WATCH: Pensioners feed the less fortunate in Eden Park
Before everyone gets fed, they must all pray and sing to God to thank Him for the food.
THEY are two pensioners on a mission, called by God they say, to feed the hungry and help the needy.
The RECORD visited a pensioner couple in Eden Park who’ve transformed their shabby little home into a soup kitchen, to feed the poor in their community twice a week.
They are Elizabeth (66) and Barend (76) Snyders and they started their soup kitchen on Mandela Day last year.
WATCH:
They have a passion to spread the glory of God through helping children and adults who are unemployed and less fortunate.
Elizabeth worked at Brackenhurst’s Medicross Clinic from 1970 to 2012 and Barend worked for the Barlows Appliance Company from 1975 to 1996. He has four children from a previous marriage and Elizabeth is mother to eight, of which four children are still alive.
Feeding the hungry
When they are not helping others, Barend spends his free time watching 7de Laan, news and motoring shows.
Elizabeth enjoys Bible study sessions with her girlfriends.
They say they would love to be able to tour through Namibia and create wonderful memories.
Elizabeth happens to be a pastor at the Capernaum Light Ministry and she and her husband are running the soup kitchen with the help of other pastors such as pastor Frank Roman from Fountain of Batista Church, Cecil Jones from Kingdom of God Church and pastor Charles Allies from the AFM Church.
The soup kitchen is open every Tuesday and Thursday at noon and everyone who is hungry is welcome to visit for a warm meal – regardless of being a member of a church or not.
Every day about 100 people are fed.
Elizabeth said: “It was always on my heart to give back to the community.
“I have a passion to help people.
“It’s what God wants me to do.”
On the day the RECORD visited, the reporters witnessed that before everyone gets fed, they all pray and sing to God to thank Him for the food.
Pastor Frank Roman read a verse from Exodus 5.
Being blessed
Watching everyone sing and pray is a beautiful sight that is not often seen, and some were even overwhelmed with emotion while giving praise to Him.
Nobody was shy to express their gratitude for their meal.
“We have a problem, which is food,” said pastor Frank.
“So, we address it by honouring God and thanking Him – then He will bless us abundantly.”
Another way that these pastors are trying to address the problem is by asking the RECORD to ask the community to please donate food to the soup kitchen so that more people can be fed.
Elizabeth mentioned that she walked long distances to ask shops for any food donations, but, unfortunately, she was turned down and went home empty-handed.
They are also in need of a strong tent or some form of shelter to stave off the unforgiving sun and heat.
Clothes are also more than welcome, however, food is what’s most needed.
Can you help?
Donations can be dropped off at the soup kitchen at 5565 Achmat Dangor Street, Eden Park, Extension 5, or it can be collected by Elizabeth if you give her a call on 079 539 6206.
Her email address is pastorlizysnydera@gmail.com, if you’d like to pop her an email.
They are also kindly asking the government, whose jurisdiction includes Eden Park, that a nearby open piece of field at Adam Kok Street can be used for the soup kitchen, which will accommodate more people.
It can also be used to hold church services and keep the youth out of trouble.
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