A SAFE HOME: THE SAFE HOUSE
17-year-old Salome from Hammanskraal
As you read this, try to put yourself in the shoes of 17-year-old Salome from Hammanskraal. Salome has never known her father and mother. She also does not know if she has any brothers or sisters. Salome grew up in an orphanage and, in fact, she does not know exactly how old she is. Fortunately, she goes to school three days a week and her grades are good. But when Salome is 18, she has to leave the orphanage and live independently. Her big question is, ‘How?’
Salome knows that in order to survive she needs a roof over her head and daily food. She also knows that unemployment rates are high and most of her friends depend on someone to support them. How is Salome supposed to survive and/or move on independently? The odds seem so low. Finding a boyfriend seems like the most obvious solution. Salome understands very well what the consequences are. But no roof over her head and no daily food are bigger concerns.
Our example ‘Salome’ is no exception. In our work, we meet several Salome’s. Most Salome’s end up with the wrong boyfriend. After the first pregnancy, they have to search for a second boyfriend. After the second pregnancy, they have to search for a third boyfriend. These Salome’s are mistreated and abused. But what options do they have? No roof, no food and with children. These Salome’s are looking for a safe house and home, a place to shelter and unwind.
Community members in the Temba area of Hammanskraal indicated that mistreatment and abuse of young single mothers is one of the major problems in this area. So the local chief voluntarily donated a piece of land. Thus, a new work field has emerged over the past period. We call this work field the ‘Safe House’, a hiding place.
In this location, there is now a local team and a small garden that serves as an employment project for the community. In addition, there is a two-room building which functions as an office and kitchen. Most important is the roof for the weekly Bible classes for the surrounding community. Lord willing, this ‘Safe House’ location will develop into a second community center in Hammanskraal.
During this year (2024) we hope to start with a small building of 4 rooms to accommodate these Salome’s, to guide them and help them to stand on their own two feet again. In this way, on the one hand we can help them in a practical way, and on the other hand we can teach them about God’s Word. This way, offering practical help and providing biblical education go hand in hand.
It is our heartfelt wish and prayer that the Lord will be a Helper to these helpless ‘Salome’s’. Above all, we pray that the Holy Spirit will graciously show them who they really are and will make them seekers. As we read in Lamentations 3 verse 25 and 26, ‘The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.’ The annotations explain to us, ‘He is happy who has set his hope firmly upon the Lord.’
There is a safe Shelter for a helpless but expectant sinner who can no longer work. In Isaiah 4 verse 6 it is written, ‘And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.’ What an incomprehensible miracle it is and remains to have a Shelter for time and eternity!
Mathias Weststrate
