Norma Bumstead, who is apart of the work going on in South Africa
.... here is some of her story..........

It's Norma here, I'm going to tell you what happened when I went on carewalks this week. Lets start on monday when I went with a Lady named Margaret to the town next to ours, Jeppes Reef. I had requested that we visit some of the orphan headed homes so that we could destribute the gifts that were sent with us. So we went to three different homes. The first home we went to had just a 15 year old girl named Beautiful. She has a brother who is 23 but he comes and goes so she is very lonely. She spends a lot of time with her neighbors. While we were visiting her she told us that she would love to go to school but she had fines of about $17 american and so she could not go. So I told her that she must come down to Themba and we would take care of her fines for her. The next home we went to was Beautiful's neighbors. There were 7 children and a mother but they really wanted us to come and sit down and visit for a while. We were sitting and watching the children play with the cobs of corn. So I opened my bag and asked them if they would like something else to play with, they came running as soon as I showed them what they had. In fact one of the little girls immediately dropped her cobs of corn and streched out her hands. Kathy I gave the three little girls the baggies that you gave me, they loved the little dolls. A couple hours later we saw the children playing and they all had the little dolls. One of them even had the little doll wrapped around her the same way the mothers do with their children. The third home we went to that day was a 28 year old with 2 sisters and her own daughter and they needed some blankets but we didn't have them with us so we told them we would come back in a couple of days. So yesterday we went back. They were very appreciative of them, it has rained the last few days and I'm sure they are very happy they have them. We were on our way home yesterday and our careworker Margaret asked us if we would like to go visit one more home. This was not one of her patients or an orphan home but they were in desprate need. They lost their home in the rain. The mothers 5 children were all in the home when it collapsed in the rain. One of the older boys had a bandage on his arm but none were seriously harmed. However now they are homeless. It was the most difficult thing I have ever faced, a mother with 5 little ones to take care of and her home to be wiped out so quickly. Her youngest was about 9 months old. I asked her if I could pray for her and she said yes. I walked over to where she was sitting on her mattress in her yard and as I walked over I felt so humbled but also so useless, like what could I possibly have to offer this lady. So I prayed for her and her children and we cried together asking God to take care of her in this horrible time. I gave her all the money I had on me, which wasn't even $20. Danielle gave her sandwiches to her so they would have something to eat. I had a sick feeling in my stomach last night as it was raining and I was thinking about this little family that had 3 walls standing that were made of cardboard and burlap sacks. We're trying to find a way to help this family, even getting them a tent to live in until Themba can help rebuild their home. This is just one of the experiences we have had here. I pray that God is using us in ways that are touching these people for eternity. We want to make a lasting difference in the lives of the people here and also in our own hearts, that we would leave this place a different people. Thanks for your prayers. We'll see all of you soon and may God Bless You Richly. Andy & Norma Bumstead