The following story recounts the lives of the four Mkhize (surname) children at the Table Mountain Orphan Centre close to Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. The day care centre is part of Doctors For Life orphan program called LifeChild.
They were born in the Table Mountain village and raised by their mother within a large extended family of approximately 20 members, including their grandparents. Over time, the family experienced repeated and profound tragedies, including the deaths of multiple relatives due to illnesses and motor vehicle accidents, in some instances losing two or three family members on the same day. These sudden losses left the family deeply traumatized, and eventually only three adults and the four children remained.
Although their mother was initially alive, she later remarried and left the children in the care of their grandmother. Sadly both the grandmother and the mother later passed away, leaving the children under the responsibility of their aunt, who was only 16 years old at the time. She was compelled to discontinue her education to care for the children. The household faced extreme deprivation, including food shortages, inadequate clothing, and the inability to access government grants due to the absence of identity documentation of their mother. As a result, the children were unable to attend school due to lack of uniforms and school expenses. At the age of 7 years old, the eldest child began herding cattle for others to earn income to provide food for his siblings, while the younger children were depended on neighbours for meals.
During this desperate time, God led the Doctors For Life organization to establish a centre in the Table Mountain area. The four children were taken in by LifeChild and were provided with consistent nutrition and access to education.
Many other children being taken care of by Doctors For Life have similarly painful backgrounds of how they came to the organization. Through the dedicated work of Doctors For Life, this centre not only provides essential physical care but also spiritual support enabling them to grow, heal, and live happily.
We request that you continue praying for the Lord’s work at the Table Mountain centre-that He may sustain, guide, and bless this ministry so that it may continue to serve vulnerable children and transform lives for His glory.
Thank you for your continued support and prayers.
Written by Nelisiwe Hadebe, caretaker at the Table Mountain centre)
Faces blurred for legal and safety reasons
