This was the month long waited for, also a wonderful thank you to Besom for financing the food store. Thank you to Empowa Grinaker LTA De Aar for donating the cement blocks, De Aar Stone crushers & Brickworks for donating the building sand it was a hue help. Without the generous giving Gentlecare would never be able to do what is done to date, we are very grateful to you all.
Tommie had second thoughts whether to build it himself, but he stuck with it and did very well.
Francois from New Zealand is giving time to Gentlecare, and helping so much, great thanks to him. He is a awesome young man with a huge heart of love to give, we are very blessed to have him at Gentlecare. We wish him all his dreams come true.

Our long awaiting food store is finished, and what a wonderful joint adventure it was, Besom, Empowa Grinaker LTA De Aar, De Aar Stone Crushers & brickworks and my wonderful husband Tommie and all who helped give a hand....... he did very well for a qualified Air brake Specialist!!!!

The good for which we are born into this world is that we may learn to LOVE and give to others......

This has been a wonderful week of networking, we met a man by the name of Nicholas Koupis from Bloemfontien, in Kimberly at Fruit and Veg. We were purchasing our fruit and veg for the care center, when he approached us, the networking began................... needless to say he has a huge amount of baby food that he donated to Gentlecare as you can see, who wonderful because we could in turn donate to the local clinic to the less fortunate and help fill a huge gap.

Thank you so much Nic it is so kind of you and thank your father for the sweets he sent us, who has a sweet factory in Bloemfontein, you are all wonderful thank you.
We struggle to understand each other because of the great number of languages spoken in the world. But hugs know no language barriers. Who needs a translator to tell you what an arm around your shoulders means?
~Kathleen Keating~

How true are the words because this is exactly what Ben and Maria did they came in the the little shop passing to Cape Town. Very little was said Ben just asked to give a hug, and by giving a hug, Gentlecare jumped into their hearts.
Gentlecare would like to thank Ben and Maria from Johannesburg from the core of our hearts for the way they have got involved at Gentlecare. They have spoken en friends have given clothes, chemicals and food. A great huge thank you to all the wonderful people that have taken part in Ben and Maria's cry for help we really appreciate it. And believe me it all has help a huge amount.

A very special thank you to Ben and Maria for the 13 packets of Nappy's they donated, it was such a huge present, for we all know that Nappy's are very costly. You are both very special and awesome people. May life take you safely to where you would like to go.

A huge help with the donation of the food. We are always in need of any perishable foods.

This is some of the clothes and chemicals that Ben and Maria brought with them.
This is Paola Rosini from Italy, who kindly visited the care centre and donated some children's cloths, we give thanks to her for the kindness, and our wishers are that you have a protected, safe and awesome holiday in our country. You have a big heart Paola thank you.

You all must have wondered what has happened the all the updated of Gentlecare.........

We must apologise for not been able to update the past few weeks, as we were in Austria for 6 weeks visiting our daughter, allowing us to have a rest and spoiling us so much.

We were very privileged to have seen so much of Europe it was a real treat.

When we arrived back home it was a hectic schedule that time was the problem, we were also knocked with the death of Tommie's mother who passed away at the wonderful age of 91, but leaving a huge gap in our lives we will surly miss her so much for she was very much loved by all.

You read about Chris who was at Gentlecare, we were so happy for him to have picked up his life and settled in so well, needless to say that he has passed away, Gentlecare is happy to have made a small difference in his life and we shall miss him dearly, he was a very special man. This is some news of the old age home in Britstown. It is called "Huis Daneel" it is a warm and cozy old age home giving tranquil life to the aged, should you know of anyone looking for a room, at a very affordable cost please feel free to contact the Matron on 053-6720205, she will be very happy to assist you in any question you might have.

This is how the rooms look like, you are able to bring your own personal things if you like!

The lounge where some of the ladies get together to knit, play cards and get together.

Our new reborn babies that we are making aren't they sweet?..........................

Wishes come true.

Gentlecare was truly Blessed this week.

Gentlecare has been blessed so much this week, we were blessed with five of the wish list items that Besom in London help make a reality. Thank you very much Besom and we will be placing the photos of the projects soon after returning from our visit in Austria. The items were 2 solar geysers, a freezer, washing machine, a new food store and a supported wall outside the care center. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the donations from Jennifer, Nico and Rotary De Aar very much for helping to make a difference in the lives of the people mentioned below. Most of the clothes that were donated by Jennifer, Nico and De Aar Rotary had made a huge difference in this family's life.
This is Ester she was adopted by a family now living in Britstown. The wonderful donation from Jennifer, Nico and Rotary in De Aar for her whole new winter outfits.

The clothes that were donated was a huge help in many peoples lives, and could help for the winter. A brand new jacket for Chris to go to church made him a happy man.

We were very fortunate to have got a donation of food from Jennifer, Nico and Rotary De Aar. Thank you so much for helping, all of this is an amazing help and is much appreciated. Please feel free to send any comments or is you have any questions we would to hear from you have a wonderful weekend until next time.

Helping others.

Helping others, that's the main thing. The only way for us to help ourselves is to help others and to listen to each other's stories. (Elie Wiesel)

We share with you this week Good and sad stories, you will all remember Chris that came to Gentlecare, not wanting to live anymore, he has cancer in his foot. just look how awesome he is, he has started Gentlecares vegetable garden and we have had our first green beans so sweet.

He is now the main man around Gentlecare and we are very grateful for his recovery.

He is such a pleasure to have here and to share our lives with him.

When you love someone you love him as he is. (Charles Peguy)

How true are these words, to love unconditionally as we are.

We have had a broken few weeks at Gentlecare, this is Miemie she has nowhere to go and has Lymphoma cancer, she is also estranged with her children and very ill, please think and pray with us for peace in her heart and to deal with all the pain.

She has to deal with this body every second of her life and she is very brave

The best and most beautiful things in life cannot be seen or touched. They must be felt with the heart Helen Keller said.

Help us all to feel in our hearts how she feels, she so badly wants to live.

With the minimum resources which we have we have to make the best if anyone feels to help with dressings it would be so much appreciated.

This is Ouma Sara who cannot walk, she has many bedsores and needs lots of attention, we do need to share all the sadness with you, it gives you a slight peep of the reality we live in.

Sara is always looking for something to eat, she is absolutely a blessing and joy at Gentlecare

Thank you for taking time to watch our Blog it is not always nice Photos to see, but one needs to know the reality and to see the pain of others so that we are grateful for all the good that we have. We sometimes think that our problems are so bad till you see others, then you wonder... Have a wonderful week and will update soon.

Blessings and love one another.

Our week was no better than any other week at Gentlecare, our wards are full of very sick patients, we can only give them tons of TLC.

Sybyl Partridge said:

Just for today I will try to adjust myself to what is, and not try to adjust everything to my own desires. Just for today I will be unafraid, especially I will not be afraid to be happy, to enjoy what is beautiful, to love, and to believe that those I love, love me.

We got a wonderful donation of medical necessities from Rotary in De Aar. We would like to take this opportunity to thank them so much for the wonderful bed tables we also received from them. All of this is so needed THANK YOU

Have a wonderful week and we will share more news next week, please feel free to send a comment, we would love to hear from you!

Look to this day .....

for yesterday is but a dream,

and tomorrow is only a vision ...

but today well-lived

makes every yesterday

a dream of happiness

and tomorrow

a vision of HOPE.

Thank you Dr. Jannie Aucamp for always giving your precious time to Gentlecare, thank you for giving the patients HOPE and treating them with so much love and care you are a very special person, may you and your family be blessed in abundance, Gentlecare has a huge appreciation for all the calls and visits that you never turn down, we are truly blessed to have such a wonderful and caring Doctor on call. Dr. Aucamp visits the center every Wednesday he comes from De Aar 53km from Britstown.

Here is Sister Bonquet Raadt, Willa van Wyk and Elsebe Kriel attending to Harry Faas.

These people are the most wonderful voluntary carers always on call and willing to help, we give so much thanks to them and may they never get tired to help. Friendship is built on caring, sharing, and trust. Elsebe you are a wonderful bright shinning star may your light never fade.

It was Karin's 14th Birthday on the 3rd of April, we both tried to blow out all the candles she could not wait to taste them all!

Happy Birthday Karin you are such a pleasure to have at Gentlecare..............

Anna with Sophie

This is Olga Anna took her for Tea!

Anna's Visit

On the right is Anna and Vlooi, he was a patient at Gentlecare in 2008, he was very ill after a year he was sent home. He was so happy to see her.

Anna was Gentlecares first volunteering carer from Kingston upon Thames London, she visited in 2007 and left in 2008.

She has came back for a short visit in March 2011.

She touched many lives at Gentlecare and she made a huge difference in many of our patient lives. She was a true inspiration to us all.

We share a glimpse of the patients she touched in the time she was here, and we give her great thanks for the memory's she had left us....

Anna thank you from all at Gentlecare your kind deeds will never be forgotten.

And may you fly on the wings of success and reach for the dreams you have, God Loves you so much.

A friend is a present you give yourself. Robert L... Many Hugs.
A friend is a present you give yourself.
Robert Louis Stevenson.

A hug knits hearts together.
A hug - four arms wrapped around each other and drawing two hearts together for a moment. A hug is like a present tied together with a pretty bow - the outside is lovely but the real gift is what's hidden inside.
Let us all give one another a hug.
We have so many patients at Gentlecare that are brought to us with no relatives even enquiring about them, most are forgotten.
We had two wonderful people pass by Britstown, who were so interested in Gentlecare, their names are Ben and Maria on their three wheel motorcycle, and all they did was give hugs to all our patients. Thank you Ben and Maria you are special.



Miems was sent to Gentlecare, she has lymphoma cancer, very frail but has lots of love to give, we take her out to spend some time with the birds, Nico and Tonne!
We have wonderful news for you all about Chris next time he is a real star! do look out for the next blog news till then take care and give hugs!

Look to this day ...

for yesterday is but a dream,

and tomorrow is only a vision ...

but today well-lived

makes every yesterday

a dream of happiness

and every tomorrow a vision of HOPE.

Let us all HOPE for a better tomorrow!

Gentlecare has had a busy three weeks, therefor we were unable to share some news! But here we are to share some news and happenings and to share some love, love is the one treasure that is multiplied by sharing.

First of all Gentlecare would like to welcome Anna Murwill from London who was our first carer in 2007. We are so happy to have Anna back for a short visit, memories are priceless possessions that time can never destroy, for it is in happy remembrance the heart finds its greatest JOY. Anna you are our JOY at Gentlecare thank you for sharing your time with us we wish you just the very best, may you be granted your wishers in time We all love you tons.

Anna with Nellie, it was her birthday!

We also wish Anna a wonderful birthday on the 15th March have a awesome day and thank you for giving so much love to all, you are very special.

Be Inspired.....

When you think about others before yourself and offer the love you feel for all of life, first in your thoughts and then in your actions ..... that's how you make a connection to inspiration.

We all deserve to be LOVED.

Chris our man is awesome he has found a new meaning of life, because he is loved.... he helped fix the side wall of Gentlecare and is a huge help in the centre. The before and after photos.

Chris we love you!

Love Unconditionaly!

It is by Loving and being Loved that one can come nearest to the soul of another. (George MacDonald).

Love was realy needed at Gentlecare the past few weeks, we were able to join hands with Dick in Hopetown, Dick runs the homeless shelter. Gentlecare was asked to help with Chris he has cancer, we collected him and with lots of lovehe has become a wonderful help to Gentlecare.

DEEP PEACE TO YOU

The last few weeks have been full of goodbyes here at Gentlecare.
Henderike, our Dutch volunteer has gone home. Her three months flew past like a dream. We are going to miss her dearly! She is such a wonderful person and did everything with so much love, we wish her all the best and that all her dreams come true.
We also had 4 deaths:

Liza, the lady that was so broken, just stopped wanting to live. Her condition on arrival was heartbreaking but for 4 months we were able to be part of her life and offer her a little comfort before she finally passed.
Ouma Elsie Coenraad, Karins ouma, passed away last week. At the age of 77 she decided it was time for her to leave. We will miss her deeply, and I am sure that Karin was aware in her heart that her grandmother was here.

We also lost Frank in the mens ward, and Renso Blom one of our farmers who had a stroke, and spent some time at Gentlecare. We were blessed to have had him here.

This really has been a busy month for our wonderful patients, exchanging their earthly life for an eternal life.  Our lives are touched and changed with each life we encounter here at the care centre and our prayers are ever with them.

Deep peace of the
running waves to you.

Deep peace of the
flowing air to you.

Deep peace of the
quiet earth to you.

Deep peace of the
shining stars to you.

Deep peace of the
Son of Peace to you.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The heat of December saw us through a wonderful Christmas and the end of 2010. Rotary in De Aar very kindly came to share their gifts and tender words of comfort to our patients over this special time.

Karin has been  up and going,  walking stronger everyday.
KARIN :) ... on her way to the beach with her shades!

Olga was extra happy as she got a visit from Aubrey, a Gentlecare patient from a year ago. They enjoyed the lunch together immensely.

 What a fun Christmas it was!!

Unfortunately, December did not go by without some sadness.

After one of our patients passed on we tried to assist her very poor and humble family to bury her.

We have very little resources, so we have to make do with what we have.

Digging a grave is hard labour as the ground is just rocks. Not having straps Tommie uses rope to lower the coffin. This can  be very nerve raking at times!

And so we head into 2011 as busy as ever. We hope you will keep walking with us as we journey into this new year in the service of God and the suffering people of South Africa!