The Women

Who are these precious women to whom God has sent Evangeline Ministries?

Here are the stories of two of those women written by Wendy Ryan

 

 

Khumi's Story

Khumi Morare came to the Living Hope hospice in 2006, the mother of new born twins, she was emaciated and dying of HIV and AIDS. Like so many of the women in this condition, she was alone. Khumi was abandoned by the children’s father, to whom she was not married, after she moved with him from Johannesburg to here in Cape Town.

The first encounter our group had we Khumi was when everyone was asked to pray for her: that her boy and girl would be HIV free. God answered that prayer and it was a wonderful day when we heard the news.

I used to see Khumi but never had much of a chance to know her until the day, dressed in her white hospital gown, she slowly climbed the steps to the classroom. With no family in Cape Town and no money, Khumi was desperate to do something. Once she heard about the sewing classes, she signed up. Immediately, we could see how determined she was to learn. She was equally determined to live and take care of her children — four in all. The animal print tote bags made by the women became her way out of poverty and she quickly became skilled at sewing the bags.

While she recovered in the hospice, the Social Services put her kids in foster care. This was so hard for Khumi emotionally, but it made her work harder. By the time she graduated in 2006, Evangeline Ministries had helped to turn Khumi’s life around radically. By giving her a job as a teacher’s assistant in addition to the money she earned from the bags, she qualified to get her children back from foster care. Evangeline Ministries helped her secure a shack and home furnishings.

Khumi plays a most important role in our work here. She is excellent at all she does and is the most reliable of all the staff. Khumi has grown spiritually and is now active in church. She is a shining example of what hope in Jesus Christ can do once it is offered to a person in need.

Nolubabalo’s Story

Nolubabalo is one of the precious women who sew the lovely tote bags that provide their livelihood. Unemployed, with no skills and no experience, she slept many nights with no food in her stomach. In Masiphumelele, most of the shacks where women like Nolubabalo live are built in someone's backyard and rent is paid for that space. But because Nolubabalo had no money, the owner of the yard where she stayed planned to throw her out. "Now," she says, "I do sewing. And because you let me sew bags, I manage to pay the rent and buy food. Thank you so much, you mean a lot to my life. I will never forget you. I love you so much."

Courageous, Dedicated and Caring

The women in our program show tremendous courage: the courage to challenge themselves and the courage to apply their skills in the future. Their dedication to caring for their families inspires us each day to forge ahead in our mission and, through your generous donations and product purchases, increase the scope of our offerings.

Please click here to donate the future of women and men like Khumi.