BRING KAYLA GREYLING AND HER FAMILY TO THE U.S.

Our friends, the Greyling family, aren’t sure their daughter will live to grow up in South Africa. The economic situation is horrific, and it is a very dangerous place to live. They risk their lives every time they go outside. They want to move to the US. Nico, the father, has a job waiting for him here in the US, but they need funds to make the move. (We spoke to an immigration lawyer who said they should have no problem getting US residency.) Do you know anyone you might share this with who could help them?

Nico and Riekie Greyling have three daughters: Leandri, Deidre, and Kayla. Leandri and Deidre were born to them, Kayla is adopted. The Greylings met Kayla when she was 4 years old. Kayla's abusive father had left her and she was on her way to live in poor conditions in a squatter settlement. Nico and Reiki and their daughters opened their hearts to little Kayla. The Greyling family adopted her in 2013.

Nico said, “When Kayla arrived at our home, she did not know that people ever drink coffee with sugar and cream, never had porridge in her life, and did not know of any other type of meat than chicken. Kayla was a traumatized and abused girl with extreme separation anxiety. As a family we joined therapy groups and worked hard helping Kayla overcome many emotional hurdles.” Kayla is now a healthy 13-year-old with a remarkable academic track record. She is in the top 10% of her class and hopes to attend secondary school next year.

However, because racial tensions are as bad as they have been since apartheid, unfair employment laws make it nearly impossible for even highly educated people like the Greylings (Nico has two master’s degrees and the rest of the family are also very educated) to get basic jobs. The corrupt government pockets money that should repair infrastructure; so roads, the power grid, and other essentials are falling apart. The country is now down to only 10 hours of electricity out of every 24 hours, on changing schedules, so businesses have a difficult time staying open. Some of the Greylings have worked remotely for American companies, but that is becoming unworkable as they have no electricity for so much of the day. They are now finding it impossible just to pay rent and buy food. They sold their car and bought an old clunker to give themselves a little more time. The current political climate has made it so that how you look and which tribe you come from is more important than almost anything. For Kayla (who is mixed race) and her family, opportunities will be much greater in America.

Kayla has a passion for languages, singing, hockey, and animals; and she recently joined the school choir. When Kayla starts secondary school next year, their only real choice will be to send her to a boarding school, which they can’t afford now. The nearby secondary schools are sub-standard and unsafe. Crime is rampant in South Africa: almost all houses, schools, and buildings are surrounded by barbed wire to try to keep out criminals. Every member of the family has been in life-threatening situations.

The family especially wants to move to America in order to give Kayla and her sisters a bright future. Her family wants Kayla to be able to attend secondary school and later to go to college if she wants. They know that she – and all of them – would have freedom from want because they can work here to earn their living; and freedom from the fear of murder and robbery that has been part of their lives for so long.

Please share their story with people who can help. We so look forward to welcoming the five of them here to this totally different way of life!