Potatoes for the Poor

A few months ago I visited the project of Pastor Johan in Kroonstad towards which Lumiere Charity for a number of years has given donation. Prior to my sister's husband passing away unexpectedly from a heart attack at the young age of forty, he had taken me to this project and asked me to assist in whatever way I could. In September, I brought some funding from Lumiere, and was invited to see what work is being done. The area in the township has been developed, and is bringing much assistance to the people in the area. Potatoes are sorted, and given to poor families together with vegetables, milk and assistance in many ways. Equipment has been made available for the people in the area, and all band together to sort the potatoes and bag them for poor families.

Pastor Johan is a dedicated Minister, who devotes his life to helping those in need. He is developing the project further, offering service and assistance to the hungry, unemployed, street children and rag pickers. Pastor assists in providing shelter, and here is shown in one of the new rooms being developed for outreach services to the poor.

These containers are in the process of being upgraded and made suitable for the outreach services. Pastor Johan and dedicated volunteers work at making suitable facilities ready, and to date a beautiful church which is also used for meetings, singing, and to house clothing and shoes for the poor has been built. The church forms a landmark for the area.

Pastor Johan makes transport available for many children and adults who wish to worship or make use of the social outreach facilities of assistance with problems, assistance in financial difficulty, assistance in shelter, Aids programmes, street children and rag picker assistance, assistance of the elderly and infirm. The transport is sometimes filled with lively children shouting happily on a day out. All in Kroonstad know when the bus is out, because the children sing happily, and enjoy services or outings which brighten up their day and are educational and helpful. The distinctive yellow bus is seen parked outside the church.

The beautiful Church offers a place where the weary and struggling in the townships can spend some time in prayer, with refreshment offered by the Pastor in the afternoons, with food and drink such as water and milk to take home to hungry families. Pastor offers training and employment to people who work in the Church, on buildings, with equipment, sorting potatoes, organising refrigeration of food, vegetables and milk. Pastor Johan is helping by Pastor Marianna, his wife who is also dedicated to the service of the poor.

Pastor brings food and assistance to elderly, infirm and those in need of assistance in Kroonstad. This dedicated lady spends time ministering to those in need, and the day I spent with her there we joined in a time of worship, dancing and singing which left the elderly ladies there delighted and happy. Thereafter, the elderly ladies and gentlemen all enjoyed the fruit and food brought by dedicated Pastor from their CRC Project. If anyone wishes to donate towards the wonderful work done by the Pastors at this Project, please contact Rev. Catherine at lumierecharity@yahoo.co.uk.


*Photographs were taken by Rev. Catherine and Pastor Johan