She was a wife to her husband and a mother to her three sons. Amidst the daily chores of cooking, cleaning, and laundry, her soul longed for something more. She yearned to create something beautiful and vibrant. Her journey began to take shape when she reached out to her children’s elementary school art teacher. In the afternoons after school, she and the young students started learning about painting, exploring colours, and mastering techniques together.

This newfound passion led her to pursue more advanced art lessons. Art became her escape and therapy. She shared her love for colourful creations with friends, who painted with her once a week.

Twelve women

One night, she woke up with an unshakable feeling that she had to paint the portraits of twelve remarkable women from the Bible. She followed this calling, and the project occupied her for over a year. She had to choose the perfect paintings to represent a modern-day version of each woman. A friend encouraged her to study the stories of the twelve women from the Bible. The pandemic provided her with the time to dive deep into this study. Through this journey, she came to know these women as ordinary people who became extraordinary as part of God’s plan.

Women who inspire women

With this understanding, it became clear which painting represented each woman from the Bible. She combined her knowledge and artwork to create a Bible study journal about the twelve biblical women and even printed cards featuring their faces. LucahArt is the name she uses for her art. “Lucah” means “To bring Light.” She chose this name because she felt her friends had supported her and brought light to the project. She also hopes her art will bring light to others.

With ordinary to extraordinary as a theme, she and a friend decided to kick off women’s retreats at their beautiful beach house in Kleinmond. Here, many women found inspiration in the stories of these biblical figures, transforming their ordinary lives into something exceptional. These retreats have been life-changing for many women. She experienced a deep satisfaction in knowing she was fulfilling her life’s purpose.

Switzerland opportunity

An unexpected three-year work opportunity for her husband in Switzerland surprised her and left her with mixed feelings. While excited about the new experience, she couldn’t help but wonder, why now? In this new country, they faced many adjustments and had to learn many new things including language and culture.

Her husband encouraged her to bring the twelve paintings to Switzerland as well. She displayed them in her home. These paintings provided comfort and inspiration, especially during the long, cold winters when loneliness set in. She told me that her favourite woman from the series is Mary Magdalene. She felt a special connection to her, not only because of some similarities in their life stories but also because they shared the same name.

The Aucamps became involved with the Lift Church in Zug. They made wonderful friends and became part of a supportive Christian community.

International exhibition

Their church invited her to speak at a women’s evening, and I had the privilege of attending the event. The twelve paintings had a place of honour at the front of the hall, each displayed on a canvas atop an easel. Marna told me that her 22-year-old son had made the twelve easels during the pandemic as a project to keep him busy. Who could have ever imagined that they would one day support twelve biblical women in a Swiss church?

After Marna shared her own story, she recounted the stories of each of the twelve biblical women. In her presentation, she described the challenges that each woman faced. The audience had to guess who Marna was talking about. Then, she shared more about God’s plan for each woman and the impact of their actions on history. Finally, the audience broke into small groups to discuss which woman’s life story resonated with them the most.

Winds of Change

After 18 months in Switzerland, changes at her husband’s workplace required Wimpie’s knowledge and skills in South Africa for a critical project. They wrestled again with mixed feelings. One advantage is that they will be back in SA for their son’s wedding – the same son who made the easels for her paintings. Their departure is a significant loss for me. I will miss my Afrikaans friend in Switzerland dearly, as we acted as witnesses to each other’s lives here.

I find comfort in knowing that her paintings and messages will continue to touch many more women’s lives in South Africa. Her story, along with the stories of the women in the Bible, is a powerful testimony of how God can transform ordinary lives into extraordinary ones.

Kind regards

Emsia