Last month five young US volunteers from the Bahamas, Wisconsin, Illinois and Montana donated new school shoes to Sea Vista school children.
The group are currently in St Francis Bay, volunteering under the Christian Outreach programmes. This is a non- profit Christian Outreach organisation run in St Francis Bay and Cape Town and founded by Mandy Weschta.
The five volunteers have launched a new ministry called SONrise South Africa. It aims to run a project each month to help uplift the needy in our community, raising funds through their support network on Facebook and churches back home.
A big bag of 45 pairs of shoes was handed over to Sea Vista Primary School and teacher Desiree Jacobs who is also a Health Advisory Committee Coordinator. “Just as mornings are starting to get cooler, the hearts of needy children in Sea Vista have been warmly touched by SONrise South Africa,”Jacobs said. “The school, staff and learners wish to thank SONrise South Africa for their generosity and open hearts. It is people like you that make the world a better place!”
Other pairs of shoes were also donated to Talhado Children’s Haven.
In February the five volunteers helped build a new classroom for Thandos Educare centre. Cierra Albury, who came to South Africa in January after a spell in Ethiopia plans to stay on until November. She will work as an assistant teacher alongside Rachael McCall from Montana.
“I can really see the needs here and I am so happy to help in any way I can. I am supported by my church in the Bahamas and also have supporters who send money to help fund the different projects we do. It has been amazing to see this ministry take off and how much support we are getting,” said Albury.
“Right now we are serving by helping at the creche in Sea Vista teaching swimming, helping with the church youth group and Sunday school, leading women’s Bible study, helping a feeding project once a week and helping at the Haven with the after school program. “
The three others members of the group, Jennie Hayes, Warren Yutsy and Gabie Gadsby will be leaving over the next few months. But others are coming to join us in the next few months.
“Our goal to just love these kids and be God’s hands and feet in the community. We have fallen in love with the people here,” says Albury.
See related posts:
https://stfrancischronicle.com/2013/02/10/christian-outreach-volunteers-in-st-francis-bay/
https://stfrancischronicle.com/2011/09/01/heart-warming-tale-of-shoes-for-the-shoeless/
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