Little Mommies

Qwa Qwa is a region in South Africa that is an incredibly poor, impoverished area with high unemployment, low educational level, and little opportunities for economic development. South Africa has one of the highest incidences of HIV / AIDS at 18.8% of the adult population. In addition it is estimated that there are over 1.2 million AIDS orphans, which is half of all orphans. So, this being said, HIV AIDS is leaving many Qwa Qwa children orphans and in child led households. This is where you find the "little mommies"

The Mustard Seed Ministry wants to give these little mommies of Qwa Qwa a childhood, an opportunity to see, hear, feel and taste through the eyes of a child and not "so-called adults" In Qwa Qwa, 10 year old's are full-time care takers or their younger siblings. They carry their siblings on their backs, wipe dirty bottoms and are never free of responsibility. I don't know about you, but my 10 year old relies on me to help with homework, friendship struggles, good healthy cooking, clean clothes and support and encouragement. Where is this for the Qwa Qwa girls?? With Momma Julia!

Momma Julia makes a pact so to speak with the "little mommies" who come to her door. She makes them promise to enjoy themselves and let Momma Julia take care of the young ones. It is very hard for them at first as they are conditioned to watch out and care for the younger children. But, by the end of the day, these "little mommies are laughing and lose that tense, watchful look. And, at the Mustard Seed ministry, these girls can learn and get an education. Did you know that in South Africa around a 1 in 3 chance of completing secondary school?

She is also helping a "little daddy" named Lucky. Lucky is a 12 year old boy who came to Momma Julia with a big scab across is face. He has been caring for is 5 year old sister and because of the stress, he has been scratching his face. Momma Julia is determined to help Lucky heal physically, emotionally and spiritually thought the grace of God.

The Mustard Seed ministry has so many reasons to exit in South Africa. Life there is not easy and for the 'little mommies and little daddies" and really seems unimaginable. Please countue to pray for this ministry and those precious children it serves. May the love of Jesus fill these Qwa Qwa orphans through the Mustard Seed in order to heal them and give them a life made for a Child of God.

A video of the Mustard Seed orphan care ministry

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Jesus said, "Let the little children come"

I can hear Julia O'Connell, the visionary and founder of the Mustard Seed ministry, saying this to the children of Qwa Qwa, South Africa. She already teaches and cares for 60 orphans, 30 of which have HIV. But, her service doesn't stop there: She welcomes all Hurting children that are struck down by the effects of extreme poverty.


She is helping a 13 yr old boy, who we will call Jessie, whose father has been snatched by the grips of alcoholism. His mother follows close behind at all times. Because Jessie is the eldest in the family, much is expected of him. He is whipped and verbally abused. His behavior varies from withdrawn to out right naughty. The other day, he stood at the end of Momma Julia's porch and told her son Joshua that he does not want to come into the Mustard Seed school because it is boring. As Momma Julia watched him throw stones, she decided to go talk with him. When she got closer, she noticed tears in his eyes. Jessie said, "I wish I was an orphan". Then Momma Julia asked Jessie if she could hug him, he replied, "Oh my God". As momma Julia hugged him, he would not let her go. Eventually, his whole body relaxed and he started sobbing saying he could not live like this anymore.

Extreme poverty like this in Qwa Qwa South Africa hurts children because it hurts families. Poverty’s most innocent victims are children—including those who are just a few years old. Can you imagine forcing your child out into field, or garbage dump, to work each day, or make them beg, cheat or steal because if you didn't you would all starve. Children like Jessie are being exploited and hurt by their families everyday with no HOPE for a better life. They wander through life with no knowledge that they are loved and valued by the One who Created them. But, through the love, support and care of Momma Julia and the Mustard Seed ministry, Jessie and others like him can go to school and learn that they are loved and have a purpose which could make the world a better place.


Please pray for Momma Julia and Jessie in hopes that they can all work together to heal this boy and his family.

A little blind boy......

"I have come to realize more and more that the greatest disease and the greatest suffering is to be unwanted, unloved, uncared for, to be shunned by everybody, to be just nobody (to no one)". Mother Teresa of Calcutta 1910-1997)


Yesterday the Mustard Seed home/school welcomed a little blind boy who came in to here their biblestudy. He is an orphan with a small little face and a mop of curly hair. He is 7 yrs old. As momma Julia told the children their favorite story of Jesus calming the storm and showed them the pictures, ALL the other children very naturally turned to him and described the pictures in detail. It was so precious. They care so much for each other.

Thank you for continuing to spread the Mustard Seed ministry so these children as they help each other through their struggles are helped and loved by the Lord through all of you: His Hands and Feet! Your support, love and prayers are assuring them that they are loved! Blessing and Peace

Hope is a Warm Blanket

Hope is a warm blanket
In the winter night.
Heavy winds might shake it
But you'll hold it tight.

If they ever took it,
You would feel so cold.
Hope is a warm blanket
Left for you to hold.


I recently found the above poem on the internet and wanted to share it with you.

My dear friends,
The Qwa Qwa orphans in South Africa so not live in a warm climate and have very little clothes. It gets down into the 40's at night and the children huddle together to keep warm at night. Can you image sleeping on the floor like that at night?. I know I can't!! The Mustard Seed school is trying to provide for the phycial, emotional, edcuational and spiritual needs of 60 children through the grace of God. But, this can not be done by One person, Julia O'Connell. God calls us ALL to help these children because He has given us so much like homes, cars, beds, food, drinks and on and on and one.

These orphan's are missing many things in their lives, so let's not allow them to be cold anymore. Let's give a blanket to each Qwa Qwa orphan at the Mustad seed school. Isn't this the least we can do?. One good blanket bought there will only cost $10.50 US dollars!! Let our goal be 60 blankets! You can donate $10.50 for one blanket on the right side of this blog (paypal link).

Let's give them blankets, let's give them HOPE!

Thank you and blessings

The Founder of The House of the Mustard Seed

As many of you know I, Kara, have a heart for orphans in Ethiopia and have been working to help Yezelalem Minch. Recently, my heart has been drawn to help a special lady in South Aftica named Julia Oconnell who recently started a school for orphans and takes care of sick HIV children there. She is a widow with 2 biological children and a 19 year old foster son that she raised since she found him at around. This son, Joshua, helps her care for orphans. Through our many communications on facebook, I have come to beleive that she has a heart of Gold and wants only to help "THE LEAST OF THESE". This blog is to share her story and her mission. I hope you will follow their ministry and help spread the word about her love and care for orphans in South Africa.

Julia Oconnell founded of the House of the Mustard Seed and works with 3 missionaries from Mountain Ministries. She was born in South Africa and felt such a passion for helping mend what apartheid has done. She has worked for Refilwe as a Community Deveopment Coordinator doing evangelization, HIV testing, primary care and fostering. Feeling a tug from the Holy Spirit, she ahs been lead to live among the poorest of the poor with the highest number of HIV patients in Qwa Qwa, South Africa. Three months ago,she also started a school that has 60 children, 30 of which are sick with HIV. They hope to having plumbing put into their village soon.

This may sound horrible to you but they are living out of black plastic bags because they can't afford furniture. A local church gives them $125 a month but that is just not enough. Can you imagine living off $125 month while raising helping 60 children of children.

Jesus appeared to her in a vision in 1986 when she was a young girl asking her to be simple in my Christian walk. This is what she tries to do each and every day through her love and care of the orphans of Qwa Qwa.

Tears of relief flow from their eyes.....

Words from Julia:
"With Jesus, I am determined that this little village (Qwa Qwa) will rise up. Our little orphans cannot sink any lower. There will be no more frozen bodies found on the mountain top ever".

Julia's mission to help God's orphans is a calling to "HELP the LEAST of THESE". This has not been a easy road for her at all. They have no water and are waiting for their municipality to get that for them. But, many of us know that Africa time is very differnet that America time. this can bring musch frustration for Julia and sickness has come to her because of it. So, her mission is not for the faint of heart. But, she knows she can only do this through Christ and the people that HE sends to help her. Maybe YOU who are reading this, ARE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE!

The amazing part of her mission that warms her heart in the midst of much hardship is this:

* witnessing childrean appreciate their 1st cup of tea
* watching children laugh at a dvd
* hearing children pray with all their hearts to the heavenly Father
* seeing children push food into their hungry mouths followed by TEARS of relief flowing from their eyes as they chew.