THE RUN-UP: Laetitia from the LOTS# Hope Centre, on our usual weekly outreach on a Thursday night, picked up an unusual behaviour amongst the teenage boys whom joined us from the station squatter camp and Funny Farm, 6 or 7 out of a group of about 40 youngsters. Having a heart for children, she, together with some willing LOTS# helpers, arranged a ‘fun day’ made up of the Jesus Film, games and meal one Saturday morning. The following Thurday Khamahelo came to her and said that the film had made such an impact that he had chosen to give up the Hooka-Pipe and weed, confirming her suspicion. In addition, Khamahelo and 2 other boys did not have access to technology and had not registered for schooling this year. With the assistance of Jeffrey Masombuka at GDE, Laetitia managed to get the boys placed in schools, monitoring their progress. Khamahelo was living up to his word, not having parents and anyone that could guide him, he visited the LOTS# Hope Center every other day, happy with his situation.
Gavin Henry, a LOTS# Director who has since emigrated to the UK, was also the founding member of Boots for Africa, an NPC who sponsored boots to the underprivileged. LOTS# made contact with Gavin to do same for Khamahelo, a staunch supporter of Orlando Pirates with the idea that a player or two would do a hand-over. Gavin went one better and introduced us to Butibuti Mofokeng, Teacher/Football Coach and Technical Director: South African Deaf Football Association SADFA, who would then arrange for the Orlando Pirates players to join us on a Thursday night for the handover.
GOD’S DELAY: We had never met Buti personally, only provided him with an address and a PIN. On arrival last Thursday, Buti introduced himself and when asked how he was doing, “not good” was his response. It so happened that the Orlando Pirates players had been delayed at a previous engagement and could not make our meeting. He then proceeded to say that he wasn’t sure where he would end up, based on the address and PIN, but as he got closer to the Ligstad Church, things became more familiar and memories flooded back. It so happens that Buti Mofokeng, a household name in the soccer fraternity having devoted his life to football, some 35 years before had also grown up homeless, aged 14, living in a pipe up there at the station. He recalled coming down to Ligstad Church where an old grey haired Oomie and Tannie used to provide them with food.
GOD’S DISPLAY: My emotions ran high – no need for the Orlando Pirates Players to do the handover. In Buti, God had provided a Testimony for His Glory. Buti spoke to our group of street people and the youth, committing to take Khamahelo under his wing, to a standing ovation.
