Visiting Mama and the Tots

We went to visit Mama at Tembesa Tots today.

We were first introduced to Mama (Regina) and the tots a few months after our arrival here in South Africa.

Our friends, Tom and Kathy Barnes had invited us to go with them as they delivered some things that were donated by the Senior Missionaries

I fell in love with Mama and the tots

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A few months later we took our family to meet Mama and the kids.

I will never forget Mama. She is one of those people that will leave an imprint on my heart forever. She is always so happy to see us. She greets us with warm hugs and lots of laughter.

Mama is 70 years old. Twenty years ago Mama began taking children in.  Mama had been earning a living as a seamstress. She saved the money she made from sewing and bought a small piece of property with a small home on it. Mama's refuge became a drop in center for children, battered women, and homeless "go, go's" (grandmothers). It's just a small building with a kitchen, and two sleeping rooms but it is filled with love. 

Every time we visit Mama she sings and dances

 Her light shines through to these beautiful children

  

Today Mama runs a small daycare for about 15 toddlers that helps support the orphans. The Go, Go's that she takes in, assist with the cooking, laundry and caring for the children.

We took Walt and Susan Peterson, the couple who work in the Area Office with us as Area Welfare Specialist, with us to learn more about Mama and her drop in center. We don't currently have a Humanitarian Couple serving in South Africa to do welfare projects so we decided that the four of us might be able to develop an Area Initiative Project that may help Mama and the kids.

When we asked Mama how the children end up in her home, she said that most of them are brought by social workers or the police. She said they are removed from homes when parents are fighting, or abusing the children. The government facility doesn't have enough beds so they bring the kids to Mama. She said it is very hard for her to turn kids away. She does not receive government assistance because she can't license her home as an orphanage since it doesn't meet the building code

Sister Marva Peterson and Ruthann Stokes admiring the new quilts that members of the Church donated

  

The LDS Senior missionaries who have served here in South Africa over the past 5 years have been instrumental in helping Mama and the kids with donations.

This group recently took food, blankets, and balls and spent a few hours loving on these sweet children

The one thing that is currently an urgent need is beds. Mama has about 17 children at this time and only 7 beds. She has had up to 30 children at one time. At night the children double up in the beds and then they lay mattresses on the floor for the rest of the children. Mama has a home nearby but she sleeps in the same room as the children to assure their safety. 

I explained to Mama that we didn't have a lot of money. I told her that the money we had was gathered from donations that members of our church donate to help the poor and needy. She got tears in her eyes. Later she came up to me and put her arms around me. She patted my chest and said, that "she loved my heart, and that my heart was big".

This coming from a woman who has dedicated the last 20 years so that hundreds of children can have a better life.

One of the blessings of serving a Humanitarian Mission is meeting people like Mama.

I love this woman. She makes me want to be a better person.