About Shepherd's Hope's Founder!

Hearts and hands of ordinary people reaching out to a broken people.

(soul body mind)

"I laugh, I love, I hope, I try, I hurt, I need, I fear, I cry. And I know you do the same things too, So we're really not that different, me and you." - Colin Raye -

I am alive in Christ in spite of life and it is my passion to share this hope of life and inner peace with each person I touch via Shepherd's Hope Ministries.

I am always amazed at how God pick up the pieces and put them together when I don't understand nor see my way anymore! And I have come to realize that where there is love, distance doesn't matter; but where love is not, distance does matter! They say that the most beautiful people are those who has known defeat, sufferings, struggles and great loss. And in spite of all of these obstacles they have found their feet and kept their smiles by the grace of God and by depending on His strength. These people has a tremendous understanding of life and have compassion for those who face pain. They were not born beautiful but allowed God to form them this way with His loving hand.

When I look back on my life, I know this to be true!.

Since a very young age I faced many trials, traumas and great loses. They are not important anymore as they are in the past. I do from time to time share them when I believe it will help the person I am talking too. And here I will mention a few, just so that you can understand that I do understand pain and therefor the strength of God to overcome, as I did. I have struggled with post traumatic stress disorder and chemical depression for some years. I had my first panic attack (that I can remember) at the age of 12 when I fainted while the hairdresser cut my hair. I was not given a choice in the matter and it was something I did not wanted to do, to cut my hair. For a few days I had to walk with the one side longer than the other. At the time, I did not know what it was, only in time did I learn. I tried to cut myself to pieces .. take my own life and has really been unkind to myself. And though I have to drink one tablet everyday to keep my chemicals in balance, I live a happy positive life. I had victory! My chemical depression is in remission. No, not out of my own strength, but by wisdom supplied by Him and strength given to me. By His grace I have a great medical team and a wonderful support network around me.

Just to mention a few of the obstacles I had to face and still remain positive in spite of:

~ Age 6 a close classmate died of leukemia ~ Age 8 gang raped ~ my fathers brother committed suicide ~ my mom's nephew (who I was close too) was killed ~ a group of us attack while on choir tour ~ friend committed suicide ~ friend was shot in pub ~ father died ~ friend died in fire ~ friend was murdered ~ friend died in bus accident ~ earthquake ... 7.9 ~ miscarriage ~ divorced ~ mother died ~ uncle murdered ~ fungus eat friend alive .. she died a horrible death ~ flee for life .. lost everything and lived on streets. ~ the list goes on ....

As I said, they don't really matter any more. They are now part of the past. But these experiences are my strength of today. And I smile beautifully with His grace and so can you!

For a long time, that would be all my life until the age of 38, I was jailed in by my emotions. Emotions I allowed to be and blamed it on those who had hurt me. But then I realized, there was a time that they stepped out of God's will and did what they did. However, they are no longer doing what they did, I choose to let it continue and get me down all the time. With the Grace of our Father in Heaven and the strength He has placed with in each one of us, I managed to bring the outcome to a positive one. The outcome : me standing up as winner and no longer laying down as the victim.

I use to ask the question: Why me? and no longer do! I know now that if not me, it would have been some one els. So, why not me?

I have also learn to forgive and let go. Forgiveness plays a major role in our healing. As Isabelle Hollandlle Holland put it: "As long as you don't forgive, who and whatever it is will occupy a rent-free space in your mind."

It is my passion to help others who struggle with yesterday, to find hope in today. To have victory in Christ over all the pain and to know that pain is gain. It is a challenge though, as I do not have any degrees nor pedigrees to offer. Nothing but my own experience of HOPE and my life as example. But it is a challenge I gladly face as I know this is my purpose on earth. To help you create your support network and find the best medical team for your set of circumstances. To bring hope of healing and restorations that is found in the greatest Healer of all times, Jesus Christ. To be like a stain-glass window that sparkle when the sun shine and then when the rain come down to show true beauty because of the Light within.

Each individual can learn to own their own wellness, after all it is our own responsibility!

This is my forte and passion. If you want to learn more about it, contact me :-)

I do believe that we have become blame~shifters and responsibility~shifters and we need to learn to face blame and accept responsibility again, even our own wellness!

you are welcome to email me at: willa@hope.za.org