Blog
As we reflect on the journey of Life on The Streets Alberton (LOTS#), it's with a deep sense of gratitude that we extend our heartfelt thanks to every individual and organization that has joined us in our mission. Your unwavering support has not only fueled our efforts but has truly been the cornerstone of our ability to make a significant impact in the lives of those who find themselves on the challenging streets of Alberton. From our humble beginnings to the present day, every nourishing meal served every Thursday has been a testament to the collective commitment of our volunteers and benefactors. It's your time, talents, and generosity that have enabled us to offer these meals, which for many, are a rare beacon of hope and comfort.
LOTS# Alberton and their many partners collaborated to profoundly impact the lives of homeless people by introducing them to vital services. They worked with the Department of Social Development (DSD) and associated departments to meet with homeless people in Alberton on November 24.
#LOTS Initiative Transforms Alberton's Streets with Love and Miracles
That one that returns, cleansed of his ways, makes our LOTS# Ministry all the more worthwhile, all praise to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ for his Grace and Mercy.
Last night out on the streets of Alberton once again, be it within curfew limits of 21:00, it has become a point of discussion between the LOTS# of us on how we manage to do the rounds of 5 stops one hour short of our usual outreach. Nevertheless, the seed is planted, last night in Matt 20 vs 1-16 ‘ The Parable of the Landowner’ and the worth of a ‘Last Responder’. Also, Matt 18 vs 12, ‘The Parable of the Lost Sheep’ for the seed to be watered, nurtured, and spring root within the Soul. As happens, someone would come to us asking to come clean of his / her addiction, usually heroine. This puts LOTS# in a predicament. How do we determine authenticity amidst all the lies, manipulation tactics, and then why one and not the other, when resources are limited (imagine same for Covid admissions!). Not knowing the requestors past history, ( I always say, when getting this request for the first time, ‘the story you tell me may be your best, until I hear the rest’) LOTS# requires a means of qualifying the request. Addicts who have been cast out by family and friends, become very ‘creative’ when soliciting funds for the next fix, creativity being directly proportional to the intensity of the withdrawal symptoms. I often question why they do not use the same creativity to become industrious(?). Which brings us to our first ‘qualification request’ to our ‘requestor’, “Use your creativity, skills and talents and come to us with a workable plan, names and numbers included”. The reality of this situation where a person has been on the streets for an extended period of time, no responsibilities, accountabilities, rules, regulations, structure, discipline, when suddenly admitted into a rehab is likely to run within the first week due to the routine culture shock, irrespective of the drug(s) used and period in addiction. Once we have the plan we would validate it by calling the identified support persons, possible employers and build a relationship with these people. Many of whom are not on the same page and ill informed. Then only do we investigate suitable and available rehabs to which we inevitable end up on a waiting list. God is always in control and through his Grace and Mercy, should only one lost soul come into a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, Heaven and earth will rejoice. Amen LOTS# will be able to serve so manty more from a fixed abode in Alberton North from which both LOTS# and others will be able to Minister on a full time basis, not only 20 minutes every Thursday. Request your prayers for a factory premises.
As is the LOTS# Higher Calling on Thursday nights, a dedicated team ventured out again to take the Word to our Brothers, Sisters and children on the streets of Alberton but this past Thursday, it was with heavy hearts. As managing member of LOTS#, I echo the sentiment and feeling of the rest of the LOTS# ministry members, each a ‘ligament or organ of the Body’, when we celebrate the life, and leadership of one of our core members, friend and fellow worker for His Glory and Honour, Graham Hartley left this world to be with our Lord on Tuesday, after a battle with cancer. Sincere love and condolences to Liz, Matthew and all Graham’s family and friends, many of whom have a passion for the Life on the Streets. At our last stop we paid tribute with a minute of silence, thanks to Gavin, to a God fearing, softly spoken intellectual, and as in many areas of his life, Graham here too, leaves a legacy which will live on. You will be sorely missed, our Brother.
Our street ministry was started more than 6 years ago by Clive, John, Jorg, and DeWet. James Abbott has been known to us from the outset, where he and Nico bedded down together, a relationship of mutual support with Nico being more of a fatherly figure despite their respective addictions. At a stage, they parted ways with Nico choosing to go to RETO. He came out clean but as circumstances had it, he returned to the streets of Alberton to where James slept. He tried to counsel James to move from his addiction ways, one that included the combined use of cocaine and heroin. Arguments ensued which eventually drove them apart around the time LOTS# was registered as an NPO in 2016. Today, by the Grace of God Nico has a new life, happily married to Amanda, and thanks also go to Tutela for the amazing work Belinda and her team does. James is well known to the residents of Alberton, where he stood for more than 8 years at the intersection of Padstow and Ring Road West. On average he would spend R350 per day on his addiction, and once he had made the money would trek to the old station in Alberton North to buy his stash. He injected in the groin and due to hygiene issues, this resulted in infections. On a couple of occasions, LOTS# took him (and others) to Helen Joseph Hospital. On one occasion, the Hospital Superintendent, while doing her rounds, came past James and enquired about his medical situation resulting in immediate discharge. LOTS# realised that drug addiction is the ‘modern-day leprosy’ (desomorphine or krokodil, being case in point today) – ‘general hospitals do not want drug addicts with infections, and some rehabs do not want infected addicts’. James has been street bound since the age of 12, he once told us. Shot in the leg while bunking school and playing pool in a café in Boksburg, trapped in an armed robbery. He was always very creative, industrious, and well skilled which he had to be to survive and survive he did. He spoke Afrikaans, English, and an additional 5 languages. He so wanted to be included and loved, which many did, but at the proverbial ‘arm’s length’. On one occasion, just before Christmas, he received R6,800 at his frequented spot and another donation was R2000 every 3 months to ‘keep him away’. When you were able to sit down with him and chat, one would find many ‘diamonds in the rough’; genuine love and knowledge of the Word – his Bible always ‘slept’ with him; he could share so many life experiences from which one could learn, streetwise in all areas. At one stage, over the Christmas of 2019, James came clean. Ansa and her fellow congregants, Phillip, Hans, and the likes, of the Volle Evangelie Kerk, supported by Pastor Gerhard, took James into their church. James was baptised by Pastor Gerhard and on this Glorious Day, reunited with his father with whom he reconciled and made peace. James used to leave his belongings at Glynis, dropping them off before 6 am and collecting them before 5 pm, every day. He wanted to come clean, and this is another lesson LOTS# learned from James; someone who had spent 26 years on the street, without rules, regulations, discipline, schedules (other than the body trigger for the next fix), or any form of structure, is not likely to take to the regimen of a rehab. Crude as it may sound, there is a dire need for a ‘conditioning house’ and this is one of the reasons LOTS# needs premises. As always LOTS# asked James for a plan. He pointed us to Glynis who would measure out the methadone according to the doctor’s prescription every morning and evening, not addicted to methadone, came clean 3 weeks later. James was ready for RETO Healing Community, where Nico had been. If he lasted a week, he would stay a year – he lasted 3 days and called LOTS# out of the taxi, pleading and reasoning fell on his deaf ears. Still clean, Hans offered him work, and a place to stay on the work premises, possibly too close to Mdu, his dealer, leading to relapse. During another subsequent intervention, LOTS# again took James to the doctor for methadone to be administered diligently by Sina at his workplace. Once clean he agreed that we manage his money by handing over his bank card. This only lasted one week. He was picked up by police for possession and Hans duly dismissed him, only to take him back a couple of weeks later, on request by his foreman, Bless you, Sirs. Then came Covid and Christmas, with bonuses duly paid, James supported his habit all the more, only to succumb to a clot through the heart, confirmed by father, Jimmy Abbott this morning. Last seen alive, requesting that a colleague buy him some cigarettes and a cold drink on Saturday. Hans found him in a peaceful sleeping position early Monday morning after breaking open the door of his living quarters. LOTS# acknowledges the life and lessons of Jimmy Abbott and convey our heartfelt condolences and thanks to all those, mentioned and not mentioned, who by the Supreme Grace and Mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ interacted and supported James.
