The sky in Africa seemed to me to be ”bluer” than the sky here at home.  Whenever we have a really beautiful sunny day with clear blue skies, I immediately think of my trip to Africa.  I’ve even come to describe that kind of sky as ”Africa Sky”.   Wim posted some really cute pictures this week of the kids in Leratong Village.  The pictures are not enhanced.  The sky is really that blue and it is a perfectly beautiful frame for their sweet little faces.

Not that long ago they didn't have balls to play with . . .

Don't you know that Jesus loves seeing her smile!

Great news from Matlakeng Village!   Sixty children attend the daycare facility in Matlakeng and more room was needed – especially for the toddler age children.  God prompted people like you to give to Susan’s Kids and we were able to assist Wim in building a second house beside the daycare.  It has taken a while,  but the roof is finally completed!  Pastor John will live in the house and there will also be a room specifically for the toddlers.  Pastor John is Wim’s right hand man in Lesotho and he supervises the activites of the daycare there.

. . . and the roof is on!

To God be the Glory — great things He has done!

Debbie Roberson

Susan Roberson Thompson

Many of you don’t know this story so I wanted to share it with you today – April 2nd – on Susan’s birthday.

Susan went to Heaven on January 7, 2004, so her birthday just a few months later on April 2nd was especially hard for me.   I wasn’t thinking about children in Africa.  I didn’t know anything about Wim and Hylien van Rensburg and the work that God was calling them to do.  I was simply trusting God day by day minute by minute – totally dependent upon Him to walk with me through the grief of her leaving me.

Her birthday continues to be a hard day for me even though I know all of the wonderful things God has done through her life.  Maybe that’s why I felt the need to share this story with you today.   I needed to remind myself again of God’s great plan and His great love for all of His children.

It was 2005 before God led us to Wim and Hylien and their ministry to children and it was 2006 before God called Marvin Gurganus to start the Susan’s Kids ministry.  Just before Susan’s birthday in 2007, I received the most precious God Wink.  I was looking at some random pictures that Wim had posted and was super-blessed when I saw this one.

A Special Day

It doesn’t look like much does it?  Just a piece of bare land.  If you’ll notice though, the date on the picture is April 2, 2004!  I remember the feeling I got when I saw this picture and I knew it was something very special.  I asked Wim and Hylien about it and they told me the amazing story.

They had been feeding children out of the back of Wim’s truck for some time, and Wim knew that God was leading him to build a Care Center for the children of Leratong Village.  He didn’t have land or money to build a facility, but God kept nudging him to “Just do it!”  Wim went to see the Chief of the village and told him what he wanted to do for the children.  God gave him favor with the Chief and Wim was able to get a piece of land using all the money he had at the time — the equivalent of $20 US dollars!   He made the transaction with the Chief on April 2, 2004.  At that time we didn’t know anything about them and they didn’t know anything about us  . . . but God was weaving a plan!

I think it sounds best straight from Wim’s heart.  I copied this from an email he sent me on March 25, 2007 when I asked him about the picture.

“That was the day I paid for the first piece of land.  We used every cent we had to do that, and to us it was a HUGE step of faith.  Today it seems so unbelieveable, but then we really were living from God’s hand… It was $20! — and after that in the world’s eyes we were flat broke for the rest of the month.  Awesome how God has taken us from then and provided all the way!”

I am still amazed when I think about how God arranged for this precious ministry in Africa to be birthed on Susan’s birthday.  I daydream sometimes about what it would have been like if Susan could have had children and my heart starts to ache when I think about it.  God gave me a verse to help the hurt.  He reminds me daily of all the children He has given her already.

“Rejoice O childless woman! Break forth into loud and joyful song, even though you never gave birth to a child.  For the woman who could bear no children now has more than all the other women.  Enlarge your house; build an addition; spread out your home!  For you will soon be bursting at the seams . . . ”  Isaiah 54:1-3

Susan's Kids - Leratong Village

Debbie Roberson

It is so awesome to watch God work. Lorrie Kibler, a friend of Jamie’s from church, taught Jamie how to knit the scarves. Then the Lord put it on Jamie’s heart to make and sell the scarves to help Susan’s Kids.  Jamie was obedient and started making scarves and the orders began to pour in.  I wondered how in the world Jamie would keep up with all the orders, but I should have known that when God directs something then He will provide what is needed to accomplish His Plan.  Lorrie, Ginny Sanchez and several more ladies from Jamie’s church heard about what she was doing for Susan’s Kids and they started knitting scarves too so that Jamie could keep up with the orders.  They meet every week to knit scarves for Susan’s Kids and have Christian fellowship with each other.  I stand in awe of our God and what He can do if we are willing to be obedient to Him.  This is a picture of my Mother and me with Ginny, Lorrie and Jamie.

Virginia Lilley, Debbie Roberson, Ginny Sanchez, Lorrie Kibler, Jamie A. Lilley

We are so excited about this project!  I’m hosting an Open House on Saturday, March 31st and Jamie and Ginny will be here with scarves of all colors!  The new spring colors are amazingly beautiful!   For those of you who live close,  please stop by my house at  1460 Wendell Modlin Road – Jamesville, NC – any time between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday.

The scarves sell for $20 each and all proceeds benefit Susan’s Kids.

I hope you’ll come and bring a friend! These scarves will be great as gifts!

Debbie Roberson

They were hand made by my sister-in-law, Jamie.  Jamie and my brother Edwin live in Hampton, Virginia.   Jamie wanted to do something to “give back” to the Lord and He laid on her heart to make these sweet scarves to sell as a fundraiser for Susan’s Kids. Jamie is selling the scarves for $20 each — a great buy considering the fact that each one is hand-made with love.

There are thirteen different yarn colors that you can choose from.  My scarf color is “Faded Jeans” and Lauren is wearing “Collegiate”.  Check out the link below and make sure to scroll down a bit to see all the color choices.  Jamie will need to know the name of the yarn color you want.

http://www.premieryarns.com/yarn.php?id=154

If you are interested in ordering a scarf (or scarves), you can contact Jamie directly by calling 757-848-6989.  If she doesn’t answer, make sure to leave your phone number and she will call you back.  You’ll need to allow approximately 4 weeks for delivery – depending on the volume of orders that she receives.  Checks will need to be made payable to Jamie A. Lilley — but money will not be collected until your scarf is completed.

For you local folks in the Jamesville area, you can always contact me and I’ll be glad to get your order to Jamie.

Thanks in advance for your support!

Debbie

Hylien knows how to make learning fun.  The kids will always remember that the letter “C” is for “Cat”!  Check out these precious little South African cats . . .

But sometimes all this learning can make a body tired . . .

 . . . nothing like a little “cat nap” to  give an energy boost for the group picture.  You’ve just gotta love these “happy cats”.

To God be the Glory!

 Debbie

Wim and Hylien van Rensburg

As most of you already know, the Susan’s Kids ministry provides financial and prayer support for Changing Tomorrow Children’s Foundation -   operated by Wim (pronounced Vim) and Hylien van Rensburg.   Hylien is camera shy so we don’t often get a picture with her in it.  They just celebrated their wedding anniversary last week and Hylien actually consented to having her picture taken.   I hope she won’t mind me sharing this great picture on our blog.

Wim and Hylien  love the Lord and they are being obedient to His call to minister to the children of Leratong Village in Qwa Qwa, South Africa  – as well as to many other children in crisis in the neighboring country of Lesotho.  They face obstacles on every turn.  The devil tries his best to throw up physicial roadblocks to discourage them as they try to do the work which God has called them to do.   Keep their faces in your mind and heart.  Please pray for them daily.

Debbie

Greetings from God's Royal Family

At Sunday School today, the children of Leratong Village were blessed to find out that they are members of a royal family.  They were taught today that they are in fact “children of the KING”.   These kids were not born into great wealth – in fact they were born into extreme poverty.  They do not know the joy of having an earthly father who loves them and cares for them and provides for them.  Imagine how excited they must have been to hear that they have a Father in Heaven who loves them.

Princess Nthabileng

Little Nthabileng was three years old when I met her in 2009.  I fell in love with this little girl and have enjoyed watching her grow through the pictures that Wim and Hylien share with us.  I think she enjoys being a Princess!

Their Sunday School lesson was from Mark 10:13-16.  We must be ever mindful of just how much Jesus loves little children.

People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

I believe the children of Leratong are super joyful today.  I believe they felt Jesus take them in His arms. I believe they felt His hands upon their little heads.  I pray that they will keep this joy in their hearts for the rest of their lives.  To God be the Glory!

If you would like to see more pictures of the kids, please visit Wim and Hylien’s photoblog at http://www.photoblog.com/ctcf777.

Such Joy

In His Service,

Debbie Roberson – Susan’s Mom

Hylien posted some sweet pictures today of the children at the DayCare in Leratong Village. They are beginning their New Year and today the children are learning about the letter “O”. These kids are too cute. Please take a moment to visit Hylien’s photoblog.

http://www.photoblog.com/ctcf777/2012/01/16/first-day-of-daycare-2012-leratong.html

• Leratong Village – Qwa Qwa, South Africa – Hylien reports that the children in the daycare continue to do well. Four of the pre-school children have graduated now and will be going to “big school”. All of the other children in the daycare know their alphabet and the 4 and 5 years olds are beginning to read! The children continue to thrive; they are well-fed, happy, and loved. Sunday School and Church have become part of life in Leratong Village. What a blessing to know that the people there are learning about Jesus!
• Matlakeng Village – Lesotho, Africa – There were approximately 60 children attending the daycare in Matlakeng. Eighteen of them have graduated and will be going to “big school” but there are more kids waiting in line to come to the daycare. A second building is in progress at the facility in Matlakeng. Pastor John (Wim’s right hand man in Lesotho) will live in this building when it is completed. It will also have a room which will be dedicated to the one and two year olds who come to daycare, so that they will not disrupt the teaching of the older children. When visitors come for mission trips, this building will also provide a place for them to stay. The building is finished up to roof level.
• KotsonKoaneng, Utloanang, Matlakeng 2, and Futong – Lesotho, Africa – These are four other villages that God called Wim to support in 2011. The daycare facilities for these villages are all in varying stages of development and we are trusting God to provide what is needed to complete the buildings. The foundation was poured early in 2011 for the daycare building in KotsonKoaneng—but then drought came. Because there was no water, all building had to stop for a while, but praise the Lord the building is now completed up to roof level. In Utloanang, Wim and Hylien are waiting for the Village Chief to give the go-ahead to start building the daycare. In Matlakeng 2, the villagers are collecting sandstone to use for their new daycare building. Futong is the most remote of the villages. The children there had no building at all –they met outside. Wim is renting a small building for them to use for now, while the villagers collect the stone for their new building.

A project was also started in 2011 to convert a shipping container to a soup kitchen in Bothe Buthe, Lesotho. Things tend to move slowly in Africa and it seems that roadblocks are constantly thrown in the way, but we know that God is in control and He will bring His work to completion in His perfect timing.  Located in the town of Bothe Buthe, Lesotho, the container was placed near the hospital where children with HIV come for their medication. In order for the medication to work, the children must have food in their tummies – so that’s where the soup kitchen comes in. The container has been cleaned out and made ready, but the project has come to a temporary halt due to a logistical issue. Hopefully this issue will be resolved soon so that the children’s feeding program can get underway in 2012.

Jason White was part of our Mission Team that traveled to South Africa in the summer of 2009. He traveled back to Africa in early 2011 but had to return to the US due to health issues. We are thankful for his obedience to go to Africa and we are thankful for the assistance he gave to Wim while he was there.

Wim van Rensburg visited the US in late summer and spoke at several area churches. We were glad he had so many opportunities to share what God is doing in Africa.

In 2010 we started to provided some financial support to Missionary Abraham Thomas and the work he does for children in Trivandrum, Kerala State, India.  Thanks be to God,  we were able to continue this support in 2011.

We humbly thank God for each of you. God has used you and your generosity to carry out His work through Susan’s Kids. We ask for your continued prayers and financial support in 2012. As you can see, there is still much to do. We can’t do it without your help. We thank God for the lives that have been changed. We give Him all the Glory!

Marvin Gurganus, President