James 1:27 “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

Psalms 68:5 “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows is God in His holy dwelling.”

I want to tell you about a woman I consider to be a hero. This isn’t introspective – I think her story teaches a lesson greater than my words ever could.

I have had the opportunity to travel with a phenomenal organization – Horizon International (www.horizoninternationalinc.com). The last three years I have gone to Cape Town South Africa where we focused on the children living in the Langa Township who have been orphaned by the HIV-AIDS pandemic. Horizon’s mission is to bring hope to AIDS orphans. In my work there, there have been several amazing women I could – would – call hero. Women whose faith and service I hope only to have even a small portion of. Women like Cecelia – who overcame her own prejudice and said yes to God’s call to go into the township and help these children – long before a partnership with Horizon existed — who gives all her time, energy and effort to serving these amazing kids. Or women like Coleka and Volyessa who live in the township and give everything they have to these otherwise underserved, forgotten children. Or any of the grannies / caregivers (often grandmothers, great-grandmothers, great-aunts) in their golden years, fighting their own health issues, and living with very little; women who should be taken care of, but instead are raising their grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews who have lost their parents to HIV-AIDS.

Any of them are worthy of being called hero; most definitely women for whom strength and love define the lives that they lead. But there is one woman in particular – Pauline – who I define as my hero. Pauline is 68 years old and is raising 5 orphans not related to her in any way. A woman who had four children of their own – 2 dead from HIV-AIDS, two simply “lost” to the party life. The oldest child that Pauline has – the first that she took in – is 21 year old Simphewhe. Simphewhe is an amazing young man; very smart and driven to help be the change so desperately needed to change Cape Town – inside the township and out. The amazing thing – we was literally thrown away in a dumpster. Pauline never hesitated to open her heart and her home – before child sponsorship was there to help (see more on this at the end). Since Simphewhe, Pauline has taken in 4 more amazing children. 3 boys and a great little girl who has spunk and attitude that given the right chance and opportunity will most definitely be a game changer in her world. Pauline has been able to open her home because of help from Horizon’s sponsorship and care programs – but in talking to her I simply know she would be caring for these beautiful children anyway that she could – even without critical help. I have loved getting to know her and her five amazing children each year I return.

There is a song I love – Pioneer by the Band Perry. There is a line I feel describes Pauline. “Pioneer, your work is hard, but the future of us all rests on, the shoulders of your heart.” Pauline is a pioneer – forging a new life, new hope, and a new love in the lives of amazing children who only need a chance to change the world.

This year, talking to Pauline – she said “I am 68 years old, and I am just thankful to God that I have my health. I promised these children a home and a family and if I am wasn’t here, they wouldn’t have that.” At 68 – having lived a hard, heartbreak-filled life, her concern is only for children the world threw away. And when she talks about these kids, her face is light. She finds joy in the family god has given her. Her laugh as she talks of their “adventures” is a priceless sound that remains with me.

And I know that she gives everything to these kids – you can see it in the way they thrive. In the way they embrace life. Khipro – the youngest boy and the last child that Pauline took in two years ago – is the best example. I first met him the first time I came to Cape Town but barely remember him. He was just quietly blending into the back. Last year he stole my heart (I think he stole all our hearts). He clung to us for love, but wouldn’t run or play. He wouldn’t smile, and definitely wouldn’t show his teeth which are rotted out. He was in no way a 5 year old boy. I began sponsoring Khipro shortly after that trip. This year, when I returned, I saw what an amazing difference just 2 short years in the loving home of Pauline and her “family” provided. It was night and day. Khipro amazingly became a 6 year old boy. He ran, he laughed, and he became a total boy with the other boys. My heart actually leapt with happiness every time I saw the huge smile on his face, no longer caring about the rotted out teeth but just enjoying being a child. Two short years with a loving family and Khipro got his childhood back.

I am so thankful women like Pauline have stepped up and said yes to the orphans – who desperately need only a chance to change the world. And I am thankful for her example of real sacrifice, real love – God’s love – in my life.

Philippians 2:1-4 “therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, If any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like minded. Having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others.”

A note on child sponsorship:

Horizon International offers the gift of sponsoring orphans in their program – children who have lost both parents to HIV-AIDS – a disease that in many areas has wiped out an entire generation of adults. Sponsorship enables these children to go to school (a condition of the program) and provides much needed help to the children and caregivers graciously raising them.

Sponsorship is not a light hearted decision – it is a life commitment to a child who you will grow to love as your own. It can last 18-20 years depending on how young the child is when you begin – they remain in the program as long as they are in school. But if you think you have interest in changing the life of a child long-term, ask me for more information or log onto the website (www.horizoninternationalinc.com).