Tyler, Texas...

 

We are Kay and Holger Lorentz, and our journey as missionaries began in 1991 with several YWAM Schools.  After our wedding in 1995, we spent a total of four years in Texas.  Since 2000 we have been back in South Africa, where our work has had different focuses, but the central focus has always been on working with and for children in need. In 2014 we joined Globe Mission, and registered our Mercy Aids ministry as an NPO in South Africa. Kay has furthered her studies, gaining a diploma in counselling and specialising in adult education in cross-cultural spaces.  We continue to learn new things that add to the toolbox we have for the work we do. Currently we are involved in training adults in a variety of contexts, working in schools, supporting soup kitchens, gardening and other activities that promote, strengthen and support care for children in its broadest sense. For most of this time we were supported by individuals, churches, and organizations. 

Our children were always involved with us in whatever parts of our work they could be included. As they grew we began to talk together more and more about what it might mean to open our home to other children. In 2016 we decided to expand our family by taking in institutionalised children who needed a forever home.  Around the same time we got to know a young organization whose dream was to have a farm with families who would take in vulnerable children in addition to their own children.  Each family should have a total of 6 children; the organization’s dream was to provide houses, medical and therapeutic needs; a kindergarten and a school were planned.  Each family would be responsible for itself only for food and transport.  It was a great dream and supposedly the financing was secured by pledges of donations.  There was an extensive interview process and we had to be open and honest about all of our victories, struggles and hopes.  We believed God brought us together and so we decided to be the first of these families.  We also received several confirmations about this.  At the beginning of 2017 we moved to the farm and very quickly took in four children, so that we had 6 children living with us.  It was easy to do as we had the heart and now the support.

Soon, however, it turned out that not everything was as certain with the farm dream as initially described. The financing was not secured and the land was not rezoned for a residential build. The planned dream  to raise our expanded family in a purpose built community, and for us to remain until our old age in a flat that would be built faltered. We left the farm after 2 years when it became impossible for us to continue in the house on the farm with Daniel’s matric pending and the paper thin walls. Financially, we were suddenly on our own. Some of those who had supported us financially were, by this time, no longer supporting us. We are grateful to everyone who has given financial, practical and emotional support.

We have lived with the dichotomy that we know that these children are given to us by God, but without all the promises at the beginning we would never have taken this step.  For 2 years we rented an expensive house, then it was miraculously made possible for us to apply for a loan to buy our own house. We moved into our own home after the Covid-19 lockdowns. There have been several interest rate hikes and monthly costs have risen a lot.  Nevertheless, we have experienced God's provision in these years and the house payment has only fallen through once. We trust God, but this is a very stressful way to live and cannot go on indefinitely.  When our mortgage payment would have almost bounced again if we hadn't received one-time help at the last minute from our church, we knew it was time to reach out for help; to look for people who support the work we

As a large family, our fixed expenses excluding food and clothing are very high each month, fixed debits and transfers, half of which are related to the house. The gap between our minimum needs and what we are sure to get each month (fixed monthly donations, child support, other fixed grants) is almost 2000 Euros(R40000).  Each month, we have trusted God to fill that gap, whether through other donations or paid training but we believe it is time to increase our circle of support.

We can report a lot about God's miraculous provision through His people, but this has not been consistent.  We are no longer the youngest and even without the financial side, our lives already have enough stress factors and we cannot and do not want to go on like this for much longer.  We would be willing to let go of the house, but not the children!  Renting may be an option again, but then the dream to have an asset to pass onto our children would be lost.  But we also believe that this is our house. 

We are looking to increase our monthly support group to help minimize the stress of wondering if we will make it every month.

Of course, we are always grateful for one-time or occasional donations, but it would make our lives much easier if we knew that basic needs are covered monthly.  Please pray and consider whether you want to become part and partner of our work here and a monthly donor for our family.

If you are moved by this and desire to help us increase our support base, we will send you a letter of how to give.

Thank you for taking time to read this blog post.