Dearest
Friends:
I was sitting in a car with my friend Stephanie Burnett on Christmas eve
day at MacDonald's for breakfast. She turned to me and said what are you
doing on Christmas day? I said I don't know yet. I have no plans. She said
I don't either. So we came up with the idea to do something for Christmas
for someone else. We went to downtown Johannesburg and picked up 9 street
kids from the inner city who sleep on the streets, between ages 14-19. We
found them in the park where they sleep. I spent all day Christmas eve day
going out to buy food. I found a turkey, African sausage, chicken and lamb
chops. Then I went to the shops and the LORD helped me to get a special
deal on some sports bags which I chose over back packs, since it will be
easier for them to carry and store in places.
I quickly filled them with power ade, orange juice package, raisins,
nuts, face cloth, deodorant, nice socks, tooth paste, soap, tooth brush,
orange, apple, muffins, sweets etc. I even found a package of all
different flavors of life savers. My mom used to stick that in our
stocking at Christmas so if it was good enough for me it was good enough
for them too! The next day CHRISTMAS we went and picked up the
kids....they were ELATED and EXCITED. THEY BECAME KINGS FOR THE DAY!! I
had set the table with my finest I had and all the food. Freddy, my
computer man and neighbor came over and fired up the barbecue and cooked
the meat. THANK THE LORD FOR HIM!
We had about 10 liters of different soft
drinks which quickly went, and baked beans (my moms favorite recipe) and
bread rolls, fruit cake, nuts, Christmas cookies and the whole table was
spread for them including Christmas napkins (they call them serviettes
here-napkins are children's diapers here- we wouldn't want to serve on
that now would we?) And we even had meat left over so I quickly called the
guards, all 7 of them came in and had Christmas dinner as well, night
shift and day shift were just changing. I had already given them their
Christmas gift bags earlier on in the month. But when I brought out the 9
sports bags for the kids...they would not let go of them. Even when they
stood up for food, they would not let go of them. We had to tell them,
they were for them to keep for as long as they needed or wanted. How very
special this was of the LORD to have made the way to get these sports
bags.
Thanks for your prayers and support that made the way to do this. After we ate we gave out the toys that were sent by Pastor Bill
Tells church New Wine in Crestline, and Pastor Joan Loftus in Illinois.
Diane Rose sent over 100 newly made cuddle animals which we will give out
to the children in camps. Corrine and Don Hail and mother had previously
sent boxes of blankets which I also want to acknowledge as those were
given out before Christmas and several other boxes which arrived which I
don't have here at the computer.
THANK YOU ONE AND ALL FOR
EMPOWERING ME TO HELP OTHERS. Especially Pastor John and Lori Dessert for
sending hundreds of books which we wrapped and gave out to Pastors and
Ministers for Christmas across South Africa. Manna Fellowship who helped
by so many toys for the squatter camps kids, and the theatre outreach we
did Dec 8th taking 250 children who arrived at the movies. After supper
that was fit for the KINGS FOR THE DAY we took them out by the Natural
Bird reserve and Lake behind my house. They so enjoyed sitting and laying
on the grass, watching the fish swim and blow bubbles in the water and
just relax with a well fed belly. Oh yes, and of course they wanted to
watch a video...we watch Crocodile Dundee.....with a crowed room full of
kids that were made to feel like a KING FOR THE DAY!! THE THING THAT REALLY BLESSED ME MORE THEN ANYTHING IS
THAT I GOT TO DO SOMETHING TO SOMEONE I WILL NEVER SEE AGAIN...JUST AS THE
BIBLE SAYS...WE SET A TABLE BEFORE THEM, GAVE THEM GIFTS AND BLESSED THEM
IN THE NAME OF THE LORD.
The Bible says when you give to the poor you lend to the LORD and he will
repay.....well I pray he repays all of you for your love and help to help
others. AND LASTLY...we were able to BLESS Pastor Anthony from Orange Farm
Squatter camp with food for their family for Christmas and a BIG LIVING
CHRISTMAS TREE TO PLANT IN THEIR CHURCH LOT in memory of my daughter Anna.
We are starting a new project to plant trees in the townships and squatter
camps in the church lots. there are no trees in Squatter camps if there are any at
all I don't know about them....these will be fenced off and taken care of.
We also gave him all the decorations to dress the tree and let the
children in the area decorate it. On Christmas day they had planned a
ceremony to dress the tree and give the children the toys that were sent
over to us. Then on Christmas Eve day Mama Rose gave out more Toys we
gave her for the squatter camp children. We had already given her about
300 cars, and over a thousand through out the areas to local people to
give out.
All of this simultaneously with the Leper Colony where Nimmo
Bassey gave out Toys we sent to the Leper Colony kids...so all in
all....children in Africa we made to feel like KINGS AND QUEENS for a day.
I pray it helps give a little smile on their face and the Love of Christ
in their hearts!
Website with projects www.SondraBerryYoung.org
Please only mail donations to USA address
P.O. Box 92802 Pasadena, CA 91109 USA
24hr/7dys voice mail 818-545-4672
Overseas: PO Box 1206 Randburg 2125 South Africa
Phone in South Africa is 011-27-11-478-1570
