Aware of the hundreds of neglected, orphaned and struggling children in the region, we at Pasture Valley had long felt a calling to do more than just farming and to extend our hands, to care for and make a home for them. In 2002, after hearing the inspiring story of a South African farmer and evangelist who was caring for 20 orphans on his farm. we felt that we could do the same on our farm. We prayed that God would somehow confirm our shared desire to turn n abandoned house on the form into a children's home. The same week, the overburdened SOS Children's Village in Nhlangano visited the farm, asking if Pasture Valley would be willing to create a residential care facility to assist in the care of orphans. It was exactly the confirmation that we were waiting for and we were confident that God supported our ambitions. Immediately, we began remodelling the old house (now David House) and figuring out exactly how to run a home.
By October 2003, Pasture Valley Children's Home was open, Gogo Constance was hired as a housemother and the children's home was sent their first child: a 3 month-old baby girl. Today, many years later, Pasture Valley provides a stable Christian home to around 60 children referred by churches, child welfare organisations and the Kingdom of Eswatini Police Department Child Protection Unit. Though these children represent only a small fraction of the Kingdom of Eswatini's orphans and vulnerable children, Pasture Valley has given them a brighter, more certain future.
Over the years the number of children (and houses) has grown. In addition to the children living on site, Pasture Valley also supports several hundred in the community with food packages, school uniforms, clothing and other help. The community support is coordinated by our social worker. Several of our older children are now adults with many living and working away from Pasture Valley.