Three Wonderful Women
by Dr. D. J. Mingo
Liz Shephard
A year or so ago, Liz and her husband enjoyed spending time together on their farm in Bergville, Natal - South Africa. One particular night before Christmas, Liz's husband, investigated peculiar noises in their home. That night criminals stole one of Liz's greatest and most precious gifts. That night her husband and friend succumbed to vicious stab wounds.
Today you can find Liz still living in Bergville. She is at the helm of the Bergville Orphans Society working with many others to feed, cloth, school, and provide a host of other life saving services to the scores of Zulu children left parentless because of the ravages of AIDS.
When I met Liz my heart was energized by the strength of her love.
Liz is my hero.
Jennie Pretorious
Several years ago while living in the greater Johannesburg, South Africa area, Jennie's husband was murdered as criminal assailants hijacked his car. These members of an ever increasing South African Thug-club, took a wonderful friend; her husband.
When I met Jennie she shared her story of bitterness and anger she held towards the black villains who snuffed out her husband's life. While attending a Zulu church in the Winterton area during a visit, she shared her story with the all black congregation. After she finished detailing her hellish journey, scores of Zulu woman in the congregation approached her with puffy wet eyes. They hugged her and cried with her during a wonderful time of healing and reconciliation. Many of these woman were widows too. They begged Jennie to return.
Where is Jennie Pretorious today? She is out on a small holding in Winterton, South Africa with her son and daughter-in-law caring for six Zulu orphans, and ministering to many poverty stricken Zulu villages in the Winterton area.
Jennie is my hero.
Pinkie Majola
Pinkie is a Zulu woman who's husband was murdered some time ago. I do not know much about her husband because Pinkie doesn't like to talk much about the ordeal.
Three years ago, I met Pinkie's employers Kobus and Daleen Venter. They are Afrikaners. Pinkie left their employment three years ago because she believed someone in her town of Steadville had to do something to help the many orphans there. She quit her job to care for orphans.
Kobus, concerned at her departure, went to Steadville. Upon learning Pinkie reason for leaving he, Daleen, and Pinkie entered into a labor of love partnership. Afrikaners and Zulu working together to help the orphans.
Today Pinkie cares for 30 orphans. Kobus and Daleen supply much of the funding for this project.
Pinkie, Kobus, and Daleen are my heroes.
One of the many God-Things that happens in my life from time to time, is to meet people like Liz, Jennie, and Pinkie. They are my heroes because in spite of their pain and lost, they still reach out to others who perhaps experience far greater pain and loss.
They are my heroes. Heroes, because in their sufferings Liz, Jennie, and Pinkie do more for others than most would ever attempt to do in their abundance.