By Rob Hall

I will never forget April 09 2009 – it was the day that I departedCape TownforMozambiqueto begin an indefinite stay at a rehab named Healing Wings. I had only been able to gather information about Healing Wings from the internet so had little understanding of exactly where I was going, what I did understand though was that there were no more chances left for me in life – I was 39, had been a drug addict for 20 years and was HIV positive. To be honest, I think I believed that I was going to Healing Wings to reconcile myself to death. I remember sitting in the Church on the Moz Farm with Ruth and the other new hopefuls and answering the question ‘why are you here’ with “I need it to be ok that I die…” Ruth had just smiled at that, she was all to aware of the infinite possibilities that faith in God offers and I think she also understood my need to be reconciled to any eventuality. I will never forget Ruth, her unswerving commitment to her calling, her smile and her ability to encourage with nothing more than a look…there has certainly been occasion since I left Healing Wings for me to pause and think ‘what would Ruth do?’

There were so many others that were able to touch my life at Healing Wings and to whom I am so grateful, Alan for his warmth and love and impossibly comforting hugs when I felt I could no longer go on…Alex, who intimated me horribly when I first arrived, for his genuine friendship and daily display of truly walking the path he preached. Jeannine for her ability at remarkable softness and Giles for that sardonically raised eyebrow that made me think and re-evaluate without him having to say anything at all… so many people that blessed me with the possibility of a future, of a life and with an ever deepening love and dependence on God, and so it was that 9 months later, on the 5^th January 2010 I left Healing Wings, not to die but to discover the utter joy of life.

I have been fortunate in that much that I lost through my addiction has been restored to me, my health, my home, my family my career…the list is endless but all attributable to the lessons I learnt at Healing Wings and to a God so powerful that his promise of life and love is undeniable. I have achieved personal and professional milestones that I had never believed possible and still marvel over when I have my quiet times with God and thank Him for his continued blessing. Neither I nor my life is perfect, but it is in the imperfections that I continue to grow and to develop and through my newfound ability to experience life that I am able to reach out and help others when I am asked. I will shortly celebrate three years of sobriety, an amazing milestone when I consider that for the 20 years prior to Healing Wings the longest time of sobriety I managed was 3 months! I still have days where I struggle but have learnt to recognize that all my strength has been forged in fire and that there will always be days that are better. I have learnt to talk to God constantly, I have learnt to quietly lower my head and ask for His help and I have learnt to listen for His response. Through His forgiveness I have learnt to love myself and to finally be at peace. People remark constantly at the change they see in me, even now,

Two years after I left Healing Wings, and I am enormously encouraged at the fact that those around me are able to recognize the miracle in my life. I have been offered many platforms to stand up and reach out to others who are lost and confused and scared and my message of hope is freely available to those that need it. As a spokesperson for Lifeline I have been able to address large groups where my testimony is able to reach so many and for that I am truly grateful.

I often wonder how I could ever thank Healing Wings and the leaders for all they have given me, for introducing me to a life in Christ, for putting me back into the world, whole, so that I can experience the joys of life…words seem so utterly inadequate to express how I feel. So instead I offer my promise, of a life well spent, well lived…of an adherence to so many principles Healing Wings introduced me to…to a continued conversation with God and an unwavering commitment to the belief that whilst every day may not be perfect, every day is worth living!

I grew up in Johannesburgand was always going to church with my parents at the local NG Kerk. My folks were never really happy and although I had a happy childhood, filled with everything a young child needs and desires physically, emotionally we were not that well off. In fact, so sour was the relationship between my parents that my mother finally filed for divorce after 22 years of marriage when I was about 13. It was a shattering shock yet the promise of relief from their constantly turbulent war and a peaceful relationship, was overriding.

Little did I know that I would never see my father again.
As for Jesus, I saw Him and heard His word through my dear, darling maternal Ouma but only officially made a commitment to serve him when I was 11, when one Sunday the Dominee had passed around forms we could fill in if we wanted to see him. And, not realising it was actually for adults, I filled it out because I wanted to have communion and in church those days kids did not partake of it. (No, I was not after the yummy tot of sherry)…

It was a beautiful day as I ambled over to his offices after school and he told me the tale of the 10 young women who awaited the groom and how not all of them had prepared with enough oil to sustain them. He asked if I thought my lamp was full and I reckoned it was not, so we filled it! I had communion, and I felt so good and new and I so loved Jesus.

The grounding of those years’ Sondagskool classes, and the drenching of the Word in those classes, rooted me forever and I will always be grateful for it.

God was always with and near me through the agony of my parents’ hideous, protracted, 2 year- long divorce battle; through hating my physical self as a teenager; through falling in and out of love with boys and with life. He sustained my fatherless existence as my Dad was so hurt by the divorce that he only wrote bitter letters blaming my brother and I, and I turned my back on him for good.

I was a youth leader and part of the church band for almost 10 years before we had the opportunity to move (my mother and brother and I) to a farm in Barberton, and at the time (I had just turned 21), I was sure to stay in Jozi. But He knew best and the rest is history.

I met Ruth and Acacio through common missionary friends and our beloved, glorious Pastor Ross.

I felt lead to come and help where I could at Wings (this is in early 2003 now) and moved to Moz on the day of my 25th birthday, and coming home to a huge Jose cake and a mass of love and balloons, was unforgettable.

What I didn’t know was that the wise but gentle Holy Spirit knew that I needed Wings more than they needed me and my time at Healing Wings will forever stand out next to the day I gave my heart to Jesus, as the best (and hardest) part of my journey to date. When you grow up in the church and you live a protected life (even with the emotional injuries sustained because of our broken home) you can be very blind to things. It becomes easy to say what should be said rather then what you really feel and I soon figured that as long as I did, people would leave me be. I could have the Word and all my Godly friends without living the Word fully and certainly without the need to change much. However, at Wings I saw this, and I started treating His word the way it should be: daily counsel for each and every question, situation, fear and brokenness.

As we continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling and live our lives so that He may be honoured, my life is sweet and beautiful and I thank Him for finding that small hamlet and that simple little Afrikaanse dogtertjie on that day, and filling her heart with His presence.

I continue to watch and wait for God to fulfill His promise to me that my father and I will once again, be together and, chiefly, the he will find God again. This will be a miracle indeed. Watch this space!

Justin Swart

Given nearly a decade of heroin addiction, you would expect pain, destruction and sorrow to be the grain of what I could say. Although certainly a part of it, miraculously not the sum of it.

Raised in Durbanville,Cape Town, I had a great childhood and caring parents. No apparent reason for choosing the destruction I did. The thing is… We are ALL broken. It doesn’t matter where you hail from, who your parents are, what school you went to. We are all trying to fill this huge gaping hole on our hearts, most times at great cost to ourselves, our families and those that love us.

It’s hard to explain what Jesus did in my life… It’s that big! I can’t tell you that much about Jesus himself…He’s too big!

What I can tell you with absolute certainty, with every fiber in my heart and my soul.

His love is ridiculous!

His love is epic!

His love will change your life!

His love will change and mend your heart!

He loved me away from my pain, my sorrow, my bad choices, my guilt and my shame! He loved me back to life!

We don’t get to live by our own rules, it’s not good for us! Not because God is a heavy handed dictator, but because we’re crafted to be loved! Fearfully, wonderfully made!

It’s like throwing water into the fuel tank of your car. It’s just not going to work! We’re the same. Without His love we just don’t work! We are built to be loved by Him. His love fills the hole, only his love!

The only reason I don’t use heroin today is because I found what I was looking for, I found what is MEANT to fill the hole, the ridiculous love of Jesus Christ for me!

Towards the end of my high school career I started making connections within the wrong circle of friends, leading me into a reputation as a druggie, dealer and general low life amongst my peers. I often ended up owing people money and various other items I often “borrowed” only to have sold to try and start up a business dealing drugs. Leaving high school I ended up at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology to start my studies in Mechanical engineering, not making it very far before the freedom I had there led me into a life of chilling out and always looking to have fun at the expense of my parents. I registered at this institution for 4 years not completing 1 first year. The opportunities to have fun were far too much me and my inability to make the correct choices, my drug using spiraled out of control while studying, experimenting with different drug on majority of my days at Tech. I would spend days looking for phones to steal to hustle some cash together to buy a large quantity of Meth and sell it off at Tech ,though many times we would ending using a majority of what I had bought ourselves. After giving up on studies I worked with my father in our family business, often trying to see where I could steal something when going to sites just to feed my habit. I would steal from my parents constantly and often there would be times where I would steal from relatives. My friends and I always looked for the next party, the next opportunity to use and a quick and easy way to make money. I lived my life constantly looking over my shoulder for people who I owed money to. I got mixed up with the common lowlifes, the gangsters and the merchants who befriended me and would often find myself in the most dangerous of places not even realizing where I was and the dangers of it. My last “stand” as an addict came after running away from home one evening, moving in with a friend of mine we partied for about two weeks or so until one day I stole all of their phones and ran off. I ran to our holiday house in Betty’s Bay but the money and drugs were used up all too quickly. Eventually I was running away from the police in this little holiday destination having stolen a phone from a party I was invited to. I had given up and was stuck with nowhere to go and nobody to turn to. One night my dad turned up and found me, he offered me the opportunity to come home. I did so, but that very night my friends had learned of my return and was back at my door for revenge. Once inside they confronted me in front of my parents, wanting to do nothing other than harm me. After much begging and pleading on my parents behalf they agreed to have my parents pay them in exchange for leaving me alone.

This night was the beginning of new things to come, for the first time in my life I stood there in front of my parents and was completely honest with them, I broke down and cried and all I could say was: “can somebody please help me, I can’t help myself, and I can’t do this anymore”.  My mother had helped someone with regards to getting someone into a rehab that week, she then in turn called them back looking for assistance for me, a week or so later I was accepted to go to Healing wings in Mozambique. I flew off to this strange place not knowing what to expect, arriving there I thought I had made the biggest mistake of my life. It was probably the hardest 9 months of my life, but looking back I had some good times, met some amazing people and had my future shaped by God while there. I became a Christian, learning that God had a plan for my life, that no matter what I had done I was forgiven. I stayed there under the guidance of the staff and leadership and with their help faced everything I had done in my past and was equipped to deal with the future. Leaving Healing wings wasn’t easy, realizing the real worked started from when I left, I got into an amazing organization called the DEA who hired me to do intervention at schools, speaking about my addiction and influencing teens to not wonder down the same path I did. Since then I have worked as a youth pastor in my local church, as a Tech specialist For Hewlett Packard and the New Clicks group and now I am currently an IT officer at Dimension Data, I have found a new love in Christ and he in turn has blessed me with a new love in my fiancé Rachel, an amazing woman of God who supports me in everything I do and partners with me in my walk with God, we are planning to be married next year, something I never thought would happen in my life. All f this has taken place in the five years and 2 months after leaving Healing wings. It hasn’t been easy since leaving, do not be mistaken, life isn’t roses leaving rehab it doesn’t get easier it takes work, but as you work at it, God helps you along the way, tests you and carry’s you through it. It’s all about those little choices you make every day and being grateful for what you have, what God has already and accepting his Grace which he freely gives to you. I thank God and Healing wings for everything they put into my life, helping me realize who I am and who I have the potential to be, taking each day at a time and trying to do the most with each moment I have, I would not be here if it wasn’t for the loved I received in my darkest moments.

God Bless

Gino Lange

I have been meaning to write to you for some time now.  I hope you are all doing well.  No words can come close to the gratitude and love I have for all of you for what you have done in our lives. Matthew has been home for 6 months now – and what a blessing he has been to all of us.  Our family is functioning as a whole unit for the first time.

Before Matt went to Healing Wings, we all lived very different lives.  My husband and I lived past one another – not ever really communicating or living as Christ wants a married couple to live.  Matthew of course did his own thing – involved with the wrong crowd, no self worth, no communication and getting deeper and deeper into the drugs. Matt’s little brother was growing up without a present big brother – as Matt was always busy with his friends or when he was home he was high on drugs and would be shut away in his room.  The only communicating every taking place was terrible fighting.

Over the almost 2 years that Matthew spent at Healing Wings, it gave me time to heal too.  I got involved with Phil Venter’s support group and, through that, walked my own journey to healing.  My husband and I separated for almost a year while Matt was away – and through both of us growing closer to the Lord and with a wonderful support from the group and others in our church community, we reunited and became a family for the first time. We have since grown closer and closer together and to the Lord.  His amazing grace over our lives has become more and more evident as to how much He loves us.

When Matthew came home from Healing Wings finally, he was reunited to a new strong family.  The change in him was so evident to us and he has blossomed as a son and a brother.  There is such an awesome presence of the Lord in our home and in our lives.

To think that drugs almost took my son away from us – but through His grace Matthew landed at Healing Wings where you took him lovingly under your wing and guided him through some really difficult realities of his life that he had to face.  You taught him about life and gave him tools to cope with life – and through this transition he has become a caring and loving person who is for the first time able to open up about his feelings when something worries him.  I know that he was not an easy person to deal with – but I know how much you cared about his life – for keeping him there as long as you did.  For sponsoring him for such a long time – without that it would have been impossible to keep him there.

I know Matt hasn’t been home that long – but I can see that the change in him is a lasting one.  He has grown and matured so much and I think has seen life for what it is.  He has told me that he will never compromise his walk with the Lord nor will he compromise his sobriety as he never ever wants to be separated from his family again for such a long time.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart – don’t ever give up on these kids/adults.  What you guys do definitely does make a difference in lives.  You have given my son the gift of living a clean and sober life in Christ.  For this I cannot thank you enough. And not only have you given Matthew this gift, but to his family.  It is wonderful watching Matt playing games, swimming and having fun with his brother.  Also having Matt around at family get-togethers or even just sitting around with my hubby and I chatting – this has been such a joy.

God bless all of you –  May the Lord continue to bless all of you with strength, discernment, compassion and understanding in the work you do and remember that you guys definitely do make a difference in people’s lives.

Thank you for giving me my son back!

All my love

Lisa Furlong (Matthew Marais mom)

Children don’t understand how much their parents love them.  How else does one explain the energy and time that mothers and fathers are prepared to spend on their child as it follows the path from birth to adulthood, often in the face of endless rebellion?  Along the way, we learn that our offspring are not our clones, but that they are individuals in their own right with dreams, ambitions, morals and thinking that can be totally foreign to our ways and norms.

Thus it was love for my daughter that resulted in my initial response being surprising calmness at hearing from my wife that she had discovered our girl using marijuana.  I did not immediately jump to the conclusion that she was indeed smoking pot, but was scrambling around in my mind for alternatives.  This exemplified my approach as father to her – a constant run around looking for excuses for the often inexcusable.  Yet again, I was proven clearly wrong.

Her behaviour over the years has placed immense pressure on familial relationships, especially between my wife and me.  I was constantly backing my daughter and asking for more time to “explain to her” and “persuade her” and “negotiate with her”.  I became the go-between, the hamburger in the patty in a war that has taken its toll on everyone.  In the process, most of the attention was focused on her at the expense of her siblings.

After finally accepting the fact that she had been caught out, my calmness changed to a mix of immense sadness and anger.  Here was another example of a decision that she had made all on her own, to go against our express wishes.  Here she disappointed us yet again in a situation where she had all the freedom to express her active choices.  Her parents weren’t around to block her; something she has always railed against.  She constantly demanded more freedom and yet – when she was on her own – she made stupid decisions.

The fact that my wife and I were emotionally exhausted by the constant challenge that our daughter posed to our authority made the decision to send her to Healing Wings an easy one.  It might sound trite to say that decisions like this one might save lives, but I’m convinced that they do.

In the process, battered relationships are healed.  Years of emotional abuse and pain are salved by the God-centric work done at Healing Wings.  My wife and I pray each day for our children.  Each day we ask that the Holy Spirit work mightily in the lives of our children on that day.

Our prayers have been more than answered in the case of our girl at Healing Wings.  We can see it in her eyes and hear it in her voice.  We note it in her step and her ruddy complexion, her excitement at hearing from her family, her desire to mend broken fences, to pay it back to her community and to resume her studies and plan for the future.

God is Great, All the Time.

There are so many more reasons to celebrate 6th May 2010 as this date does not only mark my 55th birthday, but also the death and re-birth of my son, Theo Claassen.

After having been addicted to cocaine for the past 13 years, he agreed that he needed help and left for Healing Wings in Nelspruit. What was at first merely an emergency

solution to “just get over his addiction”, became the most important start to a chain of events that changed our whole family for ever and we have never looked back since.

As a mother, I found Healing Wings to be the most perfect “safe heaven” for my son who needed to go on a journey to re-discover himself as the unique and special human

being that he is. Not only was he treated with dedicated love, required discipline and utmost professional care, but as a family we were pulled into the Healing Wings circle of family

and taken on a journey to re-discover our commitment to one another as well as re-kindle our love for God.

I do not have the words to thank the dedicated staff at Healing Wings SA ­- as well as in MOZAMBIQUE- enough, but I do thank God every day for leading us into their care. Their consistency,

honesty and preparation to rather be unpopular with patrons by telling truthfully what is wrong and therefore always putting the patient first, struck a high note with me!

God truly reigns in the place, I have my son back and I only wish for God’s richest Blessing to rain on the staff of Healing Wings.

God Bless

Wilma Yates

DURBAN

Healing Wings saw the new year in with sober-celebration. It is exciting to experience an exhilaration that no substance can provide, during the presentation of the  2011/2012 “Healing Wings has forgotten talent”;  the new year was ushered in with  resident and staff talent performances. Some were outrageous and some beautiful, others rendered the audience speechless! A perfect foot to start the year on, sharing talents, building confidence and celebrating a new start.

With the first quarter of 2012 behind us, the Healing Wings team of staff and residents have engaged in everything this year has in-store so far, with full force. Understanding that freedom and victory are at hand, we persevere regardless of circumstance.  We believe that change and development produce growth, and to this end, we endeavour to continue developing in every aspect.

The Healing Wings Staff component is growing and we would like to welcome to the team Social Workers Meadow Maseko and Veronique Jordaan and Enrolled Nurse Thelma Mashego.  It is exciting to witness the expansion of our team, ensuring that each and every resident receives the best care possible!

Almost here – Healing Wings Youth Centre:

The vision of aYouth Centre was born three years ago when Healing Wings arrived in South Africa. The demand for the treatment of substance abuse in Young People is high and facilities are scarce and limited. True to this vision, Healing Wings has recently acquired the premises and submitted application for registration of the Healing Wings Youth Centre and Purpose College School.

The Lord provides for our needs, in abundance. When we arrived in South Africa, we found a property with an infrastructure-skeleton suited to the needs of our centre. After constructural improvements and additions, we now have  Healing Wings South Africa adult treatment centre, fully equipped.  On par with this, obtaining the site for the Youth Centre has been a De ja vu of sorts – once a health spa and hydro, now a Youth Centre and school, with a few improvements currently underway to provide an infrastructure well-suited to the service to be provided

The Departments of Social Development and Health are eager for the provision of this service to be afforded in the Mpumalanga Province and we are excited for the day when our registrations are confirmed and we can open our doors to admitting Young People.

Please watch this space for more developments on the progress of the Healing Wings Youth Centre and purpose college.

Keeping things current:

Trends change, but Healing Wings is committed to remaining in the front line when it comes to Substance Abuse treatment in South Africa.  In working with the Department of Social Development, it is our responsibility to do just that.  The Mpumalanga Department is committed to benchmarking effective and efficient substance abuse treatment. It is Healing Wings privilege to be a stakeholder in this – to this end we undertake to maintain and develop our compliancy with the protocols and standards of the Department.

January 26^th held our first Department monitoring session for 2012. Isabel Makushe, Head of Substance Abuse, conducted the session.  Monitoring is a thorough process with a focus on assessing compliancy and assistance the facility to  …. For the good of each and every resident.  Once again, Healing Wings has proven compliant.

In addition to site visits from the Department, Healing Wings often send representatives from our Social Team to attend government meetings and workshops focused on Substance Abuse in South  Africa.  Meetings attended this year include the National Mental Health Summit and the Opening to the Road on Underage Drinking in South Africa.

Due to the high demand for treatment, Healing Wings has submitted, to the Department, an application for an extension in our resident intake limit.

Residents:

With the main focus on the recovery and freedom of each Healing Wings resident, we understand that an effective treatment programme requires constant growth and development.  The Healing Wings professional team works together to provide a divers and complementary therapeutic programme, offering residents the platform discover and deal with issues and to explore ways to replace old behaviour patterns with new ones – in freedom. This requires commitment from both staff and residents.




Courage is a trait developed through trial and perseverance; it is encouraged in each resident as he/she delves into past hurts and actions, takes responsibility, understands consequence and develops a hunger for a better way of life.  There comes a point where one realises that the choice is life or death (there are no gray areas in addiction) and when one realises that freedom from addiction is possible, there is no other thing to choose but life!

As our approach is multi-faceted,  we understand the benefit of endorphins in the chemistry of each individual. In this regard, physical exercise is an important part of the programme.  An exercise regime forms part of the residents weekly schedule.

The second Healing Wings Mankele Mile, hosted on the 01^st March 2012,  was a great success.  Swimmers trained for months to complete the mile, in the waters of the Houtbosloop river.  What an encouragement to witness this event. Every participant completed the Mankele Mile.

We are looking forward to the next leg of 2012, with excited anticipation.  We are greatful for the involvement and support received from parents, sponsors and supporters and we enjoy your feedback, please send us comments and suggestions.

Keep checking our website for further updates soon.

God Bless

The Healing Wings Team.










Youth Centre Section

Taking the step into Primary Care treatment, is daunting for any addict. While the prospect of recovery may be something every addict longs for, it involves leaping heart-first into the unknown and this in itself is frightening. While addiction is devastating and crippling, it certainly holds familiarity and therein many find comfort. Change comes when freedom screams louder than fear and when having faith and moving forward are the only things left to do. Engaging in a treatment programme takes courage, it requires support and it calls for commitment – but it starts with just a decision; once that decision is made, there is no turning back.
The Healing Wings programme ignites a journey which encourages transformation of thinking and behavioural patterns through a holistic treatment regime. Counseling and therapy is provided on a one on one level, through interactive groups, skills development programmes, creative therapies and recreational activities. Read on for some updates on the Healing Wings programme.

Student Programme

Engaging in a primary care treatment programme while simultaneously working a full school syllabus, is a feat taken on only by the courageous and determined! The students of Healing Wings Purpose College have taken on this feat, diligently pushing through 2011 and have completed the year with their heads-held high.
2011 has been a challenging year for those doing their studies, distance learning, at Healing Wings. Following a strict timetable and ensuring good preparation throughout the year, year-end exams were tackled with confidence and the student now wait expectantly for their results.
The hard work culminated in a wonderful year-end dinner, held in the Healing Wings “Red Hall”. After photo’s and beverages in the open-air lounge, students were seated to a delicious 3 course dinner served by members of the Healing Wings Culinary Course. What an evening!
To round-off the 2011 school-year, families were invited to the student’s certificate and farewell ceremony. Students and tutors gave heart-felt messages. Healing Wings would like to thank the “class of 2011” for diligently persevering to finish what was started, it is in doing this that fruits will show in their lives.

Government

What an honor it is to work hand in hand with the bench-markers of our country. Healing Wings South Africa has completed our second running year of compliance with the Department of Social Developments’ Minimum Norms and Standards for In Patient Treatment Centre’s. Department standards are high and remaining compliant is as testing as obtaining our initial registration; knowing that we provide residents with what we know to be the best possible treatment and care, is a privilege worth the hard-work. Regular monitoring assessments are conducted by the Department of Health and the Department of Social Development to ensure that in every aspect, Healing Wings abides by the standards under which we are registered, hereby maintaining continuity of care to each and every resident.
2011 has proven eventful with regards Department dealings and we are committed to maintaining a steadfast relationship within the Department. As far as possible members of our Multi Professional team are in attendance at Substance Abuse forums and provincial meetings with relevant stakeholders. Our participation in the plight against substance abuse on a level outside of the treatment centre continues to broaden our scope.
Healing Wings was a participating stakeholder in the recent drafting of the new National Drug Master Plan; while still in its draft state, this manual contains guidelines and protocols integral to the development of a nation against drug abuse.

Youth Centre

2012 brings with it exciting plans with opening of the Healing Wings Youth Centre and School. With the vision in place, a passion to see the lives of young people transformed and the strength of the Lord, registration for the centre has been handed in to the Department of Social Development. Advances further involve developing the youth centre site and infrastructure.
Doing our part in meeting the current exorbitant demand of treatment for young people, is of utmost importance to us; it is heart-wrenching to have to turn applications away because of non-compliance to age. Please keep an eye on our updates for further news with regards to the Youth Centre.

Support Groups

Primary Care rehabilitation is a slice in the pie of recovery and living a life of freedom. Without the other slices, there is no stability, there is no whole. Support groups form an integral part of this process affording families and loved ones the platform to receive healing and become empowered with regards to addiction. For the resident leaving treatment, a smooth transition and continuity of care is a safeguard to ensure that the individuals’ walks into a stable environment, in which he/she is accountable for decisions and actions made. It is our recommendation that families and loved ones get involved in a support group structure.

Residents

Being a resident at Healing Wings, involves responsibility … responsibility to commitment made to completing what has been started. Responsibility to being open and honest, responsibility to remaining accountable, responsibility to persevering and pushing past barriers and of course … responsibility to letting ones hair down and having fun! We believe that while life is serious, it doesn’t always have to be taken seriously and to this end we encourage residents to participate in planned recreational events.
The male residents “Explorers Adventure Weekend” was a blast! 50 residents trekked the Sudwala Forest mountains into a weekend of sleeping in bungalow’s with bugs as big as their fists, hiking up mountains for hours and returning with bodies aching with glee! Abseiling down cliffs, swimming in the forest streams, breathing in the mountain air and enjoying amazing brotherhood and fellowship.
The benefits of being a female resident at Healing Wings means that having a good time doesn’t necessarily mean getting ones hands dirty – quite the contrary, the female residents recently enjoyed a day of pampering. Beauty therapists from Nelspruit came through with massage beds, face steamers and Mani/Pedi kits, to spoil the ladies with a day of relaxation and pampering!

Outreach

Keeping close to heart the creed that one keeps what one has, by giving it away, outreach is a joy to partake in at Healing Wings:






Mozambique: Residents, who have been here for a significant period of time, are given the opportunity to take part in outreaches to the Healing Wings facility in the district of Bela Vista, Mozambique. Healing Wings Mozambique facilitates a number of community empowerment projects focused on skills development and job creation. The mindset is one of healthy lifestyle sustainability. From agriculture and fish farming to home ware and jewelry making, the members of this community carry an enthusiasm for life which shines in the fruits of their labor! It is a privilege for Healing Wings residents to partake in this enthusiasm first hand – how humbling it is to witness individuals emerging out of the clutches of poverty, with heads held high. It is an unrelenting faith burning inside the individual, which sparks a district like Bela Vista and when this catches flame, there is no stopping the changing of a nation! For Healing Wings staff and residents, we want more than just an end to drug addiction, we want a hand in changing nations.


Sudwala: Right here in Sudwala, live the members of the Mankele Community. In the 2 years that Healing Wings South Africa has been open, we have seen little of these individuals … tucked deep in forests are their humble dwellings. They have extremely limited resources. Many have arrived here in pursuit of employment on the surrounding wood mills or slate quarries; having to leave behind their families just in order to provide for them. Mandela day 2011 provided an excellent opportunity for Healing Wings staff and residents to “break the ice” with the Mankele Community. The Rivers Edge resort provided a perfect platform for a day of music, food, gifts and fellowship. It was an honor to host the Mandela/Mankele day on the 6th June 2011! We have recently had our second Mankele community party, hosted as well at Rivers Edge on the 20th November 2011.
Thank you for visiting the Healing Wings website, please keep visiting us for more updates- we welcome your comments and feedback.

God Bless

The Healing Wings team

These being the planning, execution and fulfilment of strategic developments of our vision, purposes and goals for today, the future and how we as a team can continue fighting the good fight against drugs in our country.

• AGM –Board Members and Healing Wings Management present their first general meeting.
• Drug Provincial Summit - Giles Fourie extends his godly influence into the chambers of local government
• First Mankele Mile –a 1600 meter circular swim for gold, silver, bronze and achievement.
• SoulJah – our first evangelical drug awareness campaign is realised.

Our first AGM was held on the 28th May 2011 and provided our directors, Acacio and Ruth Valadas Vieira with the platform to share the development and growth of HWSA over the last two years. One easily forgets that Healing Wings residents and management team arrived in RSA on a cold June morning 2 years ago, after an Exodus out of Mozambique into the unknown. Well that is old news and this forum provided the board to present the reality of the challenges faced and how through steadfast perseverance over-came these challenges. It is this commitment to a calling that has transformed HWSA into a flagship rehabilitation centre that fully complies with the Minimum Norms and Standards set out by the Social Development Department. Ruth was able to thank Isabel Makusha from the Department of Social Development for her inspection and endorsement of HWSA the week prior to the AGM. In her inspection, Isabel confirmed that Healings Wings had complied to all of the standards set out by legislation.

The stark reality of before and after pictures presented in PowerPoint visually highlighted the journey travelled – from ashes to beauty. Each department was offered the opportunity to present feedback on how structures, procedures, policies and administrative systems have ensured growth, accountability and direction for every activity offered by HWSA.
The meeting was attended by over 40 individuals representing families, residents, support groups, local authorities and staff from other recognised social services. Positive feedback and encouragement was received from all attendees
After Carte Blanche – again one can measure the success in a venture by the amount of feedback received. Since the viewing of Acacio and Ruth’s story on Carte Blanche they have received mails from across the country encouraging them to keep pioneering forward. Many past residents also wrote in and called to thank our leader’s for the inspiration that they remain to be in their lives. (Click here to watch the interview)

Congratulations Ruth !! Ruth was appointed a bona fide commissioner of oaths. Witness her first official signing on our photo’s page.

The first official Drug Master Plan for Mpumulanga returned with Giles and Gabisile after attending the local provincial drug summit in Secunda.

09-10 JUNE 2011
GRACELAND-SECUNDA

Giles Fourie : Operation Manager
Gabisile P Nxumalo : Social Auxiliary Work.
Introduction
The summit was well attended with a record 600 people this included the MEC Ms DG Mahlangu, KW Motloung from the District Municipality, Ms Ningi Mlangeni the Acting Head of DSD, SAPS T Ntobela the Provincial Commissioner, MF Dhlamini the Chief Director: Community Development, COSATU,SALGA, Liquor Industry, NYDA, House of Tradition Leaders, Business Against Crime, MSAF, CDA and the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee.
An Overview of the Summit
The focus of the Summit was to clearly define the role of government together with NPO’s and NGO’s in the Mpumalanga Province in fighting the growing scourge of drug addiction.
Giles Fourie was elected to be the part of the board to organize the provincial Anti Substance Abuse Summit and sits on the Mpumalanga Substance abuse Forum.
The MEC strongly emphasized that due to lack of jobs, houses and poor education people are trapped in the cycle of poverty. It is these people that are more vulnerable to getting trapped in addiction and this result in the rising crime rate in our communities. The issue of addiction is affecting our youth and it is no longer unusual for children to sell their bodies for sex to support their addiction. She strongly stated that as a country and a people we need to fight this problem in our communities. The war on drugs needs to unified between the Government, NGO and Social Development to have victory and to have drug free country.
The MEC spoke about street kids and she strongly stated that more needs to be done to help those children by getting them off the streets and into rehabilitation centers. This is the starting point of many hardened criminal and drug peddlers.

The commission topics:

1. Demand Reduction:-
• The gaps in the existing policies
• Effects of drugs on youth.

2. Supply Reduction.
• The role of SAPS in the reduction of drugs supply.
• Border control and management on substance abuse issues (SAPS, Home Affairs and SARS)

3. Harm Reduction.
• Prevention programmes on the dangers of drugs abuse.
• Drug treatment.
• Treatment for children under the age of 18.

4. Role of Civil Society.
• The relationship between crime and substance abuse.
• The relationship between HIV & AIDS and substance abuse.
• The role of religion in combating substance abuse.
• The role of moral regeneration in combating substance abuse.

Conclusion
• There is a high demand for social workers.
• There is a high demand to focus on youth and schools.
• There is a shortage Youth Care Centre’s across the country.
It was a great experience to be part of the Provincial Summit. On behalf of the Healing Wings Rehabilitation Centre we appreciate the invitation and we are looking forward to continue working with Government and the Social Development.

By the By…

It was not only serious business this month, fun and recreation was also part of the programmes as we develop activities that inspire others to seek thrills in the natural and a healthy manner.

Our Equine therapy received an extended new stable which was in preparation to welcome Sage and Constantine two ex racing thoroughbreds from our stock in Mozambique. Weeks of planning between vets, customs officials and the operations team resulted in these two beautiful horses being able to cross the border and enter into RSA. Sage and Constantine are a welcomed sight as they are desperately needed to respond to the demand we have to partake in this therapy.

Mankele Mile success. 12 swimmers got into the water and 12 finished strong – This after serious struggles with self doubt, fear of freezing to death and an absolute belief that we will not achieve this goal. Well swimmers, you came, you swam and you won. After training in cold water at 6h00 and giving up of your personal time you proved that you can achieve goals that your mind says you will not possibly be able to do. A special mention of Sister Danel’s commitment is required as she boldly leapt into water to get a much needed asthma pump to a resident. Hats off- applause. This has proven so successful that we will extend the events on the day to include 100 and 200 meter sprints.

IndaBush Our ladies went for a hike into the local hills with determination to get out of their comfort zones. A specific route was selected which forces team work as obstacles such as rocks, boulders, cascading waterfalls need to be overcome to reach the final goal – the hidden waterfall. Tougher patches are overcome through combining strength, willpower and pure encouragement to overcome the spots “I can do this.” Not alone but using one another as stepping stones, “a hands” up or a shove from behind to get through it. We are not leaving you behind – we are going to do this together. The attitudes developed in this challenge prove that if we work as a team we can make it and asking for help is not filled with shame but a desperate need to get over this thing in front of me. Well done Girls… always an inspiration.

First Mountain top praise and worship – – the men’s team decided to hike up the surrounding hills early one morning instead of the normal routine. We headed off with the guys at 6h00 and started the track up a hill overlooking HWSA. Many groans and moans along the way but once we had reached our planned spot each resident was given some space to become quiet and focus on what’s going on in their heart and heads. After a while we gathered together and offered thanks to God for providing us a new opportunity at life.

Healing Wings was invited by Kohin ministries to join hands with their ministry in fighting the fight of faith in Lydenburg. Kohin have a yearly youth week whereby they present a jam packed week of worship, teachings, dance dramas and productions aimed at creating a platform to spread the Gospel to the youth of Lydenburg.

To make this effective we christened our worship band with the name –SoulJah. Jah meaning the independent ONE of my SOUL and Jah found in the term hallelujah – meaning a thousand praises. So we believe that if we fill our hearts with worship, his love, grace and deliverance we can give praises to him. Then as good soldiers we need to take this message to others. We become SoulJahs of the Good news.
SoulJah’s strategy was to offer two nights of praise and worship as we know that worship opens up the heavens and reinforces God’s sovereignty on earth. The following day we delivered a message via two mediums, these being a PowerPoint presentation and a live drama enactment focused on the reality and effects of drug addiction.

Results? One can only determine effectiveness based on feedback and this was seen in the fact that individuals were encouraged to finally come forward and seek help. 6 Teenagers are currently now been directed from addiction to recovery due to the power of exposing the truth about drugs in RSA. On the worship side, countless teenagers came forward to surrender their lives in to the care of the Lord and sought counsel from trained Kohin representatives. Lastly we have been invited back by the local church and Kohin to continue creating a godly influence and standard in the area. Thank You – Father