|
Redeemer's Story:
My
name is Redeemer Sindiso Nsibande. I was born in 1972 in
Newcastle. I'm a second born in a family of 4. I lost my
Father when I was Five. A year later my mother had to go
and look for a job in Johannesburg. She left us with our
grandmother (father's mother) but it was not easy for
her as she had no income. Other relatives helped
themselves to my Father's property. For example, they
took furniture, cattle, and clothes. At that time I did
not understand what was going on but I saw people
fishing for my father's property. My grandmother had to
work for other people to get food for us all.
My
mother came back after a year. There was not a good
relationship between my father's and my mother's family
so we had to go to my mother's home. There was a lot of
food and a lot of other kids. There was also a large
herd of cattle and goats but my grandmother and my
grandfather were always fishing. Sometimes they would
start fishing when we were about to eat then we would
have to go and sleep without eating. My mother was very
aware of the life we were living and she always wanted
to change it and she always tried her best. My mother
didn't have good job as she never went to school, but
she managed to build a home for us and other relatives.
We
left our grandfather. I think we were happy at our new
home and though we did not have everything, my mother
made sure that we never slept without food. Sometimes
we were away in the bushes herding cattle. There was a
lot of fishing and other rough games. As older boys used
to be rough with me, and became rough with the boys
younger than myself. I took the habit with me to school
and lots of kids fought me. As a result, they did
everything I told them to do. I told them to do things
like stealing.
In
1991 I finished standard 10. I went to Johannesburg to
look for a job. I was always changing jobs because none
of them made me happy. While I was working as a waiter
at a restaurant in Sandton, I was staying in a flat
sharing with guys who were doing wire and bead work. I
used to sit and work with them whenever I was free. I
started making lots of things for them to sell for
myself. I never took it seriously but in 2002, after
the World Summit, I saw that I could make money out of
wire work and beads. I felt that I had a love for it.
I quit my job as a waiter; I made a lot of stock. For
some weeks I was trying to sell it, but I never sold
anything. I didn't lose hope. I kept changing places,
walking long distance. I got to a place where I sold
nearly everything but one day I got an order for 800
lady birds. The customer gave me R4000 deposit. I
remember the words that were said by my mother when I
told her that things are becoming worse than before.
She said, “When the sun is about to rise, it becomes
very dark.” I worked day and night and finished in 4
weeks. Since then I never looked back.
I've
taught a lot of people and have lived through good times
and bad times. In the last 2 years, I lost 2 brothers.
After my first brother passed a way in 2004, my mother
suffered from a stroke and she stopped working. Now she
can't do things for herself. In 2006 I lost my other
brother. Now we are 2 at home, that’s me and my
sister. But we have lots of people to look after. My
sister earns little money where she works. She works in
a Chinese restaurant in Johannesburg. But God has
always been good because he connected me with the right
people. Through my pastor I met Mamkhulu (Heather
Stephens). I started attending workshops at C4L. I
learned a lot and I was counseled too. My first contact
with the Canadians was a blessing from God. When I left
home my mother told me that your brothers and sisters
are where you are going. And I met them. The youth
leaders have been so supportive to me. Mamkhulu will
always be a mother to me and C4L a home to me. To all
the Canadians, all the good things you said about me,
makes me strong. And I always try to be perfect in
everything I do. I do them because you think I am
perfect.
Thanks
God
Bless you All
Redeemer Nsibande
| 
