |
|
 | Gladys who helped make the crosses, in one of the shacks - beauty in the midst of desolation. Unfortunately the injury on Gladys face was caused when she was mugged. |
|
Pumpkin Extravaganza!!!
A men's group at St Margarets Church Bloemfontein believed that God was asking them to sow seeds - they did not know what for at the time. The seeds were blessed by the priest and sown in the church garden, where 6 pumpkins grew. They then felt that God wanted them to be given to the hungry, but that He would increase the number. They appealed to the congregation to bring pumpkins and in total 74 pumpkins were collected!!
On Palm Sunday I was asked to attend the service as they wanted to donate the pumpkins to the people we visit in the township. It was a great time of celebration.
Fortunately, pumpkins keep well and we could distribute pumpkins for 3 weeks.
 | Palm Sunday |
|
 | The pumpkins lay on the steps to the altar |
|
 | Father Stephen, Henry and myself |
|
 | Unloading the pumpkins into my house |
|
 | Cutting up the pumpkins - we needed a strong man! |
|
 | Lord we give you thanks for your bounty! |
|
Item posted on the 15th May 2010
Special Prayer Request
 |
Sarah wearing the sunglasses which we gave to help her cope with the sunlight which hurts her eyes. |
Sarah is a 37 year old single mother with 2 children. They live in the poorest of conditions. She recently complained of the sun hurting her eyes, so we bought her some sunglasses. It became evident that she needed medical attention for her eyes. As I examined her she had no sight in her Right eye and very little in her Left eye. She told us that the problem started 3 years ago when she was attacked and sustained a head injury. It has become steadily worse, until recently when it has become painful and much much worse.
As we took her to the Drs it became evident that
I was right that she was almost totally blind, and the sun was intolerable to her. She cried and cried saying Thank you, Thank you. She was very fearful.
The Dr prescribed some antibiotic and steroid treatment and is to make an appointment to see an eye specialist. She also said that there maybe nothing they can do because of the long period of time since the injury. She will have further tests soon.
This is a heartfelt plea, please, please pray for a miraculous healing for Sarah. She is struggling greatly to look after herself and her children.
Our aim is always to keep mothers and children together as a family, and Sarah needs to be able to receive some healing in order to be able to look after her family.
We are not asking for money just your heart to pray to God for His mercy and power to heal Sarah.
Luke 18:35-43
It happened, as he came near Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the road, begging.
Hearing a multitude going by, he asked what this meant.
They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.
He cried out, "Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!"
Those who led the way rebuked him, that he should be quiet;
but he cried out all the more, "You son of David, have mercy on me!"
Standing still, Jesus commanded him to be brought to him.
When he had come near, he asked him,
"What do you want me to do?" He said, "Lord, that I may see again."
Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you."
Immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God.
All the people, when they saw it, praised God.
Update 26th January 2010
Today we saw the Opthalmologist (Eye Dr) she has confirmed Sarah's poor eyesight. Unfortunately her eyesight cannot be improved as both her optic nerves are damaged due to the head injury she had 3 years ago when she was brutally attacked.
The Dr is arranging a cat scan of Sarah's brain to determine the injury. The blindness means that we can apply for a grant for her, which will help her life with her 2 children to be much improved. Sarah manages well in her own familiar environment, but struggles when she is outside of this environment, so their is great hope for the little family. Her 10 year old son is able to help and we are also speaking with neighbours to explain the plight of the family and the need for help rather than ridicule which was happening.
It is a great priveledge to know That God has directed us to Sarah, Patrick and little David and entrusted us to help them. We have prayed and will continual to pray for healing and help. Thank you to all who have prayed and do pray for Sarah and her family.
God hears the children
Earlier in the blog I wrote of the children blowing bubbles and praying for God to give them chocolate.I had forgotten all about the prayer until someone turned up at my home with a bag of chocolate which had been donated. Thanks be to God !
 |
God hears the childrens prayers - a donation of chocolate! |
 |
A child blowing bubbles - although this child wasn't the one who prayed for chocolate - he will receive some of the donation. |
Item posted on the 25th January 2010
Page 2 of Results >
