Profiles for the foundations for the basement level

While the digger loader was excavating the basement level. we started to put up profiles to mark out the foundations and walls of the basement level.

Building of a new road

One major challenge that we faced was that there was no access road for construction vehicles to the site. We literally had to build a road from the clay that we excavated for the basement level.

Excavations of basement level

Removal of old foundations

The old foundations had to be removed before we could start with the new building. Someone remarked that it is the same in our spiritual lives, the old must be removed before God can give us the new.

Front and Back elevation of new building

This would be the front elevation of the new building. The little building in front is the part of the old house that remained after the fire.









This would be the back elevation of the new building.

Building of new home started

Dear Friends
By God's grace we could finally start with the building of the new Moreson Children Haven, in place of the one that burned down. After months of much planning we are so grateful to our Lord Jesus Christ that finally we could start building the new home.
One of the very first miracles God did was to lay it on an architect's heart to help us draw up the plans for the new home. Please see the proposed front and back elevation pictures of how the new building most probably will look like.
We plan to do most of the construction ourselves, since labour is big factor which could well be up to 45% to 50% of the cost of the whole project. God in His grace send us a brother in Christ from Kwasizabantu Mission in Natal to help us with advise on the construction. "Uncle" Jack Terblanche is an elderly gentleman with many years of experience in the construction industry.
One of the first challenges that we faced was the fact the ground had a slope of at least 1,6 meters from the highest to the lowest point. We had one of two options, fill up the slope and have a house that is situated high above the ground, or excavate the ground and incorporate a basement level. The second option seemed to be the better choice of the two. We started excavating last week Wednesday and it seems as if we will finish by Wednesday 29 July.
Our second challenge that we faced was the discovery that underneath the ground we had a solid clay bank. For any building clay is one of the biggest enemies since it creates movement in the ground when it expands or shrinks. This causes a house to crack. The way to overcome this is to do a specialized foundation with sand underneath the foundations and the foundations re-enforced with steel. Luckily uncle Jack could help us with sound advise and planning.
Please continue to pray for us we continue, we are thankful for God's blessings in the whole project thus far.

More fire photos

Fire at Moreson

Recently on March the 18Th 2009 more than half of Moreson Children Home were destroyed by a fire that started due to an electrical fault. Since then continuous planning are made to rebuild the home. Please pray for this endeavor.

History of the start of Moreson Children Haven

Moreson Children Haven was originally started as Talitha Home. Since then the name of the home has changed to Moreson Children Haven.

Talitha Home - fulfillment of a vision

Since 1997 Gerhard and Elmané le Roux saw the need to start a home for abandoned babies. For nearly three years this vision was discussed, put aside, taken up and discussed again, until finally in May 2000 the first baby was taken in by Gerhard and Elmané le Roux.
One of the major obstacles in starting Talitha Home was the need for a married couple to act as foster father and mother for the babies. When Gerhard and Elmané got married in October 1998, this obstacle was overcome and they were ready to take in the first baby. Still another year and a half passed before the first baby arrived.
More babies have since come to Talitha Home. Not all of them are abandoned babies, some come from families where they were mistreated and neglected. The Home also takes in babies orphaned by AIDS, and babies whose mothers would have aborted them but changed their minds. At the moment Talitha Home has two abandoned babies that are in foster care with Gerhard and Elmane and four babies that are in safety care. All the babies that come to the Home are treated as their own children, becoming part of their family, while full-time volunteer co-workers help in the daily responsibilities of feeding, changing diapers, bathing etc.
Young girls that are pregnant but unmarried are also accommodated by Talitha Home and are thus given an alternative to the option of abortion.
When older, the children of Talitha Home will attend a private pre-primary and primary school registered at the Western Cape Education Department and run by people directly or indirectly involved with Talitha Home.
The latest exciting news is that Talitha Home is moving to a farm about 50 km outside Cape Town, near a town called Malmesbury. This will offer the children a healthy farm atmosphere in which to grow up.
Although the Home also helps on a short term basis in crisis situations with safety care, it has a long-term vision for abandoned babies, helping them to grow into responsible adults who, in the future, can make a difference in their society.