A soup kitchen and sewing project demonstrate Jesus’ love to Namibian Bushmen

By Lee Forland | Namibia in Southern Africa

Twenty-five years ago, SIM worker Linda Pretorius left South Africa and responded to a community need in Grootfontein, Namibia. What began as serving soup to 44 hungry school-age children from the back of her Nissan truck, has grown into a larger ministry. Today, thanks to God’s providence and the generous support of local farmers, businessmen, and churches, Linda’s soup kitchen now serves 1,300 schoolchildren five days a week from a school-based kitchen at Omulunga Primary School.

Fatima serving children at the Omlunga Primary School soup kitchen.

Linda's journey to Namibia began years earlier. She had been actively involved in her local church in South Africa, where she joined an outreach to Mozambique. It was during this trip that she experienced the missing peace she had longed for, realising that God was calling her to share the gospel overseas.  A few years after completing her studies at World Mission School, Linda felt called to join Africa Inland Mission International (AIM). At the time, AIM and SIM were partnering in Namibia, and after prayerful guidance, she was sent as an AIM missionary under SIM leadership to serve there.

A few years after starting the soup kitchen, Linda’s work led her to connect with a group of Namibian San Bushmen who had recently been displaced when the farm they were living on was sold.  Initially, the Bushmen moved to a temporary settlement before eventually moving to the Squatter camp, Blikkies dorp (known as Tin Town in English). The Bushman make up around 8% of the Namibian population and are the country’s oldest ethnic group. Unfortunately, they remain near the bottom of the socio-economic ladder in Namibia. 

Linda noticed the Bushmen looking for food at a dump site and noticed that the women had needlework skills to make clothes.  Through Linda’s guidance and God’s faithfulness, a sewing project was established, and twelve of the Bushman women became regularly involved in the making and selling clothes, earning money to buy food. 

Linda’s message to all of us is this, “It is a tremendous joy to be used by Jesus to do His work.  While there will always be a need, no situation is hopeless.  Through Jesus, there is always hope, and any situation can be changed”..

One young man Linda met, who had received Jesus as his Saviour, had previously struggled with drug addiction and anger issues. Now, his whole life is different. He has three children who testify to the significant changes in him.  He no longer uses drugs, regularly attends Bible studies and is actively involved in his church.  

Inspired by such life transformations, Linda continues to seek ways to bring hope to others in the community, including offering hope to young women facing limited opportunities. 

Recently, two Namibian San Bushman women, inspired by Jesus’s love, used their needlework skills to offer sewing classes to others.

Veronika and the late Ouma Erika making clothes to sell food within the Grace Sewing Hands room at the beginning of the sewing project, located, the Squatter camp. 

“Learning to sew gives these girls an economic future, which is something that they would lack otherwise,” says Linda.
 
As part of the sewing project’s expansion, a 32-square-meter sewing classroom has been created on of the premises of Omulunga Primary School.  Learners who struggle academically are identified by the school and given the opportunity to learn sewing skills.  Demonstrating their newfound abilities, the girls create graduation garments that are worn by the school’s top graduates.  These garments are rented out during graduation season, generating income to purchase supplies that support the ongoing needs of the sewing school.

 
 Veronika (left) and Charlotte (right) sewing in the new Omlunga Primary school sewing room.

“I am amazed at how God works”, Linda says.  “I have witnessed Jesus working, from the small beginnings of a soup kitchen running out of the back of my truck, to 1300 children that are now served every day.  The soup kitchen then led to a connection with the Bushmen which led to the development of a sewing class to help young girls.  And through it all, many have found Jesus!  God never stops working!  We always have hope in Jesus!”
 
Linda’s story is one of compassion born from her love for Jesus.  She shares the love of Jesus every chance that she gets, and says that “to see a person’s life change, after they have accepted Jesus in their life, is absolutely wonderful.” She views her life’s purpose as being deeply rooted in the Namibian community, sharing the love of Jesus. Her passion lies in offering hope and guiding people to Him by helping them encounter and experience His love.

Prayer

• •    Please pray for the Omulunga Primary School soup kitchen, that it will continue to be a source of nourishment for the children. Pray also for the sewing school, that it will be a safe place for young girls to learn sewing skills.
• •    Please pray for the Namibian San Bushmen, that God will protect them, care for them, and that He will draw them to close to Himself.
• •    Please pray for SIM and other workers in Namibia, that God will continue to encourage them and will provide them with the resources they need to do His work.