We are honored to have such amazing volunteers and business partners who help keep the Mission House going. We look forward to everyone coming out to see the house at our 2023 sales.

We cannot thank you enough for helping Ya Bana create special birthday and Christmas memories for the children. Thanks to you, they each receive individual custom gifts, get to choose a brand-new outfit, and enjoy memorable celebrations.

And think about this! 3000 meals are prepared each month for our Early Learning Center children, 2000 lunches for our Ya Bana Village staff and children, and 3600 additional meals for our children. And please keep our Ya Bana moms in your prayers as they prepare up to 1200 delicious lunch box meals per month. CAN YOU IMAGINE!?! Let’s celebrate the efforts of those hard-working cooks.

A recent article in the December 6, 2022 edition of Psychology Today spoke to the uplifting feeling we experience after performing an act of kindness to others. Back in the 1980s, when this phenomenon was studied extensively and confirmed as a valid response, psychologists coined a term for this uplifting feeling and called it “Helper’s High”. It is a mental and physical chain reaction which begins with a decision to do something good for someone else and, after acting on it, feels so good to us that the brain motivates us to do it again and again. In another internet article, Helper’s High is associated with volunteering. People who volunteer report calmness, reduction in stress, and a greater sense of self-worth after doing something kind for someone else. Volunteering is known to boost opportunities for socialization, offset loneliness, better connects us with our community, and increases our longevity. So many good reasons to become a volunteer! If you are not already plugged into our volunteer pool at Mabopane, we would love to have your help. Some current needs include Sorting and Pricing in the Clothing Room, Sorting and Pricing Donations, Assisting in the Jewelry Boutique, and Cleaning/Repairing Lamps.