14th May 2017
This is the Mini Link.
We have not repeated
information which has
not changed since last
week.
A Mother’s Day Testimony
by Gwen Smeaton
This is a story about love and miracles:
When I was 18 months old my mother died – she was 34 and I never
knew her. My father, a gentle, loving man was devastated and lost
and was unable to cope with a baby. I was placed in foster care – it
was a nightmare. I was with approximately 5 different families. These
were not formal welfare placements but people who agreed to look
after me for my dad and he paid them.
My dad was by this time drinking heavily and wanted us to join my mom. He tried on
numerous occasions to kill us both but by some miracle we survived. I believe God was
protecting us.
I was then in my 5th foster home and it was worse than all the others. The foster mother
beat me and starved me and I was terrified to tell anyone what was happening. Who would
believe an 8 year old?
I lived in the street after school, too scared to go home. I then discovered the Catholic
Church and would sit there in the warmth and peace. I would stare at the statues of Jesus
with His open arms and His mother Mary with her gentle smile. I was an unkempt, dirty
child often scrounging for food and warmth. I never smiled because what was there to
smile about?
One night I was sitting on a bench outside a pub waiting for my dad and the barman
brought me a cold-drink. He said he had three grandchildren and would I like to spend a
weekend with them. My dad took me to meet them and arranged for me to spend a
weekend there.
I could not believe my eyes! The house was clean, they did
not drink alcohol, and there was food and a clean warm
bed! What a joy! On Sunday we all went to the Melville
Methodist Church; I had never been to a church service.
However, I had to return to my foster mother and was
beaten again and told that I would be with her forever. I was
terrified and never told a soul that I was being abused.
By this time my dad was dying. I was 9 and he stated that I was to go to an orphanage. I
was quite glad but I didn’t know what an orphanage was. The family in Melville then asked
my father if they could foster me and I was placed in their care.
After my dad passed away the ‘Welfare’ came to see if I was okay, for the first time in my
life. They asked me if I wanted to stay with my foster family as my dad had signed the
papers for them to adopt me before he had died. Of course I wanted to stay with them!
I got a huge family – 1 brother, 2 sisters, grannies and grandfathers, uncles, aunts, cousins
and most of all my OWN mom and dad.
I want to tell everyone that
God hears prayers, God answers prayers and He performs miracles.
This testimony is dedicated to both my late parents and to my family who opened their
hearts and lives to a scared, lonely child and loved her.
~~~
We thank God for answered prayer…
Neville Daniels continues to show improvement and he will be moving from hospital to a
rehabilitation centre. The family is very grateful for the prayerful support.
We pray for…
Ilse Morgan recently fell and has fractured her coccyx in two places. She is recovering at
Waterfall Hospital.
Peter Clark had bleeding on the brain which was operated on to drain. He is doing much
better and we thank God that the bleeding was discovered in time.
Graham Rogers had a stent inserted and is recovering at home. We thank God that this
problem was detected timeously.
Ann Meyer is recovering from keyhole surgery to deal with a blockage in her bowel. We
also see God’s intervention in this situation where Brain moved her to a different hospital
which allowed the problem to be detected.
Helen & Patrick Knight (daughter and grandson of Grace Grant) were diagnosed with
malaria which was caught timeously and we pray for full recovery for them.
Paddy Cadman (Rose Village) is struggling with Lupus.
Ruth Miller is struggling with pain possibly due to arthritis.
Lawrence Davies has been admitted to the Crescent Clinic for medication reassessment.
Don Carneson (Reef’s grandfather) was admitted to hospital with internal bleeding.
We pray for our Trinity family…
Neil Bennett
Brian & Val Berry
Gloria Beukes
Simon Berg
Stacey Berkman
Malcolm, Tristan, Wanita & Ehren Berry
Leigh Beukes
Joan Bevan
We pray for Trinity activities…
Margaret Berns
Devon Bewick
Faith and Fellowship Weekend - One week to go!
Please pray for…
1. The Lay Witness team, the Trinity team, all those who will be attending,
and the final preparations.
2. For enough young adults to minister on the Lay Witness team.
14th May 2017
This is the Mini Link.
We have not repeated
information which has
not changed since last
week.
A Mother’s Day Testimony
by Gwen Smeaton
This is a story about love and miracles:
When I was 18 months old my mother died – she was 34 and I never
knew her. My father, a gentle, loving man was devastated and lost
and was unable to cope with a baby. I was placed in foster care – it
was a nightmare. I was with approximately 5 different families. These
were not formal welfare placements but people who agreed to look
after me for my dad and he paid them.
My dad was by this time drinking heavily and wanted us to join my mom. He tried on
numerous occasions to kill us both but by some miracle we survived. I believe God was
protecting us.
I was then in my 5th foster home and it was worse than all the others. The foster mother
beat me and starved me and I was terrified to tell anyone what was happening. Who would
believe an 8 year old?
I lived in the street after school, too scared to go home. I then discovered the Catholic
Church and would sit there in the warmth and peace. I would stare at the statues of Jesus
with His open arms and His mother Mary with her gentle smile. I was an unkempt, dirty
child often scrounging for food and warmth. I never smiled because what was there to
smile about?
One night I was sitting on a bench outside a pub waiting for my dad and the barman
brought me a cold-drink. He said he had three grandchildren and would I like to spend a
weekend with them. My dad took me to meet them and arranged for me to spend a
weekend there.
I could not believe my eyes! The house was clean, they did
not drink alcohol, and there was food and a clean warm
bed! What a joy! On Sunday we all went to the Melville
Methodist Church; I had never been to a church service.
However, I had to return to my foster mother and was
beaten again and told that I would be with her forever. I was
terrified and never told a soul that I was being abused.
By this time my dad was dying. I was 9 and he stated that I was to go to an orphanage. I
was quite glad but I didn’t know what an orphanage was. The family in Melville then asked
my father if they could foster me and I was placed in their care.
After my dad passed away the ‘Welfare’ came to see if I was okay, for the first time in my
life. They asked me if I wanted to stay with my foster family as my dad had signed the
papers for them to adopt me before he had died. Of course I wanted to stay with them!
I got a huge family – 1 brother, 2 sisters, grannies and grandfathers, uncles, aunts, cousins
and most of all my OWN mom and dad.
I want to tell everyone that
God hears prayers, God answers prayers and He performs miracles.
This testimony is dedicated to both my late parents and to my family who opened their
hearts and lives to a scared, lonely child and loved her.
~~~
We thank God for answered prayer…
Neville Daniels continues to show improvement and he will be moving from hospital to a
rehabilitation centre. The family is very grateful for the prayerful support.
We pray for…
Ilse Morgan recently fell and has fractured her coccyx in two places. She is recovering at
Waterfall Hospital.
Peter Clark had bleeding on the brain which was operated on to drain. He is doing much
better and we thank God that the bleeding was discovered in time.
Graham Rogers had a stent inserted and is recovering at home. We thank God that this
problem was detected timeously.
Ann Meyer is recovering from keyhole surgery to deal with a blockage in her bowel. We
also see God’s intervention in this situation where Brain moved her to a different hospital
which allowed the problem to be detected.
Helen & Patrick Knight (daughter and grandson of Grace Grant) were diagnosed with
malaria which was caught timeously and we pray for full recovery for them.
Paddy Cadman (Rose Village) is struggling with Lupus.
Ruth Miller is struggling with pain possibly due to arthritis.
Lawrence Davies has been admitted to the Crescent Clinic for medication reassessment.
Don Carneson (Reef’s grandfather) was admitted to hospital with internal bleeding.
We pray for our Trinity family…
Neil Bennett
Brian & Val Berry
Gloria Beukes
Simon Berg
Stacey Berkman
Malcolm, Tristan, Wanita & Ehren Berry
Leigh Beukes
Joan Bevan
We pray for Trinity activities…
Margaret Berns
Devon Bewick
Faith and Fellowship Weekend - One week to go!
Please pray for…
1. The Lay Witness team, the Trinity team, all those who will be attending,
and the final preparations.
2. For enough young adults to minister on the Lay Witness team.