Expanding Ministry in Africa

Gerhard LeRoux and his wife Elmane have a great heart for children. Several years ago they opened their small suburban home to any and all. They are no “respecter of persons.” Talita was the first child they took under their wing. As their mixed-family grew, they became part of KwaSizabantu (KSB) Mission in the Western Cape. Their ministry to abused and abandoned children was known as “Talita Home.”

Later the government clamped down, insisting that if they wanted to continue caring for little ones they would have to legally adopt them. This was done to force all the children into government care so they could be turned into little communists.

Gerhard and Elmane were not deterred. They adopted three children immediately and now have eight. Even before his marriage, Gerhard wanted to someday adopt children. When he was courting Elmane he discovered she had a similar vision for a large family.

Gerhard is a full-time missionary working among drug-addicts (many of whom are HIV-positive) and other handicapped persons. They live by faith. In typical KSB fashion they never mention money, or make financial appeals, though their needs are great.

In discussion with Gerhard about the possibility of linking with ITMI, he began by saying, “We have dropped the name ‘Talita Home,’ because a few people who had given occasional gifts for the children’s work would come by and want to ‘see’ the trophy children, making remarks like, ‘Now is this the one you found at the garbage dump?’ and ‘Is this the one that was so badly abused?’ etc. It was embarrassing to us and damaging to the children. These are our children now. We've adopted them along with our own children. We love them all and we are a family. We don't want our children exposed to this kind of crass ‘inspection.’”

When Bill first talked with him he explained his strategy for adopting more children. “We want children that are younger than our present brood, so that our kids can be a role model for the new ones.” He also said that the Lord has put it on their heart to adopt handicapped children.

They presently live in two small rooms and all ten persons share a single bathroom. They do not have a car and to travel they must borrow a bakkie (pick-up truck). Elmane home-schools all 8 children. Lenora and the Hammond children (also home schooled) are great friends. Lenora comments, “I’ve never seen such polite and well behaved
children.”

Their ministry is now called Moreson Children’s Haven (MCH), after the well-known farm where it is located. The title “Children’s Haven” was inspired by the book “Firewood Out of Fire” – which had a great impact on both Gerhard and Elmane. It is the moving story of Maria Klopper’s Children Haven and her adventure in raising over 2,000 children in the early 20th Century!

ITMI has adopted Moreson Children’s Haven as a replacement for Eshcol, since the two ministries are almost identical, and the funds we have received were designated for that purpose.

After Church on Sunday morning, Bill went over the application forms for joining ITMI. Gerhard explained that he hadn't put in the "banking details" (where to send the funds) because they “didn't want to presume that ITMI would accept them.” This will give you a little glimpse of the ethical caliber of these missionaries we are now linked with. Their humility is so inspirational.

Bill Bathman – Cape Town