New Beginnings Shelter - Worcester. Idie Louw's story

Updated: Nov 21, 2022

“You can have a shelter, for the poor and destitute, provide a bed, warm shower, clothes, and a meal but without love. Idie Louw demonstrates the heart of our Lord Jesus, in a slice of bread.”

Idie Louw has spent most of her life doing acts of love for the most unloved. She is affectionately called Aunty Idie or Granny. She has spent most of her life serving, the poor, the lost, the broken, and the homeless people in a country town called Worcester, in South Africa’s beautiful Western Cape.

I believe everyone was created with a specific purpose and a heart of compassion for something that would benefit someone else. Everyone has a soft spot in their heart for something that no one else can manipulate, duplicate, remove, or corrupt. It’s something that our Creator has placed in us to fulfill, our Purpose and Destiny. Some people take a long time to fulfill their purpose and others respond to their calling as if it’s as natural as breathing.

Worcester is having a cold Winter's day, temperatures can reach below zero and the mountains are covered with snow. Although quite unusual for Africa, it isn't so strange for a town just a few hours from Sutherland, which has the coldest temperatures on record. The fact that Sutherland is the coldest town in South Africa also means the night skies are clear and open to explore the farthest galaxies; the most powerful telescopes in the Southern Hemisphere, The Southern African Large Telescopes (SALT), reveal the vastness and power of our Almighty Creator.

Psalm 147:7 (NKJV) "He counts the number of stars, He calls them all by name." This verse reveals the heart of our Heavenly Father. If He knows every star by name and not one is lost, how much more does He care and love the poor, the broken, and the homeless?

The last time there was a global count of homeless people was done in 2005 by the United Nations and the figure is a staggering 100 million people. And according to Habitat an estimated 1.6 billion human beings lacked adequate housing.

Around 07h00 on a Wednesday morning, Aunty Idie is standing at the large wooden table in the middle of the kitchen that has become her makeshift pulpit in New Beginnings Shelter, she is surrounded by female residents who are helping her prepare breakfast. Aunty Idie shares her experiences and the Word of God with the women, ranging in age from 20 to 60 years old, as breadboards and knives are removed from cabinets to butter bread in preparation for breakfast for about 50 residents she recalls days gone by.

"When we opened more than twenty years ago, I appealed for funding from business people in town. I would go and speak at the town hall and at schools. Sometime after opening, there was unrest in our neighborhood, so I started praying for protection over our shelter. The entire area was in darkness and criminals wanted to take advantage, as I prayed there was a huge light that shone on the Cross at the entrance, and the entire area was illuminated and I knew that the Lord was protecting us, I went outside in my nightie and spoke to the people outside and they left us."

In most shelters in South Africa, you will likely come across people who have been in prison, and their first port of call will be a shelter. In the Western Cape, supervisors, some with the appearance of bouncers, are hired to ensure the safety of the residents. It's incredible to witness this woman at work, where she mostly uses her prayers to minister and illustrate what a relationship with the Lord is. She helps the newcomers, with their appearance and manners and jokes and laughs with everyone. And it's a welcome healing balm, for those hearts that have been hurt and are dealing with their scars.

Most of the women's stories are heartbreaking, some of them are trying to regain custody of their children, healing from abusive relationships, recovering from addictions, and dealing with mental health issues, others have lost their jobs, and the effects of unemployment due to the Corona Virus Epidemic have only escalated the homeless crisis in the country.

But life's storms haven't hindered Aunty Idie's sense of humor, she enjoys chutney flavored Cheese Naks, Hug in a Mug cappuccino, and occasionally treats herself to Worcester's fish and chips. She also loves gardening and oversees the male residents who work in the vegetable gardens. She is open and not easily shocked and understands the complexities of the struggles of the youth. At New Beginning Shelter, the beds are full providing a temporary home for both male and female adults from all walks of life.

Idie takes her position at the head of the kitchen table and makes sure that the brown bread is spread evenly with margarine, especially making sure that the edges near the crust aren’t left dry. She is specific, that the spread needs to reach all the corners of the bread and will keep her eye on these small details. Don’t get me wrong, there is no wastage, no extravagance but a concerted effort to show love, caring, and respect just by the very act that each slice of bread needs to be smeared perfectly. The same needs to be applied to the spreading of jam or peanut butter. At lunchtime, every plate of food is served with the same attention to detail and care. And the same goes for lunch, where a hot meal is served with meat and vegetables, or soup, and for a lighter meal at dinner. So much love put into a plate of food.

Mathew 5:13 "You are the Salt of the Earth.

Before the residents begin their meal, Aunty Idie, says a prayer and then, silence, you won’t hear a pin drop as the residents enjoy their tasteful meal, and only the happy songs are heard as Aunty Idie, softly sings in the background complementing this precious gift.

This makes her feel happy, knowing that she has fed His children, which makes this extraordinary woman feel content, and gives her a state of peaceful happiness.

True joy and happiness aren't found in a life lived for one's self, but rather a life of giving of one's self for others. Jesus said it best — “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35 NKJ)

Everything is done in love, in such a homely way, giving anyone who is sensitive enough to feel what it’s like to be part of God’s family. At New Beginning Shelter, the Lord has worked through Idie creating an atmosphere of motherly love even though at times, there’s total discord among the residents who mostly long for their own homes.

You can have a shelter, for the poor and destitute, provide a bed, warm shower, clothes, and a meal but without love. Idie Louw has demonstrated the heart of our Lord Jesus, in a slice of bread.

While the rest of Worcester's town folk, either own businesses, coffee shops, or cafes, it's their catering for the blind, deaf, and aged that the town has affectionately been knick-named "South Africa's Caring Town". There is a Hitech gym, a modern Provincial hospital, good public and private schools, a beautiful National Botanical Garden, and an incredible Professional Golf course.

It’s on the streets of Worcester that Aunty Idie Louw found her calling in her twenties, she first worked in the kitchen for Worcester's School for the Deaf and then managed to get support from local businessmen, a Dentist, and some Farmers. In 1998, Idie was finally able to open the doors of the New Beginning Shelter to the homeless. Now, they have four staff members, including a social worker, a sister, who monitors the meds, an administrative officer, and a Driver, who collects and distributes some donations to other facilities and provides trips to the local clinic.

24 years later, the Dentist and the Farmer still donate so much to the shelter, in the form of providing the best foods and supplies. A handful of people has blessed the lives of many of the residents, especially on Sundays, The Word is shared by local ministers, and then all the treats that have been saved during the week are pooled to make a Sunday meal fit for a king. Idie, has over the years ensured that all the donations are given to the residents.

In South Africa, there are an estimated 200 000 homeless people. In 2019, it was estimated that there are around 4 800 homeless people in the Western Cape. In 2020, this number escalated to an excess of 14 000 people. But this has been discredited by some who claimed that the numbers were exaggerated. So no one really knows how many people are homeless but anyone in any city throughout the country can see that the number of people living on the street is increasing daily.

South Africa has one of the highest rates of poverty and inequality and even those with a means to make a living, like some Fishermen who even own boats, struggle with obtaining their licenses. It's astounding to know that right now there are 11 million people in the country who do not know where their next meal will come from.

In South Africa, according to our Constitution, everyone has the right to access sufficient food and water, which means that the homeless can approach shelters for food and do not have to beg on the streets, where a person’s dignity is compromised. Sometimes their lives are at risk as the homeless become easy targets for other criminals.

New Beginning Shelter is located in Riverview a predominantly Coloured neighborhood, within walking distance from the city center but it’s unsafe for strangers in this part of town so the local South African Police, kindly offer a safe ride to those needing refuge.

Aunty Idie, recalls stories about how she personally washed and scrubbed many homeless people who were so thin, and sick from neglect from being on the streets for too long and she helped them back onto their feet.

In February 2020, Worcester’s town’s heroes were celebrated at a gala event; Aunty Idie Louw was one of four people who were awarded the Mayor’s Medal, along with Dr. Moore, Idie’s right-hand man who has kept Nuwe Begin Shelter’s doors open.

Scripture says in Proverbs 19:17 — The New International Version (NIV)

"Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done."

The wonderful thing about Idie Louw is that she has spent years taking care of the homeless, and it's evident that she is doing what she loves doing and not for a reward. And her heart for the homeless makes a difference in these human beings' lives.

While the sun rises around the globe, most of us enjoy breakfast, pick up our lunch boxes and then look forward to a home-cooked supper. Spare a thought, for someone you might meet in the day that will be grateful for an apple or a peanut butter sandwich.