YOU DID IT! - 65+ children will have new shoes and school suplies!! Update11/24 ( :

For most of Africa's children, education is the only way out of a life of extreme poverty. Only those who can read, write and do arithmetic can hope to get a better paid job when they grow up.

An education helps poverty stricken children learn the skills they need to get a job but it is so much more important than that. It allows them to learn about ways to keep themselves healthy so as to not sucome to the diseases that can ravage poor communities. Information on simple day-to-day hygiene and prevention saves lives and keeps families together.

A chance to go to school also allows children to get proper nutrition whenever possible. For many children in Africa and other 3rd world countries, the meal they get at school is their only hot meal of the day.

Finally, education and a chance for a child to attend school builds confidence, support and the community. In a world were children have no control over what happens to them because of extreme poverty, education is their chance to make a learn how to help themselves and make a difference in the lives of their family and community.

This Christmas, Miss Julia would like give each of the Qwa Qwa children a school kit with a pair of warm socks. She will need to purchase 55 school kits and each kit is $5. The kit includes: pen, pencil, eraser, notebook, scissors, glue, sharpener etc. This will make them feel so proud.

The children are also in need of school shoes very badly. Shoes protect their feet from bugs and infections due to the rough terrain

So, for only $20, you can provide a Qwa Qwa child a pair of school shoes and all the supplies they need. What a deal! Your $20 will give a Qwa Qwa child in South Africa the priveledge to feel proud, confident, and blessed to be able to attend school.

"No other investment has such a lasting effect as the education of children. Children who go to school are healthier, more self-assured and can more easily assume a profession. And education is the only effective "vaccine" against HIV/AIDS.”

A Boy And His Dog

Stumbo came to The Mustard Seed in October. A mute and traumatized boy who was laughed at by his peers and seen as a demon by adults. Stumbo is an epileptic who would fall to the ground and foam at the mouth during his seizures. He is 10 years old and has had the devil beaten out of him by religious zealots a number of times. His body bears testimony to this. When he came to the Mustard Seed, he was greeted by a chorus of protesting voices. He was unwanted and feared. A visit to the local clinic soon had Stumbo medicated with Epilim and the attacks controlled. He made friends slowly with one of the starving dogs from the village that periodically frequent our garden in search of food. He would feed, wash and lavish love on this starving unlovely animal. But alas,nothing could be done to turn back the hands of a doggies life that had been abused and starved for so long. One day last week, Stumbo's dog was called to doggie heaven. I came home to find a thin brown body cradling a doggie face lovingly in his lap. Stumbo had lost the only earthly friend he had ever had. As I hugged this precious weeping boy,I was aware that Christ in all His wisdom had used a despised beaten dog to open up the emotions of a little boy who could now begin to give and accept love. I could now feel Stumbo's humanity. He entered into the circle of normalcy with his peers. Together we buried Stumbo's dog. The dog had finished his work and could now rest. Stumbo,is a changed little boy, who loves dinosaurs and soccer. His epilepsy is controlled and his life has begun. Jesus and Stumbo know we all need someone to care about, so that the hurting Christ in us and in the world can be healed.

The words of Julia Occonnel

Lost innocence and brokeness = Survival

Seven months ago the Mustard Seed opened with 4 children sitting on a bare floor. We now have 80 angels who are fed, clothed, given help with homework, attend bible and scripture classes, have an amazing soccer team and choir that praises God. These Mustard Seed angels have blankets, clothing and will soon have school supplies and shoes. Is not Jesus Christ great? Out of nothing He has created something that saves the lives and souls of His precious Qwa Qwa children.

But, the price many of these children have paid before being lead to The Mustard Safe Haven is heart breaking and at times unfathomable. The next story is from Miss Julia, the founder and care taker at the Mustard seed ministry. This story was very hard for me to write out and it may be very hard for you to read. But, this is happening to millions of little young girls all around the world including in the United States. We as the family of Christ should not ignore this and do what we can to help these innocent victims. Here it goes.......


Many little girls here in Qwa Qwa are primed to know every sexual position in order to keep a man satisfied and there is no thought of the psychological damage that all this trauma will do to their young minds. Just a sure knowledge from the males of the family that this is the way out of their grinding daily poverty, they sell their little girls innocense and souls for the reward of cash money and it is easily done in their own home. The girls reward might be given a piece of gum or candy. If her "sex service" is a double session, she is "rewarded" with a packet of biscuits. The community believes that this perversion goes on all over because times are hard for so many. So, does this make it right??? NO!!


The Mustard Seed Haven at the top of the mountain welcomes many of these young girls as young as 10 who come mute, shocked, oversexualised, riped of there self-worth and have nothing but feelings of shame, self loathing and believeing that sex = food. It is beyond tragic and is a gut wrenching walk to take with a child. You have to unravel the tragic mess written in a little girls soul in order to help them heal from the wrongs that have been done to them. Imagine how such a short, quick act done just for a measaly amount of food or money can destroy the inner psyche of an innocent little girl now blank and void of feeling, purpose and love. Trust has disappeared and a bleeding heart is throbbing in pain. This is when I see my Jesus screaming and suffering on the cross. What this ignorant sick society has cursed these little Angels with. This immorality has found its way to curse our poor suffering Jesus through his weak,suffering orphans. But like Jesus,these special little girls will arise again to bring light into a dark world through the help, support and unconditional love of the Mustard Seed Ministry. this is why the Mustard Seed started with 4 children and now have 80. Our jesus is reaching our to these innocaent victims so them can one day love, be loved and work for His wonderful Kindgom. Lost innocence and brokeness does not = Survival. Faith, Compassion, Love, Prayer and Jesus = Survival! What can YOU do today to help a hurting, broken person survive????

God Bless you all for all the support, help and prays you have given us. The Lord is hard at work here in Qwa Qwa South Africa ministering to His orphans through YOU

We are still collecting shoes and school supplies for our special Qwa Qwa Angels. We are happy to announce that we have enough for 33 children!! This is almost 1/2 of our 65 children goal. If you would like to help us reach this goal and bless a Qwa Qwa child this Christmas, you can donate $20 (US) or R200 (South Africa) on the right side of this blog. Thank you for your generosity, love, prayers and support. It is making a difference in the lives of some of South Africa's most vulnerable orphans. God Bless

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. John 14:18.