Feeding Children in South Africa

Thank you to those who’ve have been praying for our shipping containers to pass through customs in South Africa. This past month has been one of the most challenging times that we have experienced in ministry. There are thousands of children at risk of going hungry if we are unable to resolve this. After meeting with anyone in both Africa & the US who might be able to assist us, we are frustrated at every turn. At the conclusion of all these appeals, Convoy of Hope was forced to return two containers to the US which will then be shipped to a country in Central America where children would benefit. 

Our back-up plan is raising funds and purchasing food products in South Africa during this delay in importing shipping containers. Our prayers were answered, and in the first couple of weeks after sharing this great need, we were able to raise $200,000, thanks to generous donors. This will provide enough food for us to feed the 50,000 children in our program for approximately one month and a half. Our farm provides vegetables and thousands of eggs to supplement our feeding program. We are beginning a campaign to raise additional funds to close the gap for these children. In the meantime, Convoy of Hope and Meals from the Heartland are sorting out the issues that South Africa has with the imported food containers. When we pray, we know that God always shows up. Jesus’ words in Matthew 10 teaching us that God cares for the sparrows and the flowers of the field has been on my mind this past month. I thought He had given me the responsibility to feed these dear children, but now I realize that it’s not about me. God will provide and the children whom He loves will be taken care of.  Thank you for believing with me. 

Our staff in the USA have been preparing for church denominational conferences.  We attended the Iowa Ministry Network of the Assemblies of God April gathering and will soon be going to Sioux City, Iowa for the Upper Midwest Global Methodist Church (GMC) conference.  After that, the Florida GMC conference. Our staff will also be attending a national gathering of Lutheran Churches in June. We are experiencing success in partnering with numerous churches. They have interest in doing short term mission trips with us and/or assisting with some of our popular projects such as feeding children, constructing churches, drilling wells, and providing reusable menstrual hygiene products to impoverished girls. 

In May we had a team of eight women do a short-term mission trip focusing on distributing menstrual hygiene kits. They blessed over two thousand girls with washable reusable kits that last up to 3 years. We also have a new partnership with the Christian ministry “Sew Powerful.”  We hope this will permit us to take this project to a greater scale to provide several thousand kits employing several African women to help sew components of the kits.   

In June we have a mission team arriving that we are calling the “Blessman Team,” even though Beth and I will not be there.  My cousin Scott Blessman, his wife and one of their children will be serving along with Beth’s sister Paula Blessman, and other short-term missionaries. Scott has been on our board for several years, and I have been encouraging him to travel to Africa. I am happy that he will now get to experience the ministry that he has been supporting for so long. 

June is the coldest month of the year in South Africa and as I have gotten older, I try to be back in Iowa this time of year. Winters in South Africa are mild compared to Iowa, but since most homes typically do not have central heat, it can be quite chilly. I remember many S.A. winters sitting around a space heater all bundled up with layers of clothes and a coat while I worked in my office. One of the biggest negatives for me during winter in North America and South Africa is the shorter hours of sunshine. Thanks to our great staff in South Africa handling the logistics and the teams during the winter months, I enjoy many late evenings in Iowa riding my bicycle until 9 PM.  

Prayer requests:  

Firstly, thank God with us for His faithful provision to feed multiplied thousands of children. We trust Him to continue to provide.  

Secondly, forty years ago, my left hip was replaced with an artificial joint that served me well. It is beginning to give me significant difficulty, and I am concerned that I may need a new replacement that could be complicated. Like most of you, I do not feel that I have time for surgery and the 2 to 4 months of recovery, but God is in control, and I submit to His authority.  Thank you for praying for me. 

Thank you for reading my blog. To God be the glory.