Bring Hope to John, Roelien, and Angel's Future

Hi, my name is Georgette and I live in a quiet town in North Dakota. Three years ago I met and grew to love a little family from South Africa. It only took a short time to realize that this family who seems so happy and blessed was actually struggling.

They were actually living every day without water and electricity-things that we take for granted. They have no running water (water is available, municipality won’t turn it on) and electric service is hit and miss.

Meet my friends John, Roelien, and Angel. After watching them go without water for the last 5 months, I had to take action. I made them an offer-one I never in a million years thought they would accept- “Do you want a little house in North Dakota?” They are willing to uproot their lives for a new start!

I am organizing a GoFund Me on their behalf; I am asking everyone I know and people I don't know to help them build a brighter future here in ND.

Imagine trying to take care of your profoundly handicapped adult child without a consistent (read none) supply of water, neither potable nor non potable for the past five months, and years of unreliable electricity due to infrastructure, political corruption, and sabotage. This results in hours every day with no elecricity. Limited electricity and no water-we can't even imagine living like this.

This hardworking, self sufficient couple have not been able to bounce back from Covid. They lost their truck stop business and now have to collect and sell scrap to buy food.

John is a certified Boilermaker and welder, but in South Africa blatant job discrimination has recently made it necessary for John to travel for work. We are trying to get a work visa in his area of expertise. He is also willing to work in agriculture. Roelien is unable to work outside the home due to the constant care needs of Angel. Roelien likes to sing on TikTok, and does odd jobs and makes a few dollars here and there to help the family.

Roelien and John struggle to take the very best care of Angel who is their only child. Angel is 28 and suffered lack of oxygen at birth, causing her to be profoudly disabled being unable to speak or walk. You should see her light up when she hears her “mama” sing or she sees “dada” on FaceTime. She loves to hold her babydoll, and the newly rescued kitty—Boo! The family has raised money in the past to buy a hoist to assist getting Angel in and out of bed, and to her chair. Unreliable electricity results in them having to manually lift her which causes injuries to Angel's mom and dad, as well as Angel. How do they take baths, wash clothes, and cook?? . A monthly trip to the hospital for ongoing medication is an all day affair starting at five AM.

This proud family has had their share of struggles with Roelien beating a cancer diagnosis in 2020. Most of her family are deceased and there is nobody available to provide respite for Angel's care. You would never know their pain when you see their smiling faces.

We are looking to raise $7000. to assist with the paperwork and the costs associated with moving from South Africa to the United States. Please donate and help this fearless and hard working family get to the United States. This is your chance to make a difference. If you are able to donate, please share this Go Fund Me with your friends and family.

Thank you

Georgette

on behalf of Roelien, John, and Angel