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Testimonies

Two years ago, Desreé heard Avodah being featured on Radio KC. At that time, she was desperately searching for a place where her daughter, Lee-Ann—who has Down Syndrome—could belong. There was no permanent placement available for her at APD in Paarl, and Desreé began to pray and fast, asking the Lord to open a door for Lee-Ann to join a programme for intellectually disabled adults. God answered her prayer. Today, Lee-Ann is part of the Avodah family, where she learns, creates, and is loved for who she is. For Desreé, this has been life-changing. It allows her a few hours each day to attend Bible study, do her shopping, or clean her home—simple things that are often impossible when caring full-time for a special needs child.

Seeds of Serving

In April 2025, the Newrest community was devastated by a fire. On that very Sunday, Delia van Wyk—known to all as Aunty D of Nanna D’s Projects—was the first to call Ma’s vir Wellington. That call marked the beginning of a journey where Delia served her community tirelessly for three months.

 

With extraordinary courage and compassion, Aunty D stepped in as the lead organizer and coordinator, overseeing the sorting and distribution of a warehouse full of donations. Through her leadership, help reached more than 1,950 individuals and 600 families affected by the fire.

Honouring Tannie Katriena this Women’s Month   "They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor." – Isaiah 61:3   A woman’s legacy is not in what she owns, but in what she sows   At Ma’s vir Wellington, we believe legacy is not measured in possessions, but in the seeds, we sow into the lives of others. Few embody this truth more beautifully than Tannie Katriena, one of our eldest Tannie Mammas, who for more than 13 years has been faithfully planting seeds of prayer, love, and faith into this ministry.

Nya is one of the beautiful reasons why Avodah exists. She is a quiet, shy young woman with a gentle presence and a soft voice that barely rises above a whisper—but somehow, it still reaches our hearts. She rarely speaks, and when she does, her words are often difficult to understand. And yet, every so often, Nya surprises us with a perfectly timed remark that brings joy and laughter to the room. Nya feels deeply. She sees more than she says. Her teddy bear is never far from her side—it brings her comfort and helps her feel safe in a world that can sometimes be overwhelming.

It is a beautiful sight to walk through the community and receive positive feedback from parents about children who were once part of our programme and are now excelling in primary school. Teachers at larger schools often ask students where they attended preschool, and when the children share, parents reach out to thank us for our hard work. Moments like these remind us that the energy and effort we invest are not in vain.

Stacey* is a bright and spontaneous child, always wearing a smile. At times, she sits quietly, deep in thought, but she never quarrels with other children. In class, she answers questions beautifully. When you look at little Stacey*, you would never imagine her life at home. Her mother struggles with addiction and often leaves Stacey* and her sister at their grandmother’s house for days without food, or clean clothes.

At the beginning of the term, little *Daniel (3) came to our Supersterre programme (our programme for 3-4-year-olds) feeling scared and unsure. He had tears in his eyes as he held onto his dad, not wanting to be left in a room full of strangers—50 kids and 20 adults he didn't know. Everything was new and overwhelming for him, and he was hesitant to join in on activities without his parent by his side. But things started to change—God’s love was at work.