Friday, 22 July 2011

Kindness is repaid

The Nomakanjani Ninjas and SAP friends embarked on a second journey - this time to pay back the kindness and support of the people they encountered on their epic paddle


Janie, Willis and Lilly Jane of Memela Bush Lodge gave 22 Ninjas and support team members shelter and food after a last minute accommodation hiccup and earned the greatest gratitude

The Ninjas say they may have done the paddling, but they are firmly convinced their obstacles were miraculously removed by a Higher Hand using ordinary mortals as divine instruments. They have now vowed to start a ‘Pay-it-forward’ plan, in honour of their helpers. The 12 surf-ski paddlers raised R1.1-million for autistic children and successfully concluded the gruelling Nomakanjani Surf-Ski Challenge from Kosi Bay to Richards Bay, all with some help along the way. On the second day of the expedition two support team members lost their way from Mabibi to Sodwana. They also broke the trailer’s tow bar, literally crawling to the closest town dragging their valuable cargo including the surf-skis. At Manguze they were directed to Umhlaba’s Trading, owned by Sacchaeus. The kind man immediately jumped into action and called out his welder, wielding a welding machine from World War 1, welding cables wrapped in plastic for insulation and an extension cable with loose wires. Experts at their trade, the trailer was as good as new in under an hour and the welded areas painted with corrosive protection paint. Sacchaeus charged hardly a pittance and waved them off to ‘go do your good work’'. Sacchaeus showed the Ninjas his tiny workshop where he manufactures burglar bars and gates for the community with only the old welder and a nine inch grinder complete with a two-year guarantee on all work. His passion for his business and willingness to make an honest living with dangerous equipment touched their hearts deeply. Back on home soil, the Ninjas shared the story of Sacchaeus. Roy Travis from Bolt Centre, immediately donated a brand new inverter welder, welding cables, self-adjusting helmet and safety gear. A reliable baby grinder was sponsored by Johan van den Berg, well known civil and structural engineer of Van den Berg and Partners. Welding rods were donated as well as a brand new sign board for Umhlaba’s Trading, sponsored by Louis van der Merwe of Unique Signs. A Ninja expedition set off to Manguze with the gifts.
Sacchaeus was on his way to a wedding, but came to his shop to ‘assist a customer in need’. When he saw the Ninjas’ logos and the gifts, he was speechless, overwhelmed and completely humble about his gift of love, given freely, without expecting anything in return. The Ninjas know, he will keep on paying it forward.