Author: Zeng Dieulv

Those of us involved in the running and management of Mercy House have, for some time, been discussing the need to replace the leaking play centre roof. It was difficult to know where to start, since none of us are involved in construction. Completely by chance, one day in late August Diana met a man by the name of Steven Smit. He mentioned that he is involved in construction. By coincidence, on that very day, we had arranged a meeting to pool ideas about replacing the roof.

 

Having heard of Steven’s field of expertise, Diana asked his advice – what material to use etc. Even though he was a complete stranger, Steven magnanimously offered to go to Mercy House and measure up and see how he could help. Too good to be true, but it was true! So nice to know that the world is also filled with really good human beings!

 

On Saturday 5 September, it all happened. Steven had gone to great trouble to get the required material, which was very difficult due to lockdown, and came as early as 7.00 a.m. with a team of his workmen to direct the whole operation, which was completed in just one day.

 

All who were at home on that day joined in the work, which turned out to be real fun and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the day. The result looks so good, as the photos show. We thank Steven, who is no longer a stranger, but a friend, for his magnanimous contribution to our Mercy work. The roof will always be a reminder of his kindness. And of course, we also cannot fail to see how God provides – exactly when we need it!

 

 

 

It was a whopper of a cake, really huge, a giant cake, if we could name it – fit for our “gentle giant”, our house leader, Eddie. This great big chocolate cake was brought as a gift by our young American volunteer, Paige, and her Mexican husband, Emmanuel, when we celebrated Eddie’s birthday on the 26 September. 

There was reason to celebrate, since our Eddie is an excellent house leader, combining objective firmness with immense kindness and compassion. We are immensely grateful to have such an excellent house leader. And thank you, Paige and Emmanuel, for the whopper treat! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once we had replaced our play centre roof, we realised the need to repaint our house, outside and in. Two of our live-out refugees, Faustin and Brilliant managed to do this job in just over a week during September and did it so well. We recommend them to anyone who needs painters! Some of our residents also joined in when they were free to do so. The results are beautiful and uplifting. The photos show them all in action. We thank Faustin and Brilliant for their commitment to doing a really good job. And now our house looks beautiful, fitting for Spring.

 

We have to admit it was a very sad moment when we had to say goodbye to a family we all dearly love and that has stayed with us for many years. Festus came to us from Rwanda as a single young man as far back as April 2008. We were able to assist him on his 5-year journey to become a fully qualified Netcare nurse. He is working at Netcare Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg, blessed, immediately on qualifying, to have been given a job! During this time, he married a beautiful and excellent young Rwandese woman, Mari Bernard. They now have two delightful little boys, Fido and Raphael. Since both parents now have work, they decided that it was time to give others a chance of the benefits of living at Mercy House, so they decided to move out. Of course, they will always remain a treasured part of our Mercy Family. They have been a great blessing to Mercy House and we will miss them so much, but wish them well.

More good news is that earlier this year, we finally got registered as a Public Benefit Organization (PBO) and Non-Profit Organization (NPO). This is a big step forward. We are thus now able to issue an 18A tax reduction certificate for local donors to obtain some reprieve for the money they give us. This means that we now have a board of trustees consisting of: Diana Beamish, Steven Wanyoike, Paddy Faller, Innocentia Mdaka and Comboni Father Jude Burgers, as well as a Management Committee at Mercy House itself consisting of: Eddie Dunia (leader), Dieulv Zeng, Emmanuel Masengo and Riccardo. It certainly is a great blessing to have responsibilities shared!

On 5 September we were able to welcome Mari Jean and her young daughter, Brielle. They are from Rwanda. Mari Jean lost her parents and relatives during the genocide. It was at the English for Refugee classes that she met Diana and they kept in touch ever since. Sadly during Lockdown she was unable to pursue her only source of income – selling goods on the street – and hence was left without any means of survival. We were glad that we could help. 

 

Our other new resident moved in during October. His name is James Jusuf and he comes from the Eastern DRC, till this day, a very troubled area with several armies fighting and grabbing young men as recruits for their armies. We wish all 3 new residents the joy of finding a secure, safe and happy home at Mercy House and thank God for the privilege of being able to help them.

Through the mediation of a refugee, Emily was introduced to us in the year 2012. We found her living on the back stoep of a house in Troyeville caring for a family of 6. Her parents were from Mozambique where Emily was born and they brought her here as a toddler, when they fled from the Frelimo war in their country. Both parents had died shortly before we had met her and she, being the eldest, was left to care alone for the family. We immediately tried to help with rent and food, but more importantly, to get legal papers, since the parents had died without registering her. To this day we are still battling with this, which is like trying to climb an inaccessible mountain cliff, and never getting to the top.

 

Emily is nevertheless unbelievably resilient and strong, with no bitterness at all concerning the difficult situation she finds herself in, without her own making. We admire this young woman immensely. She is seen in the photo below, not with her siblings, but with the three lovely children she now has. Pray for her, that she has the courage not to lose heart, but to struggle on bravely, since living without documents is like living with your hands and feet chained. Emily’s courage and belief in life are a model for us all.