She came back.
That’s what struck us most about meeting Grace — a young mother from Zambia with her five-month-old baby wrapped securely on her back. We’d offered her some bread during our Thursday street outreach in Johannesburg’s inner city. She accepted gratefully and walked on.
But then, she came back — this time to ask for help.
Grace shared that she’s currently living in a squatter camp in Randburg. She’d heard rumours about cheap places to rent in Hillbrow and was considering making the move. We listened carefully, and then gently shared our concern: Hillbrow can be incredibly dangerous for a woman on her own, especially with a baby. We couldn’t in good conscience point her in that direction.
So we found ourselves asking the question we often ask in these moments: Where do we go from here?
Thankfully, we’d recently been connected with a women’s shelter nearby — not far from where we usually serve. We offered to guide Grace in that direction.
Can you walk with me? I don’t feel safe here
As we set off together, she turned to us and said: “Can you walk with me? I don’t feel safe here. They will take my phone.”
So we walked with her for part of the way, guiding her towards the shelter. A small act, perhaps — but one that reminded us why presence matters. Why showing up matters. Why walking with someone, even just for a stretch, can make all the difference.
We don’t know what comes next for Grace and her little one. But we know she didn’t have to face that journey entirely alone.
Please keep Grace in your prayers — for safety, for provision, and for a place she and her baby can call home.
Want to support our Thursday street outreach in Johannesburg’s inner city? Contact us to learn how you can get involved.
