Dear Friends,

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.                                                                         He is like a tree planted by the water, that sends out its roots by the stream,                                                         and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green,                                                                           and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”                                                   Jeremiah 17:7-8

Welkom is in the grip of its winter season right now and its bitterly cold today. There’s an icy wind blowing off the not-too-distant Drakensberg Mountains, heralding the start of a massive cold front that made landfall in South Africa yesterday. Temperatures over the next few nights are expected to plummet to 4 degrees below zero!  That’s COLD – especially when you live in a tin shack in an informal settlement and have inadequate protection from the elements. We do what we can to help our many suffering clients – but it’s truly just a drop in the ocean of need. 

Joshua and I are safely back in South Africa, after another successful UK trip. We thank and praise God for journeying mercies all the way and for giving us the strength and stamina needed to keep going over the 3 ½ weeks of our round tour. All-in-all, we addressed 23 different audiences in England and Wales and covered many miles in the comfort of the car loaned to us for the duration of the trip. Many thanks to those who hosted us in their homes and went out of their way to make us feel welcome. I’m sorry we couldn’t visit all of you and share our important news with everyone, but a massive thank you to those who travelled many miles to see us and to listen to our presentation at other venues. We’ve returned home with our hearts full and praising God for His love and faithfulness and for the gracious response we had to the important news we shared. 

For those of you who have not yet heard our important announcement, Morning Star is in the process of merging with a well-established Christian organization in Fish Hoek, South Africa (near to Cape Town), called Living Hope. They will assume full custody of Morning Star Children’s Centre from the beginning of 2026, ensuring the continuation of our mission while expanding services to meet the broader needs of our community. This does not mean that our day care centres will cease operating next year; there’ll be a slow phasing out of our services in Kutlwanong Township, but we’ll be continuing, as is, in Welkom for the foreseeable future.

Living Hope (www.livinghope.co.za) is a much larger organization than Morning Star; they have over 200 staff members and reach 100,000 clients per annum. They have a proven track-record which addresses poverty, disease and despair through healthcare, education and community development.  And, most importantly, both organizations are rooted in Christian compassion, aiming to uplift vulnerable populations. A full transition would leverage Living Hope’s resources and expertise to preserve Morning Star’s legacy while enhancing its impact. 

Negotiations with Living Hope have been ongoing for the past year and Joshua and I have been down to meet Living Hope’s director, Victor Thomas, twice. He, in turn, has been to Welkom on two separate occasions too, the latest time being as recent as at the beginning of this month. The legalities surrounding our merge are presently being addressed and, God willing, Living Hope will begin their services in Welkom and in Kutlwanong Township from the beginning of 2026.

For those of you shocked by this announcement, please know that this is not an easy move for us either. Morning Star has been ‘my baby’ for the past 25 years and is very dear to my heart. But I am getting old and who knows how much longer I’ll be able to be part of the daily running of the charity. The bottom line is, if I was to die soon and Joshua Bolaji, our board chairman, was to leave Welkom, there’d be no one on the ground with the right set of skills and passion to drive the organization into the future. Morning Star would simply cease to function in a matter of years. Passing on the reins to younger and more able hands than we have, will preserve Morning Star’s legacy and ensure its ongoing sustainability. It’s been a very hard decision to take – but it’s right.

For further information, you’re welcome to contact Joshua Bolaji or myself. Please also take the time to watch our 2025 UK presentation on Hook Church’s YouTube channel. Joshua and I took over their evening service on 18th May and our full presentation is on Hook’s YouTube site. Simply search for Hook Church’s evening service of 18th May 2025. We start talking at about 21 minutes into the service.

Additionally, please watch the new Morning Star video shown around the UK this year. You’ll find it on our website (www.morningstar.org.za), on our home page. It was filmed and edited by Mr Jeremy du Toit, a professional filmmaker, from Bradford-on-Avon Baptist Church. It’s an excellent account of our present-day operations and truly captures the essence of our organization.       

Since our return home it’s been ‘go, go, go’ at Morning Star from morning to night! From the illness and tragic death of our beloved, long-term employee, Joyce Monyane, on 6th June, to the planning of our upcoming Holiday Bible/Skills Club for our 10-13 year olds, to Sarah Wilkins’ birthday farewell tea, to visiting our ill in hospital, to our three youth care workers discipling and counselling our many young adults, to, finally, welcoming and enjoying our latest group of UK volunteers – the 6 lovely, young adults on Grace Baptist Mission’s Envision Team.

These young folk are in Welkom for only one week before they go back to Johannesburg to serve at Honeyridge Baptist Church for the remainder of their time in South Africa. But, judging from what I’m hearing at a distance, they’ve all fully immersed themselves in our various programmes and are willing to assist wherever they are needed. Not only are they interacting with our preschoolers and school children in the classrooms and on the playground, but they’re also helping to prepare and serve meals, wash dishes, tell Bible stories, conduct arts and crafts session, go on the transport runs into the black townships and, of course, attend early morning staff devotions. On Saturday 28th June we’ll be taking them to Boskoppie Lion Park, before driving them back to Johannesburg after church the following day. Thank you for including Morning Star in your time in South Africa, Envision Team; we’ve loved having you.

We have another UK volunteer coming out for 2 weeks in August. She is Caroline Sheard from Horsecastle Chapel in Yatton, Somerset. Caroline is also one of the members of our UK Morning Star Support Group and our Church Champion Programme’s new coordinator. We’re so looking forward to her visit and believe she’ll be integral in communicating to our supporting UK churches what our merge with Living Hope is going to look like and help allay any fears that our supporters might have. Caroline will also have the opportunity to visit Living Hope in Fish Hoek whilst she’s in South Africa, together with Elizabeth vd Westhuizen, our operations manager and Rose Khambula, our internal accountant.  They’ll all be flying down to Cape Town for a couple of days, just prior to Caroline’s return to England. 

Yes, after 15 years of wonderful service at Morning Star, Sarah Wilkins is retiring and returning to England. I must admit, it’s very hard to let her go; she’s totally transformed the educational side of Morning Star in her years of service, made a massive difference in many a troubled child’s life and has, tirelessly, passed on her skills and expertise to our teaching staff. I truly don’t know how we are going to manage without Teacher Sarah in our midst! Sarah’s final day at Morning Star is July 25th, but it was her birthday on the 20th June, so we had a wonderful birthday tea in her honour and invited past teaching colleagues to join us in bidding her farewell. Our very first educator, Selina Thobe, now 80 years old, was able to attend and it was a delight to see her and Sarah chatting together and listening to them reminisce about their early years of service in our newly opened Morning Star school.  Sarah has assured us that she’s not leaving Morning Star for good; God willing, she’ll be back as a volunteer in 2026 and will continue to play a role in our children’s and staff’s lives. 

We have three extremely ill children in our midst at present; 8-year-old Nakane Ngantweni, 6-year-old Omphile Dzanibe and 14-year-old Lesole Sithole.

?Omphile has been in hospital for about 3 months, the bottom line being that she was suffering neglect at the hands of her mother who had stopped administering her anti-retroviral drugs. Omphile almost died in the process. Her home situation was so dire that social services are not allowing Omphile to return to her mum after her discharge from Bongani Hospital. Instead, she’ll be placed with a suitable relative who’ll be better able to care for her. 

?Nakhane is due for admission at Bongani Hospital today. He’s our young boy with a colostomy, which should’ve been reversed long ago, but because of ongoing health issues and weight loss, the procedure could not take place. Although already 8 years old, Nakhane weighs a mere 13.8kgs. He weighs less now than he did when he started at Morning Star at the beginning of 2024! We’re in consultation with our paediatrician, Dr Bruwer, about him now and she’s having him admitted to hospital for further investigation and treatment. 

?14-year-old Lesole is not in hospital. He lives in a township called Nyakallong with his aunt and two older sisters. They live in abject poverty and all three siblings suffer from HIV/AIDS. They survive on Lesole’s government child support grant (about 23pds per month) and the help they get from Morning Star. It’s pitiful to see them in their plight and, because Nyakallong isn’t on Welkom’s doorstep, we don’t get to visit the home as often as we should. Our professional nurse, Sr Mamorena, is using her wide influence in healthcare to get Lesole’s older sisters onto social aid as well because without enough food, taking ARV’s each day is a hopeless exercise. Food aids in the absorption of the medication, reduces potential side effects and helps maintain immune system function.  

PRAYER REQUESTS:

Praise and thanks:

1. For God’s amazing provision and care, always.

2.For Joshua’s and Joan’s successful UK trip.

3.That 73 teens & young adults attended the Bible Study on 7th June.

4.For our fantastic support teams – the UK Support Group and the Morning Star Board and especially Joshua Bolaji, who has played a massive role as board chairman over the past 14 years and who is a significant part of our merge with Living Hope.

5.For the Grace Baptist Mission Team, presently at Morning Star, that their time with us will leave a lasting impression on their hearts and minds and that we’ll have many more teams visiting us in the future. 

Please pray for:

1.Our merge with Living Hope and the mountain of legalities that need to be attended to by October 2025. Pray that we finish well and that I, Joan Adams, display humility and grace in the transition.

2.Joyce Monyane’s grieving family. She leaves behind 3 grown-up daughters and 10 grandchildren. Pray especially for Sharon, Joyce’s 18-year-old granddaughter, (now in her final year of secondary school) who Joyce brought up and who lived with her.

3.Our very ill children – Nakhane, Omphile and Lesole.

4.Our Holiday Bible Club taking place from 1st – 4th July – that the children’s hearts will be receptive to God’s word.

5.Our umpteen children who are struggling emotionally and suffering abuse at the hands of the adults in their lives.

6.Our children’s safety over the upcoming winter school holidays

7.Our three youth care workers and Pastor Revival as they meet with, disciple and counsel our many teens and young adults.

8.That Morning Star will ever glorify God in all we do. 

“They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;                                                                                           they shall mount up with wings like eagles;                                                                                                                they shall run and not be weary;                                                                                                                                        they shall walk and not faint.”                                                                                                                                        Isaiah 40: 31

“Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in His ways!

You shall eat the fruit of the labour of your hands; 

You shall be blessed and it shall be well with you.”                                                                                                                  

Psalm 128: 1-2

Dear Friends,

And before we can say “Jack Robinson”, July is history and we’re into August 2024! Goodness! How the year is flying by! 

We’re still in the midst of our winter weather in South Africa but as the LORD promised in Scripture, “while the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease” (Genesis 8:22) which means we can confidently say that by September, there’ll be signs of spring on the way and our nights won’t be as bitterly cold. 

July 2024 was a very busy and full month at Morning Star. It began with our Equip for Life Holiday Club for our 10 – 13-year-olds at the end of June. This was held over 4 days, with the 10–11-year-olds gathering on the first two days and the 12–13-year-olds thereafter. Each day was filled with hype, different challenges and, as always, good food – hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, cake, milo and chocolates! All-in-all, 110 children attended, all of whom had to be collected from their Township homes and taken back afterwards as well. 

 “Put on your Armour” was the theme this year. The children were divided into groups of 8 and instructed to dress one of their number in spiritual armour, using cereal and egg boxes, paper, roller towel tubes, gold and silver paint etc. At the end of each two-day session, a parade was held to judge the best-dressed soldier/group. The children loved this activity and were very creative in the way they decorated and adorned their elected soldier. They were competitive too; in fact, one young boy burst into tears when he was not chosen the ‘winner’!

Of course, each session was undergirded with Scripture. Our 3 youth care workers handled this side of things superbly and even enacted the importance of us all donning our spiritual armour routinely. Our new professional nurse, Sr. Mamorena, also spoke to the children re: the importance of morality, keeping safe from sexual predators, as well as on knowing their HIV status and taking their ARV’s (medication) as prescribed.

Our little children had no sooner returned to Morning Star after the June/July school holidays when Nelson Mandela International Day (or Mandela Day) was upon us once again. This is an annual event in honour of Mandela, and celebrated on 18th July each year (Mandela’s birthday). Everyone is encouraged to mark the day by making a difference in their communities. Each one of us has the ability and responsibility to change the world for the better and Mandela Day is an occasion for all to take action and inspire change. Morning Star Children’s Centre is privileged to have people bless us on Mandela Day each year. Some folk make appointments in advance whilst others just turn up unannounced. It is a day filled with donations of food and clothes etc. and of people giving of their time and skills. Our children love all the attention and fun and usually go home with gifts of sweets and fruit. This year we had the local DA (Democratic Alliance – political party) with us for most of the day. They came laden with lunch treats for the children and spent several hours working alongside our kitchen staff, prepping for breakfast, morning tea and lunch. Their visit was followed by that of the Welkom Crèche & Preschool, a local Methodist Church, a group wearing PPE clothing and willing to clean up anything and everywhere and students from Welkom College. If only Mandela Day happened every day and not just once a year!                                       

Mandela Day was closely followed by the arrival of a team of young adults from Woodgreen Evangelical Church in Worcester, England. Youth leader at Woodgreen, AJ Johnstone, contacted us over a year ago about the trip and from then onwards, he and the 7 teens/young adults who were set to accompany him to Morning Star went to work to raise the funds needed for their flights, accommodation, food, excursions etc. The team were with us for 8 days, all told, and this is what Rachel Bilson, had to say about their time in Welkom:

A group of 8 of us from Woodgreen Church had the most amazing time serving at Morning Star and in the community of Welkom and we have all come away feeling like a part of our hearts still remains with the incredible people who we met during our trip. 

We loved getting stuck in with everyday activities at Morning Star as well as meeting those at Welkom Baptist Church.

Our highlights included taking the children for ice cream, teaching the children’s devotions, painting a mural of the Bible stories we taught the children that week, teaching in the pre-school and doing crafts in the afternoon. We also enjoyed being part of the Welkom Baptist Church youth group on Friday evening where AJ lead the study and we were encouraged to see the large group of young people who attend each week. 

We were spoilt with a South African Braai at Joshua and Esther Bolaji’s home (pastor of Welkom Baptist Church) and for many of us it was our first time trying pap (a stiff porridge made from maize meal). Biltong was also a big hit with the team, and kept us going on our return journey. We loved visiting the Goldfield’s Ranch Game Reserve on our final day and were all thrilled to see giraffe, buffalos, lions and springbok! 

It was a joy and privilege to spend time with those at Morning Star and we thank God for the incredible work they do so selflessly day in and day out, serving our Heavenly Father in such a tangible way. 

AJ and team flew home on Sunday 28th July and our next UK volunteer, Tayo Oyeniyi from Bexley Heath Baptist Church, flew in Monday, 29th. She’s also in Welkom for just over a week and we’re trusting that her short time with us will be a wonderful blessing and the first of many more visits in the years to come.

We love having overseas volunteers at Morning Star. Please consider coming out yourself and seeing, first-hand, how we operate on a daily basis. No number of annual visits and presentations in the UK can capture the essence of Morning Star. You need to experience it personally.

The last day of July was our Operations Manager, (and present acting general manager) Elizabeth van der Westhuizen’s 70th birthday. Very discreetly, and without her smelling a rat, a surprise birthday braai (barbecue) was arranged in her honour and enjoyed by staff and children alike. What a blessing Elizabeth is to us all; what a privilege to have had a woman of her calibre and strength of character as part of our organization for the past 14 years. Nothing is ever too much trouble and going the extra mile is part of her make-up. We salute you, ‘Mme Moruti’ (Mrs. Pastor’s wife) You are truly appreciated and loved by us all.

And now for the news you’ve all been waiting for – and praying about – does Morning Star have a new general manager yet? And the answer is YES.

On 15th & 16th July, Joshua and I conducted interviews with the more suitable 12 of the close to 40 candidates who applied for the post. The first day of interviews was not promising. However, we were slightly more encouraged on the second day although very concerned with respect to the important matter of their Christian profession. For example, again and again, many were comfortable with affirming homosexuality and lesbianism. After further discussion the two of us decided to invite Rev. Revival Hlongwane to undergo the same interview. Here is what we discovered: 

1.He is a mature believer, and one who upholds the authority of God’s Word.

2.Not only is he familiar with Morning Star and our work, but he has worked in various departments within Morning Star over a period of 8 years.

3.He possesses the intellect and ability to manage the day-to-day duties of the general manager.

4.He has a genuine heart for our children and their families.

5.He is very familiar with the communities that our children come from.

6.He possesses leadership qualities.

7.He’s young (late 30s).

8.His spoken and written English is excellent.

The Morning Star Board affirmed Rev. Hlongwane’s appointment based on the above, provided he undergoes online managerial, project management and financial training over the next several months. God willing, Pastor Revival will take up his new position before the end of 2024. 

Another exciting snippet of news is that on 6th of September, 50 of our current Morning Star children have been selected to go on an aeroplane flight. “The Children’s Flight” at New Tempe Airfield, Bloemfontein, is an annual event where 500 underprivileged and terminally ill children are treated to an unforgettable day of taking to the skies in the spirit of Ubuntu. It’s a combined initiative with pilots, management, safety officers, ground crews, bus drivers and sponsors joining together to make the sky accessible and to demonstrate the theme of ‘living the dream’, that anyone can be whatever they dream of being.                                              

Our children have no clue yet as to what awaits them ‘around the corner’. Those selected are our older current children, all those 6 years of age and over. Hopefully this won’t be the first and last time we’re invited to participate in this initiative, for this once-in-a-lifetime adventure. 

And on that happy note, I end my epistle of July 2024.

“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the

 great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant,                          

equip you with everything good that you may do His will,                                                             

working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ,                                   

to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”  Hebrews 13:20-21

PRAYER REQUESTS:

PRAISE & THANKS FOR:

•All the wonderful donations we’ve received of late; especially the 13 couriered boxes of children’s clothes via Sandra Rycroft.

•The invitation to participate in the ‘Children’s Flight’ on 6th September. 

•The blessing the Woodgreen Team of young adults and Tayo Oyeniyi have been over the past month. What a joy to host them all! 

•For the good health of the majority of our children this winter, and especially that of 8-year-old Siyabulelo Latile. It’s the first time since his admission in 2020 that he’s not been seriously ill during our bitterly cold months. 

•‘The ‘Big Walk’ Bexley Heath Baptist Church (Kent) is hosting (to raise funds for Morning Star) on the 10th August. We’ll be having our own ‘Big Walk’ on the 8th August and invite you all to organise one at your own church before the end of your summer as well.

PLEASE PRAY FOR:

•7-year-old Nakhane, who is still very frail/fragile and struggling with colostomy complications. We do praise and thank God, however, that he’s back at Morning Star each day and that we’re able to play a role in his care and education.

•Our 22-year-old Tshiamo Leshoro who had a stroke this past weekend. Please pray for her complete recovery; at the moment she’s paralysed down the one side of her body and drooling badly.

•Revival Hlongwane as he prepares to take up the position of General Manager at Morning Star.

•Our 3 youth care workers as they interact and counsel the many teens and young adults on our register. Pray that they’ll be encouraged and get to see the fruit of their labour, with many of our young folk coming to know and trust Jesus as their Saviour.

•A suitable replacement for Revival as youth care worker; he’ll have to step down from this role once he takes up the position of General Manager.

•Godly wisdom for the Morning Star Board of Governors as they discuss and decide on the way forward for our organisation.

“Know, therefore, that the Lord your God is God, 

The faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love 

With those who love Him and keep His commandments, 

To a thousand generations”.

Deuteronomy 7:9

Dear Friends

And so a New Year has begun!  A fresh opportunity to tackle the goals we set for ourselves on the 1st January each year ……. and so seldom achieve!

2024 began with a rush of activity at Morning Star.  Dozens and dozens of school-going children queuing for back-to-school requirements – uniforms, shoes, stationery, school fees – right down to toilet paper in several instances. Imagine having to supply your child’s toilet paper for the year in the UK!!  It’s inconceivable for many of us to even imagine how the other side of the world lives!

Morning Star paid out about R100, 000.00 (£4, 200.00) for school expenses in a matter of 4 days! Our Morning Star Board set a limit to our spending in January each year and when we reach the limit, all assistance stops forthwith (at least until February, that is.) Our sponsored children are always attended to first and those starting their primary or secondary school education (Grade 1 or Grade 8) receive a bit extra as the purchase of complete new uniforms in this country is a very costly affair indeed. It’s always a hugely stressful week but new General Manager, John Burrows, managed admirably. Equally new, internal accountant, Rose Khambula, couldn’t get her head around the fact that over R40, 000.00 (about £1,700.00) could pass through her fingers in a single day!

We have three new staff members at Morning Star this year. They are Sister Mamorena Lekhalanyane, our new professional nurse, Pastor Zwide Khumalo, our 3rd Youth Care Worker and Dieketseng Thabana, our new kitchen assistant. Sr. Mamorema and Dieketseng have replaced former staff members who have retired/found alternate employment and Pastor Zwide joins our staff as a result of funding that came in towards the end of 2023, earmarked for a 3rd youth care worker for our organization. We welcome them all very warmly. Sr. Mamorena comes highly recommended and with a wealth of experience and Dieketseng, one of our children’s mothers and a faithful volunteer at our Welkom Centre for many a year, has been rewarded for her good service. You can just imagine how thrilled she was when offered the job, and that the news was delivered to her on her birthday was the best gift ever. On top of this, it sends a strong message out to our other volunteers that if they work hard and can be relied upon, they’ll be the first to be considered for a job at Morning Star, should another opportunity arise. Pastor Zwide heads up Grace Baptist Church, Hani Park, and will be responsible for visiting, befriending and counselling our teens/young adults living in Hani Park and Bronville Township. He joins Pastor Revival who’ll continue overseeing Thabong Township/Welkom itself and Mr Shedrek Hollane who lives and serves our young people in Kutlwanong Township. For those of you who’ve made it possible for us to have three youth care workers in our employ, a very big thank you indeed. What a difference it’s making in reaching and serving the 300+ Morning Star children who are 14 years and over. Our teens and young adults remain the most vulnerable on our register as they were all born with HIV/AIDS and all struggle with the varying and heart-wrenching consequences thereof.

Talking of our young adults brings me to share how well our Skills Development Programme is running these days. Dedicated funding for this came in a few years back and, after a few years of fine-turning on our behalf, we’ve now instituted a sound system, incorporating greater accountability for all concerned. The young adults who apply for skills training (catering, basic computer skills, welding, carpentry etc.) have to first volunteer at either of our two centres for 3 months. Only if they prove reliable and willing to work hard are they considered for the course. The young men work in our gardens and the girls, together with the physically disabled, help with the cleaning of our premises and with mundane office work.) We send our successful candidates to Thabiso Skills Development Centre here in Welkom where they undergo 10 weeks of training in their specific field. Once they’ve successfully completed their courses we do our best to get them job experience opportunities in and around Welkom. Thrillingly, four placements have already resulted in fulltime employment for the young men involved. We’d love to expand this service but, at present, only have enough funding to assist 10 - 12 individuals per year.

Everything at Morning Star revolves around our little ones, so it was with great joy that we welcomed 38 new children into our midst this year. Only a small number of them are suffering with HIV/AIDS themselves (because unborn babies receive anti-retroviral drugs in utero these days) but all of them are needy, vulnerable and under-stimulated for their ages.  A number of them are also emotionally traumatised and starved of love and affection.  We thank our Lord for sending these children our way and pray we’ll be able to meet their needs and make a difference in their lives.  And most of all, we want to share God’s love with them and tell them about Jesus Christ.

Our 2024 sea trip to Durban, Kwa Zulu Natal, is scheduled for 2nd – 6th April. God willing, 30 new teenagers will get to enjoy the excursion this year, most of them being 15 or 16 years of age. This is the 20th year that we’ll be taking children down to the seaside, bringing the total of those who’ve enjoyed this treat to 420. Isn’t that incredible! We recognise that this is an immense blessing and remain indebted to the couple in England who have financed these trips year-on-year. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.

The sponsored children going along this year are:

Boys – Athenkosi Dyalivani, Katleho Mahlatsi, Khanyile Busakwe, Moeketsi Ramoabi, Ndumiso Nonyane, Pule Chabalala, Sihle Mdangi, Teboho Nkopa and Thabang Monatisa. 

Girls – Amohelang Tsunke, Dineo Mqwati, Kutlwano May, Lunathi Gana, Matshidiso Maloka,, Mbali Xaba, Mpho Moahlodi, Mpho Ntai, Ntsoaki Mokhele, Palesa Mofokeng, Pontsho September, Rakgadi Molisalife, and Zanele Mokolutlo.

We thank and praise God for protecting and keeping us safe over the 20 years we’ve travelled to and from Kwa Zulu Natal with our precious Morning Star children. This fact was clearly brought home two days ago when we got news of a horrific school bus accident that occurred a short distance from Welkom late Tuesday afternoon. 58 Grade 8 pupils – all girls (all about 14 years old) from Riebeeckstad High School in Welkom were on this bus, returning home after an excursion, when it overturned. 6 of the girls died on impact and 4 others are very seriously injured. The whole Welkom community is reeling at this news and we ask you to join us in praying for the bereaved, the injured and their families and the pupils and staff at Riebeeckstad High School. What a terrible, terrible tragedy and a sure reminder that tomorrow is not promised to any of us.

Onto a lighter note – our 2024 UK fundraising trip. This is scheduled to take place from 2nd – 22nd April, God willing. I’ll be accompanying Joshua Bolaji again this year as he’s only able to commit to two weeks, unfortunately. He’ll fly back to South Africa on 15th April and then immediately onto Kenya for an APC (African Pastors’ Conference) run. I’ll be doing the third week of the trip on my own – but, hopefully together with someone from our UK Morning Star Support Group. The proposed itinerary is attached to this letter, for your perusal. There aren`t many gaps in the programme anymore but if you spot one that will suit you/your church, please get back to me as soon as possible. 

Thank you, one and all, for your love and encouragement always. Thank you for your faithful monetary support and for praying for and blessing our children in many and varied ways. Ours is a partnership in the true sense of the word. We definitely could not do what we do at Morning Star Children’s Centre without your support and prayers.

Yours in Him

Joan.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

Praise & thanks:

1.For God’s hand upon all our children over our December shutdown period.

2.For the safe return to South Africa of UK volunteer, Sarah Wilkins. Sarah spent 7 weeks with her family and friends in England over Christmas and also had the opportunity to catch up with her supporting churches.

3.That Morning Star has run smoothly in my absence (Ron & I have now relocated to Johannesburg) and that John Burrows has grown in his role as general manager and proving a wonderful support to Elizabeth and the rest of the managerial team.

4.That Ron Adams’ health has returned to normal and that there’s no sign of him needing another brain shunt.

5.Morning Star turned 24 years old on 24th January 2024. Join us in thanking God for providing for us and sustaining us all these years. We stand amazed in His presence.

Please pray for:

1.Our sick children – Sonwabile Mateza, Lethabo Kumalo, Relebohile Maboya, Omolemo Zola and Keletso Lekale. Thankfully, none of them were ill enough to be admitted to hospital; they are all recovering at home. 

2.Our Board Meeting scheduled for 22nd February – for wisdom in moving forward and for all strategic issues under discussion.

3.Our forthcoming sea trip: 2nd – 6th April. Pray for travelling mercies and that this once-in-a-lifetime experience would be a wonderful blessing for all those going along.

4.Our three new staff members – that they’ll settle well and experience God’s love and a strong Gospel witness in our midst.

5.Please continue to pray for the sale of our Kowie Street property. Unfortunately, in the midst of the sale to a cash buyer last year, it was discovered that the previous owner had no plans drawn up for the alterations he undertook and also that the site needed to be rezoned – from educational to residential – before the sale could go through. We’re now awaiting the first quarterly municipal meeting of 2024 for this matter to be finalized. Unfortunately, we lost our first two buyers and will have to start the process all over again. 

6.For our 3 youth care workers as they minister to our teenagers and young adults. Pray for wisdom for them as they deal with those who have moved in with boyfriends/girlfriends, those who have aborted their ARV (anti-retroviral drugs) regimes and those who have rebelled against parental authority and find themselves virtually homeless.

7.Pray that our teens/young adults would avail themselves of our monthly Bible Studies at Morning Star and our invitation to attend sound, gospel-preaching churches on Sunday mornings. Our greatest desire is that they would come to a saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

“Óh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! 

How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 

“For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counsellor?” 

“Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” 

For, from him and through him and to him are all things. 

To him be glory forever. Amen”

Romans 11: 33-36

Dear Morning Star Friends,

“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?                                                                              My help comes from the LORD who made heaven and earth.                                                                                  He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.                                                            Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.                                                                                    The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand.                                                                    The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.                                                                                  The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore”         Psalm 121

Greetings from a very chilly Welkom today. The sun is trying to break through the thick cloud above but it looks as if we have a pretty miserable day ahead of us. In fact, the past few days have been very cold, with temperatures plummeting to below zero degrees overnight. Today would’ve been a really good day to forego coming to work and rather staying warm and cosy at home. But then, what immediately springs to mind are the thousands of impoverished folk living around us who have inadequate shelter and who go to bed cold every night, with little hope of warming up at all. It’s absolutely heart-breaking to witness the suffering going on around us every single day. We just cannot keep up with the pleas for a Morning Star food parcel or for assistance with warm clothes and extra blankets. We’re also finding ourselves going out and buying socks, coats, tracksuits and trousers etc. every fortnight at the moment and, within a few days, our stock has dwindled and needing replenishing again. It’s a never-ending story! 

Strictly speaking, Morning Star should be closed right now (and until 18th July) as we’re in the midst of our winter school holidays. However, our 2nd annual Holiday Club for our 10-13 year old children is presently on the go. As mentioned this time last year, we’d long felt the need to have more of an input into the lives of our primary school children. They come to us for their pre-school years, then go off to the primary schools in the surrounding townships and then we get them back again as teenagers, at our teens’ meetings and Bible Studies. But our 8-13 year olds only come in when they’re sick, for their birthdays, for school needs or for food and other assistance. And, in light of the alarming number of 10 – 14 years in this country who are falling pregnant and being raped, we decided to host a Holiday Club to address the problems and give our children the skills needed to spot the signs of sexual grooming and to know where to go for help. Close to 100 children have attended and enjoyed the sessions over the past 4 days and, of course, morning devotions, outdoor activities and a delicious lunch were provided as well.

Good news for us is that, in the midst of the never-ending load-shedding/power outages across the length and breadth of South Africa these days, we’ve been able to purchase two portable invertors/ batteries and two solar panels for our Welkom premises. We’ve had to go ‘the portable route’ as we daren’t ‘rock the boat’ and ask the Free State government for permission to use Kopano Complex’s main electricity supply system for our personal needs. We’re constantly aware of the fact that the government views us as ‘squatters’ and we, thus, bring as little attention to ourselves as possible. Unfortunately, the solar panels cannot be installed on our roof either as they’ll definitely be stolen within days of the installation. We’ve, therefore installed them indoors, over two of the windows catching the morning and afternoon sun and are trusting that this will work, as promised, and give us sufficient solar power during our power outages.

Other news is that at our last Morning Star board meeting it was agreed that we sell our Kowie Street property. When we purchased this property in 2017 it was with the view of relocating there should we be evicted from our Welkom premises. Prior to it being converted into the present 4 apartments, Kowie Street was a pre-primary school and thus, officially zoned for educational purposes. This was the main reason we bought the premises in the first place. However, over the years, increasing and ongoing structural damage has occurred, so much so that it’s doubtful Morning Star could ever move there if evicted. We’d have to demolish the whole building and start again from scratch. So, the property is ‘on the market’ and, when and if we’re ever evicted from Kopano Complex, we’ll have to purchase other suitable premises elsewhere.

Two important announcements were made at Morning Star recently. The first was me (Joan) telling the Morning Star Board that husband Ron and I would be relocating to Johannesburg soon and that I’d be working for Morning Star from there. Ron’s health and general well-being took a terrible knock after his recent illness and he’s simply unable to commute up and down to Johannesburg (Gauteng) every fortnight any longer. Since our return to South Africa from England on 10th May, Ron has been hospitalized twice more and, amidst numerous blood tests and procedures, been treated for a severe bacterial infections in his abdomen. He’s lost 23kgs, all-in-all and truly is a shadow of the man he was before.  Shortly after my announcement, General Manager, Albert Duvenhage, tendered his resignation from Morning Star’s employ. He’s taken up the pastorate position at the Afrikaans Baptist Church in Oudtshoorn, in the Cape Province, and is due to begin his new ministry there on the 1st August. As can be expected, the Morning Star staff were devastated by this announcement although a few of us did know that Albert has had his heart set on this course of action for some time already.

Thankfully, we already have a very good support system at Morning Star so Albert’s imminent resignation and my move to Johannesburg are not going to affect the organization in any major way. We’re already on the look-out for a new general manager and, until one is found, Elizabeth vd Westhuizen will become our acting General Manager and other staff members, especially Youth Care Worker, Pastor Revival Hlongwane, and PA, Chantell Erasmus, will pick up some of Elizabeth’s former duties. I’ll not be disappearing completely either and, to begin with, hope to visit Morning Star once or twice a month. My correspondence can be done anywhere – as long as I have a laptop at hand and, of course, I’m only a WhatsApp call away as well. As Elizabeth told the staff, “Mme Joan is only moving her office to Johannesburg.”

In closing, thank you so much for your love and prayers for us – always. Your concern and ongoing support of our ministry in Welkom humbles us deeply. May our Lord Jesus Christ continue to meet all your needs too, according to His riches in glory.

Love in Christ,                                                                                                                                                                   

Joan.

PRAYER MATTERS:

1.Praise and thanks that our children are mostly well and that, even though more than 30 of them are down/have recently had mumps, none was/is seriously ill. 

2.Praise and thanks that we’ve been able to install a portable solar system at our Welkom premises recently and that we had sufficient funds to do so.

3.Praise God for our present, healthy financial position and for the amazing support we receive from our UK and Australian friends. 

4.Praise and thanks that teenager, Hlompho Vanda, is much better and discharged from hospital and teenager Neo Matlakeng is gaining strength week-by-week and back at school.

5.Praise God for the blessing and encouragement our two recent UK volunteers were at Morning Star. Thank you, Beth and Kizzy, for all your wonderful assistance and gracing us with your presence.

Please pray:

6.For our children’s safety over these June/July school holidays. (God willing, we reopen on Monday 17th July.)

7.For an uncomplicated sale of our Kowie Street premises. 

8.That all the information imparted to our primary school children at our Holiday Club this week will take root in their minds and be applied in their lives. 

9.For a smooth transition as Albert leaves Morning Star’s employ and as we seek a new General Manager to take his place.

10.For Morning Star driver, Eric Mtshali’s daughter-in-law. She innocently used public transport (small taxi) this past Monday but never reached her destination. Praise God she was eventually found, (at 10pm that night) albeit badly scratched, unconscious (she’d been drugged) and possibly raped and had to be rushed to hospital. Praise God she’s conscious now and starting to talk but please keep her and the family in your prayers as they deal with and recover from this terrible ordeal.

11.For Sarah Wilkins’ safe return to Welkom and Morning Star on 13th July. (We’ve so missed you, Sarah!)

12.For Pastor Revival as he continues to visit and counsel our many teenagers. Pray that he’ll see spiritual fruit in many a life and truly be encouraged.

13.For our President, Cyril Ramaphosa, and his cabinet – for Godly wisdom and courage to implement hard decisions.

“Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart                                                                                                                  naught be all else to me save that Thou art                                                                                                            Thou my best thought, by day or by night                                                                                                              Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Riches I heed not, nor vain empty praise,                                                                                                                Thou my inheritance, now and always                                                                                                                Thou and Thou only first in my heart                                                                                                                      High King of Heaven, my treasure Thou art.” 

Taken from the hymn “Be Thou My Vision” based on a 6th century poem by Irish poet, Dallàn Forgaill.

“Greatis Thy faithfulness,” O God my Father,

Thereis no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thouchangest not, Thy compassions, they fail not

AsThou has been Thou forever wilt be.

“Greatis Thy faithfulness!” “Great is Thy Faithfulness!”

Morningby morning new mercies I see;

AllI have needed Thy hand hath provided –

“Greatis Thy faithfulness,” Lord unto me!

DearFriends,

It’shard to believe that 2 weeks have whizzed by since Joshua Bolaji and I returnedfrom our 2023 UK fundraising trip. All-in-all, it was a very successful timeindeed and a wonderful blessing to our hearts.

Thankyou all so much for your generous hospitality, sacrificial giving and faithfulprayers for Morning Star. Words fail me in expressing how in awe I am of our GraciousGod’s faithfulness over the 23 years of our existence and the depth of mygratitude to you all for your solid support, always.

Once again, Peter Barham put our UKPowerPoint Presentation together and Glenys Barham coordinated the itinerary.Many miles were covered as we criss-crossed the length and breadth of thebeautiful English country-side, all done from the comfort of the luxurious carloaned to us for the duration of the trip. Joshua and I shared the 27presentations delivered to different audiences over the four weeks oftravelling and he definitely brought an added dimension to the talks. All-in-all,43 of the 44 little children seeking individual support were sponsored out.

For those of you who couldn’t get toour meetings or churches we didn’t visit this year, the following are some ofthe highlights shared:

1. When Morning Star opened in January 2000, the world was in the grip of one of the most devastating pandemics known to man – the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Morning Star was opened to address the suffering of little children born with this terrible disease through no fault of their own and provide them with solid day care, good nutrition and the opportunity to reach a measure of their full potential before their untimely deaths.
2. As time went by, anti-retroviral drugs were rolled out in South Africa, thus providing treatment for people infected with the disease, enabling them to live healthier lives and not die as prolifically as before. The South African government were also determined to eradicate mother-to-child transmission back then and began giving anti-retroviral treatment to the unborn babies of HIV positive mothers, whilst they were still in utero. This move certainly brought the rate of infection in new-born babies down dramatically and Morning Star began to see far fewer children presenting with the HIV/AIDS symptoms themselves.
3. Today, the world no longer talks about HIV/AIDS. Most people think the disease has been eradicated/brought under control. Its, thus, hard to grasp the fact that South Africa is still the epicentre of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, with 4,500 new infections occurring every week. And, of these, one third are adolescent/young women aged 15-24 years.
4. Yet, the AIDS pandemic in South Africa is not being treated like a crisis. It’s alarming that there’s so much complacency towards the rate of new infections from all levels of society, and that there’s an absence of emergency response, especially with young people. It’s as if other issues are more important than contracting AIDS these days, such as gender-based violence, rape, lack of job opportunities and poor education. Sadly, without aggressive action, AIDS will continue to take a tremendous toll on our country for years to come.
5. Shockingly, up to 20% of people in South Africa today are living with HIV/ AIDS. In some communities in the province of Kwa Zulu Natal, up to 60% of people are infected with the disease. South Africa’s population is estimated to be over 60 million these days. According to our national statistics, up to 8.5 million are living with HIV/AIDS.
6. TB – tuberculosis – is second only to HIV/AIDS as the leading infectious disease killer world-wide. South Africa faces a high burden of TB, including multi-drug resistant TB, both of which amplify the AIDS pandemic. The two diseases, linked, increase the severity and accelerate the course of both diseases.
7. Only about 4 million of the 8.5 million people infected with HIV/AIDS in South Africa are on anti-retroviral treatment. One of the problems facing South Africa’s HIV response is that the rate of new infections supersedes the access of the drugs, resulting in the epidemic failing to bend the curve.
8. And shockingly, at least 2.6% of babies, born to mothers infected with HIV/ AIDS today, are still born with the disease themselves!
9. On a more personal level, over 50% of the 600+ children on Morning Star’s register are 13 years old and over. They are definitely our most vulnerable group of children as they are all infected with the disease and are all living with the consequences and side effects of both HIV and the antiretroviral drugs. It’s become a massive task to counsel and encourage them and to equip them for adulthood.

Whilst Joshua and I were travellingaround the UK, Morning Star continued to run smoothly, with Albert at the helmand Elizabeth, our Operations Manager, expertly managing day-to-day events. Nochild was admitted to hospital in this time and all staff members pulledtogether well and performed their duties admirably. We have a new internalaccountant at Morning Star, Miss Rose Khambula. She replaces Mrs. Naledi Marumo,who has moved on to a new job, more in line with her hard-earned, professional qualifications.We are indebted to Naledi for coming to our rescue when former accountant,Teboho, resigned from our employ and thank her for pulling our finances out ofa terrible mess and ensuring that proper systems were put in place. She maintainedexcellent control over our finances in the 18 months she was in our employ. Nalediis still in the process of handing over/training Rose after-hours, and greatnews is that she’s agreed to join the Morning Star Board of Directors and ishappy to take over as treasurer, in due course, as well.

Our Head of Education, Sarah Wilkins,is presently in England, visiting her family and catching up with her personalsupporters. She’ll be away until mid-July, God willing. Wonderful news, though,is that we have two UK volunteers in our midst at the moment, who are not onlyfilling in for Sarah a bit but also assisting in all our other departments aswell. Beth Atlee (from the Old Baptist Chapel, Bradford-on-Avon) and KizzyAngell (from Clifton, Bedford) didn’t know each other before they flew out toSouth Africa but I’m sure they’ll be firm friends by the time they leave us inJune. It’s wonderful having overseas volunteers at Morning Star again; we so missedthis benefit through the Covid era. It’s always a blessing hosting overseasvolunteers; not only do they assist us in many and varied ways, especially inthe way they interact with our little children, but they also bring their skillsand talents along with them, which enrich both our children’s and our staff’slives as well. Beth is a paediatric nurse back in England and has both conductedsome staff training sessions whilst here and also given us great advice re:treatment regimens for our little ones with varied physical disabilities.

Come out and visit us, all of youreading this newsletter back home: we’d so love to avail ourselves of theskills you bring to the table. There’s no better way of truly understandingwhat we’re endeavouring to accomplish at Morning Star than seeing our set-upwith your own eyes.

Other good news is that our financesare in a very healthy position at the moment. This is largely due to a legacywe received when a dear friend in England died and left us a sum of money inhis will. In addition to this, Joshua’s and my recent UK trip yielded greatfinancial rewards as well. It’s been a very long time since our financialreserves stood at 3.57 months.

And lastly, Sandra Rycroft, up inLeeds, is planning to courier boxes of children’s clothing to us again soon.She welcomes contributions from as many of you as possible, providing you canget the goods up to her and are willing to contribute towards couriering costs.(I`ve attached her letter below for your perusal.)

Yours in Christ,

Joan 

PRAYER REQUESTS:

1.    Praiseand thanks for God’s great faithfulness to Morning Star over the past 23 years.

2.   Praiseand thanks for our recent, successful UK trip and for our Lord’s hand uponJoshua and I as we travelled around England (and popped in Wales.)

3.    Praiseand thanks for our healthy financial position at present.

4.    Praiseand thanks that our children are generally healthy right now. We do have a few downwith mumps, including a staff member, but none of them is/has been seriouslyill.

Please continue to pray for:

5.    SouthAfrica, as a whole. Every single government department and all essentialservices in our beautiful country are either bankrupt or virtually non-existent.These days we’re enduring 8 hours of load-shedding (no electricity) in 24 hours,which is set to increase to 12 - 16 hours before our winter season is behindus.

6.    Prayfor our political leaders, that God would do a work of grace in their heartsand halt widespread corruption at all levels of society and, please Lord, toinstitute a change of government leadership in the general elections scheduledfor 2024.

7.    Prayfor our Morning Star teenagers and also for Pastor Revival; pray that he’d be moreintentional and strategic in his home visits and Biblical counselling sessions withthem and that we’d see many of them coming to faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

8.    Prayfor our quarterly Teens Meeting, scheduled for tomorrow, 26^th Mayand for our next young adults Bible Study session on Saturday 3^rdJune.

9.    Pray,too, for our Holiday Club for our 10-13 year old children, set to take placefrom 27^th – 30^th June. We’re endeavouring to hold thisclub annually, hoping to reach the minds of our primary school children before they’reraped or become sexually active and fall pregnant. We want to equip them withthe coping skills needed to evade the advances of sexual predators/sexualgrooming which, at first, appear so innocent. So often, by the time ourchildren are old enough to join our teens’ meetings, they’re already sexuallyactive – and it’s then virtually impossible to intervene and change alreadychosen life styles.

Thank you, always, for praying sofaithfully for Morning Star Children’s Centre in South Africa. God bless you allabundantly.

“The effective, fervent prayer of arighteous man avails much.” James 5:16

DearAll,

MORNING STAR DONATIONS2023

Wellit’s April now and the spring is here, beautiful flowers and lambs are beingborn.  How good is our God. 

Iam hoping to send boxes out to Morning Star in June/July.  I’m late starting because of health issues,but I’m getting better and praying that will continue.

Joansent me the following list of needs:

The things we most need when you feel up to coordinatingmore boxes are;

Children’s clothing, all ages (baby to ages 15 –16 years):

T-shirts – long & short-sleeved. Shorts, longpants, track pants. Fleeces, jumpers.

Underwear (underpants, knickers, socks – notreally vests).  Pyjamas for children, children’s shoes.

School uniforms (dresses, grey shorts/skirts,white socks, grey socks, and black school shoes).

Stationery – rulers, HB pencils, erasers,sharpeners, coloured ballpoint pens, pencil crayons – in boxes of 12,children’s paper-cutting scissors, highlighters, Pritt glue sticks(40gms).  

Sarah Wilkins needs to let you know exactly whatarts/crafts items she’s short of....... she has a surplus in some areas. 

Toys in good condition – dolls, dolls clothes,puzzles etc.

Children’s toothbrushes andfacecloths/flannels. 

Myissue this year is that I’m not able to provide the finance that I did in yearsgone by, so I will need to ask that if you are sending donations that thefreight costs be paid in full.  I havecontacted my Freight Company and the cost this year with all the increases infuel and many other things is £5.90 per Kilo. There are standard charges which I will cover. I always send by air asthat is the safest and quickest way.  TheFreight Company vetted a number of companies in Johannesburg before choosingthe one they use.

Ihave contacted a friend who sent all her donations to me from Wales last year,she used DPD and found their price very reasonable.

AsI said, I am very happy to coordinate the packing and transporting. If you arewithin a few miles of me then I will be happy to collect from you, for a cup oftea ha ha.

EveryBlessing

Sandra.

24^th March2023   

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of variouskinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produced steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its fulleffect that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1: 2-3

Dear Morning Star Friends,

It’s hard to believe that March 2023 is almosthistory! From our side, we’ve had an above average summer rainfall over thepast few months, leading to widespread flooding in places as well. For all ofyou in the Northern Hemisphere, spring is around the corner and must be eagerlyanticipated, after your long, cold winter. I’m sure you can’t wait for thedaffodils to burst forth and, hopefully, by the time Joshua and I begin ourround trip of England on 11^th April, my favourites, the beautifulbluebells, will be revealing their glory as well. 

As ever, the days and weeks at Morning Star fly byfaster than anywhere else on earth! Goal-setting just doesn’t seem to work as thereare always umpteen interruptions and urgent human dilemmas needing attention!Just last week I was reminded of how blessed I am; we had an elderlygrandmother telling us that all her and her young grandson’s meagre belongingshad been drenched by the rain that had poured through the rusty, corrugatedroofing of their shack in the night. And additionally, that their remainingfood, their last bit of maize-meal, was sodden and ruined too. I live in asolid brick house with running water and electricity (except during the growingnumber of hours per day when we have     load-shedding)I have food on my table every day and a comfortable bed to sleep on at night.The rain has never gushed through my roofing and drenched all my belongings inthe 71years that I’ve been alive! I am truly one of the most blessed people onearth! Every day we have folk at Morning Star appealing to us for basicfoodstuffs – because they have absolutely nothing in their homes at all. Nobreakfast for their children before school, nothing for school lunches even!Others who ask for an old piece of carpet to cover the mud flooring of theirshacks, a bed – even just a mattress – so that an old granny doesn’t have tosleep on the ground, or a cupboard to store clothing in, rather than having touse a cardboard box. But for God’s grace, each one of us could’ve been one ofthe people we serve at Morning Star every single day.

Our load-shedding dilemma at Morning Star wasexacerbated about 3 weeks ago when our power utility, Eskom, cut off the wholeof Kopano Complex’s power supply. We were informed that this was because theDept. of Public Works (Free State government) had failed to pay theirelectricity bill (not just one month’s arrears – but many months, apparently)to Eskom. We were back to having no power at our Welkom Centre again – andwhich lasted for two whole weeks. Our trusty little generator works overtime ininstances like these and, thankfully, enables most of our computers to keepgoing. We also cook solely on our gas stoves at both centres these days. But,during our increasing periods of ‘darkness’, all foodstuffs in our fridges anddeep freezers have to be used up, given away or stored elsewhere, we can’t useour washing machine and launder our children’s clothes and, most importantly,our security/alarm system ceases to function. We’re forced to leave ourpremises unprotected at night and over weekends and trust God to keep ourassets safe. But, with all the ‘squatters’ occupying premises around us atKopano Complex, we are never safe. We have a criminal element on our doorstepand these nothing we can do about it. 

The above quandary has forced us to begin seriouslyconsidering how to get ‘off the grid’ and stop being so heavily dependent onEskom for our power. The problem is that our premises in Welkom are not our ownand, aware that the government has long been looking for a way to evict us, wedaren’t install anything that’s going to require government permission and‘rock our boat’ in any way. We’ve thus come to the conclusion that we need toinvest in a portable system, an inverter and battery that can be wheeledaround, and to place a couple of solar panels on the inside of two of ourwindows that catch the sun each day, rather than install them on our roof,where they’ll definitely be stolen almost as soon as they’re in place.

We’re deeply grateful, truly blessed, that a long-termsupporter left Morning Star a legacy in his will. A portion of his preciousgift will be going towards the installation of solar power at our Welkompremises. Dear friend, you will long be remembered in our midst; it’s hard notbeing able to thank you, personally, for blessing us so abundantly.

Teacher Sarah reports that 21parents/carers of our Welkom pre-schoolers attended the first of four workshopsplanned for this year. These annual workshops have proven their worth sincetheir inception a few years back and have been an eye-opener as to the limitedmental stimulation our children enjoy at home. Our parents/carers are generallyill-equipped to teach and train their little ones in early childhood and we’vebeen shocked to discover how little they read to them, talk to them or evenplay with them. The theme of last week’s workshop was ‘Language and Literacy’.It was a lovely occasion, held outside under the pine trees. Teacher Sylvia didan excellent presentation about how vital language and communication is whilstTeacher Selloane explained the book-lending scheme and the importance ofreading books and taking care of them properly. All the parents were engagedthroughout the whole meeting and enjoyed making a sock puppet at the end.

At the back of our minds all this time was whetherJoshua’s and my pending UK trip for Morning Star was still going to happen. I’mnow happy to report that everything is back on track for it to take place asplanned, God willing. Ron’s doctors have given the go-ahead for him toaccompany me to England next Thursday, 30^th March, where he’llcontinue his recuperation period in the homes of our three children/familieswho live there.

For all of you who have prayed for us through ourrecent trial, thank you, from the bottom of our hearts. What comfort, whatencouragement and joy comes from knowing that our Christian family around theworld have been upholding us before the throne of Almighty God. There’s nobetter way of living one’s life than being fully yielded to the will of ourLord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and resting in the promise that He is good allthe time and does all things well. Our lives might be very different goingforward; Ron is still seeing everything in double, but we know the God whoholds our futures in His hands and can happily rest in that.

Prayer requests:

1.    PraiseGod for a safe and wonderful sea trip last month. Pastor Revival reports thatit was a truly awesome experience for all who went. Everything happenedaccording to plan and, as far as Revival is concerned, this year’s group ofteenagers were the best he’s ever accompanied to the seaside. Our two schoolteachers and the other adults who went along enjoyed the excursion so much thatthey didn’t want to come home.

2.     PraiseGod for the restoration of electricity after it was cut off completely againfor 2 weeks.

3.     PraiseGod that all our children are well at the moment and that the two pre-schoolerswho were hospitalized last month have fully recovered and are back at MorningStar again.

Please pray for:

4.     JoshuaBolaji’s and Joan’s upcoming UK fundraising trip ((11^th April – 7^thMay.) The Itinerary is attached to thisletter

5.   The safety and health of ourchildren over the Easter holidays. (MorningStar closes today, Friday 24^th March, and reopens again on 11^thApril, immediately after the Easter weekend.)

6.    Prayfor God to be glorified through Easter celebrations throughout the world.

“Therefore,since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, andsin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance therace that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder andperfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him,endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne ofGod.” Hebrews12: 1-2

“Therefore, since we aresurrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, andlet us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfector of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and isseated at the right hand of God.” Hebrews 11: 1-2

Dear Morning Star Friends,

Morning Star started with a ‘bang’when we reopened on the 9^th January 2023. Whilst the bulk of usstaff members were preparing for the arrival of our children and catching upwith backlog over the first few days, our General Manager, Albert, and Socialworker, Shiwe, plus the two personnel in the finance office, Naledi & Lorato,were hard at work assisting our school-going children/parents with the newschool year’s uniform and stationery needs. Altogether, 254 children werehelped in 5 days and about R100, 000.00 (5,000pds) spent supplying the need.This colossal undertaking happens each January and couldn’t be executed withoutour vital Child Sponsorship programme in place. Unfortunately, the bulk of helpgoes to sponsored children only.

Our new intake of children for 2023are now all happily settled and thoroughly enjoying the delicious mealsprepared each day and the educational programmes presented in the differentdepartments. There were a few who yelled for their mamas at first but, by thesecond day, they already knew what to expect here and arrived, all smiles. Altogether42 new children have been admitted to our two Morning Star centres for 2023: 26in Welkom and 16 in Kutlwanong. In total we have 120 children attending our twoday care centres and, for your interest, there are 525 school-going childrenenrolled at the different schools in and around Welkom. Quite a lot of ouryoung adults are now being discharged from our register each year. 20 years ofage is the final cut-off date; by the time they reach this age, they are allthoroughly ‘adult’ and need to be treated as such.

It’s hard to believe February 2023was ushered in today. Where has January gone? January was a very dry, very hotmonth in Welkom and, together with all the daily load shedding schedules we’resubjected to these days, we’ve struggled to stay ‘cool’ in more ways than one.The highlights in February will include the first of our monthly teens’ BibleStudies on Saturday 7^th, our board meeting on 16^th, theweek-long visit of dear friend, Linda Gardiner, and her Italian friend IsabellaAstengo, from 13^th – 19^th and the most exciting of all,our annual Durban sea trip from 21^st – 25^th February.

It’s mind-blowing to think that thiswill be our 22^nd sea trip! 30 more of our young teens will be takendown to Kwa Zulu Natal – to see Durban and the ocean for the first time intheir lives. This excursion is an annual highlight and eagerly anticipated byour 14-15 year olds who suspect that ‘their turn’ is ‘next on the list’. Thusfar, over 370 Morning Star children have enjoyed this excursion in total. Allcame from impoverished homes and all were born with HIV/AIDS. In our earlyyears, many an extremely weak child enjoyed this ‘once-in-a-lifetime-treat’only to succumb to his/her illness and die with-in months of returning home.

Not only do the children and staffof Morning Star get to spend quality time on the beach and romping in theIndian Ocean but they also experience the wonders of uShaka Marine World inDurban. Here they are escorted around the aquarium and told many interestingfacts about sea life and its diversity and beauty, thus ensuring that when theyreturn home they have a greater understanding of God’s amazing creation and,hopefully, a keen desire to invest in the caring of our oceans.

For your interest, sponsoredchildren selected to go on this year’s trip include:

Boys: Hlompho Vanda; Karabo Malasse; Bokamoso Keketsi; Kgomotso Seele;Samkelo Manyanisa; Thabang Ncipha; Israel Sefatsa; Thabang Khepheyi; Amukelo Khohlongoaneand Mohau Ndzaba.

Girls: KeratilweMotladi; Salima Tevete; Palesa Masimong; Katleho Matladi; Chi Chi Okorieoji;Onele Jabusa; Refilwe Mokhothu; Puleng Mojafi and Analisa Sithole.

Once February is behind us, our nextbig event to plan for is Joshua Bolaji’s and Joan’s 2023 UK fundraising trip.God willing this will take place from Tuesday 11^th April – Sunday 7^thMay. Joshua is accompanying Joan this year, with the view of talking over from her,going forward. Glenys Barham is, once again, attending to the itinerary andreports that 18 churches have already confirmed meetings, with 8 still in the‘probable’ stage. I’m sure the itinerary will have been finalized by March andwill be circulated with the next Morning Star newsletter due then.

And, last but not least, you mightbe interested to learn that the Kutlwanong Reformed Baptist Church, startedfrom our Kutlwanong Morning Star premises back in 2012, has recently relocatedto their own site in the Township. They have been allocated their own site andwere able to erect a corrugated zinc structure on it until such time as theyhave funds to put up a brick building. We’re sad that we no longer have thechurch operating from our Kutlwanong premises but thrilled that its experiencedgrowth and consolidation over the past several years.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

1.            Praise& thanks for the sustained good health of most of our children over theChristmas holidays.

2.            Forthe ongoing support of the Morning Star board members and for their wisecounsel always.

Please prayfor:

3.        Ourchildren with health issues – especially 6-year-old Siyabulela Latile and4-year-old Philokuhle. Siya has suffered from chronic diarrhoea over the pastseveral weeks and is extremely weak and frail. He can no longer walk and isback in disposable nappies (diapers). Philokuhle is new at Morning Star andamidst other health concerns, has an enlarged liver and a grossly distended abdomen.Pray that God would restore both these little ones to full health and strengthagain.

4.            Staffmember, Emely Mahlangu, now heavily pregnant and due to deliver in about 6weeks’ time. Emely’s 14-year-old daughter is ecstatic about this event andeagerly awaiting the birth of her little sibling. Pray that the remainder ofEmely’s pregnancy will be trouble-free and that her baby will be born healthyand strong.

5.            Ourforthcoming Sea Trip. Pray for the group’s safety over the 4 days they’re awayand that all they experience of God’s creation on this excursion will result inpraising and worshipping Him.

6.            Ouryoung adults who are facing important life choices and for Pastor Revival as heengages with them.

7.            Godlywisdom for Albert as he deals with diverse social issues and ongoing requestsfor financial aid each week. Pray that he’ll have the ability to decipher realneeds from perceived needs and the truth from lies.

Thankyou so much for praying.

 “FOR TO US A CHILD IS BORN, TO US A SON IS GIVEN;AND THE GOVERNMENT SHALL BE UPON HIS SHOULDER, AND HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLEDWONDERFUL COUNSELOR, MIGHTY GOD, EVERLASTING FATHER, PRINCE OF PEACE.”

ISAIAH 9:6

Our Dearest Friends,

And so another year is drawing to a close! Another year offruitful service and enormous blessing! Another year to thank God for ourhealth and strength and all the benefits we enjoy at His hand – but take so forgranted!

Looking back over the past year, my two overwhelming thoughts areyour amazing generosity and support of our ministry here in Welkomand God’s abounding grace and ever-present guiding hand in all our activities.Yes, it’s been a tough year in many respects but everything fades into insignificance when one stopsand considers the countless blessings we enjoy each day. Without God at the heart of our Organisation and without yourprayers, encouragement and monetary support, we’d certainly not be where we aretoday nor be able to positively impact the lives of children infected/affectedby HIV/AIDS in our region of the Free State. I stand amazed at all God hasaccomplished since our inception 23 years ago. From 8 to over 700+ children onour register; from 4 to 38 staff members, plus a long-term UK volunteer; 8vehicles, providing 120+ food parcels to the poorest of the poor each month,annual sea trips for 20 – 30 children per time, a doctor who sees our sickchildren free-of-charge, monthly teens Bible studies and enough money in thebank to keep us functioning month-by-month. We have so much to be thankful for.Our Gracious God has wondrously provided!

GRADUATION2022

It wastruly heartwarming to witness the graduation ceremony of our two Grade R(reception) classes on the 2^nd December. After performing awell-executed nativity play and singing several Christmas songs to a packedschoolroom, the children changed into their graduation gowns and proudly waiteduntil they were called up to be  presented with their certificates. Everysingle one them walked confidently onto the stage to rapturous applause,received their award and posed for a photograph! 33 children have completedtheir Grade R year at our two centres and are ready to transition to Grade 1 atthe nearest government school to their Township homes. Many of them come from direbackgrounds so to see them all achieving so well was fantastic and a credit toour two Grade R teachers, Portia Khobi and Zanele Khambule. I often wish our UKsponsors could be present at our functions and share the joy we all experienceon these occasions.

CHRISTMASPARTIES

Christmas begins very early at MorningStar as it falls within our long summer school holidays. By the end of Novembermost schools in the country have already closed for their 6-week break and weare forced to follow suite or face operating at quarter-strength, as ourchildren’s parents get into the ‘holiday spirit’ too and fail to bring theirchild to our transport stops in the mornings. As a result, Morning Star closesin early December which means that we generally conclude our Christmasfunctions by the end of the first week in December.          

Monday, the 12^th December, wasour final function for 2022 – our staff end-year party. We treated them all tolunch at the ‘Mediterranean’ Restaurant in town where a wonderful time of unityand fellowship was enjoyed by all.

A big thank you to the many who have sentmonetary gifts, presents and cards to Morning Star over the Christmas season.Thankfully, a few parcels have arrived safely pre-closure of our centres and,thus far, 99 sponsors have transferred monetary gifts for the children theysupport. A big thank you to Linda Gardiner and friends for their magnificentmonetary assistance again this year, to Laura Murray and team from BanijayRights for the 35 Christmas boxes they packed and couriered over to SouthAfrica, Sarah Wilkins’ UK support team for ensuring all our Morning Star schoolchildren took home a lovely package and Ellen Abatzoglou and team from Ocean Basket,Welkom, for their wonderful collection of wrapped gifts for all our toddlersand pre-school children. Amidst much excitement, (in the middle of athunderstorm and load shedding,) every current child received a gift to takehome. Thank you all, from the bottom of our hearts.

PLEASE NOTE:

1. Re: monetary gifts transferred for children’sbirthdays/Christmas: Please remember to put down a reference with all monetarydonations. We’ve recently received two donations that simply say: ”HappyBirthday” (one for 20pds on 21/11/22 and one for 30pds on 22/10/22.)Unfortunately, we have no way of knowing who these gifts are for and who tothank for them.

2.   God willing, our 2023 Durban Sea trip will take placefrom 21^st – 25^th February 2023 with thirty (30) new youngteens selected to go on it. Our sincere thanks to the UK couple who have, onceagain, fully sponsored the trip.

3.  God willing, our 2023 UK Fundraising Trip will takeplace from the 11^th April – 7^th May 2023. Please contactGlenys Barham (glenys.barham@gmail.com) to book a date for Joshua Bolaji and Joan Adams tovisit your church.

This Christmas, as you ponder afresh God’s gift of His only Son,Jesus Christ, to a lost, sinful world, may sheer praise and worship burst forthfrom your souls at such love, mercy and grace.

A TRULYBLESSED CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL.

  PRAYERREQUESTS

Join us as we praise and thank God for:

1.       Hisgoodness to us this past year and for meeting all our needs.

2.      The ongoing good health of themajority of our current children.

3.     Our restored electricity supply (eventhough we still have lengthy load-shedding periods each day which are likely toincrease, rather than decrease!)

PLEASEPRAY FOR:

1.      Safety, protection and good health forstaff and children over Christmas and the New Year. (Morning Star reopens on 9^th January 2023).

2.       Allthe children leaving to attend government schools in 2023 – and that parentswould continue to take an interest in their education and support them well.

3.       Ouryoung adults and teenagers who are facing important life choices and for pastorRevival as he engages with them.

4.       OurWelkom premises: there’s been a new wave of uncertainly over our long-termoccupation of our Kopano Complex premises. Government officials have recentlyvisited our Welkom Centre and have indicated that Morning Star’s future isseriously being considered in’ behind scenes’ discussions and conversations.

5.      The families of our recently deceasedchildren/young adults as they celebrate Christmas without a loved one in theirmidst: 11-year-old Kabelo Lekitlane died on 10^th September fromcerebral meningitis and 22-year-old Ntswaki Tomose on 18^th Novemberfrom chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

“Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust,

Who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!

You have multiplied, O Lord my God,

Your wondrous deeds and your thoughts towards us;

None can compare with you!

I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can betold.”

Psalm 40: 4-5

Dear Friends,

Thisnewsletter of mine is long overdue, I know. I’ve been aware of the fact for acouple of weeks already but have just not had the time to get around to it.

Why, youmight be asking? Because October 2022 has been a hectic, crazy month. Not onlyhave we been without electricity at our Welkom premises for over 4 weeks (inaddition to 2-6 hours of load shedding per day throughout the country) andexperiencing intermittent water supply, but we’ve also had an acute staffshortage as a result of various personnel being off sick with this and that.General Manager, Albert Duvenhage, was the worst hit and off work for twoweeks, fighting bronchial pneumonia. He was finally admitted to hospital whenno improvement was noted after 7 whole days. (He’s been back at work since Monday07/11 – and much better – but still not 100% well.)

The rest ofus were left scurrying around like ants, filling in for each other, dealingwith the overwhelming social issues that arose day-by-day and coping with thechaos of laundry to be done, birthday cakes to be baked and rapidly defrostingmeat and vegetables – all as a result of having no power. In-between the aboveissues, office personnel were endeavouring to attend to all their computeractivities before our little generator was switched off at 4pm, when staff beganto go home. (Often, our best time to work on our computers is after 4pm wheneveryone else has gone home and there are no more interruptions!) 

Some of theissues we’ve faced in October include:

1.       Rain, rain and more rain! We’re notcomplaining; we truly need this rain and are deeply thankful for it but itresults in very few of our children being able to come to Morning Star eachday. Muddy roads, often deeply pot-holed, combined with sewerage spillage, areimpassable making it impossible for our children to get to our transport stopseasily/on time and for us to pick them up from their homes. Believe it or not,only 12 of 33 pre-school children were able to get to our Welkom Centre formost of last week.

2.       Matjhabeng (Welkom and surrounding towns) municipalworkers are on strike again resulting in zero garbage collections for the past3 – 4 weeks.

3.       The near suicide of one of our staff members.Praise God he had second thoughts.

4.       A constant stream of people, pleading for foodassistance. We simply cannot stretch our resources to meet the ever increasing,dire need.

5.       Our sweet 13 year old Nthabiseng viciouslyraped by the man living next door.

6.       14 year old Amukelo in hospital and beinginvestigated for TB (tuberculosis). He arrived at our recent teens’ meetinglooking like death warmed up and struggling to breathe. He was rushed to thedoctor, and subsequently, to hospital for urgent attention.

7.       20 year old Mosa, forced into prostitution byher biological mother, 27-year-old Langa in kidney failure and 24 year oldNtsoaki, recently diagnosed with C.O.P.D. (Chronic Obstructive PulmonaryDisease) and fighting for her life. Her lungs are permanently damaged by theseveral bouts of tuberculosis she’s contracted over the years and she’spresently on oxygen 24/7.

8.       The Yahaya family evicted from their home (theroom they were occupying in a communal house) for defaulting on monthly rentalpayments and all their belongings dumped outside in the rain.

9.       No mum to welcome 7 year old Noni home oneafternoon about 10 days ago. She subsequently spent the night at a staffmember’s house. Mum was eventually found the following day, lying under a treeat the side of the road, filthy and dehydrated. We bathed her, fed her and tookher to the doctor who, after examining her, referred her to Bongani Hospitalfor urgent admission. She’s still in hospital and Noni is still staying withstaff member, Lineo. In the midst of all of this, a previously non-existentbiological father materialized, saying that he’s long been denied access toNoni and that he would like this to change. This news left us aghast! Thematter is now in the hands of a social worker and we’re glad we’re not the onestrying to sort out the mess.

In spite ofall the above crises, and in the midst of the busyness of October, we’ve alsohad the great pleasure of hosting UK volunteer, Hannah Ramsey again andwelcoming Sarah Wilkins back from her 5-week trip to England. Hannah arrived atMorning Star at exactly the right time and we truly don’t know how we would’vemanaged without her gracious, ever willing assistance during crazy October.Hannah has visited Morning Star twice now and has endeared herself to bothstaff and children alike. Lots of tears flowed as goodbyes were said lastFriday, 4^th November, before she headed to Johannesburg Airport andher return home. Come back soon, Hannah!

And, to crownit all, what a joy it was to welcome 3 members of our UK Morning Star SupportGroup to Welkom/ Morning Star on Friday, 27^th October. Andrew Gurr,Paul Stark and Stephen Allmand-Smith flew in and out again within 5 days, butmanaged to pack an awful lot into their tight schedule whilst here. They got toexperience the delights of Welkom and the surrounding black townships,(including pot holes, power outages and sewerage stench), meet the Morning Starboard members over a proper South African braai (barbeque), participate in ourOctober Teens’ Meeting, meet their sponsored children, attend a Sunday serviceat Welkom Baptist Church, (as well as witness the induction of Pastor Revivalas the new Riebeeckstad Baptist Church’s pastor),  and spend a whole day at both the MorningStar Centres, visiting each department and, thus, coming to appreciate what wedo and who we serve and better understanding the constant difficulties we face.They’ve returned home with a totally different perspective of the extent andscope of our ministry here in Welkom and eager to do what they can to increasefunding for us in the UK.

In closing,please note that our children’s last day at Morning Star this year is Friday,the 9^th December. Thanks to the

many who havealready deposited ’Christmas money’ into our bank accounts for their sponsoredchild and family over

the festiveseason. If any of you are still planning to do likewise,please ensure that your monetary gift is reflecting in our bank accounts by 5^thDecember. Anything after this will only be picked up and processed in the NewYear.

PLEASE NOTE: It’s alreadytoo late to post parcels/cards etc. for this Christmas. Posted items, even ifsent by air, are taking 3-6 months to reach us nowadays.

PRAYERREQUESTS:

Praise andthanks to God:

1.      For the wonderfulrain we’ve enjoyed over the past month.

2.      For the goodhealth of most of our children.

3.      For answering ourprayers and restoring Albert Duvenhage’s health and bringing him back toMorning Star.

4.      For the recent,flying visit of Andrew, Paul and Stephen and for the keen interest they and therest of our

UK Morning Star Support Group aretaking in our Organization.

5.      For the joy ofhaving Hannah Ramsey back in our midst and for the safe return of our dear,

long-term UK volunteer, Sarah Wilkins.

6.      For the UK couplewho have pledged 1000pds per annum for the next 3 years to help establish ourYoung

Adults’ skills training endeavours.

7.      For our manyoverseas supporters/sponsors – who are ever encouraging and committed topraying for us

regularly. We thank God for yourfaithful partnership in our ministry.

Please prayfor:

8.      Our illchildren/young adults: Amukelo, Thabang, Bontle, Bonolo, Ntsoaki and Langa.

9.      For our brokenfamilies and the many children on our register who are suffering abuse andneglect at the

hands of the adults in their lives.

10.   For Nthabisengand family as they begin to deal with the trauma of her recent rape.

11.   That theelectricity at our Welkom premises will soon be restored. (The problem is as aresult of cable theft,

 followed by the transformer blowing up.)

12.   For our upcomingBoard Meeting on Thursday, 17^th November.

13.   For Pastor Revivaland auxiliary social worker, Shiwe, as they minister to, and counsel the manyMorning Star

teenagers and clients with whom theyinteract with on a daily basis.

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed;

Perplexed, but not driven to despair;

Persecuted, but not forsaken;

Struck down but not destroyed;                                                                                                                                                                                                                so we do not lose heart.”

2 Corinthians: 4: 8-9; 16

Our Dear Friends,

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you because ofyour partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”

Philippians 1: 3, 5.

AsI sit here deciding what to share with you in my newsletter, I am filled withan over-whelming sense of gratitude for how God has blessed Morning Starthrough you and used you to accomplish His purposes in this insignificant placein the world ….. Welkom, South Africa! Who would’ve thought nearly 23 years agothat Morning Star would’ve grown to the size it is today and that God’s planfor us would involve so many of you! I find this thought truly awesome!

It’sbeen a busy time since my last letter went out at the beginning of July. Inaddition to the hive of activity relating to our big building project out atKutlwanong Morning Star over June/July school holidays, we’ve held our AnnualGeneral Meeting, had two successful parent/ partnering workshops andaccommodated various individuals, school groups and local businesses wishing tovolunteer their services and bless us in different ways, in honour of our latePresident Nelson Mandela. Mandela Day is held annually on 18^th Julyand is in response to him calling on the people of the world to honour him byhelping in their communities on this day, each year.

OurKutlwanong house is now looking as good as new. It took our builder and histeam much longer to  fix everything, andour Kutlwanong children were forced to stay home for a further 2 weeks of‘holiday’, but, thankfully, we’ve been able to bus them all in again from thebeginning of August. The repairs to the house’s infrastructure were moreextensive than first envisaged and, of course, the expenses involved roseproportionately as well, but we’re all glad that this big project is behind usand very happy with the end result.

Ournext ‘headache’ is what to do about our Kowie Street property – theex-pre-school building we purchased over 5 years ago in Welkom and which wastransformed into four apartments before our time. The previous owner took somany shortcuts in his conversion of the former pre-school into four homes and,as time passes, we’re increasingly reaping the results of this. The maintenanceof the building is ongoing and costly. There are continual problems with earthmovement e.g. cornices pulling away, cracks appearing in the walls andfoundational issues. We should be recouping the money we invested in thisproperty by now and not still struggling to balance our monthly income againstour continual expenditure.            

Thedraw card for this particular purchase was that it’s still zoned foreducational purposes and could be used to rehouse Morning Star should the FreeState government decide to evict us from our existing Welkom premises. (Forthose of you still praying about the matter, we’ve not heard a word from theFree State Department of Public Works regarding Morning Star paying rent andfor our utilities in almost a year. And, whilst they say nothing, we lie low.)

Therewas much excitement at Morning Star on the 5^th August when SandraRycroft’s 25 couriered boxes arrived at Morning Star. We’re ever amazed at the excellentservice provided by this particular courier company and how the items arrivethis end in record time – and with no added expense to the organization. Thankyou, Sandra, from the bottom of our hearts, for orchestrating this massiveproject once again this year. Thanks to each and every one of you whocontributed to the contents – masses of beautiful children’s clothing andunderwear, shoes, jackets, craft materials, knitted blankets and cardigans,toys, puzzles and books, school uniforms, football gear and one of the biggestteddy bears we’ve ever seen. One of the boxes was mostly filled with pyjamasand these we handed out to a good number of the children attending our WelkomCentre each day. It was a joyous occasion for all of them as these pyjamas are,in most cases, the first pair our children have owned in their lives. They weretried on and kept on for the rest of the day; they even went home wearing whatthey’d been given. Such fun!

How relieved mostof us in South Africa are that the Covid era is behind us, at last. No moreface masks, continual sanitizing of hands and ‘social-distancing’.Unfortunately, we’ll be reaping the consequences of this bizarre way of livingfor years to come. One of the many negative impacts of the Covid pandemic arethe number of previously disadvantaged families who are even worse off thanthey were before. The plight of the poor around us is heart-breaking and,sadly, we’re very limited in the amount of assistance we can render. We’re nowgiving out over 120 food parcels per month, at a cost of R42, 000.00 in total(about 2, 100pds) and there’s no end in sight. Nowadays we frequently spotindividuals in the big garbage skip in the grounds of the Kopano premises andalong the streets of Welkom, scavenging for food scraps in the many plasticbags awaiting pick-up to the garbage tip. We also often assist desperateindividuals off the street with a day’s work/wages as it’s soul-destroying tosend them away empty-handed.  There’slittle hope of things improving in the foreseeable future; both the Free Stategovernment and our local municipalities are bankrupt and worthwhile employmentopportunities locally, extremely scarce.

On the positiveside, we’ve once again got UK folk coming out to volunteer at Morning Star. Havingnot had anyone for 3 years, its all the more special that Hannah Ramsay isbooked to come out for a month in October. She had to forego her trip out inAugust 2020, due to the international Covid restrictions in place then and now,two years later, is coming back as a fully-qualified nurse. We also have threemembers of our Morning Star UK Support Team flying out for a few days at theend of October and are very much looking forward to showing Andrew Gurr, PaulStark and Stephen Allmand-Smith around and helping them to understand ourset-up here and the various challenges that we face. There are several othersupporters lined up to visit Morning Star in the New Year and we’re trustingthat this renewed trend will continue and flourish once again. We’re alwaysblessed by the talents and skill-sets our volunteers bring to Morning Star andour children simply love the added attention they get.

PRAYER ISSUES:

1.     Praise and thanks that gardener, Papiki’s eyeoperation is behind him and was a success. He’s been told to not pick up heavyobjects for at least a month and we’re trusting that he’s following hisdoctor’s instructions to the letter. (A big thank you, too, to all who contributedtowards the repairs of his fire-damaged home.)

2.     Praise and thanks that our UK long-termvolunteer, Sarah Wilkins’ visa has finally been processed and she was able tocollect it in Bloemfontein last week. Sarah has been waiting for this foralmost 18 months so there was much rejoicing on hers and her family’s part.

3.  Praise and thanks that Thato Ramosebi, one ofour earliest intake of HIV positive children, is now a qualified secondaryschool teacher and employed at Nanabulela Secondary School in Thabong Township.This is a first for us; our first Morning Star “child” meaningfully employedand able to stand on her own two feet.

PLEASE PRAY FOR:

1.   5 year old Nyakello Thys and family.Tragically, her grandmother (primary carer) was shot and killed in ThabongTownship a month ago. She was part of a "Neighbourhood VigilanteGroup" and, together with other members of the group, was apprehendingsome Zama Zamas (illegal miners) in her area of Thabong and was subsequentlyhit by one of the bullets being fired at them all - and died on the spot.Please pray for her broader family and for her neighbours as they come to termswith their loss.

2.    Pray for the safety of our children at home;many suffer from neglect and abuse and we’re very aware that we don’t know evenhalf of what goes on behind closed doors. Just this past week one of our 4 yearold girls was sexually abused by a 9 year-old- boy in her neighbourhood andwhen she told her mother about it, she was beaten and told not to be naughty!

3.      Pray for our Teens Meeting this comingSaturday, the 27^th August. Pray that all who attend will have listeningears to the Gospel message brought by Pastor Revival and that the same DVD andpuppet show, dealing with sexual abuse and shown to our 10-13 year old childrenin the July school holidays, will speak to their hearts as well. It might cometoo late for those already sexually active but please pray that the programmewill impart the coping skills needed to evade the advances of predators and tospot the signs of sexual grooming. Our greatest desire remains to see our youngadults breaking free from the cycle of poverty and hopelessness that’s pervadedtheir lives and moving beyond their vulnerability to productivity. Best of all,placing their trust in our Lord Jesus Christ.

“Youkeep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you,

Becausehe trusts in you.

Trustin the Lord forever, For the Lord God is an everlasting rock.”

Isaiah26:3-4 

“Theearth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwelltherein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon therivers. Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD and who shall stand in his holyplace? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soulto what is false and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing fromthe Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. “Psalm 24: 1-5”

DearMorning Star Friends,

Greetingsfrom a very chilly Welkom at the moment. The sun is shining and I’d quicklywarm up if I was out-of-doors or travelling in my car, but my office at MorningStar is like an icebox and, unfortunately, we’re in the midst of another roundof load-shedding too.

Ourelectricity cuts (black-outs) across South Africa are on the increase and everyindication points to the fact that things are getting worse by the day – andare actually not going to get better in a hurry. The draw on our electricitysupply is naturally higher during our winter months – and Eskom, our utilityprovider, is simply not able to cope with the demand in the midst of ongoingpoor maintenance, widespread corruption and the gross mismanagement over manyyears.  Generally during black-outs we’reall without power for up to 4 hours per day but over the past 4 days we’veexperienced Stage 6 load-shedding, meaning that we’re without electricity for 6in 24 hours. It’s extremely tough not having power from 6.00pm – 10.00pm atnight, just when one is needing to turn on lights and cook an evening meal.And, of course, it’s always the poor who suffer most. Those in our country whocan afford to, are rapidly installing solar and going off the grid. It’s acostly business, though, and most of us simply can’t afford the expense.Thankfully, Morning Star cooks with gas and has a little generator to keep ourcomputers running when the lights go out. However, even the latter has given ustrouble this past week and been in for repairs.

Oneof the results of load-shedding is power surging once the electricity supply isswitched on again. Surges can damage or destroy plugged in electrical devices.When too much electricity flows through an appliance at once, the appliancecould overheat, break down or even start a fire. Exactly that happened in thehome of Papiki, our gardener, last Sunday night. His area in Welkom experiencedload-shedding between 8.00 - 10.00pm that night, so the family simply went tobed in their little 4-roomed house in Hani Park Township. One of Papiki’s 5sons was actually sleeping on a mattress, on the floor of the sitting room thatnight. At about 11pm Papiki awoke to the sounds of this son coughing badly sogot up to check on him. On opening his bedroom door, he was greeted by ahouseful of smoke and immediately afterwards, the entire sitting room wasengulfed in flames. That he and his wife and children escaped unscathed is anabsolute miracle. But the trauma of loss, as they saw so many of their worldlypossessions go up in flames before their very eyes, was immense. They lost alltheir electrical appliances, including their television set and mobile phones,their sitting room window and frame and furniture, carpet, curtains andpictures, amongst other things. Thankfully, the fire was contained to only oneroom.

WhenI arrived on the scene on Monday morning I was greeted by a very despondentPapiki. How does an impoverished family, surviving on a minimal income, pick upthe pieces and start again? The fire wasn’t their fault; they don’t haveinsurance; they live from hand to mouth each month. Thankfully for this family,they have a Morning Star to turn to.

Forthose of you who have been praying for Papiki and his eye problem, you’ll bepleased to know that surgery is now scheduled for Monday 18^th July,God willing.

Strictlyspeaking, Morning Star should be closed right now (and until 18^thJuly) as we’re in the midst of our winter school holidays. However, somethingtruly thrilling is happening at our Welkom premises this week. Our full staffquota are on duty and at their posts for our first ever Holiday Club for our10-13 year old children.  For a long timewe’ve felt the need to have more of an input into the lives of our primaryschool children. They come to us for their pre-school years, then go off to theprimary schools in the surrounding townships and then we get them back again asteenagers, at our teens’ meetings and Bible Studies. But our primary schoolchildren, our 8-13 year olds, only come in when they’re sick, for theirbirthdays and school needs or for food and other assistance. And, in light ofthe increasing number of 10 – 14 years in this country who are sexually active,falling pregnant and being raped, we decided to host a Holiday Club to address someof the issues and give our youngsters the coping skills needed to evade theadvances of predators and spot the signs of sexual grooming which, at first,appears so innocent. 

Closeto 100 children have attended the sessions over the past 4 days.  Pre-school teacher, Sylvia, reports that theyarrive shy and unsure of what to expect but straight after the ice-breaker(Chicken Dance) they begin to relax and feel safe. The sessions have beenpresented in both Sesotho and English and have included lively singing andmorning devotions, the airing a DVD on sexual abuse, a follow-up puppet showreinforcing the graphics portrayed on the DVD and a corresponding handcraft.The above have been interspersed with much discussion and private conversations.The early results of the workshops have already shown us just how pertinent they’vebeen to the many social problems our Township children face on a daily basis.Of course, outdoor activities, tea and cake and a delicious lunch each day werethe cherry on the top!

It’samazing how our simple sessions have opened the eyes of some of our children tothings they’ve had no knowledge of before and, on the other hand, how it’sgiven those who have already experienced abuse, in one form or another, thetools they need to report what’s happening to them and to their peers. They nowall know what to look out for and avoid and where to go for help, even whentheir parents refuse to listen to them. God willing, we’ll be running ourHoliday Club every July from now on and endeavour to play a small role incutting down on the number of children suffering abuse at the hands of theadults in their lives.

Duringmy UK tour in April/May I shared of the terrible condition of the main house atour Morning Star Kutlwanong premises. Over the past several months, abnormalcracks have appeared on the interior walls and they’re actually hanging in theair as a result of the floor sagging. We presumed the damage was as a result ofthe high rainfall we’d experienced this past summer so, in addition to sendingour builder out to quote on the repairs, also contacted our insurance company,confident that they’d pay out for the damages incurred. However, they came backsaying they’d not be taking responsibility at all as the damage was structuraland the result of the foundations not being properly impacted and built in thevery beginning. (All long before we bought the premises.) Since then we engagedthe services of a structural engineer to inspect the property and he ordered usto cordon off the house immediately as it was no longer safe for the staff andchildren to be/work inside the building.

Theensuing action, in summary, is to break down the interior walls of the house,dig up the floor, re-impact the original foundation, lay an additionalfoundation on top of the existing one and then build the walls up again. Ourbuilder is in the process of doing this right now/whilst we’re closed for the schoolholidays. He hopes to be finished by the 18^th July, when we’re dueto reopen again. As you can imagine, undertaking repairs like this is hugelycostly.  Thankfully, my recent UK tripreaped rich rewards financially and part of the profits are being used to coverthe costs of the repairs. It’s something that had to be done urgently as we’dlose our licence to operate a Morning Star satellite centre in KutlwanongTownship otherwise, and have to close it down altogether.

Certainlynot my strength or expertise is anything to do with modern technology andsocial media. I was, thus, astounded to hear that our present Morning Starwebsite is outdated and inadequate. Those of you who are aware of this will bepleased to hear that we’re in the midst of having it redesigned and modernised.Our Morning Star UK Support Group is planning to create a website as well,linked to ours so, with this in mind, if any of you are web designers, or knowsomebody in this line who could assist us in the matter, please get in touchwith Nicole Correia, our UK Champions’ Co-ordinator, as soon as possible. We’reaware that this could prove an expensive exercise so if there’s anybody “outthere” who could design it ‘free-of-charge’ we’d be very grateful indeed.Nicole’s email address is: nicoleajc@hotmail.com

PRAYER ISSUES:

Praiseand thanks for:

1.       The general good health of ourchildren.

2.      Our improved financial position as aresult of Joan’s recent UK trip.

3.      Sparing the lives of Papiki and hisfamily in the midst of the fire in their home last Sunday night.

4.      The early indications of how opportuneour Holiday Club has been in the lives of our primary school children.

Pleasepray for:

1.      Gardener, Papiki, and his scheduledeye surgery on 18^th July. Pray, too, for his and his family’ssalvation.

2.      The protection and safety of ourchildren over the 3 week winter holiday period.

3.      For Pastor Revival as he counsels ourteenagers and leads their Bible Study tomorrow morning, 2^nd July.

4.      For South Africa as a whole; pray forour government leaders as they seek solutions for the diverse problems thiscountry is faced with at this time and that God would be gracious to us andsend a spiritual awakening to our land.

Dear Friends,

Asyou’ve no doubt gathered, or heard, I’m safely back in South Africa, and behindmy desk at Morning Star, after a very successful UK trip.

Ohgive thanks to the LORD for He is good;

ForHis steadfast love endures forever.” 

1Chronicles 16:34

Ipraise and thank God for His hand upon me as I travelled around England, for mysustained good health and for the positive way my presentations were receivedat the different churches I visited. It was also fantastic seeing so many oldfriends/long-term supporters again, after a very long time. 

Travellingaround without Glenys was different - and I missed her - but, all-in-all,having various Morning Star friends driving me from venue-to-venue worked outwell and was a real blessing. I`m hugely grateful to the folk who drove meto and fro - all at their own expense, and for those who graciouslyaccommodated me overnight.

Theresponse to my appeal for children`s clothing was amazing. My poor chauffeursincreasingly struggled to fit everything into their cars. Thankfully SandraRycroft from Emmanuel Baptist Church in Leeds was willing to accommodate theexcess; she’s been couriering children’s clothing to us annually over the pastfew years and is always willing to accommodate additional clothes, provided thedonor pays a small sum towards the expense of the couriering company she uses.(If you’d like her contact details, please get in touch with me.)

Thankyou for helping me dispose of the two suitcases of Pelo & Hart merchandiseI brought over to England with me. In the end, I could’ve had far more to sellas, by the time, I arrived in Yorkshire for my final week of meetings, therewas very little left. Please be aware that you can still place orders for thesewing project’s merchandise; we still have two women on the premises attendingto new orders but, at the same time, serving their private clients as well.

Allwas well when I arrived back at Morning Star. Albert and his management teamexpertly ‘held the fort’ and handled the few crises that cropped up. Good newsis that our little Relebohile Motsie had her heart operation in my absence. Itwas successful, she’s recovered well and is already back at Morning Star eachday.

Afew of you asked that I put the content of my presentations into my nextnewsletter. This was to assist those wanting to ponder on some of the mattersmentioned and also serve to update Morning Star friends from the churches Ididn’t get to visit. For those of you who would like to watch the video thatmade up the bulk of my presentation too, please go to You Tube and type in“Morning Star UK Support Group: Introduction.”

UKPRESENTATION 2022

MorningStar has been in operation for 22 years. There are presently about 640 childrenon our register.

Thingshave changed significantly over the past decade. We’re no longer a palliativecare centre, looking after little children born and suffering with HIV/AIDS. Wenow care for children mostly affected by the disease but not suffering from itthemselves. This is because they were given ARVs (anti-retroviral) drugsbefore/at birth, resulting in most of them being HIV negative at birth.

Nowadaysover 50% of the children on our register are 13 years old and over. Thesechildren are our most vulnerable and are all living with HIV/AIDS. (They wereborn prior to the advent of anti-retroviral drugs and also have the additionalproblem of stunted brain growth in early childhood, due to being born with thedisease.)  In addition to growing up in abroken society, they lack concentration and have poor memory retention and willprobably not be able to finish their education successfully. Sadly, theygenerally lack the skills needed to flourish in life and won’t be able topursue tertiary education or get sustainable jobs in adulthood.

MorningStar is generally 5,000pds (2,500pds operational + 2,500pds capital) short offunds month-on-month. Our large expenses are:

a.      Staff salaries

b.     Feeding our 120 children each weekday.

c.      Vehicle/maintenance expenses

d.     Monthly food parcels (only to thosewith an income of less than 50pds per month/ with UK sponsorship.)

e.     Buying clothes for our children(Postage issues over the past several years have resulted in very few clothingparcels getting to us from the UK.)

Wehave about 300 overseas child sponsors who contribute from 15pds upwards permonth. When Charity Aids Foundation closed down their partnership with usseveral years ago we lost about 50 sponsors overnight and have never recoveredfrom the loss. My yearly UK trips helped cover the annual deficit but, due toCovid, weren’t able to take place since May 2019.

Sincethen an attempt was made to register Morning Star as a UK charity but, inaddition to the savings envisaged being insufficient, recent events (Covid)took over, resulting in us having to put the issue on the backburner for thetime being.

Instead,the UK Support Group was born. Their joint input has resulted in the productionof the video you’ve just watched and the introduction of church champions ateach of our supporting churches. We’re trusting this move will reap richbenefits and that, as time goes by, our monthly income will pick upsignificantly and counteract our ongoing shortfall.

Waysto assist us, going forward, are as follows:

1.      Keep praying for us – always anencouragement.

2.      Pray, for our SA Board of Directorsand UK Support Group as they advise/direct strategic issues and seek ways toraise funds for Morning Star. The UK Support Group’s immediate goal is to raisean additional 5000pds per month for us.

3.      Elect a Morning Star Champion at yourchurch. This person will keep Morning Star at the forefront of each congregation’sminds, seek ways to raise funds for us at your church and ensure ourorganization is prayed for regularly. (Almost half of the churches I visitedthis year have already elected their church champion.)

4.      Plan a visit to Morning StarChildren’s Centre, South Africa – either on your own or in a church group.There is no substitute for folk coming out to Morning Star themselves andexperiencing our organization personally and, now that we’re coming out of Covid,this can be considered once again. A visit could take the form of a gap year, ashort-term/long-term placement or a community project. A good time to visitMorning Star is during your UK summer holidays (mid-July to end of August.)

5.      Sponsor one of our children @ 30pds(or less) per month. Please contact Joan Adams for further details.

6.      Fund a particular monthly or capitalexpense at Morning Star. For example:

a.      Children’s food – 1000pds per month.

b.     One vehicle’s petrol/maintenance costs– 300pds per month (x 7).

c.      Food parcels – 1, 440pds per month.(For only 80.)

d.     A new vehicle – e.g. the cash pricefor a new Toyota Avanza is 14, 000pds.

e.     Repair of infrastructure at KutlwanongCentre house (sinking interior / foundations) – 7, 300pds.

Inconclusion, please diarize the following new email accounts for futurereference:

Morning Star UK Support Group

Username: morningstaruksg@outlook.com

Password: MorningStar2022

Morning Star UK Champions

Username: morningstarukchampions@outlook.com

Password: MorningStar2022

Joan’s direct email address at Morning Star:

morningstar.reception@tiscali.co.uk   

PRAYER ISSUES:

Praise God for:

• Good attendance and participation in thePre-school Parents Workshop.

· The success ofRelebhohile’s heart operation and that she’s already back at Morning Star eachday.

• Joan’s safe and successful trip to Englandand for all our supporters, sponsors and donors.

· An excellent Board Meetingon 26^th April and for the way our finances have picked up over thepast couple of months.

Pray for:

• 17-year-old Katleho Pontseng and family:His mum passed away unexpectedly last week. She had complained of a badheadache and was dead before the family could even get her to hospital.

· Our Teen’s Meeting on28/05/2022, focusing on Digital Wellness, amongst other activities.

OurDear Morning Star Friends,

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in everyprayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of yourpartnership in the gospel from the first day until now… I hold you all in myheart because you are all partakers with me of grace”. Philippians 1:3-5; 7.

Allis quiet at Morning Star as I begin this letter to you this afternoon. It’s“school holidays” in South Africa at the moment and our two day care centresare closed until Monday 4^th April. Our gardeners are hard at work outsidebut, other than the sound of their spades and brooms and the fan and tickingclock in my office, not another squeak can be heard.

Howsincerely grateful we are for your partnership in our ministry. My heartrejoices when I ponder on your amazing support over the past months and of howGod continues to use you to bless Morning Star and ensure our sustainability.We’ve had a tough year or two and are not out of the woods yet, but thecost-saving measures we undertook at the end of last year are starting to bearfruit. We’ve also had several very generous donations of late and these haveboosted our coffers and enabled us to attend to a few urgent maintenance issueswhich have long been on the ‘back-burner’. Some of the recent monetary giftswere sent anonymously. If you’re one of these donors, please know that we trulyappreciate your generous support. And to the person who recently deposited 10,000pds into our Lloyds bank account, thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.

I (Jesus) washungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave mesomething to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in… Whatever you didfor one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did forme.” Matt.25:25-36; 40.

Asalways, much has happened at Morning Star this past quarter. But the two eventsthat ‘stand out’ are our recent seaside excursion and my forthcoming UKfundraising trip.

Oursea trip this year took place from 2^nd – 5^th March. Wepraise and thank God for travelling mercies, for perfect weather, that ourchildren and staff kept strong and well and that they returned home with a newappreciation of the wonders of God’s creation and, hopefully, an awareness ofHis power and might. Being with children and adults ‘seeing the sea’ for thefirst time in their lives is ever a joy to behold! Its expanse and the power ofthe crashing waves astounds them. What a wonder! What a delight!

One of the teens on the excursion this year writes:

I just want to say thank you all for the Durban trip. I really enjoyed myselfthere. It was so much fun and the food was delicious. And thanks to Mam’ruti(Mrs. Pastor’s wife – Elizabeth vd Westhuizen) and Ntate Moruti (PastorRevival), even though they watched us like hawks. You guys treated us equally,you made us unite like we were one family. You made us have confidence inourselves and showed us life ‘out there’. But now it is so hard for me. I missDurban very much. I wish I could just go back there. I miss the ocean’s water,morning breakfast food, that ‘easy life’ and the night games we played. I justcan’t wait to see our photos. I really can’t wait. And I just hope that somedayI will be able to visit the sea again. From Thandeka Malakoane

Pastor Revival writes:                                                                                                                                                            

Iwas delighted to be given the privilege to join Morning Star staff andteenagers to the sea trip. It was my second time to join this amazing trip andI would do it again if I was to be asked to join it in future. KinderstrandCamp site is beautiful and the facilities are top notch. The camp site managerand the staff are very hospitable and always cheerful. When you are at a placelike that, with such kind of people, you feel secure and at home. Our teenagerswere so much joyful to be at such a place with people like that. The games andactivities organised were excellent and built teamwork amongst our teens. Thefood was also delicious. I love good food and I enjoyed the food prepared by thekitchen staff.  I enjoyed swimming in the sea with our teenagers and Morning Star staff. Every time I look at the sea, I see the glory of God displayed. Creation reveals His glory. Our teenagers loved the sea and I was privileged to enjoy the waves of the Indian Ocean with the boys who knew how to swim.  What a wonderful experience! Morning Star Children`s Centre is a unique organisation and I believe is the only organisation in South Africa that seeks to take every member of its staff to the sea. I am proud to be part of this beautiful organisation, because it doesn`t only seek the well-being of the children and parents, but also the well-being of its staff members. I would like to thank the wonderful people who make our yearly sea trips possible. Thank you for your unwavering support in ensuring that our Morning Star teens and staff get the privilege to see and enjoy the sea. May God bless you! I would also like to thank all the people who faithfully support Morning Star Children`s Centre. Your assistance ensures that this beautiful organisation continues to be a beacon of hope in our children`s lives. "A Nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but it`s lowest ones." Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom

Theother matter occupying my personal headspace is my forthcoming UK trip. Godwilling this will take place from 24^th April – 12^th May.The itinerary has been finalized and overnight accommodation secured. The BIGdifference this year is that I’ll be travelling around England ‘on my own’.Glenys Barham will not be accompanying me and driving me from venue-to-venue.Up until last Friday we were still hopeful that Sarah Wilkins’ long-awaitedvisa would materialize in time and that she’d be able to accompany me instead,but this is not to be. Instead, different UK friends will transport me to andfrom the different venues and ensure that I get to my meetings on time. I amhugely grateful to them all and humbled by their willingness to travel, evenlong distances, so that I don’t struggle.

Asmentioned in my previous newsletter, I’m bringing over a big suitcase of Pelo& Hart merchandise to sell (which would’ve been a huge burden to transportaround without the help of my various ‘chauffeurs.’) I’d dearly like to selleverything before I fly home. As you know, we’ve had to close down our women’ssewing project, Pelo & Hart recently. The worldwide tourism industrysuffered immensely during the many months of Covid, and its resultingrestrictions of movement affected our women’s project enormously.Unfortunately, the Pelo & Hart manager couldn’t sustain it from her ownpocket indefinitely and was eventually forced to move on with her life. Allmerchandise is being sold at cost – so please come to the meetings prepared tospend a little money.

Travellingto England on Qatar Airlines means that I have quite a lot of luggage allowanceat my disposal. I would, therefore, welcome donations of used children’sclothing to carry back to South Africa with me. If any of you are able to help in thisregard, please let me know so that we can arrange how to collect or where tosend your donation. We are extremely short of children’s clothes for all ages.We get very few donations locally.

Andfinally, I’m conscious of the fact that I won’t be able to visit and see youall – and I’m truly sorry. If possible, please attend one of my presentation atanother nearby church instead. Big changes are to be announced regardingfundraising and future UK trips and it would be wonderful if as many of you aspossible could hear about them first-hand. My summarized itinerary is attachedto this newsletter for your interest.

Lovein Christ,

Joan.

PRAYERREQUESTS:

Praiseand thanks for:

1.    God’s ongoing faithfulness to MorningStar.

2.    Our recent successful sea trip andthat God’s hand of protection covered every aspect of it.

Pleasepray for:

1.    Sarah Wilkins – that her long-awaitedvisa will soon be issued and that she’ll be granted permission to continueserving at Morning Star and so be able to travel home to England to visit herfamily.

2.    Joan as she prepares for her U.K.visit and for good health and travelling mercies whilst there.

3.   For favour with the Free Stategovernment; that they’ll agree to waive all charges for rent and utilities atour Welkom premises. (We’ve had no word from the Dept. of Public Works regardingour Welkom premises for several months.)

4.  Continue to pray for Pastor Revival ashe seeks to speak into the lives of our many teenagers and pray for Godlywisdom for Albert in the ‘snap’ decisions he’s called to make, in regard to themany families we serve.

OurDear Morning Star Friends,

HappyTwos Day to you all (22-02-2022.)  What agreat day to begin my latest newsletter!

Igreet you all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ever grateful for yourpartnership in our ministry and for your encouragement, always.

“Youare my God, and I will give thanks to you;

Youare my God and I will extol you.

Ohgive thanks to the Lord, for He is good;

ForHis steadfast love endures forever.”

Psalm118:28-29

Wonderfulnews is that our electricity at Morning Star has finally been restored. It took8 full weeks for the Free State government to rectify the problems and switchour lights back on. For the first few days we kept our generator close at hand,ever fearful that it would have to be pulled out in a hurry. Funnily enough, weeven missed the noise to start off with; we were all so used to the generatorrumbling on, day in and day out. We no longer take our electricity supply andrunning water for granted in South Africa. Power outages and empty water tanksare increasingly the norm here and have, together with the absence of othervital service deliveries, resulted in a mind shift of expectations. Alarmingly,we’re only too glad these days when a ‘service-related problem’ receives aninterim solution, fully aware that the job wasn’t done properly in the firstplace and that it’s only a matter of time before it resurfaces again – onlyworse than the time before. 

Thispast week has been a torrid week as far as deaths are concerned. We’ve beenleft reeling at the news of two of our children’s mums passing away lastThursday and Friday, as well as the death of teenager, Thabo Mkhabela, onSunday 20^th February. All 3 died in Bongani Hospital; Ms Mxhiki fromcancer and from aborting her ARV regime last year, Ms Tisana from the severeburns incurred when her shack  burnt downwhilst she was asleep in it and Thabo, after contracting TB meningitis andsubsequently having a severe stroke. Thabo had just written and passed hismatric (Grade 12) in 2021 and was looking forward to studying further andmaking something of his life. Moira Mxhiki leaves behind 4 children, theyounger two being Morning Star children. Thankfully, Ms Tisana was alone athome on the night of the fire. Her little boy, our 7-year-old Lebohang,providentially slept over at his father’s house that night. Morning Star is inthe midst of assisting with funeral expenses and counselling/advising thebereaved families re: their way forward. 

Ofsignificance in the case of 19-year-old Thabo Mkhabela was that even though hegrew up knowing that all the children at Morning Star were born with HIV/AIDS,he never owned the fact that he was infected with the virus himself. Because heremained healthy throughout childhood and was, thus, never put ontoanti-retroviral drugs, he presumed that his guardian had just found favour atMorning Star and that we were assisting the family because they were so poor.Only at the end of last year when he contracted tuberculosis, and hospitalized,did he grasp the reality of his own condition. Looking back, we’ve had severalother teenagers who were similarly brought to the realization of their statusesin their mid-teens. Even though we openly talk about HIV/AIDS at Morning Starand especially at our regular teens’ meetings, our frankness with our childrenis not reciprocated at home.  Ourchildren’s carers/ guardians don’t routinely share with them what theirbiological mothers and fathers died from, why they’re having to take medication(ARVs) each day and why clinic visits are so frequent. The shock of learningone’s HIV/AIDS status in one’s teenage years is immense and results in allkinds of emotional and behavioural problems. It’s something we truly need toaddress going forward.

Inlight of the above and coupled with the fact that so many 10 – 14 year oldgirls in South Africa are falling pregnant and having babies (the Gauteng MECof Health recently reported that 934 babies had been born to 10-14 year oldgirls in the Gauteng Province alone in 2020/2021) we’ve decided to start anannual Holiday (Bible) Club for our 9-13 year olds during the July schoolholidays and make a concerted effort to talk to them about their HIV/AIDSstatuses and to equip them with the life skills needed to avoid falling prey tothe advances of predators in their communities. Often, by the time they’re oldenough to attend our teens’ meetings and monthly Bible Studies, they arealready sexually active and we’ve missed our window of reaching them. Pleasepray for wisdom in this endeavour.

Onceagain the UK couple who have faithfully been funding our annual sea trips since2005 have provided the finances required for the excursion to take place againthis year. 30 new Morning Star children between the ages of 14-15 years are setto visit Kwa Zulu Natal from 2^nd – 5^th March. Once againwe’ll be staying at Kinderstrand (in English – Children’s Beach) down in PortEdward and once again, the children will be treated to uShaka Marine World inDurban and to as much frolicking on the beach/in the sea as time allows. One ofthe young girls on this year’s list was so overwhelmed upon hearing that she’dbeen selected, that she burst into tears and sobbed with joy. 8 staff memberswill accompany the children, three of them being the drivers of the ToyotaQuantums being used to transport them there and back. Of the group, thefollowing children have UK sponsors and will be known to some of you: 

Girls: Bontlenyana Mohlapo; DeisaLephuting; Difedile Mokatsane; Hopolang Mokhethi; Kananelo Maile; Lunathi Gana;Mamashalane Maleho; Mantombi Sokaya; Matshdiso Mahloko; Mpho Lehana; PalesaNtoko; Thandeka Malakoane.

Boys: Ben Hanyane; Katleho Moraile;Lehlohonolo Sebogoli; Lehlohonolo Wesi; Motsau Thobatsi; Nceba Luthi; SarameRasello; Thabang Mkwani; Thapelo Rampai; Vusi Masitha.

Some of you already know that I’mplanning a UK fundraising trip again this year. God willing, I’ll be visiting agood number of our supporting churches from 24^th April – 12^thMay. Glenys Barham has very kindly coordinated the itinerary for me again but,sadly will no longer be driving me around the country. The bottom line is we’reboth getting old and are unable to keep up with the hectic pace past visitshave been. This year’s trip is generally better spaced out which, of course,means that I’m not able to visit as many supporting churches as I’d like to.I’m therefore attaching the basic itinerary to this newsletter for yourperusal. Hopefully, many of you will be able to make your way to the closestvenue and, thus, see me/hear my presentation as well. For those of you keen todo this, please contact Glenys at: glenys.barham@gmail.com for the exact location of each church/venue.

I’llbe bringing the last suitcase of Pelo & Hart merchandise with me (ourwomen’s sewing project.) As mentioned in my last letter, we’ve had to close theproject down due to the fact that the tourism industry has all but died overthe past two years of Covid/its implications. All products will be sold at costprice – affording you the wonderful opportunity to stock-up on Christmas giftsfor family and friends.

PRAYERREQUESTS:

1.    Praise & thanks for the generalgood health of our Morning Star children.

2.    Praise and thanks that gardener,Papiki Monyane, has been able to get an earlier hospital appointment for hisdetached retina on 30^th March.

PleasePray for:

1.    Our Sea Trip from 2^nd – 5^thMarch. Pray for journeying mercies, that the children and staff will be keptsafe and remain healthy and that what our 30 teenagers see and learn over the 4days they’re away will have a positive impact on their futures.

2.    Our bereaved families: Pray for thesix (4 + 2) children who have recently lost their mothers and for Godly wisdomfor Albert, Pastor Revival and social auxiliary worker, Shiwe, as they counseland assist them.

3.    Pray, too, for Thabo Mkhabela’sguardian as she comes to terms with her loss of a beloved son.

4.    Pray for Bonolo Mantje whose hipsurgery is scheduled for 25^th March and for Relebohile Motsie whoseheart operation takes place on 9^th March, God willing.

5.    Please pray that Sarah Wilkins’ visawill be processed soon. She submitted her application a whole year ago and isstill waiting for it to be issued. In this country one can’t even make enquiresas to what the delay is. Until such time that Sarah receives her visa, she’sunable to fly home to England to visit her family and friends. She couldn’teven go home at Christmastime last year, as is her usual custom.

6.    Please pray for our Board Meeting,scheduled for Thursday 24^th February, that we’ll be granted Godlywisdom in all the matters at hand.

7.   Pray that the cost-saving endeavoursembarked upon at the end of 2021 will have born some fruit and that we’ll findourselves in a better financial position than we were 3 months ago.

8.    Continue praying for Pastor Revival ashe seeks to share the Gospel with our many teenagers and speak into theirlives. Pray too for our staff, many of whom have attended our morning devotionsfor years, but whose hearts remain hard.

18^thJanuary 2022

Dear Friends,

Greetingsto you all on this the 18^th January 2022. Christmas 2021 has comeand gone, New Year celebrations are behind us and like all of you, we’rewondering what the next 12 months will usher in. Will Covid dissipate andenforced restrictions subside/ disappear altogether? Or are we in for the sametype of year as 2021, with imposed lockdowns, successive booster vaccines andthe never-ending wearing of masks? Thankfully, our Sovereign God is in controlof all things, even this.

“ForI know the Lord is great and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the Lordpleases, He does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. Your nameO Lord, endures forever, your renown, O Lord, throughout all ages,” Psalm 135:5-6, 13.

MorningStar reopened last week and our new intake of children began yesterday, 17^thJanuary. Amazingly, their wails of protest at being separated from their carersfor the first time in their lives have already subsided and today they’requietly adjusting to their new environments and starting to enjoy theactivities on hand.

Asper our restructuring process, we’ve taken in fewer new children this year andhave also dispensed with one of our minibuses. (In place of the 95 children atour Welkom Centre in 2021 there are only 83 this year.) However, we’ve notdisposed of the Toyota Quantum no longer in service but are keeping it foremergencies, for when one of our other buses is in for repairs/ maintenanceetc. The logistics of getting our children to and from their homes when there’sa vehicle short has been Elizabeth vd Westhuizen’s worst nightmare and hasvastly contributed to the many grey hairs on her head. When this happens, we’reforced to use one of our smaller cars for the transport run and, instead ofjust two trips in and out of Thabong Township, morning and afternoon, severaltrips have to be made instead. Having a spare vehicle at our disposal is goingto make a world of a difference, going forward.

Otherchanges include reduced numbers in our little school (Grade 1 -3’s) and no morechildren under the age of 2 years. As you well know, fewer and fewer childrenare born with HIV/AIDS in South Africa these days and so, for the foreseeablefuture, our baby rooms will be put to other uses.

Abig frustration awaiting our return to work this year was discovering that westill didn’t have electricity at Morning Star. This problem began in the firsthalf of December already when, due to cable theft and heavy rain damage to ourelectrical sub-station, our power supply came to an abrupt halt. It had nosooner been restored on 10^th January when it went off again, due toa faulty circuit breaker. We can do nothing but wait for the government torepair it and continue running our little generator to keep our computers operationaland using our gas stove to cook for our children each day.

Thankfully,all our little children kept well and safe over the Christmas holidays. PraiseGod for answered prayer.

Sadly,we did have a death though; one of our young adults, Solomon Molete, passedaway at Bongani Hospital on 29^th December. Admittedly, he wasn’t oneof our little ones; rather he was one of our earliest intake of children whenMorning Star first opened and grew up before our eyes. A bright eyed little boywho, tragically, suffered the loss of one family member after the next until hehad nobody suitable to care for him anymore. He made a profession of faith as ateenager but then got into bad company and, as well as defaulting on his ARVtreatment, became addicted to drugs. He was in a sorry state at the time of hisdeath. In addition to liver and lung damage, his mind had also been adverselyaffected by the drugs. What a tragic, tragic story! Solomon’s death broke thehearts of those of us who knew him.

Godwilling and Covid allowing, I’m planning a Morning Star round trip to the UK inApril/ May this year and hope to visit as many of you as possible. GlenysBarham offered to contact our supporting churches and put together a schedulefor me and I hear this is already in process. I must say, it’ll be wonderful tosee you again – face-to-face. Zoom is fantastic – and certainly better thannothing – but, please pray that this trip will, indeed go ahead and that I’llbe able to share with you, in person, how we envisage Morning Star movingforward in the future.

NextMonday, 24^th January, Morning Star will be turning 22 years old.Isn’t that amazing! That God has sustained us and faithfully provided for ourevery need all this time is humbling, to say the least. We give Him all theglory and thank you for your prayers, your ongoing encouragement and yourwonderful partnership in our ministry since the year 2000. 

Love in Christ,                                                                                                                                                                 

Joan

PRAYER REQUESTS:

1. Praise and thanks to our Gracious God forkeeping our children and staff over the Christmas holidays.

2.  All praise to Him too, for sustaining MorningStar and providing for our every need for 22 whole years.

3.   Praise and thanks for the widespread rainsSouth Africa has experienced this summer. We’ve never seen anything like it inour lives before! All the country’s dams are full to over-flowing and ournormal, semi-arid Welkom is as green as the countryside in England. And therain keeps coming, day-after-day-after-day.

Please pray for:

1.  Our teenagers. So many of them lose hope inlife when they have little home support, don’t make the grade at school, suffersevere side-effects from their ARV regimes, struggle with limited abilitiesgrowing up and have zero job opportunities post-school. Solomon Molete’s deathwas a sure reminder of just how vulnerable our young adults are and, in thewhole scheme of things, how miniscule Morning Star’s assistance really is.

2. Pastor Revival as he walks a road with ourteenagers and young adults and ministers to them through the monthly teens’Bible Studies and the one-on-one conversations he has with them. He is one manendeavouring to reach and form relationships with 150+ teens/young adults andof course, has to juggle this in-between his other responsibilities and familylife as well.

3. Bonolo and Relebohile awaiting imminentsurgery. Both Bonolo’s second hip operation and Relebohile’s heart operationare scheduled for early March 2022.

4.  Godly wisdom for both our Morning Star Boardand UK support team as they seek to support us on the ground, plan for thefuture in the face of probable changes regarding our Welkom premises anddiscuss ways to supplement our monthly income.

Dear Morning Star Friends,

My last letter beganwith doom and gloom at Morning Star, as I described our current financialposition and the deaths of two teenagers in our midst. This letter is a lotdifferent but still coming to you from a heavy heart.

Some of you alreadyknow that my husband, Ron, and I are booked to fly to England for the month ofDecember, to use up our plane tickets from April 2020 before they expire at theend of the year. And bang! A week before we were due to leave, a new Covid variantwas identified in South Africa and international travel from this part of theworld immediately halted. Believe it or not, we’ve been deemed ‘unsafe’ onceagain! I can’t even begin to describe how devastating this is and how heartsore we are, not just our family, but the thousands of other folk in both ourcountries who have been similarly affected and whose Christmas plans have beendashed, once again. Enough said. I know we all have different opinions on Covidand vaccines and this is not the platform to discuss them. Suffice to say ourGod is sovereign, even over all over of this. May His will be done.

I actually begancomposing this letter before the above news broke and this is how it began:“Greetings to you all from sunny South Africa. It’s a  beautiful sunny day  today (it is today too, even though it’s aweek later) and everything visible outside my office window is looking freshand green after the recent, very welcome rains we’ve had.

 “For the Lord is good. His steadfastlove endures forever and His faithfulness to all generations.” Psalm 100:5.

My last letter left youall wondering how we would cope in the midst of looming retrenchments and cuttingback on our monthly expenditure – and also whether we could continue trustingour Lord, despite the trials of the day. The answer is a resounding ‘Yes’. Wepraise Almighty God for bringing us through this   difficult period. The first step was to sitdown as management, commit the matter to prayer and then discuss ways in whichwe could cut back on our expenses. This led to consultations with our labourconsultant as to the legalities relating to the retrenchment of staff. Decidingwhich three staff members to dispense with and then working through the actualprocess wasn’t an easy exercise at all but Albert, our general manager, expertlyhandled the matter to its conclusion. One thing for sure, Albert manages allour staff and labour issues far better than I ever did! I’m very relieved thatthis responsibility is no longer mine.

Thankfully, we’ve beenable to secure alternate employment for the two affected women and, Godwilling, will continue to use the 3^rd, retiring driver, Johannes, asa relief driver for the foreseeable future. 

Most of our cost-saving measures will only come into effect in 2022. Weshould see a huge difference in our monthly expenditure with less new childrenbeing   admitted in 2022 and with one ofour buses not in daily use anymore. Thank you, one and all, for your prayersfor us over the past two months. After the initial shock had worn off our staffrallied positively and even came up with a few brilliant cost-saving ideas oftheir own. They, themselves, suggested foregoing their annual bonuses & thebread, tea/coffee help we’ve always provided each day. The whole process wastruly smoother than we ever   imagined itwould be – and we give God all the glory.

Encouragement for usall in these dark days:

 Then I saw a new heaven and anew earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and thesea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out ofheaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard avoice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.He will dwell with them, and they will be His people and God Himself will bewith them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. And deathshall be no more, neither shall there be  mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things havepassed away.” Revelation 21: 1-4

PREMISES UPDATE: 

The only newdevelopment regarding the occupation of our Kopano Complex premises, Welkom, isthat we were visited by an official from the provincial office of theDepartment of Social Development, Bloemfontein, last week. Social Developmenthad been approached by the Free State Department of Public Works to determinehow they could assist us financially (so that we’d be in a position to pay forour utilities and the rental for our premises.) It was a positive meeting andwe now await the outcome of Mrs Motsemme’s report and recommendations to PublicWorks. This issue has been ongoing for over two years now – but is not beingput on a back burner this time around. Please keep praying.

The past two monthshave been fraught with water shortages and power outages across South Africa.We are truly in a sorry state in this country and, alarmingly, there’s no lightat the end of the very dark tunnel. Our utility supplier, Eskom, has beendescribed by its CEO as a ‘dying horse’ and that there’s no hope of itrecovering. As a result, we’re set to join the rest of the African continentvery soon, with each household obliged to purchase its own generator if they’renot in a position to install renewable energy components. As for our watercrisis, this is due to the fact that our municipalities are bankrupt and indebt to the supplier, Sedibeng Water, by millions of rand. (In South Africa, wedon’t pay the utility providers directly; instead, all monies are channelledthrough the local municipalities.)

Closer to home, all ourcopper (water) cables were stolen from our Kultwanong premises last week. Ourstaff, arriving at work the next morning, were greeted with water, watereverywhere! The perpetrators simply cut the pipes and took what they wanted, withno regard to the water wastage in the  process. It’s a shocking reality of life here – and occurs on a dailybasis in different locations. Pittance is received for the sale of the copperto scrap dealers compared with the cost of repairing the damages incurred. 

Over this past weekend, our Welkom compound (where our vehicles arehoused) was broken into twice and two attempts made to steal one of our ToyotaQuantum buses. We’re going to have to move this vehicle to a safer locationforthwith as the thieves are intent on stealing it and will be back to completethe deed if we don’t act   promptly.(Unfortunately, only two of our three Welkom buses can fit into the garage. The3^rd has always ‘slept’ out-of-doors.)  

 OUR CHILDREN:

Thankfully, most of ourchildren are healthy and thriving at Morning Star.  It never ceases to astound us what adifference good nutrition makes to a little body ravaged by the effects ofbeing born with HIV/AIDS virus. We have a new 3-year-old in our midst calledSonwabile. A quick glance at him when he and is mum arrived at    Morning Star for the first time was enoughto tell us that this little boy had untreated HIV/AIDS. We confirmed hispositivity with a rapid test and learnt that his mum had been unaware of hisstatus all these years. We admitted him immediately and have been encouragedwith his progress over the past month. He’s now on antiretroviral drugs and hasgone from being a disinterested eater to thoroughly enjoying his food; he’sstarted putting on weight and is beginning to play and smile. It’s toowonderful to see.

We have another little boy at our Welkom Centre also in much need ofprayer. 5-year-old Siya Latile survived meningitis two years back but was leftunable to speak or walk. Over time we’ve helped him to walk on his own againbut sadly, he’s still unable to talk. He’s usually a very happy child but, oflate, has suffered repeated chest infections which have left his little bodyweak and fragile. We’re also trying to determine why his ARV regime was recentlychanged; the new treatment doesn’t seem to agree with him at all.

 STAFF:

In addition to thethree recently retrenched staff members, we also have Mr Teboho Moloi leavingour employ at the end of November (today 30/11/21.) He took over from Mrs LizaMans as internal accountant when she died two years ago and we had high hopesof him remaining in our employ for many years to come. But it was not to be.Mrs Naledi Marumo, a qualified chartered  accountant, joined us at the beginning of November to learn Teboho’srole at Morning Star and will be assisting us with our finances going  forward.

Please continue to pray for our gardener, Papiki Monyane. He’s stillstruggling with ill-health and with a detached retina and, more recently, witha cataract as well. We need a miracle for him as the eye clinic at NationalHospital in Bloemfontein have informed him that the equipment needed to repairthe detached retina is broken and there’s no money for a new one in the currentfinancial year. They’ve told him to come back in July 2022!

PELO & HART WOMEN’S SEWING PROJECT:

As mentioned in myprevious letter, the Covid pandemic and total breakdown of the tourism industryworldwide resulted in our Pelo & Hart women’s sewing project having no outlet to sell their merchandise any longer. Additionally, former manager, Mirna de Hart,found alternate employment and has lost interest in the project. At our boardmeeting last week it was decided that the project be closed down forthwith. Allremaining stock is to be sold or given away. The two remaining women, Dada andNthabiseng, can continue working from the premises but there’s to be no furtherinvolvement in the project from any of the Morning Star staff. New orders arestill welcome but will be handled entirely by Dada and Nthabiseng. What atragedy! I never could’ve dreamt that our beloved sewing project would come toan end in this way.

I do still have a full suitcase of products bound for theUnited Kingdom though. God willing, all this merchandise will accompany Ron andme to England when we finally get to go. UK supporter, Sarah Baskerville, has offered to help sell the productson her website “Mission for Morning Star”

END-OF-YEAR ACTIVITIES:

Thank you, one and all, for ensuring that allour little children have a Christmas party this year and that each receives agift as well. In addition to individual sponsors providing for ‘their child’we’ve also been blessed with Christmas shoe boxes and monetary supportfrom  Banijay Rights and Linda Gardiner& friends in England, Sarah Wilkins’ UK support base and locally, by SouthAfrica’s favourite seafood restaurant, Ocean Basket, Welkom. Their combinedassistance has enabled us to buy each child a new Christmas outfit, ensure theyall receive a bulging Christmas shoe box or gift bag and all get a lovely foodhamper to take home to share with their families. Our two Christmas parties arescheduled for next Tuesday 7^th and Wednesday 8^thDecember.

Please bear in mind that our children’s lastday at Morning Star this year is Wednesday the 8^th December. If anyof you are still wanting to transfer Christmas money, you need to ensure it’sin our bank accounts by next Monday. Anything after this will only be picked upand delivered in the New Year.

Bear in mind, too, that should internationaltravel open up for us in the foreseeable future, I might not be able toacknowledge your monetary gifts timeously or send you updated photos and newsof your child’s December birthday until we reopen Morning Star on 10^thJanuary 2022. However, I will be able to access mail on my Gmail account at alltimes and can be contacted on:

 joan.elizabeth.adams@gmail.com  

SANDRA RYCROFT – CHILDREN’S CLOTHING FOR MORNINGSTAR:

For those of you who would like to sendchildren’s clothing over to us from the UK, here’s some exciting news: SandraRycroft from Emmanuel Baptist Church, Leeds, is willing to include yourdonations in the boxes she’ll be sending to Morning Star in the New Year. Sheuses an excellent courier company; they’re very efficient and we’ve hadtrouble-free deliveries time-after-time. She asks only that:

1.    All donated clothes to belaundered and to be in good condition (no holes, zips working etc.)

2.    Please send only children’sand teenagers’ clothing, crafts etc.

3.    The cost of freight is4.90pds per kg for 100kgs and over. Donations towards courier costs areessential.

For further informationplease contact Sandra on:    sandra.rycroft@ntlworld.com

“Therefore, since weare surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside everyweight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the racethat is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfector of ourfaith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising theshame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”   Hebrews 12: 1-2

Praise & thanks for:

·        For the good health of most of our children.

·        That our staff retrenchment process went well and that there were nomajor issues with the union representative.

·        For our many overseas sponsors – for their encouragement always, theircommitment to praying for us regularly and for their faithful partnership inour ministry.

·        All praise to God for His guiding hand over Morning Star for another 12months. He has wondrously met our every need for another year.

Please pray for:

·        The safety of all our children and staff over the Christmas shut-downperiod.

·        Our Welkom premises – that we’ll find favour with the Free Stategovernment and will be able to continue operating here free-of-charge.

·        Morning Star’s finances – for wisdom in how we utilize our income, especiallywith the new school year fast approaching and not having sufficient funds tohelp each and every child with their    stationery and uniform needs.

·        Pray for our ill children – Siya Latile and little Sonwabile.

·        Pray too for 12-year-old Bonolo Mantje and 8-year-old Relebohile Motsie.Bonolo’s hip operation wasn’t a success and she needs to have it done all overagain and little Relebohile hasn’t been able to have her heart surgery at all.Each time she goes to Bloemfontein for admission, a new issue crops up; thefirst time she was tested positive for Covid and the second time, she haddeveloped a chest infection.

·        Pray for gardener, Papiki Monyane’s health issues and for a miracleconcerning the operation he urgently needs for his detached retina

Dear Morning Star Friends,

I’ve written difficultletters to you before but this one, today, is the hardest of them all. Not onlyare we facing a few heavy challenges at  Morning Star at the moment but we’re also reeling at the news of thedeath of one of our teenagers last Friday (she aborted her ARV treatment) andof the suicide of the 15-year-old son of American missionaries serving at ThePines Christian Children’s Village, Welkom, in the early hours of Mondaymorning.

Perhaps today is not agood day to try and compose a  letter –but, at the same time, I’ve put off  communicating with you long enough and got up this morning determinedthat my letter needed to be typed so as to put you into the picture of what’sgoing on at Morning Star at the moment.

FINANCES:

As you well know, ourfinancial predicament at Morning Star has long been an issue. It goes back towhen CAF UK ceased channeling funds to overseas charities and we lost up to 50of our long-term monetary supporters overnight. We’ve struggled on in theensuing years, relying on my annual UK visits to improve our monthly incomeand, embarrassingly, on your    generosity in the hard times as well. Over the latter years we’ve hungonto the possibility of registering   Morning Star as a UK   charity andraising funds via this route too. But, there is now legitimate doubt as towhether the additional   income raisedfrom the setting up a CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organization) would beworthwhile, bearing in mind the extra administrative costs that would berequired in the UK. The time has thus come to take stock of our presentsituation and ‘cut our coat according to our cloth.’

Our Morning Star boardmet on 2^nd September and after much discussion,  instructed management to find ways to reduce expenditureby R60, 000.00 (3000pds) per month and this by the end of 2021. The directiveincludes working on a clear, concise statement of our focus   going forward and also means concentratingmore on what we do well – early childhood development – and not on skills            development of our young adultswhich, unfortunately, is not reaping sustainable results.

We’ve since sat down as management and agreed onwhat we can forego each month and what’s  non-negotiable. We’re   determined that our services to our childrenwill be the last to suffer so it’s our little ‘luxuries’ and the benefits thatour staff enjoy that have/will go first. This   includes admitting fewer new children in 2022 and thus cutting out one ofour busloads (and driver) per day, personnel restructuring and staffretrenchments. This is a very hard call and one that’s causing sleeplessnights; unfortunately, though, it’s unavoidable. Our labour consultant isinvolved in the process and has already met with our 43 staff members,explained the legalities being followed and shared that restructuring at Morning Star isgoing to result in at least three of them losing their jobs.

CHRISTMAS CARDS

U.K. artist, Sarah Baskerville from WheelockHeath Baptist Church in Cheshire, has set up a Facebook page called “Missionfor Morning Star”. In due course, various Christmas cards (her own creationsplus some of our children’s art work) will be featured on this site and you’llbe able to place orders for the one’s you like. The cards are still at the printers. Once available, the links will beshared on both the Morning Star and Mission for Morning Star Facebook pages.Morning Star will be benefitting from this generous gesture so please support   Sarah in her endeavour.

HERITAGE DAY:

Not all is doom and gloom at Morning Star though;last Thursday saw us celebrating Heritage Day at both our Welkom &Kutlwanong Centres. On this day South Africans remember the cultural heritageof the many cultures that make up the population of our country and variousevents are staged across our land to commemorate them. What we did this yearwas to invite our staff and children to come dressed in their traditionalattire and to enjoy cultural games and dances during the course of the morning.We also hosted a home-industry market at our Welkom premises where the public,our staff members and our children were invited to purchase our homemadeproducts. Some children brought small sums of money from home whilst otherswere ‘sponsored’ so that they didn’t feel left out. The products sold includedfreshly made pancakes, home-baked rusks, jams and lemon cordial but the mostappealing of all were the muffins, biscuits and no-bake cookies that thechildren made themselves.  These weresold out in no time and I must say, were absolutely scrumptious.

 END-OF-YEAR ACTIVITIES:

The end of 2021 is fastapproaching and we’re in the midst of determining which Township schools ourreception children will betransitioning to next January and whether and when we’ll be able to have ourusual Christmas functions. These days Covid and ‘the next wave’ and ‘lock-down’all have to be factored into everything so we’re trusting that our rate of newinfections continues to diminish and we don’t enter into our 4^thwave by November, as predicted. It appears that things have settled down in ourarea of the Free State Province though and none of us even knows anybodysuffering the symptoms of the disease at the moment. God willing, our Gogos’Party (Grandmothers’ Christmas function) will still take place on 27^thNovember; they’ll be devastated if we are forced to cancel the event, as willour little children be if there are no Christmas parties for them this year.

If any of you areplanning to send gifts over, please know that our postal system is still notoperating satisfactorily and that we cannot guarantee the safe delivery of yourparcels. Believe it or not we’re still awaiting several parcels posted over ayear ago!! And these are ones we know about! This is not to say that nothing isarriving at all – only that deliveries are random and make little sense. Forexample, of 2 parcels posted on the same day, from the same person, from thesame post office, only one is arriving. Full-stop! Bizarrely, one sponsor’sgift was returned to her in England and we had no    notification that it had arrived at ourlocal post office and had subsequently been ‘returned to sender.’

The safer option is to put a small extra sum ofmoney into our Lloyds or Stewardship accounts, referencing who/what the gift isfor.

KOPANO COMPLEX:

The issue of ouroccupancy at our Kopano Complex premises in Welkom, as well as us paying forour electricity and water consumption each month, has yet to be resolved. Twoyears have passed since the initial visit by officials from the Department ofPublic Works and still we await their final decision. We understand that theDept. of Public Works’ recommendation gets submitted to the Provincial TreasuryDepartment and that they make the final decision. Please continue to keep thismatter in prayer.

PELO & HART SEWINGPROJECT:

Our women’s sewingproject, Pelo & Hart, is barely limping along. The best two sewers, Dadaand Nthabiseng, still come in each weekday and, although the odd overseas orderkeeps them busy, they mostly work on the private jobs they source. Will thetourism industry in South Africa ever be revived? Will we ever get largenumbers of overseas visitors to our land again? Only God knows. As long asSouth Africa remains on the word’s red list, even though we’ve had the samevaccinations as all of you, there is no hope at all. Of course, as long as thisrestriction is in place, we cannot visit the UK either.

As mentioned at thestart of this letter, we received the tragic news on Monday of 18-year-oldHlompho Khaeane’s untimely death. We were alerted to the fact that she was illsome weeks ago but after a visit to the doctor and follow-up Morning Starvisits to her home, we were led to believe that she was much better and ‘out ofthe woods’. Sadly, she took a turn for the worse last Tuesday and was rushed tohospital. She died on Friday, 24^th September. Her death was as aresult of her aborting her ARV (anti-retroviral) treatment. Oh, why do so manyteenagers, living with HIV/AIDS in South Africa, do this? If only we could getto the bottom of it all.

Our other recentMorning Star death was that of former gardener, John Masupa. He was finallydiagnosed with TB of the spine and died in hospital on 8^th September

 ZOOM MEETINGS:

3 new Zoom Meetings are scheduled to takeplace between now and the end of the year. Ifanymore of you would like to take the opportunity of having us join one of yourweekly Bible studies/prayer meetings, please let us know. It’s one way of ‘keeping in touch’   during this difficult time we are all livingthrough.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

¨ Praise and thanks for the good health of our littlechildren and the untold blessings we  enjoyfrom God’s hand each day.

¨ Praise and thanks that 12-year-old BonoloMantje is back at Morning Star this week and has recovered well from her hipoperation.

¨ All praise to God that Albert, our General Manager,is finally back at Morning Star after    undergoing shoulder surgery 2 months ago. Keep him in prayer, though, ashe’s not yet fully       recovered andfree of pain.

¨ We’re aware that various children on ourregister are not being cared for properly at home and   suspect that some are being  abused, or are    suffering from gross neglect. Please praythat we’ll be granted wisdom in how to approach these matters and for full cooperationfrom the various social workers we’re dealing with.

¨ Please pray for the management team at MorningStar as we begin cutting down on our monthly expenditure and decide which staffmembers to retrench. Pray, in particular for Joan who is   struggling to come to terms with all theinternal issues we’re experiencing at present.

¨ Our Welkom premises – keep praying that we’llfind favour with the Free State government and not be charged rent or for ourelectricity and water consumption.

¨ Please pray for gardener, Papiki Monyane. Heunderwent surgery for a detached retina 4 months ago but something has gonewrong and he’s needing an urgent re-appointment. Consulting a privatespecialist locally is going to prove costly and something he cannot afford.

¨ Please continue to pray for Morning Star’sfinances, that our Gracious God would help us to ‘rest in Him’ at all times andtrust Him for our tomorrows.

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;     His mercies never come to an end; they arenew every morning; Great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” saysmy soul, “Therefore I will hope in him.” Lamentations 3: 22-24

Dear Morning Star Friends,

Greetings from a very chilly Welkom at the moment. For those of us whothought we’d be having a mild winter this year, we’ve been horribly mistaken.The month of June was quite pleasant on the whole, but July has been adifferent story altogether. Several cold fronts have hit our shores over thepast few weeks and made their way into the interior of South Africa, leavingice, snow and a bitterly cold winds in their wake. Temperatures have plummetedto 8 degrees below freezing point overnight and we’re all saying we’ve notexperienced a winter as cold as this in years. It’s the plight of the poor inthese conditions that tear at our hearts. If I’m freezing in the midst of mymodern comforts, how are they coping with their inadequate shelters,insufficient clothing and blankets, no electricity, no bed to sleep on and withthe nearest source of cold water down the road at the communal tap? We have somuch to be grateful for – and we take so much for granted.

RecentUnrest in South Africa

I’m sure many of you are wondering how we are at Morning Star andwhether the recent unrest in South Africa has affected us in any way. Thesimple answer is no – not directly at all.

We praise God that the horror, the malicious damage to property byvandalism and fire and the looting of shops, malls, factories and 139 schoolswas contained to just two of our  9provinces, Gauteng and Kwa Zulu Natal and thus, didn’t reach Welkom and theFree State Province at all.

Weare a nation desperately in need of God’s mercy. In a country with the highestrate of inequality in the world,         combinedwith a politically divided, corrupt ruling party, a flailing economy, 75, 000jobs lost/in jeopardy as a result of the riots, a third of our adult populationunemployed, 61% of our population reliant on social grants and 50% of our youthaimlessly roaming the streets each day, we’ve been brought face-to-face withthe realization that we were very close to losing control of law and order.And, if the underlying issues that caused this flare-up in the first placearen’t properly addressed, we are in danger of something like this happeningagain.

But we are a resilient nation too and can rebuild what was destroyed.The spirit of Ubuntu shown by diverse individuals across all sectors of societyto protect property, lives and livelihoods in response to the devastation, hasbeen truly heart-warming. From ordinary people standing guard at the entrancesto their towns, to the cleaning up of malls and streets, supplying foodstuffs,blankets and   emergency shelter,ordinary South Africans have united to defend themselves and each   other where government has dismally failedto do so.

 2 Corinthians 4:7-8 reminds us: “But we have this treasurein jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not tous. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not drivento despair.”                                                                                                                                                             Weremain encouraged, fully conscious of the fact that there are individuals andgroups behind the scenes who have dedicated their lives to saving our countryand the people in it. This gives us cause to hope for a better tomorrow. Pleasecontinue keep South Africa in your prayers.

CovidUpdate:

Coupledwith the recent chaos in South Africa, our 3^rd wave of theunrelenting Covid pandemic saw a spike of over 26, 000 infections per day inthe first week of July, with the Delta variant claiming the lives of over 600people. Thousands in South Africa are in mourning, often having more than oneperson in the same family who have succumbed to the virus. Is there ever goingto be an end to this pandemic, we wonder? We were greatly relieved to hear our presidentannounce last Sunday that we’ve passed the third wave peak and that newinfections are down to about 12,000 per day. Restrictions have eased somewhat and we are now legally allowed toreturn to church. Thus far, only 4% of our 60 million population have beenfully vaccinated.

And, what of Morning Star? Well, we reopened our two centres last Monday,19^th July, after a two week break. We were in renewed lock-downthen, but it fell close to our winter school holidays and we had planned toclose for two weeks anyway. Most of our children have returned now and oh, howtheir happy smiles and expressions of joy at being back at Morning Star gladdensour hearts.

Thankfully, our little ones are generally well. In our early years theyused to get so ill during winter and many didn’t make it through to spring. Butnowadays most of our HIV positive children are on anti-retroviral drugs andtheir general well-being is vastly improved. In Morning Star’s early years100% of our children were born and suffering the symptoms of HIV/AIDS. Thesedays only 30% of our little ones are HIV positive. It’s a different scenariowith our school-going children and young adults, though. 82% of them are stillliving with HIV/AIDS and bearing the long-term consequences of the disease.

Our only reallyill Morning Star child at the moment is 14-year old Patricia. She’s still inthe MDR ward (multi-drug-resistance TB) in Thaba Nchu, outside of Bloemfonteinand terminally ill. Her family were called to visit her urgently yesterday andtold that she’s not likely to survive beyond this coming weekend. What atragedy! An intelligent, bright-eyed teenager who enthusiastically  began secondary school at the start of thisyear and whose life has been cut short – way before her time, humanly speaking.Yes, our death rate has dropped significantly over the past decade and yet,each time one of our children succumbs to the symptoms of this terrible diseaseHIV/AIDS, we are heartbroken all over again.                                                                                                                              

NEWS UPDATE: Our Patricia has passed away. We’ve just been informed that she diedat 11am this morning, 29th July 2021. God willing, her funeral will take place on Saturday, 7^thAugust.

Morning StarFinances:

As mentioned previously, our monthly income remains a cause for concern.On average, we are short by about R50, 000.00 (2,500pds) per month. We’ve agonizedover where we can cut down, what we can do to reduce our deficit, but it’svery, very hard in the face of the increased poverty around us since Covid 19began 18 months ago. Day-by-day people out in the community walk all the wayfrom the black townships to Morning Star to plead for food.  And that’s not taking into account the manyMorning Star families who, all of a sudden, find themselves unable to make endsmeet because they’ve lost their jobs too We’re increasingly careful inassessing whether a need at Morning Star or a request for assistance for one ofour children/their families is pressing or not and whether we can forego theitem in question for a while longer. It’s heart-breaking that we can only provideregular food parcels to families whose monthly income is 25pds or less atpresent.

Unfortunately, there’s been no progress in thesetting up of a UK Charity wing for Morning Star yet. Our UK Trustees are   planning to meet up soon but we’re fullyaware that even once that’s happened, it’s highly unlikely that there’ll be anyadditional funding into our coffers for quite some time. Perhaps we need tostart looking into an income generating venture right here in Welkom, somethingthat’s going to supplement our income month-on-month and sustain us in thefuture.

 Zoom Meetings

Since our lastnewsletter went out, Albert & I have participated in 4 church Zoom Meetingsin the UK. Albert had the            opportunityto introduce himself to our audiences and has also been the one to share ourupdated Power Point Presentation.         The meetings have so blessed our hearts and your prayers for MorningStar are very humbling. If anyone else in the UK would like us to join oneof your weekly Bible Studies/Prayer Meetings, please e-mail me directly at: morningstar.reception@tiscali.co.za to let us know. It’s one way of ‘keeping in touch’during these difficult days we are all living through. 

Pelo & HartSewing Project:

Heart-breakingnews. Our Pelo & Hart Women’s Sewing Project (formerly Tshedisanang)officially closes at the end of this month. The impact of Covid 19 on thetourism industry worldwide has been significant and sadly, it’s affected us ‘onthe ground’ right here in Welkom too. Mirna de Hart, the Project Manager,reports that every single former outlet for their shweshwe merchandise has nowclosed its doors. The OR Tambo Airport shop and all the little boutique shopsat strategic tourist destinations across South Africa have ceased to exist andshe can no longer pay the women from her own pocket each month. The livelihoodsof 15 women have been affected by the closure and although each has been senthome with a sewing machine, it’s going to prove very hard for them to sewwithin their communities and earn as much as they did at Pelo & Hart. Therewill still be ‘a presence’ at the Morning Star premises; two of the women,Nthabiseng & Dada are ‘holding the fort’ in the hope that orders will comein and that the tourism industry will open up again in due course. In themeantime, I have a huge suitcase of finished merchandise in my office awaitingmy next UK fund-raising trip. It’s been standing in the corner of my office for16 months now.

Child Sponsorship

We’ve had a fairly good response to our appeal for new sponsors since mylast newsletter was circulated. Of the neediest of our little ones, only 15 nowremain without support.

A big thank you to those of you who agreed to continue supportingMorning Star even though ‘your child’ is grown up now and no longer on ourregister. A few of our long-term supporters have chosen to sponsor anotherneedy child whilst others have opted to channel their giving into our generalexpense fund instead. Thank you, one and all, for assisting us in this vitalway.

Praise& thanks for:

1. God’s protective hand upon us all during the recentunrest in South Africa.

2. The safereturn of our children after lock-down and that they’re all relatively well.

3. OurMorning Star family being protected from Covid and that we’ve lost none of ournumber in the midst of all the deaths around us.

Please Bring to the Throne ofGrace:

1. Our 14-year-old Patricia passedaway at 11am on 29^th July. Please pray for her grandmother, older brother and the extended family.Grandma is thoroughly gutted and can’t imagine living on without her preciouslittle granddaughter’s   presence. Praythat the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ will impact her heart and mind andcause her to turn to Him in her grief.

2. Our Welkom premises – the wheelsturn very slowly in government circles. Keep praying that we’ll find favourwith the Free State government and not be charged rent or for our electricityand water consumption.            

3. For Morning Star gardener, John,who went from being seemingly well one day to being paralysed the next.Currently, he’s in hospital, unable to walk and wearing diapers. Pray that thedoctors will accurately diagnose what’s wrong with him and manage to treat himsuccessfully.

4. Pray for South Africa in theaftermath of the recent looting and malicious damage to property. Pray that thefinancial assistance set aside by government for reconstruction and the replenishmentof what’s been looted and destroyed will not fall into corrupt hands. Pray thatthe assistance will reach the people it’s intended for.

5. Please continue to pray for MorningStar’s finances, that our Gracious God would help us to ‘rest in Him’ at alltimes and trust Him for our tomorrows.

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, alwaysin every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy because of your partnershipin the gospel from the first day until now”.                   Philippians 1: 3-5

Todays as Ibegin this letter to you I’m keenly aware that we are a partnership; all of youand Morning Star, and that neither of ‘us’ can do without the other. We reachout, care, serve, counsel and train and you pray, support and encourage in manyand varied ways. You may think your role insignificant but, in the big schemeof things, each prayer for Morning Star and every £1 donated towards ourministry here counts. In   essence, we’dcease to exist without you.                                                                                                                                                                                            

Haveyou ever wondered where and when our partnership in the Gospel started?

Many of you knew and loved Peter Parkinson, thefounder of Caring for Life up in Leeds, who passed away on 10^thApril, but how many of you are aware that he played a significant role in thestory of Morning Star and is testimony to majestic tapestry of divine providence?Peter actually played a crucial role in the development of our UK support baseand his introduction to key UK churches way back in 2002 opened up a channel ofsupport for Morning Star that continues to be significant to this day. WouldMorning Star even have survived this long if Peter hadn’t generously arrangedmeetings at a few of his own supporting churches for us? Today we have at least40 churches in England/ Wales on our donor base, with over 95% of our financialsupport coming from the UK ...... all thanks to Peter. As our Board Chairman,Joshua Bolaji, rightly put it “Peter has been more than a link to the churches.He has been a friend to Morning Star. He has been a ‘partaker of grace’ with usin the work here in South Africa. For this we will always be grateful and giveall the glory to God.”

Update: WelkomPremises:

For those of you wondering whetherthere have been further developments regarding our occupancy at Kopano Complexin    Welkom, the answer is no, not atall. The last we heard was back in February when the Dept. of Public Works letus know that they were compiling a submission to the Free State ProvincialTreasury, requesting rental exemption for us. Please continue to keep thismatter in prayer.

Anotherissue relating to our Welkom premises is that Kopano Complex’s telephone cables(copper) are repeatedly being stolen. This has happened three times over thepast 3 months. When this occurs we’re left without telephone lines and internetconnection, sometimes for days on end. It is hugely frustrating. The onlysolution is to do away with our Telkom lines completely and go the route ofinstalling fibre at   Morning Star. Theproblem is, the outlay is very expensive and we’re not sure whether to investthe R35, 000.00 (1, 750pds) to resolve the issue. This is a huge sum of   money to part with when we’re failing tomeet our budget each month.

New Toyota Quantum

A very big thank you to the manywho heeded our appeal for assistance re: the purchasing of a new QuantumMinibus for Morning Star. The response has been overwhelming and very humbling.All-in-all over               R100,000.00(5,000pds) has come in since my last newsletter went out and together with therecent         R100,000.00 donation received from UniversalHealthcare in Johannesburg, we’ve been able to go ahead and order our newvehicle. It is scheduled to be delivered to Welkom sometime next week. AlbertDuvenhage & Elizabeth van der Westhuizen have spent time examining all theminibuses and pondering over which of them needs replacing first and in theend, even though our Kutlwanong vehicle isn’t the oldest, it is in the worstshape and costing the most maintenance-wise. This is the one needing trading inmost urgently. We’ll now have to start saving towards a second replacementvehicle.

Covid 19 Update:

It’s wonderful to hear that yourCovid lock-down regulations in the UK have eased considerably over the past fewweeks and that so many of you have been vaccinated against the virus already.I’m sure you must be feeling that life is slowly returning to ‘normal’ for youall. Here in South Africa we seem to have entered our 3^rd wave ofnew infections now, with 2 more Covid-19 variants (from the UK and India)detected as well. Our vaccine drive for the general public has not even begunyet. To date, about 300,000 South Africans have received their jabs whichrepresents only a fraction of the 1, 25 million healthcare workers who arefirst in line. This amounts to about 0.5% of the general population. Theinitial target of   having 67% of thecountry’s citizens vaccinated by the end of 2021 is now unlikely to beachieved. It is reported that at the current vaccination pace it will take adecade for South Africa to reach herd immunity. All the above doesn’t bode wellfor travelling abroad for us anytime soon. I had wondered whether I’d be ableto fit in a trip to the UK before the end of 2021 but, as time goes by it seemsincreasingly less likely that this is going to be possible. For as long asSouth Africans are obliged to spend 2 weeks at designated quarantine hotelsupon reaching the UK, at their own expense, travelling abroad remains out ofthe question.

How is Morning Star affected by our inability totravel abroad?

Firstly, my annual trips afford methe wonderful opportunity of updating our sponsors and supporting churches onthe work of Morning Star. Sometimes fund-raising events coincide with my visitsto the UK and I’m able to attend these at the same time. I’m sure you’ll agreethat although “Zoom” is better than nothing at all, there’s nothing moresatisfying than interacting with one another face-to-face.

Secondly, I’m getting older eachyear and am not sure how much longer I’ll be able to continue with these annualtrips.   Albert, our new General Manager,was to have accompanied me to the UK this year, to be introduced to you all andto be exposed to this side of my former job description, but...........!

Additionally, we’ve still not beenable to register Morning Star as a UK charity. The whole process has been put‘on hold’ for the    meantime. Not onlyhas the UK Charity Commission not processed new applications over the past yearbut our UK trustees have advised us to not ‘rock the boat’ during Covid and theeconomic recession but to carry on with the present status quo until we’reforced to do something about it. Our trustees plan to meet and discuss the wayforward as soon as travel has opened up in England again and come up with a newplan of action. 

Last but not least, my annual UKtrips always reap rich financial gain. Not only are we given monetary donationswherever we go but all our new children are sponsored out as well, resulting inan increased monthly income. Without these trips our general income actuallycomes down. Each year elderly sponsors pass away and changes in folks’ ownfinancial positions forces them to sever their monthly commitments to MorningStar.

On a sobering note, recentcalculations here have indicated that our financial position is inching towardsthe crisis we experienced in 2019 when my SOS letter of appeal went out to youall. The marvellous response received then enabled us to put a substantialamount of money into our money market account, meet all our monthly obligationsright through Covid lock-down and pay our staff their full   salaries. It’s only now, 18 months    further down the line that we’re very closeto having to dig into our reserves in our Money Market account again. 

The bottom line is nothing has changed; we’restill short on budget each month by about 2,500pds (R50, 000.00); as was ourpredicament back in 2019. In    additionto this, a couple in the UK paid Albert Duvenhage’s salary for his first yearat Morning Star and that, of course, came to an end at the end of 2020 as well.

What can we do to counter the position we nowfind ourselves in?

1. Until such time that we’re ableto travel to the UK again or register Morning Star as a charity there, we needto pursue a fresh series of Zoom Meetings with all our supporting churches.Peter Barham has put together a new PowerPoint Presentation for us and I’mhoping that between   Albert and me,we’ll be able to ‘visit’ all of you in the coming weeks to update you properlyon the work of Morning Star. So, please plan your dates and get back to usas soon as you can.

2. Advertise the 20+ new childrenneeding to be sponsored out. This remains a very important   avenue of income for us, even though moreand more folk are opting to rather channel their monthly giving to our generaloperational expenses. Either option is fine with us.

3. Invite folk to support aparticular aspect of our work, thus alleviating our monthly shortfall.  Areas to be considered include:

¨ Food for 150 children per month -  1, 250pds

¨ Children’s birthdays per month – 1, 000pds

¨ Sponsorship of key staff member’s salary permonth – 750.00pds (or less)

¨ Vehicle maintenance/petrol expenses per month –350.00pds per minibus

¨ Medicine/doctor consultations per month –250.00pds

¨ 10 food parcels per month @ 15pds each -150.00pds

Staff Issues:

Howblessed we are to have a staff who work well together and generally give oftheir best. When I think back to the problems we had in the past, of thethieving that took place and the undermining of authority, I can but thank Godthat the troublemakers have gone and that there’s a general sense ofcamaraderie and looking out for each other these days.

Alberthas grown into his role as General Manager and is well in   control of all our day-to-day activities.Teboho Moloi, with the assistance of Lorato Rapuleng, run the finance officelike clockwork and Camilla Moholobela and her  helpers in the kitchen   continueto cook up a storm each day, serving up meals fit for a king. Exciting news isthat we have one of our own young adults, Martha Lukhuleni, working alongsideCamilla in the kitchen at the moment. Being at Morning Star each day givesMartha’s life purpose and meaning, as does the baking of all our birthday cakesfor Louisa Makhubela and another of our young adults, Moitheri Dlamini. Oh, ifonly we could support more of our jobless, seemingly hopeless young adults! Toomany of them are out of school, unable to pursue tertiary education and aresitting at home, wasting their lives away. 

Pleasekeep gardener, Papiki Monyane in prayer; he’s recently undergone surgery for adetached retina and is not ‘out of the woods’ yet. Also, pray for Elizabeth vdWesthuizen who is fast getting to the point of needing a hip replacement andfor Anna Matiyase, our Kutlwanong Manager, recovering from a hysterectomy.

News of our Children and Families

Ourchildren are mostly well. Our little ones flourish in our care and definitelybenefit from the good nutrition enjoyed at Morning Star each weekday. Outsideof Morning Star,    poverty and neglectare evident everywhere, even more so since Covid began. We help where we canbut are conscious of the fact that we can only take the edge off the sufferingexperienced and not change each family’s circumstances. Our clients often findthis   difficult to understand, that wecan’t give them everything they ask for, and leave our premises in a huff. It’sever a hard call to know what assistance to give and where to draw the line.

Issueswe’re dealing with at present:

1. Mathepelo Mofokeng’s home in HaniPark Township recently caught fire and the family lost all their belongings inthe flames.

2. Five-year-old Portia Mamakoatsi hasbeen rejected by her paternal family and is being placed into a foster home, asof today. The tragic thing about this case is that when her mother (one of ourMorning Star   teenagers) died 4 yearsago, the paternal family were adamant that they loved Portia and wanted toraise her. We had to halt the adoption process already in place back then,knowing in our hearts that this new arrangement wasn’t going to last.

3. We’ve had two deaths over thepast         6 weeks: 21year old MalesediMajake passed away on the 29^th April after     aborting her ARV regime for the secondtime. She was buried last Saturday. And    5-year-old    Mohau Molefe, bornwith HIV / AIDS, Down’s syndrome and a heart condition died on 23^rdMarch. Her mum has been left bereft. Please remember her in your prayers.

4. Our 14 year old Patricia,Mhampinde, already suffering the symptoms associated with HIV/AIDS, startedhaving seizures and then suffered paralysis on the one side of her body. Atfirst it was thought she’d had a stroke but upon further investigation, she wasfound to have a brain tumour. She’s since undergone surgery in Bloemfontein,which appears to have been successful, and has subsequently been moved from theintensive care unit to a general ward in the hospital. We hear she is slowlyrecovering.

5. One of our 15 year old girls,someone we’ve invested much time and energy into over the years, is pregnant.The ‘boyfriend’ is a 26 year old, jobless Zimbabwean.

Ourheartaches and disappointments with our teenagers, especially, are real and, attimes, one despairs for them all; their lack of education and inability tolearn, having to drop out of school before finishing the syllabus, turning todrugs, falling pregnant, throwing away their opportunities to flourish or justsitting at home, doing nothing. One wonders whether all the years of caring andsharing the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ were a waste of time. But then, inthe midst of the crushing disappointments, there’s a Tsidi who did so well inher Grade 12 examinations last year that she’s been admitted to the Universityof the Western Cape and a Thato who recently successfully completed her 4-yearBachelor of. Education Degree and is now a fully qualified secondary schoolteacher.

No,the 21 years of caring and service are not in vain; we remind ourselves that itis God who grows the seeds we’ve planted and only eternity will reveal whichlives our ministry had an impact upon. After all, we’re called to be faithful,not successful.

 Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sakeof your steadfast love and faithfulness.    Psalm 115:1

Pelo & Hart/ Tshedisanang Women’s Project:

Most of you know and have purchased the beautifulhand embroidered merchandise from our former Tshedisanang Women’s Project andmore recently, the gorgeously, colourful shweshwe creations produced by thewomen at Pelo & Hart. Sadly, Covid 19 had an enormous impact on the tourismindustry in South Africa and many boutiques and even bigger outlets have had toclose their doors and are no more. Tragically, Pelo & Hart have beennegatively affected too. Very little, by way of new orders, has come in overthe past 12 months and Mirna de Hart, the owner of the project, has had to paythe women out of her own pocket, to ensure they have food on the table eachday. The time has come to take the decision to close Pelo & Hart, eitherfor the time being, or permanently. It breaks my heart even to type thesewords.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth,where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay upfor yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys andwhere thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there yourheart will be also”. Mathew 6: 19-21

Praise & thanks for:

1. For God’s faithfulness andprotecting hand upon us all in the midst of the Covid 19      pandemic.

2. The life of Peter Parkinson and thelasting   legacy he’s left behind – bothin the UK and here in Welkom, South Africa.

3. For the generous response towardsour new Toyota Hi-Ace Minibus.

4. For the excellent health of most ofour little children

Pleasepray:

* For Godly wisdom in how we utilize the    funding and donations that come in eachmonth.

* That we’d remain dependent upon Christ and not dothings in our own strength.

* Our Welkom premises – that we’ll find favour withthe Free State government and not be charged rent and for our electricity andwater consumption.

* For staff members with health issues: the fullhealing of our gardener, Papiki’s eye, Elizabeth’s discomfort with her arthritichip and wisdom as to how to get this attended to without medical aid and forAnna, as she recovers from her hysterectomy.

* For 14-year-old Patricia – that God would begracious to her and restore her to full health and strength. Also, that we’dhave an opportunity to share the Gospel with her grandmother and broaderfamily.

* For little Portia Mamokoatsi as she transitionsinto foster care this week. Please pray that her paternal relatives will agreeto her being adopted.

26– 01 – 2021

“Lord,you have been our dwelling place in all generations. 

Beforethe mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and theworld, 

fromeverlasting to everlasting, you are God.” Psalm 90:1-2

DearMorning Star Friends,

Greetingsat the start of a brand New Year. Bizarre 2020 is behind us – and 2021stretches out before us like a blank page. The introduction hasn’t proved verypromising …… but, perhaps, as we begin to turn the pages, things will settledown and life will, somehow, return to some form of normality? Humanlyspeaking, it seems nigh impossible – but let’s not lose hope.

IfJanuary 2021 had been normal, the Morning Star staff would’ve all returned towork by now, in preparation for our children returning tomorrow, 27^thJanuary. There would already have been a skeleton staff at our Welkom premisesthe whole of last week too and we’d have been rushed off our feet trying toassist all our school-going children with their uniform and stationery needsfor the year. But, Coronavirus …………..!

As predicted, the second wave of Covid 19 hit South Africa in abig way and, sadly, finally arrived in Welkom as well. We saw no sign of ithere right up until we closed Morning Star for the Christmas holidays but theNew Year has heralded-in an influx and we hear that all our local hospitals arefull to overflowing. Our president, Cyril Ramaphosa, announced two weeks agothat our South African schools would, thus, remain closed for a further periodof time and only reopen on the 15^th February. It was a hugedisappointment – and there are very mixed feelings about the ruling, but we’reall obliged to help curb the spread of the virus and ease the pressure on ourhealth care system. Morning Star is, thus, to remain closed to our childrenuntil Monday, 15^th February. However, last week our routine, monthlyfood parcels were packed and distributed and, from yesterday a skeleton staffhave been operating from our Welkom premises, getting ready for the start ofthe new school year. We’re trusting that revised government announcements won’tbe made in the interim and that our South African schools will, indeed, allreopen mid-February, as directed. If not, thousands of South African childrenwill be left stranded again this year – with no way of attending to theirstudies and making any significant progress.

Our lock-down regulations weren’t as harsh as yours in the UK overChristmas and New Year. In spite of the dramatic increase in Covid cases incertain parts of our country towards the end of 2020, we were all still able toget together with loved ones on Christmas day and even go away on holiday. Thiswas probably to allow the support of our flailing economy, in the midst of theissuing of stricter mask-wearing, re-imposed curfews and social distancing. Alltold, though, it probably wasn’t a good thing having so many people travellinginter-provincially and spreading the virus from one area to another. Lookingback, resorts should’ve closed down completely and not admitted holidaymakersat all. On a personal level, my husband, Ron, and I went away with our pastorand family for a week and all of us came down with Covid 19 whilst away.  Most of the two families had it mildly andthe symptoms have already disappeared but, Pastor Joshua Bolaji (and MorningStar Board Chairman) has underlying comorbidities (weak lungs and type 1diabetes) and was ill enough to have been in the intensive care unit at StHelena Private Hospital, on oxygen and intravenous therapy, for most of the twoweeks he lay there. He was finally discharged yesterday but is still very, veryweak and in much need of prayer and God’s healing touch.

Goodnews! We have received a few very generous monetary gifts over December 2020/January 2021, for which we praise and thank God. Our bank balance is currentlyin a healthy state and we are deeply humbled by your faithful support ofMorning Star and of our Lord’s caring hand upon us as an organization. We knowthat we are well prepared for what the year brings and are even able to reachout to the broader community, once again, in the midst of the colossal economiccrises our country is going through.

9-year-oldTshepiso Matlaletsa has been accepted at St Dominic’s College, Welkom, on afull tutorial bursary this year. We are still looking for someone to sponsorher/assist us with her additional school expenses (weekly transport to schooland back and ongoing stationery and uniform needs.) The amount required is 25-30pdsper month. If interested, please email me directly at: morningstar.reception@tiscali.co.za

“Lord,teach us to number our days

thatwe may get a heart of wisdom.”

Psalm90:12

Everyblessing for 2021. I am increasingly doubtful that I’ll be able to travel tothe UK this year – but, who knows, a gap might miraculously occur somewherealong the line, allowing for a trip and the opportunity to see many of youagain.

Yoursin Christ,

Joan

POINTSFOR PRAYER:

Praiseand thanks for:

1. God’s protection of our children and staff during the time Morning Star was closed over Christmas.
2. The sustained good health of most of our children and their parents/guardians.

Pleasepray for:

1. Please keep praying for a compassionate outcome from government regarding our Welkom premises at Kopano Complex. We’ve heard nothing further from the Free State Department of Public Works but haven’t been expecting anything concrete over our shutdown period, anyway. (It’s a known fact that SA government departments all close and go on holiday at Christmastime and only start up again after the middle of January. We do know that they are in receipt of our lawyer’s letter, though, as confirmation thereof has been received.)
2. For our sick and frail children – especially Bonolo Mantje (at home but awaiting hip surgery) teenagers, Patricia Mhampinde and Kekeletso Manyokgo and our young adult, Martha Lukhuleni. All four are struggling with the symptoms of their conditions and remain very frail and thin.
3. Please pray for our Board Chairman/Welkom Baptist Church pastor, Joshua Bolaji, for a complete recovery from Covid 19, and for staff member, Melanie Cornelissen, still struggling with multiple health issues and presently undergoing exploratory procedures at Rosepark Hospital in Bloemfontein.
4. The safe return of long-term UK volunteer, Sarah Wilkins, in due course. There are no direct flights into South Africa at present and we have no idea when it’s going to prove safe enough for Sarah to return to Welkom and Morning Star. We are all trusting, though, that it’ll be sooner than later.
5. Godly wisdom for our management team as we move forward into another year of Covid 19 restrictions – that we’ll make sensible, sound decisions based on facts and not fear.
6. And that all of us would “run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” Hebrews 12: 1-2

18^thDecember 2020

Our Dear Morning Star Friends,

“I will givethanks to the Lord with my whole heart;

I will recountall of your wonderful deeds

I will be gladand exult in you,

I will singpraise to your name, O Most High”

 Psalm 9:1-2

The end of a very difficult, unprecedented year hascome to an end. Who would’ve thought, this time last year, that we were in forthe shock of our lives and that life, as we’ve always known it, would never bethe same again? Who could’ve imagined that we’d spend months locked away athome, not being able to see family and friends, nor able to enjoy churchfellowship, Sunday-by-Sunday? Who could ever have guessed that we’d beforcefully separated from family members who were hospitalized and not even beable to see them before they died – nor attend their funerals, in someinstances? And that we’d ALL be wearing masks – with no end in sight!!

But God knew. What a comfort those few words are! Godknew what 2020 would hold and throughout all these months, has never left usnor forsaken us. He reigns supreme in the heavens and is ever working out Hispurposes in all our lives. Philippians 2:12-13 reminds us that as we work outour own salvation with fear and trembling, He continues to work in us too,working in us both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 

Our national news broadcasts tell us that South Africais experiencing a second wave of Covid infections right now. Certain areas ofthe country are worse than others but, praise God, we’ve seen nothing of it inWelkom at all - yet. Masks are still being worn and social distancing beingadhered to, but here at Morning Star we’ve been able to continue with ourChristmas programmes and end-year functions and even send all our youngerchildren home with a lovely gift. All-in-all, 400 sweet packets were packedthis year and right now there are only a handful left to still be distributed.

And so, after a rush of activity, all is now quiet atMorning Star. Our final children’s Christmas party, our teens’ end-yearfunction, took place yesterday. As a special treat we took the 70 of them alongto the local cinema to watch “Wonder Woman 1984.” But, because of Covid 19 –and social distancing, weren’t able to seat them in the same theatre.Amazingly, the proprietor was accommodating enough as to offer/ show the samefilm in three cinemas, all at the same time. How awesome is that!

This is not going to be a lengthy letter. My mainreason for hurrying it along before we close Morning Star today, 18^thDecember – until mid-January 2021 is to thank you all for your encouragement,prayers and fantastic monetary support this past year and especially now atChristmastime. I’ve not yet managed to email all who sent parcels andtransferred monetary gifts to their sponsored child, nor thanked the manywho’ve sent generous sums of money to assist us with our Christmas expenses andextra food parcel needs at this time, but please know that we appreciate everykind gesture and your ever faithful support of Morning Star. A special bigthank you to Linda Gardiner and friends who, in lieu of the Santa Shoe Boxesshe usually organizes for us each year, collected in excess of 2200pds so thatwe could give each current Morning Star child a new Christmas outfit, somelittle extras and a big packet of sweets. It would’ve been really sad to havesent them all home empty-handed this Christmas. We adults understand Covid 19 andall its practical and economic implications, but our little ones have noinkling of the ‘bigger picture’ going on ‘behind the scenes.’

“Nothingwhatever, whether great or small, can happen to a believer, without God’sordering and permission.

 There is no such thing as “chance,” “luck” or“accident” in the Christian’s journey through this world. All is arranged andappointed by God. And all things are “working together” for the believer’sgood.”  J.C. Ryle.

Lovely news to share with you is that our 9-year-oldTshepiso Matlaletsa has been accepted at St Dominic’s College in Welkom on afull tutorial bursary for 2021. She begins Grade 4 there on 13^thJanuary. This has never happened before – that a Morning Star child, from animpoverished background, gets to attend the best educational facility in townto further her education. Tshepiso has the ability to succeed and we just praythat she’ll go on to make us all proud.

NOTE: Ifanyone would like to sponsor Tshepiso’s education and assist us financiallywith the additional, hidden expenses that are bound to crop up each month(including school transport), please email me directly at: morningstar.reception@tiscali.co.za

Other lovely news – our very own Thato Ramosebi, (now25 years old) who joined our Morning Star family at the age of 6 years, isabout to graduate from the Central University of Technology in Welkom with aneducational degree. Born with HIV/AIDS, struggling with its symptoms in earlychildhood, surviving the taunting and discrimination associated with beinginfected with the disease, growing up without a father figure, observing hermum eke out a living on government support and Morning Star’s assistance, Thatohas emerged an overcomer, victorious and well able to stand on her own two feetin life. We are very, very proud of her and the magnificent role model she isto all our younger teens.

And so, the ‘Year of the Mask’ has come to an end.None of us knows what 2021 will bring – even whether we’ll get to use our newlypurchased diaries or I’ll be able to travel to see you again? But we do knowwho holds our tomorrows in the power of His Hands. Our Gracious God issovereign over all and we rest in that.

This Christmas, as you ponder afresh God’s gift of Hisonly Son, Jesus Christ, to a lost, sinful world, may sheer praise and worshipburst forth from your souls at such love, mercy and grace.

Love in Christ,

Joan.

The Lord works fromthe inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would takepeople out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people and then theytake themselves out of the slums. The world would mould men by changing theirenvironment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The worldwould shape human behaviour, but Christ can change human nature.                           Ezra Taft Benson.

POINTS FOR PRAYER:

Praise and thanks for:

1.  God’s protection and wondrous blessings over the past year – even in the midst of Covid 19 and all its implications.
2. The sustained good health of most of our children. We’ve only had three deaths in 2020.
3. Our finances – that we’re in a far healthier position than this time last year.

Please pray for:

1. Wisdom for the M.S. Board regarding our Kopano Complex premises and a softening of heart, on the part of the Free State government, in their drive to get us to pay an exorbitant sum of money to continue operating at our Welkom Centre.
2. The safety of our children and staff over the Christmas holidays.
3. For our sick & frail children over the holidays – especially Bonolo Mantje (in hospital awaiting a hip operation) Patricia Mhampinde and Kekeletso Manyokgo. Kekeletso, who had to be rushed to hospital in the midst of writing her matriculation exam, has now been discharged for Christmas but is due to return on 4^th January to have fluid drained off her left lung.
4. Staff members Lorato Rapuleng whose husband recently passed away and Melanie Cornelissen, struggling with multiple health issues and long been unable to fulfil her Morning Star duties.
5. The safe return of long-term UK volunteer, Sarah Wilkins, at the end of January 2021. We’ve missed Sarah these past months and can’t wait for her to return to us.

16October 2020

SEA TRIP 2020

This newsletter is largely about ourrecent Durban Sea Trip. I’m sure you’ll be pleased to know that our 2020excursion finally happened. It was originally planned for the endMarch/beginning of April this year but had to be cancelled at the last minute,due to our Covid lock-down restrictions and all of us having to stay home tohelp ‘flatten the curve’. But last Tuesday night, 29th September, saw our 2Quantums, 6 staff members and 26 x 16 year olds set off for Kwa Zulu Natal atabout 10pm. In spite of the trailer breaking down near a town called Harrismithat midnight, and their journey coming to an abrupt halt for about 2 hours, theycontinued safely the rest of the way and arrived at uShaka Marine World inDurban on time for their guided tour of the aquarium and always popular,dolphin show. After a delicious lunch at the Spur Steak Ranch at uShaka, theytravelled along the KZN South Coast road until reaching Port Edward and theiraccommodation destination, Kinderstrand. (You can Google both to check wherethey are.) Our Gracious God went before them and protected them all on theirway down. In His providence, they were stopped by the police for breakingcurfew just before midnight, which led to our one driver, Johannes, ‘smelling’that something was burning. It turned out that the trailer’s suspension springhad jumped out of position, causing the tyre to rub against the mudguard. If ithadn’t been detected, the tyre would’ve burst and the trailer/vehicle would’veoverturned. Praise God the problem was detected – thus preventing a terribleaccident from happening further down the line.

The weather down in Kwa Zulu Natalwasn’t ideal – it was generally chilly and rained every day – but this didn’tdeter our group from enjoying the beach and all the activities presented atKinderstrand to the full. Each morning saw them romping in the waves andmarvelling at the expanse of the Indian Ocean and in the afternoons theyexplored the surrounding terrain, had a tide-fighting competition, tried theirhands at zip lining and an obstacle course laid out in a forest and visited thesite of a 1933 shipwreck, when the Nightingale Trawler ran aground on GlenmoreBeach, Port Edward. The Port Edward area has a long maritime history and is apopular scuba diving destination. The Portuguese ship, Sao Joao, ran agroundthere in 1552 followed by the Sao Bento in 1554. Do any of you enjoy scubadiving? Port Edward is the place to visit once all our travelling restrictionshave eased.

After dinner each evening PastorRevival shared God’s Word with our children. Our hope, always, is that ourGracious Lord would open their eyes to the truth of the Gospel and that theywould trust Jesus as their Saviour. Each successive year I’m deeply awed at theprivilege that is ours, of fulfilling a life-long dream for a group ofimpoverished HIV/AIDS sufferers – of seeing and experiencing the sea forthemselves! How thankful we are to God for creating such a beautiful worldand how grateful we are to the UK couple who have made these annual tripspossible. They’ll never truly grasp just what their generous gift accomplishesin many a life and I continue to trust that, one day, they’ll be able toaccompany us on one of our sea trips and see for themselves what joy they bringinto our children’s lives.

This particular trip saw the followingsponsored children enjoying the treat: Basiya Binyane; Petrus Motshwa;Relebohile Pulela; Katleho Nyathi; Katleo Ramakoae (boys) and Mpho Mololo;Retshedisitswe Moiloa; Neo Matlakeng; Sinolizwi Hlatshwayo; RetshidisitsweSekute; Busisiwe Mlungwana; Nomvuyo Pita; Dieketseng Khakhane; Thato Ramongalo;Mpho Mabaso; Pulane Seloane; Relebohile Lesesa; Rethabile Mosimane and KhomotsoLekhoaba (girls).

This trip also included 2 deafchildren (lost their hearing due to their many ear infections in earlychildhood), 2 physically disabled teen boys (had to take their walkingframes/wheelchairs along with them) and a young man who underwent a breastreduction operation last year because he’d developed such huge breasts as aresult of the anti-retroviral drugs he was on. Thabiso actually went on the seatrip two years back but had such an awful time trying to hide his breasts thatwe decided to take him again, now that his operation was behind him.)

“I will remember the deeds of theLord; Yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work,and meditate on your mighty deeds. Your way, O God, is holy. What god is greatlike our God?” Psalm 77:11-13

Following are a few accounts from staff andchildren regarding their individual experiences down at the sea:

I’d like to take this opportunity tosay thank you for giving me time to go to Durban with the Morning Star childrenand learn how to take care of them. I learnt many things, like working as ateam, to never give up in life, to think and always work hard. The childrenwere well behaved and learnt a lot through the games they played. They lovedall the activities and swimming in the sea.

Thank you Mme Elizabeth. You reallylove the children and were like a mother to them. I enjoyed being with you andlearning from you. And God blessed us with rain while we were away too.

Nomvula Mpinda – Staff Member

****************

I had a very great time in Durban. Ourteens were very enthusiastic and optimistic about this trip. We really enjoyedourselves as we beheld God’s beautiful creation, looking at the wonderful wavesof the sea. I also had an opportunity to swim in the sea and enjoyed our othertours at uShaka Marine World, Howick waterfall and the historic site where theengine of the ship, Nightingale lies. I also enjoyed the games we played andthe welcoming reception at Kinderstrand, where we stayed in Port Edward.

I really thank the Lord for thisamazing ministry of Morning Star Children’s Centre, because of the godly impactthey bring to the Matjhabeng community. It is my prayer that we may continue togrow to Christlikeness for His eternal glory.

I thank the Lord for people who donatefunds to ensure that these Durban trips take place every year. It is notbecause they are rich, but they do this act of generosity because of their lovefor our Lord Jesus Christ. Morning Star Children’s Centre seeks to shine thelight who is the Morning Star, the Lord Jesus Christ. Dr John Mac Arthursspeaks about this Morning Star in the following way: “This is the brighteststar announcing the arrival of the day when Jesus comes. He will be thebrightest star who will shatter the darkness of man’s night and herald the dawnof God’s glorious day.”

Jesus Christ, who is the BrightMorning Star, has shone in the hearts of believers and will shine in the heartsof those who will believe in Him. In His service.

Pastor Revival Hlongwane

********************************

The first thing I enjoyed, even beforewe even left Morning Star was a movie called “Cool Running”.

We, the Morning Star teenagers, learnta lot about the different kinds of fish at uShaka Marine World. We didn’t knowthat there are zebra fish and that small fishes group themselves so that sharkswill think they are a big fish. I adore dolphins. They are smart and sweet andlisten to their trainers. I liked how they danced the Jerusalema song. It wasbeautiful.

After the program at uShaka we took awalk and at 1.00pm Mme Moruti (Mrs Pastor -Elizabeth vd Westhuizen) took us forlunch at The Spur Restaurant.

We took a long drive - again. We werevery tired. The staff at Kinderstrand Resort where we stayed were so nice. Wespent 3 days at the sea and did many activities. They were scary but fun.

The staff at Kinderstrand became evennicer on our last day. The grandfather called Louis even dropped some tearswhen we had to leave. They were sad because we were leaving and we were sadbecause we were going home. We all wore our new yellow t-shirts on the wayhome. On the back it is written:-“Been to Durban 2020”

That’s what I enjoyed. Morning Star Ithank you for all you did for us. May God bless you.

Petrus Motshwa – 16 years old.

***************

TO KINDERSTRAND

I write this letter because we have enjoyedourselves, and I thank you for the nice hospitality you have given us. I can’tstop talking about how I enjoyed myself, to my family and at school. When Ithink about how enjoyable it was I take the shells that I picked up at the seaand the water and say to myself, “I wish I could go back again.”

I really liked most of the activitiesthat we did, especially zip lining – but it’s so scary. I miss going to thebeach to swim. The activity I enjoyed most was that we were asked to do a talentcompetition. Other people were dancing, singing and doing poems, so I came withmy own dance. I was dancing Gumboots dance and it was fun. My friends werecheering me and I won the competition. I was happy.

We learnt a lot at uShaka Marine Worldand I was listening to the teachers. Now I am teaching people here in Welkomthat we must not litter the sea because there are some sea creatures that couldeat those plastic bags and we are going to eat those fish and we will be eatingour own litter. I also learnt that sharks don’t eat people but they bite. Somefish work as a group so that sharks won’t notice that they are so small.

We thank our mother, Jones Adams, thatshe took us to Durban to see the sea. I wouldn’t know this much if it wasn’tfor her. It shows that she loves us all. I also took shells and sea water homewith me to show people the proof that I was in Durban. We also have a Facebookgroup where we talk to each other. We all miss you, Kinderstrand. We miss allour helpers and before I forget, we liked the food you cooked for us. We allwant to come and visit again.

WE LOVE YOU ALL AT KINDERSTRAND!! Lotsof love from “Been to Durban 2020”.

Neo Matlakeng—16 years old

POST COVID 19 NEWS

All’s well at Morning Star. All our littleones are back this week, every day and all day. Hip! Hip! Hooray! Although westill wear masks and wipe all surfaces down regularly, there’s no more temperature-takingeach morning and continual spraying of hands. No more alternate days for differentchildren, going home straight after lunch and wondering who is left ‘homealone’ all day, when they’re not at Morning Star. We’re so enjoying ‘normal’ again,if there’s such a thing anymore. Of course, nothing is a certainty these days.We might still have a ‘second wave’ like you have? God has clearly shown us thatwe are not masters of our own destinies. He is absolutely sovereign overall andwe are reliant on Him for each and every breath we take.

It’s sad to hear you’re in full lock-downin England and parts of Australia again. That’s a real blow and terriblyfrustrating. Let’s trust this difficult period in our lives will soon be over.

HOME FRONT

Two issues at Morning Star areparticularly concerning at the moment. The one is that we were revisited byFree State government officials mid-September regarding our Welkom premisesand, in addition to being reminded that we were ‘squatters’ here, were informedthat a valid lease agreement is to be drawn up and that we’ll be expected topay rent and for our water and electricity consumption each month. This is anissue that’s cropped up at regular intervals over the past 10-15 years – andhas always ‘died down’ over time. But, we’re aware that the Free State Provinceis thoroughly bankrupt nowadays and that the government is desperate to make upits short-fall, somehow. So, this problem might not go away this time. Pleasepray for Godly wisdom on our side, and compassion and understanding on the government’sside – that they will take into consideration that we are a Non-Profit Organizationand use all our income for the benefit of the children and families that we serve.We simply cannot afford to pay an exorbitant fee for utilities and rent eachmonth.

The other matter that’s surfaced isthat one of our staff members, a woman who has been in our employ for the past13 years, is presently undergoing training to become a sangoma. (A sangoma is atraditional healer/witchdoctor who practises divination, herbal medicine andancestor worship). This is a very delicate issue to address in this country assangomas are recognised by law and a dismissal based on a person’s religionwould most certainly end up in the Labour Court where compensation up to anamount equal to the employee’s salary for 24 months could be awarded in favourof the employee. Our sadness is that this lady has come under the Gospel, week inand week out, for 13 years and yet, has hardened her heart to the truths of God’sWord. Albert Duvenhage is handling the case and it’s an area I’ve been more thanhappy to relinquish to him.

FINANCIAL UPDATE

You’ll be pleased to know that ourfinancial position is much healthier than it was this time last year. I well remembermy plea for a miracle last October/November and how our Great God touchedhearts and used so many of you to rescue Morning Star at the eleventh hour. So muchso, that in the midst of the rising unemployment around us, due to Covid 19this year, our staff have all received their full salaries each month, as wella small increase at the beginning of the new financial year. We give God allthe glory.

Our Child Sponsorship Programme continuestoo and right now, only 8 of the original children in my little photo album areleft seeking support. Thank you for responding to this need. We’re increasinglyaware, though, that many of you aren`t keen to become involved with individualMorning Star children and would rather help fund something specific – likeplayground equipment, our children’s food for a month, a staff member’s salaryor even a new vehicle. These needs are ever present and a new vehicle,especially, is becoming increasingly urgent. Our oldest Quantum is costing usdearly, maintenance-wise, and our one Avanza barely splutters along each day.

CALENDARS AND CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS

Christmas for our little ones thisyear is going to be very different. We’re still planning to give our current childrena party, but Christmas shoe boxes and gifts will not be possible at all.Individual sponsors have already begun to deposit an extra sum of money intoour bank accounts so that ’their child and family’ will still have a specialtime over the festive season and our dear friend, Linda Gardiner, is busyraising funds in England so that we can purchase ‘Christmas clothes’ for asmany of our children as possible as well. Our postal services have reopened buthow trustworthy they’ll prove to be remains to be seen. If you’re planning topost a gift to South Africa, please do so as soon as possible.

Our revised, post-Covid 19 schoolcalendar has recently been broadcast, informing us that our government schoolswill officially close on 15th December this year and reopen on 27th January2021. What a long, long summer holiday lies before us. We’ll be ‘chomping atthe bit’ to get back to work and school by then!

“The Lord is good, a stronghold in theday of trouble; He knows those who take refuge in Him. But with an overflowingflood He will make a complete end of His adversaries and will pursue Hisenemies into darkness.” Nahum 1: 7-8

PRAYER REQUESTS

1. Praise and thanks for the safereturn of all those who travelled to Kwa Zulu Natal for our 2020 Sea Trip lastweek.

2. Our trailer broke down on the wayto the coast. Praise God ‘the problem’ was detected before it caused a massiveaccident further down the line.

3. Praise and thanks that ALL ourchildren are back at our two Morning Star Centres. We thank God that new Covid19 cases in South Africa are on the decrease and that life has gone back tosome form of normality.

4. Praise God for a strong managementteam at Morning Star. We’re well aware that many of our staff member are not Christiansbut what a blessing that all on the management team are and that we, jointly,seek to worship the one true God and make Him known.

Please keep the following issues inprayer.

5. Pray for Morning Star in the faceof the fresh wave of insecurity regarding our Welkom premises. Pray thatgovernment officials from the Free State Department of Public Works will showus compassion and take into consideration that we are a Non-Profit Organizationand have no ‘extra’ funds for exorbitant rental and utility charges.

6. Pray for Godly wisdom for AlbertDuvenhage and our Labour Consultant, Debbie, as they address the issueregarding our staff member who is intent on becoming a sangoma. Pray that Godwould take away her heart of stone and give her a heart of flesh. Please praythis prayer for all our staff members. How many more are there who have satunder sound Gospel preaching for years and who are still caught up insyncretism.

7. Please pray for Melanie Cornelissenwho has not been able to return to work after Covid 19 due to a nagging backinjury.

8. Pray for teachers Shiyiwe andCynthia and families. Both have sons who have suffered nervous breakdowns overthe past 6 months and are in a bad way. Pray, especially for Shiyiwe’s son, Ntando,who disappeared without trace last week and has just been located in aJohannesburg hospital, extremely dehydrated and weak. How he got there is acomplete mystery?

9. Please continue to pray for Albertas he assumes the role of General Manager at Morning Star. Pray that he’llincreasingly grasp all that his role entails and develop a deep love for thefamilies we serve.

10. Keep Pastor Revival in prayer ashe interacts and counsels our many teenagers. It’s a massive task for one man.Please pray for strength and Godly wisdom in all his endeavours.

 25/08/2020

Psalm 93: 1-2:

“The Lord reigns; His is robed in majesty; TheLord is robed; He has put on strength as His belt. Yes, the world isestablished; it shall never be moved. Your throne is established from of old; Youare from everlasting.”

GENERAL

It’s been 2 ½ months since I last shared ourMorning Star news with you all. In some ways, nothing much has changed sincethen; we’re still only operating at about half strength at Morning Star, a fewof our staff members have yet to return and we’re still practising socialdistancing, wearing masks, sanitizing everything and having our  temperatures taken each  morning. Thus far, only our 2 pre-receptionand reception classes, special class and Grade`s 1-3 are back at our twoCentres. Our children come in 2-3 times per week each so we’ve divided the classesup into smaller groups to accommodate them all. It’s good to have half back,even though things are much quieter behind masks!!

In other ways, so much has changed. There are nowabout 600,000 known Covid 19 cases across South Africa and over   13, 000 people have died as a result. We’retold that we’ve reached our peak and that new infections are showing a     downward trend. South Africa officiallymoved from Level 3 to Level 2 lock-down last week, and most of our former       restrictions have been lifted. Amongstothers, inter-provincial travel is allowed, restaurants have reopened and thesale of alcohol and tobacco products have been unbanned. The sad reality isthat South Africa is facing a particularly long road to recovery due to itsweak economy ahead of the pandemic and high unemployment rate. On the groundwe’re still seeing massive suffering every day. So many impoverished folk havenot been able to return to their former jobs and the heartfelt cry for foodassistance is relentless – especially amongst those who come from theneighbouring countries of Lesotho and Zimbabwe. Just recently I heard that upto 6 million Zimbabwean people are living in South Africa these days – that’s athird of their total population! I wonder what percentage of Lesothians areliving here. Many, that’s for sure.

Unfortunately, Morning Star has had to cut down onits food assistance to the general community over the past month as ourallocated Covid 19 fund has all but dried up. We’re still reaching out to thebroader Morning Star ‘family’ but have had to put the brakes on regarding thequeues of people lining up outside our premises each day, crying forassistance. Sadly, the vast need around us won’t diminish for many more monthsto come.

OUR CHILDREN’S HEALTH

Thankfully, our children have generally kept wellover the past 6 months. We’ve had several extremely cold spells this winter –more so than over the past ten years, and for the many families living in tinshacks, it must’ve been a particularly difficult time. We praise God that veryfew of our children have needed doctor consultations and, as far as we know,none have had to be   hospitalized. Infact, even though we’re not aware of the struggles of all 700 families on our register,as far as we know, only two of our children have lost their grandmothers duringlock-down and we’re not even sure if their deaths were Covid related.Coronavirus deaths are happening around us, especially amongst our frontlineworkers, but there are very few known personally.

BOARD NEWS

Morning Star has had two board meetings andits Annual General Meeting since lock-down began. Both the board meeting in Mayand our AGM in July were via Zoom – and not very satisfactory at all. Nothingcan beat meeting personally and great was our joy when we were able to convenephysically at our scheduled board meeting last week and sit around a table andenjoy each other’s company. Our board meetings are always a pleasure. MorningStar is blessed with a fantastic team and all come to the table with soundadvice and insightful observations.

Two of the issues discussed were the registering ofMorning Star as a UK Charity and the renewed phasing in/out of   Albert and me regarding the General Manager’srole here. As you know, Covid 19 and all its implications brought our change ofroles to an abrupt halt. It’s only now that life is returning to some form of normalitythat we’re able to relook at the issue and devise a new plan moving forward. Inthe interim, Albert has assumed most of the role of general manager, as far asoperational issues are concerned, but strategic issues have not yet beenrelinquished into his hands. It was agreed at our board meeting last week thatthe phasing-in process would be undertaken more slowly than previouslyenvisaged and revisited at each forthcoming quarterly board meeting.  It’s proved providential Albert having me inthe  background to consult and, what withour shortage of staff members over the past few months and us having to pick upon each other’s roles at Morning Star much more, I’ve had little time to‘interfere’ in his decision-making. This is all a process, though, and very hardfor everyone. Please keep us in your prayers.                    

The registering of Morning Star with the UKCharity Commission was put on hold during your Covid 19 lock-down regulationsin England as well.  Travel wasprohibited, so the planned meeting of the Trustees couldn’t take place inApril/May, when I was due to be in England, and nor was the  Charity Commission accepting any newapplications. It’s only since your lock-down regulations have been relaxed thatAndrew Gurr from Cheshire (heading up the  initiative), has been able to meet some of the team and gather therequired signatures for the founding document and get the ball rolling onceagain. We’ve been informed that it could take 20 weeks or more for theregistration process to complete.

Psalm 93:4

Mightier than the thunders of many waters;Mightier than the waves of the sea, The Lord on high is mighty.

STAFF MEMBERS

God has graciously kept our Morning Star staffmembers over the past 6 months. Slowly but surely more of us have returned towork and resumed our duties or been deployed to other areas. Our younger childrenhave not yet returned to Morning Star so the staff involved in their care arecleaning, sanitizing and screening clients, personnel and children each day. Afew of us have had winter ailments over the past weeks but only one of us,Elizabeth vd Westhuizen, our Operations Manager, has had symptoms relating toCovid 19. Whether any others contracted the virus is hard to determine as testsare very expensive when done privately and mainly reserved for folk who are trulysymptomatic. Government tests are free but the queues of people awaiting helpeach day are off-putting, especially when the mobile clinic fails to arrive atall. Several staff family members have been ill over the past months but most havebeen treated for non-Covid issues and have returned to health and strength.Those who have passed away had comorbidities and were never tested forCoronavirus at all. One staff member—Lindsay Leonard, our former clothing cupboardsupervisor, and close to 75 years of age, will not be coming back to MorningStar. She’s happily taken a generous retirement package.

OUR FAMILIES

Two incidents that stand out are the stabbings oftwo of our mothers recently. Both went to the doctor within days of each otherto be stitched up. The first, Dieketseng, was out seeking employment (she losther previous job mid-Covid) when she and a friend were attacked and robbed oftheir mobile phones and shoes. She put up a fight and, in the    process, was stabbed with a knife in herupper thigh. She limped all the way home in this state and spent all night indreadful pain before reporting the matter to Morning Star the following morningand being referred to the doctor.

The second stabbing took place in the midstof marital conflict. One of our Zimbabwean mums had posted something onWhatsapp that her husband disapproved of and, in the ensuing moments, hestabbed her right through her hand. Our doctor remarked that the wound remindedhim of Christ on the cross and His nail-pierced hands as he had to stitch herup on both sides. Her wounds have healed now – but the couple’s marital issuesare far harder to address, as is her emotional trauma, their inability to makeends meet and her husband’s drug addiction.

The other traumatic incident that occurred was whena group of Zama-Zama’s (illegal miners) converged on Pule Chabalala’s home inThabong Township and before anything could be said or done set the placealight!! The outdoor          corrugated building was completely engulfedand the flames took out all the windows of their home as well. In addition,their curtains caught fire, they lost several of their blankets and all theirclothes. Only then did the Zama-Zama’s realize that Mr Chabalala wasn’t whothey thought he was and that they’d come to wreck vengeance on the wronghouse!!! Poor little family. It took some weeks before we got wind of theirloss and were able to send a glass company around to their home to fit newwindows, give them money for paint and new blankets and assist them withreplacement curtains and  clothing.

NEWS OF SARAH WILKINS

Our little school is going well under the COVID-19 restrictions with allchildren attending at least two days a week. Although we can’t see their smilesbecause of masks we know most are happy and healthy. I am ever grateful to theteachers for doing a good job and to the drivers for delivering the rightchildren on the right days. There are a significant     number of children who are strugglingacademically and are unlikely to ever cope in mainstream education. We are inthe process of referring them to the Education Department to be assessed.

JOAN’S UK TRIP

As you’ve probably gathered, my 2020 UK trip isdefinitely not going to happen this year. Our international travel restrictionshave not been lifted yet and it’s doubtful they will in the foreseeable future.Both my husband, Ron, and I have been issued with travel vouchers and will takea decision as to when to come to England once international travel is allowed.

In the meantime, though, a big thank you to thoseof you who responded to our appeal to sponsor one of our Morning Star children.We now only have 12 children seeking support – a whole lot better than the 30in my little photograph book prior to Coronavirus. Please email me directly at:morningstar.reception@tiscali.co.za if you’re still interested in assisting usin this way.

PS. 118: 8-9

It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It isbetter to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.

PRAYER REQUESTS