God's Golden Acre
Heather Reynolds with Dale le Vack
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“The boy was lying on a mat in the hut. He had
probably less than a day to live. I finally broke the
silence. ‘God, from this day on I will help every
child in need, every child that needs a home, every
child that crosses my path.’”
Heather’s sanctuary in South Africa, known as
“God’s Golden Acre”, is the outcome of that
promise.
In KwaZulu Natal Heather and her sculptor
husband Patrick have established a community for
orphans, where nearly 100 children find sanctuary
from abuse, poverty, and starvation. The sick can
die with dignity. Teams of volunteers risk danger
distributing basic food supplies to the many
scattered families, most headed by a granny or
teenage girl. Each day they rub shoulders with
death. 36% of the local people are infected with
AIDS – the highest percentage of any area in
Africa. For many dying mothers, Heather is the
last hope for their children.
In the early years, Heather and Patrick dedicated
their entire savings to the orphans and fighting the
AIDS pandemic. They faced financial ruin, white
and black prejudice, indifference, cruelty and a
bureaucracy overwhelmed by need. Often there
wasn’t enough to eat. Yet time and again, through
a series of miracles, and Heather’s resolute faith,
donors stepped in, touched and challenged by the
spirit of awethu – the Zulu word for “Our
Mother”.
Where did such courage and vision come from?
This is Heather’s own astonishing story.
“The boy was lying on a mat in the hut. He had
probably less than a day to live. I finally broke the
silence. ‘God, from this day on I will help every
child in need, every child that needs a home, every
child that crosses my path.’”
Heather’s sanctuary in South Africa, known as
“God’s Golden Acre”, is the outcome of that
promise.
In KwaZulu Natal Heather and her sculptor
husband Patrick have established a community for
orphans, where nearly 100 children find sanctuary
from abuse, poverty, and starvation. The sick can
die with dignity. Teams of volunteers risk danger
distributing basic food supplies to the many
scattered families, most headed by a granny or
teenage girl. Each day they rub shoulders with
death. 36% of the local people are infected with
AIDS – the highest percentage of any area in
Africa. For many dying mothers, Heather is the
last hope for their children.
In the early years, Heather and Patrick dedicated
their entire savings to the orphans and fighting the
AIDS pandemic. They faced financial ruin, white
and black prejudice, indifference, cruelty and a
bureaucracy overwhelmed by need. Often there
wasn’t enough to eat. Yet time and again, through
a series of miracles, and Heather’s resolute faith,
donors stepped in, touched and challenged by the
spirit of awethu – the Zulu word for “Our
Mother”.
Where did such courage and vision come from?
This is Heather’s own astonishing story.
DALE LE VACK is an international journalist and television producer, formerly with ITV and the BBC.
ISBN: 9781854247063 1854247069
Catalogue code: N/A
Publisher: Lion Hudson - published 01/05/2005
Format: Paperback 368pp
£8.99