About 10 years ago, our blue Nissan Hardbody bakkie transported a group of us into Mbonisweni. The sight of foreigners, no matter how good intentions were, brought a lot of hostility. We endured sneers and beer bottles thrown at us, so we could bring food to feed the hungry kids.

Every week for those 10 years, we continued our trek into Mbonisweni, the bright blue truck filled with Ten Thousand Homes staff and food for the After School Program. Many times we also brought friends who came to volunteer with us. We loved when the opportunity to build a house presented itself. We would load up that bakkie with bricks, cement, tools, zinc, whatever we needed to build a house for a family. Along the way, she got some character, a dent here, a ding there, but she became affectionately known as “the blue bakkie” by everyone.

Last year, she was out of commission for several months while we did some engine repairs. When she was all fixed up and rolled back into town, there were cheers and laughter. This bakkie had become a symbol of HOPE and HOME.

Sadly, December 19, 2017, the blue bakkie was stolen in the middle of the night from our Ten Thousand Homes property in White River. HOPE and HOME doesn’t come from a vehicle, but in order to continue bringing these two things in a practical way, we need to buy a bakkie. We are starting construction on a HOME in April. Without a bakkie, it is impossible for us to transport supplies to the job site. Beyond this immediate need, a bakkie will help the Ten Thousand Homes work in a long-term way every single day by delivering food and firewood to our After School Programs, doing home visits to the kids in our child sponsorship program, and by transporting teams that volunteer with us.

After receiving our insurance money, we are still in need of $9500 in order to get a bakkie that will meet our transport needs. Will you pray about giving to this very practical cause that enables us to continue to bring HOPE and HOME to our projects? Not only will your gift help buy a bakkie, but it will also put up a secure parking area to keep our new bakkie safe.