OUTREACH TO REFUGEES ON ‘HOPE FARM’
On Wednesday 9th September 2015, a team from Grace Gospel arrived at ‘Hope Farm’, situated on a hilltop near Cato Ridge, KZN.
As in most rural villages the smell of smoke filled the air as a few men boiled water in pots to cook some donated rice for lunch. Women could be seen carrying buckets down to where a few young boys were kicking a ball beneath the shade of a tree.
It would be normal life in the farmlands, except here on Andrew and Rae Wartnaby’s property live 138 xenophobia victims who have nowhere to go. Their only hope is safe refuge here on a small piece of land that humanitarian lawyers call a ‘3rd country’. Being mostly Swahili-speakers has meant that Stephen Gachengo from Kenya is able to bring a message of hope and encouragement to these people in their own language.
About 50 men, women and children gather and the sounds of Swahili worship can be heard across the farm. A Bible in their own mother tongue is proudly passed forward and Stephen read from Jeremiah 29v11, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Smiles appeared and hearts began to melt…
Pastor Stephen continues to share that bitterness can block the plan of the Lord, and how we need to keep pure hearts. God will make a way! “God is not a man – He brings hope!”
The same people who were so wary, discouraged and lost when the team arrived, are now alive as they sing ‘Wambene’ (God is Number One!)