Gingersnaps

“Every child deserves a champion — An adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection, and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be.” – Rita Pierson

In my earlier blog post,  “The Unprotected”- Part 1, I introduced you to four of the children living in the Lukhanyiso Safe House with Mamma Ella.   Now, I will tell you how the Safe House came to be, and introduce you to a few more of Ella’s precious children.

In isiXhosa, the word Lukhanyiso means “The Light”.  Ella decided to call the Safe House Lukhanyiso to bring Light to the brokenhearted.

I met Ella in 2014 on my first trip to Knysna.  Two of the things I love about her is her passion to help people and her passion to share Jesus.  She is ALWAYS on the go looking for people in her community to help and share the Good News.

Ella Mapurisa (Mamma Ella) grew up in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.  When she was 6-years old, her parents divorced and her mother found employment on a farm, moving Ella out to a very rural area.  In order to get an education, Ella had to walk over 6 miles to school every day.  She did this with no shoes for several years and vividly remembers getting her first pair of shoes at 12-years old!  

Because her mother was an alcoholic, she was not always able to function at her job.  Ella soon had to step in and cover for her mom.  At just 9-years old, she was trying to go to school and complete her mother’s chores on the farm.   She knew that if she didn’t, the two of them would be kicked off of the farm and left homeless.  This was a lot for such a young girl to carry.

With no guidance and no support, she dropped out of school at the age of 16.  It had become too much.  Too far to walk.  Too much work to be done on the farm.  And no money to buy her books. 

 In addition to the pressure, her living/work conditions became volatile.  It was not safe for a Xhosa girl to be working on a farm…  a farm owned by a white Afrikaans farmer…  during the Apartheid era.   Ella was abused.  Unprotected.  Trapped.  No real education.  No money. No connection to people off of the farm.  No hope.

Until…  At the age of 22, a missionary came to the farm and told her about the love of God. She did not believe there could be such a love.  She had never experienced true love from anybody before. She desperately wanted to be loved.  But she feared if she accepted this Jesus, she would only prove the missionary wrong.  There could not be such a love.  Could there?  In the days to follow, she accepted Jesus Christ and her life was forever changed.  The missionary took her home with seven other children and helped to cultivate a strong faith in her.  He put her back in school at the age of 22-years and finally at 25-years old, Ella matriculated from High School.  It was then that she moved to Knysna to start her new life.  A life full of love, hope and faith.

There is a lot more to Ella’s story, and the impact of it all shaped who Ella is today.  She knew that “when” not “if” she was able, she would pay it forward.  She would help women and children living in fear and danger.  And she would share her Jesus with everyone!  Her strong Christian faith and her positive attitude kept her moving forward toward her goal.

Now, self-employed and co-owner of Emzini Tour Company (Township Tours) she knew it was time to help.  Time to build a safe house, a refuge, where women and children can go when they are in danger.  The tours are designed to show a positive side of the townships, and create an income to support the Safe House.

Currently, Ella has 14 children living in her home and has agreed to financially support 12 others.  We met 4 of these children in an earlier blog.  Today I would like to introduce you to a couple more…

Siblings: Imange and Takunda

Imange is now 10 years old, but came to live with Ella when she was just 5.  She is a very gentle and sweet young lady.  At the age of 5 years, Imange and her 2-year old brother Takunda were left at home alone when their parents decided to just walk away.  Walk away from their two young children!  We are not sure how long they were alone, but when the children were found, Imange was actually cooking, feeding and caring for her younger brother.  Image was 5-years old!  Even so young, Imange showed such great love for her little brother, and still does today.

Takunda, a soft-hearted little chatter box, is 7-years old.  He really never knew his parents since he was only two when they walked out.  His birth name is Lithala, but his grandmother was calling him Madala (which means “old man”).  Ella’s husband said, “We can’t have a child being called Madala.  I am going to call him Takunda” (Takunda is a Shona word meaning Victory!).

These two siblings are no longer living in the Safe House.  Unfortunately their grandmother insists they live with her so that she can receive government money.

Knowing that the children would not be cared for properly, Ella continues to pay for all of their schooling, clothes, transport to school, after care, food and other needs that arise.  Although they are not under her roof, they are still part of Ella’s family!

Meet Abigail –

Abigail, a complicated 14-year old, comes from a very rough background full of drugs, alcohol and uneducated family members . She is the only person in her family to ever attend school; and that was not on a consistent basis.   There was no food and no supervision in her household.  As a very young girl, she found her way to Ella’s  looking for food.   She continued to visit for food and started to trust Ella.  Soon Ella learned that at 6-years old Abigail was sexually molested.  It was then that Ella moved Abigail in with her.

 

The trauma this young girl survived is devastating.  She has a lot to work through and is highly needy for attention.   She is healing.  Slowly.  Abigail now attends a private school in town where she found she has a true talent in Hockey.

Please enjoy this Vlog of Ella on one of her township tours:

If you feel called to sponsor one of Ella’s children on a monthly basis, or make a one-time donation, please click on the link below and follow the steps. In the comments, type Lukhanyiso Safe House.  All donations are tax deductible and will go directly to the care of Ella’s children.  ~Tracy Cooper

https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000WKZkVEAX