Today my landlady, Lynn, took me to visit her NGO, Without Walls. It is a Christian organization, which serves the underprivileged living in Millner Estate. The area was made for the returning soldiers from WWII, but now is inhabited by the unemployed and drug lords.
Lynn, a Pastor by profession and a humanitarian by practice, started the organization with her husband six years ago. While setting up the organization, Lynn’s husband past away unexpectedly to cancer. Facing such hardship, Lynn endured and with the help of a few close friends, she was able to establish the organization in this depressed neighbourhood.
Lynn's famous red Conbie
At first, Lynn wasn’t welcomed, as she received numerous death threats and poisoned food. But this didn’t stop her.
Six years today, Without Walls serves as a school in the morning for children ages 3-6, then a soup kitchen at lunch and bible studies in the evening. The building they operate in is over 100 years old.
Lynn’s work has affected people in miraculous ways. Smit, who hands out soup, previously spent his whole life consuming hard drugs. The children who attend the school had no education prior, and thus, could not have been accepted into primary school. Unfortunately, the size of the building only allows for 42 children. Efforts to procure a bigger building, is what Lynn describes as being on her “prayer list”.
But the outreach does not stop there. Lynn dedicates her time to assisting the elderly who have been abandoned by their family. She helps move them from the “size of a toilet” residence to an old age home. The difficult challenge is that their pension only covers the rent to live. In response, Lynn organizes food and drinks for these folks. Moreover, Lynn goes door to door asking each child in the neighbourhood what they would like for Christmas. She then puts her whole efforts in achieving this, as well as providing a Christmas party.
Despite Without Walls hard efforts, Millner Estate remains a ravaged neighbourhood. Children are subjected to abuse and drug lords set the laws of the land.
This child pictured below was found walking alone on the highway. Her mother lives in Millner, but has no interest in raising her. The child, not even two, has grown accustom to finding food at Without Walls. There she goes and then she leaves, to again wander the streets. The neighbourhood brings her back to her mother’s, but soon enough, you will find the child back on the street. Lynn tells me usually this little baby is without clothes.
Donations are not constant but this doesn’t stop Lynn. She goes ahead with her plans and leaves the deliverance to her faith.
Lynn, a testament indeed.
