“You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat...” Isaiah 25:4
2021 Update from Elias Ochele, OrphanAID leader
Past months in review:
The past few months have been really challenging to us, having to deal with the many challenges posed by Covid-19 pandemic within families and the community at large. We have been attending to many cases of trauma, stress, depression among other problems and not to exclude the overwhelming demand of food relief among the needy as the economic impact of Covid-19 pandemic continues to take its toll on the underprivileged.
Even though the Covid-19 lockdown regulations and restrictions have been lifted from level 3 to level 1, we are still limited to carry out certain activities as we would expect. In the meantime, level 1 has allowed us to pay visits to our beneficiaries, meet with the children in our local bases for kids club, run soup kitchen, distribute food stuff and meet for fellowship.
Outreach activities in focus
Due to economic impact of Covid-19 pandemic, lots of jobs have been lost and this has had impact on some of the families as they have to strive to make the end meet. As a result of this, children from such families have been directly affected as some of them go without food. Therefore, to help curb this challenge, we have been running soup kitchens in 4 local bases to help feed the children. We now feed approximately 120 children per week in our local bases. They do not only get fed, but also get the opportunity to be taught bible stories, play games, and help them with school work.
Through networking with various parties and support from our partners, we continue to give relief support in form of food parcels and provision of hygiene goods to families we support and other destitute families. In the past month, we managed to provide such to over 65 families.
On the Development of the Community Centre :
Regarding the building, the lockdown did slow down the development plans, but at present we are negotiating with some company with the possibility to get containers to be used as walls. The plan is to connect the containers around the slab to form a wall and they will also be converted into small rooms, which could be used for other purposes. The plan seems more cheaper, and this is the best we can do in such challenging times.
On a personal note from Greg Edwards (Mission Champion)
On a sombre note, Elias has just lost 4 family relatives from his wife's side of the family, in a fatal road accident over the Easter weekend. They are still recovering from such traumatic experience and hope in the God of all comfort for peace and strength
Please can the ChristChurch family keep Elias & his family in their prayers.
Email : orphanaidcares.gmail.com
Website :www.orphanaid.co.za