it’s raining.

Today we hit the waterfront just like we do every Wednesday, to feed our homeless friends. As all of our Durban friends know, this week has been wet! VERY VERY wet! We have been in desperate need of the rain for a long time and so we aren’t complaining about the down pour at all. I’m probably the only Brit who loves this weather 😂 

But today as we stood in the rain, soaked to the skin, feeding our friends, I realized how desperate they are. 

Living on the streets is hard, but when having to face these kinds of elements too its almost impossible for these people. 

Men, women and children came for food today, each of them dripping wet. Each of them having to try and make a plan for money today, for food, for shelter.

Our carguard friends discouraged because no one comes to the waterfront in this weather, so they will make no money today. No money to take back to feed their wives and children. They feel like failures because they are just trying to care for their families and they can’t even do that. God sees your hearts sweet men, you are not failures. 
Individuals walking up and down the waterfront, selling stickers, homemade bath salts, pens, asking people for help, their pleas falling on deaf ears.  Keep going Marie, Pedro, Crystal, keep your heads high, don’t take their ignorance personally. 
Street girls trying to survive the only way they know how. The only option they feel that they have. Our hearts break as their tiny, soaking wet bodies try to shiver away the cold. They put on a brave face as as client pulls up, terrified that this will be the one who ends her short life. 
As I looked down I see bare feet, wrinkledand white from the rain, blistered and sore from walking miles every day with no shoes. I see their broken Spar packets, filled with their worldly possessions. A couple of wet t-shirts and a sodden blanket. Where will they shelter tonight? Where will they be safe? Will they get any rest?  
 As I run myself a hot bath and get out my cosiest PJs, my mind drifts to my sweet friends and all I can do is pray. 

Can you help us to help them? Can you make a difference in just one persons life? The answer is a resounding “YES”!! 
We are in desperate need of…

Waterproof clothing,

Blankets,

Shoes for men and women, mainly sizes 7,8,9 for the men and 4,5 and 7 for the women. 

We need clothing and hats.

Bags for them to put their items in. 

Toiletries.

Towels. 

Pop up tents. 

If you can help please let us know.  

#whatsondurban #makedurbangreatagain #onefuturefoundation #wearedurban #bethechange

Durban Visit

My parents have just returned to the UK after two weeks with us, this is a guest post written by my Mum

I wish I could have taken more photos of the people we met on our trip, of the inside of the shelters where most of them live. It just wasn’t safe/appropriate. This is Lizelle, this visit she was pretty sober, the first time I met her she wasn’t. She was my tour guide, showing me her bed, down thru the room past sleeping bodies and even into the showers. All the time @candiceede was walking behind me whispering over my shoulder that I would be fine but not to touch anything . On our second visit Lizelle told us she was pregnant and so planned to leave the shelter and return to the Township and her family. Hopefully she makes this move.

When I say it was an honour and privilege to meet and pray for these people I mean it. I have just been reading in Mark of Jesus praying for the sick and casting out unclean spirits. As I prayed for the sex workers both female and male, my heart ached for them and angered at what mankind had done to them. To be able lay hands on their heads, to lead some in prayer for repentance, to hug them close with the love of Jesus, was certainly an honour and a privilege. I am immensely proud of One Future Foundation for the work they are doing and will continue to do even on their darkest days. If you would like to help support the Downs family please visit www.justgiving.com/kingsroadchurch

anger

Tonight I got angry. It burned deep within me. Like a smoldering ember that is caught by a wind and engulfs a field of dry grass. 

It hit me hard. I wanted to scream, and hit and throw things. 

I wanted to scoop up the barely teenage sex worker and bundle her up in warm dry blankets. I wanted to feed her, she was so tiny and so hungry. I wanted to hold onto her and assure her that life was going to be better. 

And I couldn’t. 
And so I was angry. And that anger fuels the fire within me. That fire that will love unconditionally. That fire that will sacrifice and lay down the things that need to be. 
That fire that refuses to stay silent. 

That fire that comes directly from the Throne Room of Heaven. 

One day sweet girl your life will be better. Because we won’t quit until it is. 

#onefuturefoundation #durban #durbanwaterfront #rain #livingbyfaith #livinginafrica #missionarylife #wearedurban #iheartdurban