What began as a small renovation became a place of hospitality, ministry, and unexpected spiritual opportunity. This story comes from our partners at the Onseepkans Mission in South Africa.

When Gerhard le Roux sent me the estimate, the plan seemed simple enough. Behind Gerhard and Elmané’s home at the Onseepkans Mission in South Africa stood a small brick bungalow badly in need of renovation. Their hope was to repair two rooms and eventually offer simple overnight accommodations. The income would help supplement the mission’s limited monthly resources and, over time, help address other repairs that had been postponed because both money and capable workers were scarce.

The building-supply estimate came to R17,142.50, approximately $1,043 USD. But as I prayed about the need, I sensed the Lord prompting me that ITMI should send more. I could not explain why. Gerhard had asked for enough to cover the materials, but I felt we should send $3,000. Because of the generosity of ITMI’s faithful partners, we were able to do exactly that. Gerhard responded with obvious gratitude: “Wow Steve, thank you very much! With that we will get a tremendous amount of work done!” At the time, neither of us understood how much more God had in mind.

Not long afterward, God began providing something just as important as money: people. Riaan Mouton, along with his wife Ursula and their little girl, came from Moreson Mission to help. Riaan offered his labor freely. His presence carried special meaning because years earlier, God had rescued him from a deeply broken life marked by childhood abuse, violence, crime, drugs, and family separation. At Moreson Mission, the Lord began rebuilding what had been shattered. Today, with his family restored, Riaan uses both his hands and his testimony to encourage others.

As the work progressed, Riaan looked at the deteriorating living and hospitality area of Gerhard and Elmané’s home and suggested they pray about changing the original renovation plan. Instead of putting most of the resources into the bungalow, perhaps the immediate priority should be repairing the area where people could gather, eat, talk, and be welcomed. They prayed, and the direction of the project changed.

Soon afterward, Gerhard learned that a team of students and Christian workers from Cedar International College at Kwasizabantu Mission would be coming to Onseepkans for community outreach. Local people also expressed an interest in meeting with them. Suddenly, the reason for that newly refurbished space began to emerge. The old, worn room became a place where meals could be shared, testimonies heard, conversations held, and relationships built. In a community where Gerhard says many people have experienced disappointment and mistreatment from outsiders, they were given an opportunity to see something different: Christians who had come not to take from them, but to serve them.

Then the children began coming. After the outreach, Gerhard wrote that he had personally prayed with eleven children who had come seeking spiritual counsel. One young girl remained afterward with her younger brothers and sisters because there was no food in their home, so Gerhard and Elmané fed them. Two days later, another message arrived: “The children continue to come, one or two adults also.”

Looking back, the pattern is remarkable. A small bungalow needed repairing. A quotation was prepared. God prompted additional provision. Workers arrived. The renovation was redirected. A ministry team came. A welcoming space was ready. Relationships deepened, and then children began walking through the door seeking prayer, counsel, food, and hope.

This is where you, our ITMI family, became part of the story. Your generosity allowed ITMI to respond beyond the immediate request and helped give Gerhard and Elmané the means to open their home more fully to the people God was already preparing to send their way. Gerhard later summarized it beautifully: “We saw God’s Kingdom at work throughout the whole process.”

We could see only the need in front of us. God could already see who was coming.
— Gerhard le Roux, Steve Evers

“The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” — Proverbs 16:9

As supporters of ITMI and the le Roux family, we ask that you continue to pray for Gerhard, Elmané and the people of Onseepkans, and partner with them as the Lord leads.