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Elliott and Katherine Stotler serve with The Mission Society in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. In one of the more impoverished areas of the country, Elliott and Katherine focus on three areas of ministry: educational empowerment, economic empowerment, and spiritual empowerment.

In the article below, Katherine shares how a young friend collected almost 200 books to give to students in South Africa. Hear a story about how one life can make a difference.

Last summer, my longtime friend Carol and her daughter Linley visited us in South Africa. It rained most of the time they were here, but that did not dampen their spirits. We visited several schools that I visit each week, tromping through puddles with big smiles on our faces.

Sirhashini Primary School is one of the schools I visit. I read and present a Creation-based curriculum in English. The children learn about God’s provision and love, the world around them and, at the same time, practice their English skills. Linley was surprised to see that the school did not have any books other than the workbooks provided by the government. When I visit them each week, I take the books and materials that I use.

The Sirhashini kids were excited to have an American school-aged girl in their classroom. We read our stories, had craft time, and enjoyed lunch together. When our time was over, the kids sang for Linley and Carol. It was a fun day for all of us.

Linley started back to school soon after she returned home. She continued to think about the children she had met and their lack of books.

When it was time for the annual book fair at Linley’s school, she had an idea. She went to the principal and asked if she could put up a poster telling about her visit to South Africa and inviting people to donate books to the children at Sirhashini Primary School.

At the end of the book fair, Linley and families at The Charlotte Latin School had collected almost 200 books for the children at Sirhashini Primary School!

When Elliott and I delivered the books, we heard shouts of joy and saw a few tears on the teacher’s cheeks. They said, “Siyabonga Jesu!” which means, “Thank you, Jesus!” Then the room became very quiet as each child had a book in his or her hand. They were looking at pictures, and some were sounding out words. Even one of the teachers was lost in a book! It was an amazing day!