Category: Uncategorized

Visit Of Dr Emmanuel Taban And Andrew Croft

 

(from left to right) Diana, Dr Taban’s wife, Dr Emmanuel Taban and Andrew Croft

 

On Sunday 24th of November 2019, Mercy House was visited by Dr Emmanuel Taban and Andrew Croft. This was a very special occasion. Emmanuel’s story was published on our website in mid-2019. Having been abducted by extremists as a teenager in his homeland, Sudan, and forced into a Muslim indoctrination camp, having escaped and fled to South Africa, having made it through matric here and subsequently completing a degree in medicine, having now achieved two specialisations, one can only admire this amazing young man.

Exactly because his story is so remarkable, he decided to write a biography, and has obtained the services of highly-renowned British writer, Andrew Croft, to publish it for him. Andrew wanted to come to South Africa to see the circumstances and places Emmanuel refers to in his book about his time in South Africa. Mercy House was, of course, one of them! We were greatly privileged to have this famous visitor and look forward to reading the book. It will be launched by Exclusive Books.

The photo shows Dr Emmanuel and Andrew on their visit to us. Thank you Emmanuel and Andrew for coming!

Visitors And Donation From St John’s School Houghton

(from left to right) Koketso, Mrs Jael, Diana and Tshegofatso

 

On Tuesday, 5th November, Koketso Manaka and Tshegofatso Mphake, two matric boys from prestigious St John’s school in Houghton, arrived with their mentor, Mrs Jael Phaswana, with a combi full of good quality unwanted clothing for our Mercy work. It was all the boys’ idea and they worked hard to collect this donation from their peers. It was a touching experience to find two such public-spirited young men (see photo) and to see also the enthusiasm of their mentor, Jael.

 

Fido and Raphael

 

She later revisited us with beautiful gifts for our two youngest residents who both had birthdays in November – the photo shows how delighted they were.

 

 

 

 

Jael came back again on Saturday 15 February 2020 with more clothing and cleaning materials.

Thank you so much to Jael and her students. May you all be blessed for helping those less fortunate than yourselves. No doubt we all experience that “there is far more joy in giving than in receiving!”

Dibaba Comes All The Way From Canada To Visit Mercy House His Former Home!

Dibaba and his father, 2003

Dibaba’s family moved into Mercy House in the year 2001. They stayed with us for about 5 years. When the family moved, Dibaba remained at Mercy House right until they resettled to Canada in December 2013. We were able to get a bursary for Dibaba to do his schooling up to matric at the excellent Dominican Convent School, where he was in leading sports teams and also chosen to be deputy head boy. Indeed, it was a privilege and pleasure always to have Dibaba with us: an amazing young man. Now in Canada, people can study on a repayable loan at university and he is in his 5th year of Bio-Chemistry, to qualify soon. He has married a charming young Canadian girl, Jodi, seen with him in the photo. It meant the world to us that Dibaba took the trouble to come all the way from Canada to get in touch with his roots and show his young wife where he had lived and moved. Mercy House was of course delighted. We had a special luncheon to welcome them and invited all his former friends, quite a few of whom are already married with children. See photos attached. Thank you so much for coming, Dibaba and please come again.

 

Dibaba and Jodi

(from left to right) Eddie, Diana, Dibaba and Jodi

The American International School Does It Again – Gifts And Stationery Galore!

 

On Friday 13th December, AISJ Paige and her husband, Emmanuel, arrived with loads of gifts for our Christmas celebration, piles of stationery for our scholars and even a pair of school shoes for each child. These had all been donated by the students at the American International School (AISJ).

Paige had put trees around her school (see photo), with the name of a child on a leaf plus the size of the school shoes that child would need. The scholars picked a leaf, then took responsibility to buy a pair of school shoes for the relevant child.

 

 

 

 

We are immensely grateful to AISJ scholars and parents and especially to Paige and her husband, Emmanuel, whose dedication and enthusiasm for our Mercy work is simply stunning. Thank you so much Paige, Emmanuel and all at the American International School. May your generosity be well rewarded.

 

 

 

 

Thank You Holy Family College

Ravienco Manga

We thank Mr Frank Sobreira, principal, and management of Holy Family College, for their encouraging support of our Mercy work. This college provides an excellent academic education, but also emphasizes values – so much needed in education today. But it is expensive! Mercy House could never afford such fees. Mr Sobreira came to the rescue. Having met our Mercy House boy, Ravienco Manga, who was head boy of his primary school last year and achieved excellent marks, Mr Sobreira decided to give him a bursary, meaning, a significantly reduced fee. Our boy was so excited, having set his heart on going to that beautiful college.

 

Mercy House, together with the American International School of Johannesburg (AISJ), made up the difference in fees, AISJ coming to the rescue once again! Thank you, Mr Sobreira, thank you AISJ and everything of the best to our Ravienco, whom we know, will not let us down.

 

(from left to right) Robert, Ravienco, Emmanuel and Paige at Mercy House

The photos below show Ravienco in his school uniform, and another with his father, Robert (who lived at Mercy House long ago when he himself was in school!) and Paige and Emmanuel from AISJ. And thanks to our God who really does breakthrough and achieve the impossible again and again!

Congratulations To Our Festus

 

Festus came to Mercy House in April 2008. Not long afterwards his fiancee arrived. They got married and now have 2 adorable little boys.

When Festus told us about 6 years ago that he wanted to study nursing, it seemed a mad idea, given the fact it would mean 5 years study, whilst he had a family to support. But Festus has the character not to give up and forged ahead, proving that even under the most difficult circumstances, dreams really can come true. In February 2020, he got the news that he has passed his final exam and now, after 5 years of perseverance, he is a registered Netcare Nurse. He was immediately employed at Netcare Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg, where he did his training. We are proud to say that this brings to 3, the number of young refugees whom we have been able to assist with training at Netcare and who are now working as fully qualified nurses in Netcare Hospitals around Johannesburg.

Congratulation and well done, Festus. Mercy House is proud of you. Do not forget all those whose support (financially and otherwise) got you this far, and all we ask is: please be an excellent and dedicated nurse.

Saturday Extra Lessons Continue

 

Senior boys’ extra lessons from Teacher Innocentia

 

Sara taking a break  from the junior extra class with Twinkle (dog)

 

With the start of the new academic year, we resume our Saturday extra lessons. Innocentia teaches Zulu and Afrikaans and Steven helps in the field of Business Studies. Our Colby is also assisting several matriculants with online education programs.

We thank this team for their hard work and commitment.

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