With the help of voluntary donations and support from several churches in Norway, a large missionary effort, "God's will Ministry", is being run in South Africa. The work is led by Elin Nordby from Øyer and Linn Charlotte Jamt from Røros.

Elin started the work in 1996 when she was sent out from Øyer Pentecostal Church, and eventually Lillehammer Pentecostal Church. Private individuals also support this work. Over the years, Elin has had over 47 children in her home. Linn Charlotte Jamt from Røros Pentecostal Church joined the work five years ago and has since lived and worked by Elin's side in South Africa. Elin and Linn Charlotte are important resources in the local community where they live. Thousands of people have been touched through this work, many of them homeless children.

The work takes place in the province of KwaZulu-Natal in the east of the country, in the areas around the city of Greytown. Here, Elin and Linn Charlotte have, through their support and donations, established and support churches in five different locations in the countryside, and there is still a need for more churches.

The churches not only serve as a place for sermons, but also a place where orphans and broken families receive other types of help. Elin, Linn Charlotte and the local helpers also take care of many orphans in their own homes.

Some time ago, one of the workers got sick because of mold in the bedroom. This is also important to help the workers with – so that they can stay healthy and strong.

The work in South Africa is diverse. Today it consists of running churches, school visits, helping the poor and homeless, working with children and young people, offering leadership training and much more. Many employees spend all their time and work helping people into better relationships and getting to know Jesus, in the midst of a culture that embraces customs and values ​​that may be very foreign to people in Norway. Therefore, it is important for this work to include and train local leaders.

The work in the congregations is rich: In Ahrens, a kindergarten is connected to the church, and here they also help the children with homework. The same applies to the congregation in Eshane, where they gather over 150 children weekly for children's meetings, in addition to meetings for youth. HIV and AIDS is another problem that affects many people in South Africa, both young and adults. The churches work to spread knowledge and awareness, among other things, to help prevent this.

Two of the churches are now completely self-governing, and they have also established their own outposts or small churches. One of these churches is in Efaye, and has three outposts. The other church is in Entembizweni and has one outpost. In Mpalaza you will find the youngest congregation, which does not yet have its own church building, but which also engages in various activities. The churches are growing.

In addition to regular church services, these churches have children's and youth meetings, school meetings, women's meetings and children's choirs. Five school meetings are held each week at 13 different schools.

A major problem in this area is that many children and young people experience homelessness for various reasons. Some because their parents have died, some because their family is unable to feed them, while others are simply seen as unwanted by their own family.

Some of the children have no adults to support them.

But every Sunday – they come walking to church – dirty and hungry. But they get a bath and a meal, and they come back to church again and again. So let us pray for the orphans and the workers – so they can continue the good work. And let us pray for the disadvantaged families and parents.

Some of the children have had the opportunity to grow up in the homes of the workers, sometimes there could be up to 11, 12 children. Then the capacity of the workers is maxed out. They are not able to give all the orphans a home.

Fortunately, the support of voluntary donations and churches and local staff can help these children and give them hope for the future. Many young people are helped to stand on their own two feet, to get a job, a house and a safe and good social environment. When the children grow up and become teenagers they get their own place, and new homeless children are allowed to move in with someone who will take good care of them while they grow up.

As you can see, the fruits of this work are large and visible and have impacted thousands of people in Greytown and the surrounding area since it all started back in 1996. However - the work relies on voluntary donations to be carried out. This means that all those affected need our help to have hope for a better future. IONA is pleased to be able to support this work with 10% of its profits. When you shop at IONA, a portion of your payment will therefore go towards this work.

If you would like to contribute even more to poor children and adults in South Africa, it is possible to give a gift directly to Elin and Linn Charlotte on their account number: 2002.20.21606.

Best wishes and blessings to Elin, Linn Charlotte, all local workers and all the people they meet in this work.

Information, text and images taken from: South Africa | tabernacle equipment , Elin Nordby and Linn Charlotte Jamt with permission.