Getting to know our people: Teboho shares her miracle stories of healing and life
Teboho knows Shalom Mission Station as her home for most of her life and can remember that her grandmother brought her there.
The HERAUT is getting to know the community, and this week, met Teboho Masuku (31).
Teboho grew up at Shalom Mission Station on Stasie Street, Rensburg.
Juanita Van Zyl, known as Mama Shalom, is the founder of the mission station that opened in 1999 as an organisation helping destitute orphans, children and youngsters who were victims of human trafficking.
Because Shalom is a children’s mission station, Teboho had to leave when she turned 18.
Although Teboho passed her school years with flying colours and matriculated with six distinctions, work and funds to study were scarce.
Teboho returned to Shalom in 2018, as she knew Mama Shalom would help her.
“I stayed with my grandmother and can remember that she took me to Shalom two days before my sixth birthday, and today I am so glad she did because that is where my miracle story started,” Teboho said.
Upon returning to Shalom, Juanita enrolled her in a seamstress course, learning entrepreneurship, fundraising and project management. Shalom Mission Station is an NPO and does various sewing and other projects to raise funds.
“When my grandmother left me at Shalom, I never felt scared. It felt like I had a new family. I always performed at school, but never knew I could be good at something else after school,” she said.
She added that the Shalom family accepted her, taught her about Jesus, and made her feel worthy.
“Teboho is like my daughter. She and my eldest daughter used to play together when they were little,” Juanita said, and added she always knew the Lord had great plans for Teboho.
Teboho is a tiny, small-built woman and used to suffer from severe leg pain and headaches.
During her stay at Shalom, an evangelist came to visit.
“He said during his sermon that he wanted to pray for the person suffering from leg pain and headaches. I stood up, and he prayed for me. I gave my heart to Jesus and thanked Him, as I felt so much better. My leg pain was gone, and I had no more headaches. This was the first miracle story for me at Shalom,” Teboho said.
She said the Bible verse that encouraged her to be born again and resonates closest to her heart is John 3:16:
‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.’
For Teboho, Shalom is a blessing, and a safe place filled with peace, happiness and grace.
During the time Teboho left Shalom, she started a family of her own. Her eldest daughter is 13 and stays with her father. Her son of six years old and daughter, who will turn three this year, are with her at Shalom.
The second miracle story Teboho shared was the premature birth of her youngest daughter.
“My daughter weighed only 500g. She could not breathe on her own and had to stay in the neonatal unit for two months. I was terrified that she would not make it, and the doctors were equally concerned,” she said.
“Everyone at Shalom prayed for her, especially Mama Shalom. We never gave up on her, and after two months, she started breathing on her own, and we could take her home. I named her Thando, which means love, and Mama Shalom gave her a second name, Pelia, which means miracle of God,” she said.
Teboho is the head seamstress at Shalom and oversees fundraising projects.
“I am blessed; I know God has a plan for me and that He answers prayers. We are one big, loving family at Shalom Mission Station,” Teboho concluded.
“She has a positive outlook and a bubbling personality. She also showed her leadership skills, and my dream for her is to have her own business as an entrepreneur or seamstress one day,” said Juanita.
