At Hands at Work, our volunteers are called by God from all over the world to serve the most vulnerable in Africa. Each of us has a unique story of how we were transformed when we stepped out in faith and were obedient to this call. Pinky Ngutshane, a native South African, shares her story and the journey that has led her to serve God with Hands at Work.
Pinky's calling is one of faith and service. Pinky's life took an unexpected turn with serious health issues that became debilitating as a young adult. Through walking in faith, Pinky was obedient to God who helped her overcome challenges, find purpose, and spread hope in the midst of adversity.
Though Pinky was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, her parents relocated her family to Masoyi, a small community about four hours away from their extended family, when she was very young. School holidays were spent travelling to Johannesburg to visit her cousins. After completing her high school education, Pinky pursued studies in the entertainment industry, only to find herself redirected into the field of financial banking advice at her father's insistence. Despite initial reluctance, Pinky embraced this path, eventually landing a job at a financial institution near Johannesburg.
In 2016, Pinky’s life was turned upside-down one morning when she could not climb out of bed. She was rushed to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at the age of 27. The news shook her to the core. Often bedridden with pain, Pinky grappled with feelings of hopelessness. Unable to cope with the physical and emotional toll of her illness, Pinky eventually made the difficult decision to leave her job. She began plunging into a state of despair as she moved back in with her parents. “My plan was to go home and die,” she recalls.
Despite the devastation, God was at work in Pinky’s life as he began to shape her heart and her desires slowly. “While I was home, I was like, okay, it'd be nice to die at church. So I spent a lot of time at church. I felt like, oh, maybe God is calling me to be at church. So I was always at church, praying and being with the youth. I spent a lot of time with the youth there. We did a lot of things for a full year.”
In October 2017, Pinky was approached by Hands at Work staff who knew her through her involvement at church and had heard her story. They wanted Pinky to consider working with Hands at Work. Despite her initial scepticism and health concerns, Pinky decided to humour them and attend an interview. "I was not really interested in work. I was not. I was sick a lot of the time," Pinky recalls. "But when they called (after the interview), they said they'd like to have me. I thought, 'Ooh, these people are so crazy, really now?'"
Pinky quickly discovered a sense of belonging and purpose within the Hands at Work community. Surrounded by a supportive team and driven by her faith, she found fulfilment in serving others and sharing her journey of emotional healing. Initially, she struggled with God, wondering why she still suffered from debilitating physical pain. He revealed himself more and more to Pinky, and she began to understand God’s desire for her life. "It's not about him healing me," Pinky reflects. "It's about me being faithful to him, even during this time."
Through her work with Hands at Work, Pinky has not only found emotional healing and purpose but has also become a beacon of hope for others facing similar struggles. Whether it's through prayer, community outreach, or simply lending a listening ear, Pinky is dedicated to spreading love and compassion wherever she goes.
Pinky learned this as she began a conversation with a neighbour one evening which carried on to one o’clock in the morning. Pinky recounts the evening: “He's busy sharing from childhood and things like that, for the first time in his life. He doesn't think people care about those things, because all people are busy. He was even sharing about suicidal thoughts, so I'm like, I'm not going to keep quiet,I have to follow up so that we don't wake up and find this person has committed suicide.” Pinky’s compassion became a mirror of her saviour Jesus: patient, loving, and genuine.
One challenge Pinky now faces is visiting the poorest of the poor during Holy Home Visits. Pinky has to hold herself back from trying to solve their problems with worldly, temporary solutions. Pinky constantly reminds herself of the need we all have for Jesus, and points always to him. "Nothing is too small, nothing is too big for God," Pinky affirms. "You just pray and say, 'God, it's in your hands.'"
As Pinky continues her journey with Hands at Work, she remains steadfast in her commitment to serving others and sharing the transformative power of faith. Her story is a reminder that even in pain and hopelessness, Jesus is with us. He has not forsaken us.
Pinky lives in South Africa. She has served as a member of the finance team in South Africa since 2017.