Join The Story

This blog is for you lovely people to follow the fundraising exploits of an ex bms world mission action team.

The action team is a gap year program for 18-24 year olds, visit http://www.bmsworldmission.org/section.aspx?id=27 for more information.

The story starts in October 2007, when a team consisting of Sarah Childs, Esther Symmons, Barney Tuttle and Iain Currie, embarked on an adventure to South Africa for six months. The team worked at an orphanage and creche, run by Nelly Matjeke. To say that she's an inspiring woman is an understatement.

Sarah, Barney, Nelly, Iain and Esther.

This story is really about Nelly and her desire to see kids happy, healthy and knowing God.

Her story started in 2001 when she felt God telling her to 'look after his children', so she did. First she started taking kids that needed a home into her humble little house, very soon they needed a bigger house. Nelly managed to get this centre:-

When they first moved in it was in serious disrepair, there was no form of security, poor plumbing and the roof was missing. However, it wasn't long before more donations and help came Nelly's way. It was soon refurbished, meanwhile Nelly hadn't stopped taking more and more kids under her care.

A few years later Nelly opened a day care centre at the back of the orphanage for 0-6 year olds, to provide pre-school education to kids that might otherwise be left home while parents work. This, as with anything Nelly endeavors to do, grew rapidly.

By the time October 2007 came, the action team came to a fully fledged project consisting of an orphanage of 18 kids aging from 2-17, and a creche of 100 kids. The action team was challenged, changed, blessed, encouraged and inspired.

The action team fell in love with the kids, the project and the country, and leaving meant leaving a part of themselves, so naturally they aspired to return. In August 2010, two years and three months later they did, but this time for only three weeks. The purpose of their return was simple, to reconnect with what they love; they succeeded.

When they returned they found a refurbished creche with more classrooms and more staff, to accommodate the 135 kids that now attend the creche. There is now 27 kids living at the orphanage aging from 1-19, this is quite a stretch for the limited resources available to Nelly. Seeing this, the action team started thinking of a practical lasting way that they could help.

The team saw this;

the bus (the engine is lying next to the tree)

Nelly acquired this bus which was so helpful to her, though it's obviously now in need of serious repair. This bus made the collecting of the 135 kids every morning much easier and it meant Nelly could take the kids from the orphanage to church and on days out. But it didn't last long, so this is where you can become part of this story and help Nelly and all the kids she seeks to care for.

The target is £2,000, which would cover a new engine, a back window and further repair and maintenance.

There will shortly be a secure way to donate online, please keep checking this page for updates, and email iain410@hotmail.co.uk if you'd like to get in touch, or enquire about donations.

Thank you for your support.

God Bless.