South Africa – A Helping Hand of Faith
Sometimes, a new adventure begins with a story someone brings home.
That is exactly what happened when a friend returned from South Africa, where he had attended a motorcycle conference organised by the Christian Motorcyclists Association (CMA).
During his visit, he had travelled to Tembisa, where he met a remarkable man named Pastor Mandla.
Pastor Mandla had very little money.
Yet, despite his limited resources, he carried a dream in his heart.
He wanted to build a safe place where young girls who had suffered abuse could stay and find protection, dignity and hope.
He could not afford to build the entire building at once.
So he did what he could.
Whenever he had a little money left, he would buy one brick.
One brick at a time.
He kept building his dream.
When we heard his story, we knew that this was another opportunity to offer a helping hand.
We started asking ourselves:
“What can we do?”
Once again, people came together.
We organised a benefit concert.
Batavus bicycles were made available for fundraising.
We baked kibbeling and sold it to raise money.
Step by step, contribution by contribution, the funds began to grow.
Eventually, we had raised enough to travel to South Africa and help turn Pastor Mandla’s dream into reality.
We flew to South Africa and began the work together with 40 local construction workers.
For six weeks, we worked side by side.
Brick by brick.
Wall by wall.
Day by day.
And then, after just six weeks, the building was completed.
What had started as one man’s dream — and one brick at a time — had become a real place of shelter and hope.
But the building was not the only thing that was built during those six weeks.
Relationships were built.
Trust was built.
Hope was built.
And something inside us was strengthened as well.
It was a remarkable and deeply moving time.
So many unexpected things happened. Moments that felt like coincidences, yet at the time seemed almost like little miracles.
We experienced the generosity of people, the strength of working together and the joy of seeing a dream become reality.
And when the time came to fly home, we carried something with us that was worth far more than anything we had left behind.
We returned with a deep and unshakable conviction that God truly exists.
Not because everything in life suddenly became easy.
But because we had witnessed what can happen when people have faith, open their hearts and are willing to help one another.
Pastor Mandla had started with almost nothing.
Just a dream.
And one brick.
Together, that dream became a building.
And for us, it became another powerful reminder that a helping hand can reach much further than we ever imagine.
We returned home deeply grateful.
Grateful for the people we met.
Grateful for the opportunity to serve.
Grateful for every person who contributed.
And above all, grateful to God for allowing us to be part of this extraordinary journey.
One brick can seem insignificant.
One helping hand can seem small.
But when people come together, something beautiful can be built.
Together, we can make a difference.