Chasing Rainbows

There are seven colours in the rainbow. Seven daughters and a son were traumatised by a man who should have carried their trust, but they all survived to live their lives with dignity and compassion. This is their story. It is told not only in honour of their mother Wilhelmina (Mina), but every man, woman and child who has been abused.
Mina was the young and idealistic second daughter of a Dutch farming couple, of the eighteen twenty settlers in South Africa’s sugar cane region. When she met Bruce, a strikingly handsome father of four daughters, and husband of her long lost school friend, she had already became part of their family, abuse
A disease claimed the life of her dear friend, but not before she had promised to look after the dying woman’s beloved children. Some months later, in the sultry heat of a country whose society was to splinter irreparably under apartheid, Mina and Bruce were married. Their family increased rapidly as did Mina’s fears that her husband’s volatile nature might escalate into something worse.
Families may be held together by many things – love, need, and millions of tiny, invisible threads. But when you add fear and secrets into the mix, the heart of that family will blacken and harden.
The decades to follow were to be more painful than the unfortunate woman ever imagined, a veritable blur of abuse, of her, of her children – of their lives. This is a harrowing story, yet it beautifully illustrates how great the capacity for hope can be in human beings, likewise empathy, friendship and and ultimately, forgiveness.

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Reviews

Read it to prevent the abuse of innocent children.

In memory of Fiona Coyne author of 'Who moved my ladder?' 

I am proud to say, she read my book Cashing Rainbows and commented. What a heartrending story, I wish every mother would read it to prevent the abuse of innocent children. 

- Fiona Coyne author of 'Who moved my ladder?' 

I know you well.

It seems I know you well, I want my daughter to read this when she grows up.

-Marlene Avenant 

Forgiveness for the perpetrator of incest?

Chasing Rainbows raises important issues and questions to be considered by those who accompany others on their healing journeys. For example the author suggests that the ultimate healing for the victim of abuse can be achieved only through forgiveness of the perpetrator. "For those of us who have been abused, we will find healing in the very fact that we honour our father (or mother) not for the bad things they have done or the mistakes they have made, but because they have been given to us by God (and vice versa) and, like us, are his children with the same basic weaknesses and insecurities, the same courage and strength and perhaps somehow we can be instrumental in healing them too, especially through the difficult but necessary process of forgiveness," Ellemcy writes in the foreward. My caution here is that those who are struggling through their dark night of abuse should not be required to reach this place of forgiveness too quickly, at the risk of shortcircuiting the necessary anger at what has been done to them.

Questions raised: "When I want to scream or vomit because of what he is doing, does my father still need me to honour him? the author asks
How are issues of gender and abuse in South Africa overlaid by issues of race and class?
In what way do theologies that perpetuate negative perceptions of women _ their bodies and sexuality - contribute to excesses, abuses and perversions of power?

The author's courage in undertaking this task has been great, and as this story goes on its journey, I wish it may do the healing work that she wishes it to do.

-Reviewed by Mary Ryan - The Southern Cross, October 17. Mary Ryan is a feminist theologian and a writer. She lives in Gordon's Bay, Western Cape and runs retreats for women

As a father of four, I am glad I read this book

This becomes evident as one turns the pages of this book. The author, who suffered sexual molestation, as well as physical and mental abuse at the hands of her biological father, still feels the effects today, yet it happened over 50 years ago.

Chasing Rainbows, tells of the torment that a family (a wife, seven daughters and a son) endured at the hands of a brutal father, who sexually molested his daughters, some from as young as six years old.

He continued his evil deeds up until some were old enough to run away from home, threatening to report him if he dared come after them. This book is a must-readf, especially for those who are experiencing abuse of some kind and who are hoping it will stop without having to seek professional help or legal intervention.
Abuse should be stopped immediately and this book clearly illustrates what happens if you do not take swift action.

As a father of four, I'm glad I took the time to read this book, as it made me acutely aware of the effect my anger has on my family.

This man, who had a violent temper, was "allowed" to carry on unchecked, and in the end it almost destroyed both himself and his beautiful family.
Gratefully, he tried to make amends by seeking out some of his children, begging them for forgiveness, not understanding what had caused him to do the things he did.

Some speculated it must have been the effect fighting in WW1 had on him. Unfortunately, not everyone had the opportunity to be reconciled with their dad, before he died.

I'm grateful to the author of this wonderful work for finding the strength and determination to write about her personal experiences in the hope that others will somehow benefit.

I am convinced many will continue to benefit from it into the future, and it is worth the investment. I wish her well with all her future projects.

Theo Swartz, Advertising Representative for Bolander Newspaper.

Messages of Love

'Hi, Mrs. I. Started reading your book on Tuesday and aim to finish it tonight. Simply cannot put it down! In an unconventional way, it is very beautiful. Thank you so much for writing it.'
Love K.T.R.

'Aunt Bea, where did you find James Littleton-does he have a brother just like him that you can introduce me to? Wow! Seriously though your book is the best I have read for a long time...'
L. Mc P

'Thanks Aunty B. for your informative book. At last I understand how much hurt my Grandma suffered'...
L.S

'I have already read the first half of your book. I only wish you had written this book when I was still young, and that I had read it then. I would have understood my Mom better. You have given me a greater understanding of my own childhood, through your book. I am humble.'
Pat D.

'How I can relate to this story, through being abused by my grandfather when I was small ! It has a wonderful message of hope...'
Sonja B.

'I got my book last night and can't put it down. Thanks a mil for writing this book!'
Sandy V.

'Your book should be read by all men'
David H.

'Thanks for having the courage to write your story. At last I understand my father'
D. L