All this beauty doesn’t just magically happen in the clear African air. We have also been blessed with an amazing gardener in the person of Gert Smit. Gert has been working on the farm for the past 20 years. We ‘inherited’ him from the previous owner with high praise. To label him a gardener is greatly under estimating what he does here on the farm. He lovingly tends and refurbishes the flower beds, mends fences, digs sewer pipes, herds stray animals and mows acres of lawn. He does all this with a smile, a song and prayer.

Gert helps pastor a church in Jeffereys Bay and has raised a wonderful family. He has a sterling reputation and serves his community untiringly, despite the hard work he does on the farm. We all feel safe and blessed when he is here. From the time we acquired the farm, we purposed to raise his salary to a more reasonable amount. We are happy to be able to report that he is one of the highest paid farm workers in our area. It is because of this commitment that we come to you today.

The financial crisis has had its effects here in SA as well as where you live. Decreasing funds and increasing prices have us all tightening our belt. Sadly we have come to the heart breaking conclusion that we must let Gert go. It will put a big strain on all of us as he is such a big part of our lives.

Gert is in his mid 40’s and the thought of finding work else where has to be extremely frightening. He has struggled with a variety of physical problems, some related to the heavy farm work he does. We are believing that God will open a door for this talented man and bless him with an easier job and good pay. One of the other things we are believing for is a chance to really bless Gert for his years of service.

Because the farms were such places of abuse under apartheid, there are many complicated legal steps we must take to make sure he is taken care of. Of course that is our heart, legal or not. SA has no retirement plan but employers are required to ‘buy out’ their employees when they are let go. That amount is less than $2,000. Can you imagine that for retirement? The problem is that we don’t have that and we would love to bless him beyond that amount. Can you help us?

Here at the end of the year is a good time to give into some else’s life. Gert is a good candidate for a big blessing. No amount is too small to be of help and give this wonderful man some peace of mind and buy him some time to find other work.

Please pray about helping Gert and his family.

Many African Blessings,
Steve and Patty Allen
Dallas and Jody Sphar


Banking details:
If you can help us, please send your check to GMSA, PO BOX 18592, Spokane, WA 99228 or give electronically by
clicking the [ To Give ] button.  Please designate your gift “for Gert”.

Thank you!