ORPHAN RETREAT

I just returned home from a very memorable four-day retreat with 52 orphans from Philippi. The theme of camp was, "Born to be a Blessing" and the speakers focused on the orphans' special place in God's eyes, how special they are, and how they are born to be a blessing when teamed up with God. They learned about Old Testament heroes like Gideon, Esther, and David who were weak, small, lonely, or underprivileged until paired with God. We saw that with God all things are possible and mighty, amazing, things can be accomplished.
I want to snapshot one of the many, many, special moments that occurred this past week. We were worshipping one night and I stopped to just listen to the beautiful voices around me. The significance of the lyrics that we were singing really hit me. The song was called, "He Knows My Name" and the verse we were singing at that moment says, "I have a Father/He calls me his own/He'll never leave me/No matter how far I go..." I had tears rolling down my cheeks as I listened to these orphans sing wholeheartedly out to their Father in heaven, the only Father they have. They desperately want to be loved, need to be held, desire to be listened to, and yearn for care and attention. God wants to provide this, and I know that He desires to lavish His extravagant love upon these hurting children. I felt so blessed and fulfilled to be able to hold these kids, cry with them, play with them, listen to them, and worship with them. Please pray that God would continue to make himself known to these kids and be an ever present "Daddy" to them. Please pray specifically for physical, emotional, and spiritual health for these 52 orphans as they are in tough places and are especially vulnerable in Philippi.

World AIDS Day - December 1st

Please join me in prayer for the millions of men, women, and children suffering from HIV/AIDS around the world. I would like to highlight two of my friends who I have had the privilege of getting to know these past three months who could really use our prayers. Both were born with AIDS and both have lost their parents to the disease. The top photo is Sinoxolo, who lives with her brother and an aunt who cares for them. The bottom photo is a little boy named Thobela who lives with 6 other orphans in a home and is cared for by an older woman named Agnes. These are only two of millions of South Africans who have experienced great pain and loss due to HIV/AIDS:

* This nation of 43 million has more than 5.3 million known AIDS sufferers.

* Statistics indicate that 50% of today's youth under the age of 15 in South Africa will die within the next 10 years.

* The AIDS pandemic in South Africa is producing approximately 150,000 orphaned children per year, for which there is not an adequate infrastructure to provide care. It is projected that there will be 5 million AIDS orphans by 2008.

No longer can I read these statistics without picturing the faces of those that I know and care about that are infected with HIV/AIDS. It is easier, now, for me to see that these 5.3 million AIDS suffers in South Africa are real people with real stories, families, homes, and lives. I don't want to believe that half of the kids in the Friday orphan support group will die within the next ten years if things continue as they are going.

The AIDS pandemic is truly a God-sized problem. Please join me in praying that God would move mightily around the world and bring comfort and healing to those who are sick. I pray that people around the world would feel moved and led to be part of the solution. May compassion translate into action as we work together to help those who are suffering.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I wanted to express my thanks and appreciation to all of you, friends and family, for your love, prayers, and support. I am so THANKFUL for each one of you. May you enjoy this special day; what a great opportunity to praise God for the many things he has given!

Please keep Nosicelo's family in your prayers. She was one of the women involved in the HIV/AIDS memory box project. She passed away last week, just after the completion of her box.

SAFARI!!!
This past week I had the opportunity to travel with my parents to Krueger National Park in the northern part of South Africa for a safari. We went on two game drives each day (morning and evening) and were lucky to see the "big five" (elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, and rhino) while we were there along with wild dogs, hyenas, giraffe, cheetahs, scorpions, snakes, frogs, zebras, and lots of birds and bugs. We witnessed beautiful sunsets and what our guide called, "God art"! It was a great time with my Mom and Dad as we enjoyed riding in the jeep looking at animals, eating, talking, sharing, and catching up. It was an experience I will never forget.
The first night we were there the guide got a call on his radio just as we arrived that a leopard had just made a kill (an ampala). So, we dropped our bags and jumped in the Land Rover jeep to check out the scene. I was speechless as we drove under a tree and a leopard climbed the tree and sat on the branch that hung right above my head. I couldn't believe it!? I was literally within feet of this wild animal and could literally hear it panting. Whew!
So, I am back at work and my family has joined me for the week. My brother met us in Cape Town yesterday (he had to miss the safari due to exams at school) and I am really enjoying sharing my life here in South Africa with my family. I am truly blessed!

Where I've Been...

I'm sorry that it has been so long since I updated you on what I have been up to and how to be praying. Things have been quite hectic around here as we are in the midst of training a new CHE committee. We have been meeting twice a week (Tuesdays and Fridays) for three hours to talk about leadership, goals, development, and the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It has been a lot of fun getting to know a new group of people; worship with them, pray with them, and learn with them and from them. Please keep this new committee in your prayers as they go through applications and decide who the next group of CHE's will be. (If you are unclear about what the CHE program is, please read a previous blog entree called "CHE" to learn more!)

This week I have been working on a really neat project in Philippi with 17 HIV+ women. We are working on memory books. This project is a week long and each day the women come for about 4 hours to be creative, artistic, expressive, and to share thoughts and feelings. They began on Monday by designing covers for their books and discussing the importance of passing things on to those that they love. Next, we worked on a writing wills, which is so important because often when someone dies in Philippi their shack and other possessions are taken by neighbors or relatives leaving nothing for the children. Other items that will be put in the memory book are a family tree, a personal letter to their children, drawings, and personal information about themselves (what they dream about, what makes them happy, what is hard for them, etc.) The whole purpose of the book is to have something for the women to pass on to their children and to help them express thoughts and emotions that may be botled up inside.

As you can imagine, this is not an easy project for these women. However, it is so neat that it can be done in a supportive environment with other women who are also HIV+. Today, we had a really good time of sharing and prayer as each woman talked about what she hopes for. Many talked about the hope that they find in God. Some of the women brought their children along (most of whom also are HIV+). I held a three-month old baby on Monday who was already partially blind and very, very sick. I am beginning to see first hand how devastating HIV/AIDS is in Philippi, and how prevalent it is as well.

Throughout the week please choose a few of these women to commit to pray for as they face the reality of living with HIV/AIDS and seek to find healing in expressing feelings in the memory books that they are making. We have laughed together, sang together, and cried together yet I can't come close to imagining what it must be like to have to face living with a terminal condition like HIV/AIDS. Please pray that they would experience God's peace and comfort.

Please pray for...

Thembisa

Stella

Sonia

Buyiswa

Funeka

Busie

Zoleka

Nosicelo

Funeka

Phumeza

Nosamnkelo

Ethel

Kholiswa

Nosandise

Primrose

Nosipo

Noluthando