This past weekend Robin and I had the privilege of being part of the Whitworth University's "Missions in Africa" Symposium. We presented a couple workshops entitled "AIDS & Orphans: Shelter in the Storm". The focus was on supporting children in families in AIDS affected communities. Given the scope of the problem and the numbers of OVC (orphans and vulnerable children), institutional care is not a cost effective response and has never been God's plan for the care of children. As I researched, prepared and then presented the workshop it cemented in my mind that the model of family based care of children in AIDS affected communities that we at Two Tunics are trying to expand is the right approach.
But more about that in a later post perhaps. Today what is on my heart is an even deeper issue that continues to be cemented more and more in my mind and heart. The reason why I am about this work. The reason the church must be about this work. The gospel of Jesus Christ. The whole gospel as Richard Stearns calls it in his book The Hole in Our Gospel.
The Missions in Africa Symposium last Saturday started off appropriately with a time of worship and devotions in the Whitworth University chapel. Terry McGonigal, the Whitworth chaplain (and ex-neighbor of ours in Spokane) presented the message. He started by asking us to describe the gospel in one sentence to the person sitting next to us. A couple excellent examples were offered from the audience on the order of "God so loved us that he sent His Son Jesus to die so that we might have forgiveness of sin and live eternally with God".
Terry then took us to a biblical one sentence summary of the gospel in Isaiah 52:7. Many of you are probably familiar with this verse and especially the opening line "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news". "Good news" is the definition of the Greek word translated as "gospel" in the New Testament. This opening line is a well known and cherished verse to those involved in missions. People involved in missions are being Christs hands and feet, going to spread the good news, and this verse tells us that in God's eyes they are beautiful. But sadly we in missions are often bringing only a part of that good news described in the rest of the verse. Maybe we're not as beautiful as we thought.
Terry pointed out the three essential elements of the gospel described in Isaiah 52:7, summarized in the three Hebrew words "shalom" (peace), yeshua (salvation) and Yaweh malak (God reigns). The salvation part is what Christian missions has historically been faithful to. Yeshua is the Hebrew version of the name Jesus which both mean "God saves". Shalom is a deep and rich Hebrew word that is difficult to translate but is much more than peace in the sense of absence of conflict. It is closer to that full and abundant life that God desires for every person in His creation. Yaweh malak or God reigns is an affirmation of the reality of the Kingdom of God. Gods' Kingdom rule is a present reality and not just a future hope. We, the church are to be about establishing God's kingdom in the world, bringing shalom to the world as well as salvation. This 2/3's of the gospel has often been neglected in missions. It is the "hole in our gospel" as described by Stearns.
We entitled our presentation on AIDS & Orphans "Shelter in the Storm". Isaiah 32 is a prophecy describing God's Kingdom. Verse 1-2 says,"See a king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice. Each man will be a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm". The storm in Africa is AIDS. In God's kingdom each man is to be a shelter in the storm. Missions in Africa must be about the whole gospel. How beautiful are your feet?
Showing posts with label orphans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label orphans. Show all posts
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Visit to Eastern Cape
Yesterday was truely an amazing day.
One of the projects Two Tunics has been supporting for a little over one year now is the Jesus Christ Cares Ministry (JCCM) in Holy Cross in the Eastern Cape. As Two Tunics we focus our work in the Ugu District of KwaZulu-Natal and JCCM is the one exception being a project outside of our usual catchment area. The reason for this exception is that the chairperson of this project is Cornelia Mgaga, the mother of Onnie our Two Tunics Programs Manager. JCCM is serving orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in a very poor and underserved area. We have been pleased to help with support of the feeding program offering Food4Africa porridge and 500Rands ($70) for groceries each month.
Robin and I visited the project which is run out of Onnie's mother's home in November 2008. At that time we saw the partially finished church on the back of their familie's property.We stood with some of the women from the church that have been meeting in a small flat on their property and prayed that God would supply the funds needed to finish the church. This church had been the vision of Onnie's father who tried for many years to obtain land for it and eventually gave the church a piece of the family's land for the church building. In 1998 the women began to dig the foundations of the church and when Onnie's father died in 2000, her mother committed to use a portion of his pension for the building of the church.
After our visit in November 2008, several people heard about the need to complete the church building and through them God has provided. So on 10 March 2010 a celebration and dedication of the new Taweni AFM Church building was held on the occassion of Robin and my return to visit JCCM again. The original purpose of our visit was to meet with the JCCM committee members to discuss the future of their partnership with Two Tunics. As we sat in the Mgaga home discussing the project we could here the singing voices coming from the church building just behind.
As we closed the meeting the Regional AFM Pastor and other pastors and guests arrived for the church dedication. It was a blessed time of song and dance and celebration.
During the event I shared a message from God's Word from Luke 4:16-21 where Jesus announces that He is the messiah and is bringing the gospel of good news to the poor, the prisoners, the blind and the oppressed. Robin presented orphan sponsorship gifts of shool uniforms and bags to 5 orphans that had been identified as especially needed. The gogos (grandmothers) who care for them wept with gratitude as did Onnie's aunt at seeing the vision of her brother for the church become a reality.
Praise be to our faithful God and thanks for the privilege of being in His service!
One of the projects Two Tunics has been supporting for a little over one year now is the Jesus Christ Cares Ministry (JCCM) in Holy Cross in the Eastern Cape. As Two Tunics we focus our work in the Ugu District of KwaZulu-Natal and JCCM is the one exception being a project outside of our usual catchment area. The reason for this exception is that the chairperson of this project is Cornelia Mgaga, the mother of Onnie our Two Tunics Programs Manager. JCCM is serving orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in a very poor and underserved area. We have been pleased to help with support of the feeding program offering Food4Africa porridge and 500Rands ($70) for groceries each month.
Robin and I visited the project which is run out of Onnie's mother's home in November 2008. At that time we saw the partially finished church on the back of their familie's property.We stood with some of the women from the church that have been meeting in a small flat on their property and prayed that God would supply the funds needed to finish the church. This church had been the vision of Onnie's father who tried for many years to obtain land for it and eventually gave the church a piece of the family's land for the church building. In 1998 the women began to dig the foundations of the church and when Onnie's father died in 2000, her mother committed to use a portion of his pension for the building of the church.
After our visit in November 2008, several people heard about the need to complete the church building and through them God has provided. So on 10 March 2010 a celebration and dedication of the new Taweni AFM Church building was held on the occassion of Robin and my return to visit JCCM again. The original purpose of our visit was to meet with the JCCM committee members to discuss the future of their partnership with Two Tunics. As we sat in the Mgaga home discussing the project we could here the singing voices coming from the church building just behind.
As we closed the meeting the Regional AFM Pastor and other pastors and guests arrived for the church dedication. It was a blessed time of song and dance and celebration.
 |
 |
| A digital photobook by Smilebox |
During the event I shared a message from God's Word from Luke 4:16-21 where Jesus announces that He is the messiah and is bringing the gospel of good news to the poor, the prisoners, the blind and the oppressed. Robin presented orphan sponsorship gifts of shool uniforms and bags to 5 orphans that had been identified as especially needed. The gogos (grandmothers) who care for them wept with gratitude as did Onnie's aunt at seeing the vision of her brother for the church become a reality.
Praise be to our faithful God and thanks for the privilege of being in His service!
Sunday, February 22, 2009
The Church on the Hill
Today Robin and I had the pleasure and privilege to worship at Norwegian Settler's Church. This is our regular place of worship here in South Africa and our second home church (along with Northview Bible Church in Spokane). When we came to live and serve here in the Port Shepstone area we came on our own on behalf of our small organization Two Tunics. We were not coming to join a team already on the ground and did not have a larger mission organization ready to support, guide and encourage us. We realized one of the first priorities for us needed to be to find a church and a small group for Christian fellowship. God provided for us the Norwegian Church and then a home cell group with in that church. Both have been a blessing to us.
Robin and I with some of the members of our home cell group
The Norwegian Settler's Church is just that, a church started by Norwegian settlers a little over 125 years ago. Today it is a thriving, predominately white interdenominational church. It sits on a hill with a view that in a sense captures life on the South Coast (as this part of KwaZulu-Natal is known). Toward the sea (lets call it east) the church overlooks the beach communities with their hotels, restaurants and shops that are a holiday destination for people from throughout South Africa as well as Europe and further abroad. It is in this community that Robin and I live.
Toward the south the church overlooks rolling hills of sugar cane fields where predominantly white and Indian farmers grow the historical number one cash crop for this area. Toward the north the church overlooks the industrial outskirts of Port Shepstone know as Marburg. Here textile factories, the Coke bottling plant and other light industries offers jobs at salaries that barely cover transport and food costs. This is also a residential area for many "coloreds", an official designation for a mixed race group distinct from blacks. This area is known for its violence, alcohol and drug abuse.
Toward the west the church overlooks an area known as Mkholombe, a shanty town that merges into a slowly expanding government housing area. No one knows how many people live in the sprawling shanty town but is definitely in the many thousands. In this community are the effects of extreme poverty, hunger, AIDS, drug abuse and despair. 40% of pregnant mothers in this community are HIV positive. Young children, many of them orphans roam the dirt paths between tin and mud shacks. Many sick with AIDS lie alone on dirt floors, abandoned by their families because of the stigma associated with AIDS.
Norwegian Settlers' Church sits on a hill overlooking these four communities, realities that together make up a microcosm of this South Coast region of South Africa. Most of the church's members come from the coastal and farm communities. They live, work and relax in a world of one or two of these realities. The other two are often unrealities to them as they have little or no contact with them. A few years ago Pastor Trevor Downham challenged the church regarding whether anyone would notice if the church disappeared. That challenge resulted in the formation of Genesis which today continues to provide care, support and hope to those in communities around the church affected by HIV/AIDS and poverty.
Genesis is fulfilling the desire of the church to be relevant to all of the communities surrounding it. Genesis is one of the key partners of Two Tunics and I am currently acting as the Medical Director of the Genesis Care Centre, a 40 bed HIV palliative care centre run by Genesis as a ministry of the church. Sometimes we think as we walk into our churches on Sunday morning "this is church". But I prefer to think "this is church" as I walk onto the Genesis wards this week helping to care for sick, dying and despairing people who would be without hope were it not for this church choosing to be the church to the pleasure and glory of Jesus Christ.
Robin and I with some of the members of our home cell group
The Norwegian Settler's Church is just that, a church started by Norwegian settlers a little over 125 years ago. Today it is a thriving, predominately white interdenominational church. It sits on a hill with a view that in a sense captures life on the South Coast (as this part of KwaZulu-Natal is known). Toward the sea (lets call it east) the church overlooks the beach communities with their hotels, restaurants and shops that are a holiday destination for people from throughout South Africa as well as Europe and further abroad. It is in this community that Robin and I live.
Margate beach on Christmas day
Toward the south the church overlooks rolling hills of sugar cane fields where predominantly white and Indian farmers grow the historical number one cash crop for this area. Toward the north the church overlooks the industrial outskirts of Port Shepstone know as Marburg. Here textile factories, the Coke bottling plant and other light industries offers jobs at salaries that barely cover transport and food costs. This is also a residential area for many "coloreds", an official designation for a mixed race group distinct from blacks. This area is known for its violence, alcohol and drug abuse.
Toward the west the church overlooks an area known as Mkholombe, a shanty town that merges into a slowly expanding government housing area. No one knows how many people live in the sprawling shanty town but is definitely in the many thousands. In this community are the effects of extreme poverty, hunger, AIDS, drug abuse and despair. 40% of pregnant mothers in this community are HIV positive. Young children, many of them orphans roam the dirt paths between tin and mud shacks. Many sick with AIDS lie alone on dirt floors, abandoned by their families because of the stigma associated with AIDS.Norwegian Settlers' Church sits on a hill overlooking these four communities, realities that together make up a microcosm of this South Coast region of South Africa. Most of the church's members come from the coastal and farm communities. They live, work and relax in a world of one or two of these realities. The other two are often unrealities to them as they have little or no contact with them. A few years ago Pastor Trevor Downham challenged the church regarding whether anyone would notice if the church disappeared. That challenge resulted in the formation of Genesis which today continues to provide care, support and hope to those in communities around the church affected by HIV/AIDS and poverty.
Genesis is fulfilling the desire of the church to be relevant to all of the communities surrounding it. Genesis is one of the key partners of Two Tunics and I am currently acting as the Medical Director of the Genesis Care Centre, a 40 bed HIV palliative care centre run by Genesis as a ministry of the church. Sometimes we think as we walk into our churches on Sunday morning "this is church". But I prefer to think "this is church" as I walk onto the Genesis wards this week helping to care for sick, dying and despairing people who would be without hope were it not for this church choosing to be the church to the pleasure and glory of Jesus Christ.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
An Ebenezer Stone
One of our main partners in doing AIDS work here in KwaZulu-Natal is Project Positive Ray (PPR), a ministry of a local congregation of the Evangelical Church in South Africa (ECSA) and SIM (Serving In Missions). This past week we were asked by PPR if we could help arrange and host a children’s Christmas party for one of its sister congregations in the district. As we work with several community children’s projects we were able to assist even though we had already had Christmas parties at all our projects. We knew another party would be an additional blessing for these kids that have so little at Christmas.
We arranged a local Zulu church in the community as a venue and made plans to transport approximately 20 children from the nearby crèche to the church for the party. The visitors coming from the ECSA church would bring presents for the children and KFC (yes that KFC) for the meal. On the day of the event the heat and humidity were very high. We managed to get all 19 children and 3 or 4 helpers to the church on time and I went to meet our visitors to bring them to the rather remote site. At the agreed upon meeting time I received a call from the visitors saying one of them had some medical problems and they would be an hour late. Meanwhile Robin, Onnie, the children and the women were cooking in the small church with little ventilation and almost no nearby shade outside. I offered to pick up the KFC to save some time (15 min drive each way). Fortunately Robin had planned a couple games for the kids and brought some music to dance to (they love to dance). The sweat was rolling by then!
Eventually our visitors arrived and the event was a blessing. One of them named Mike could hardly walk due to his back problem but he was committed to come and so was there and shared a message with the children. We had a time of prayer for Mike’s healing and the kids loved the food and gifts.
We arranged a local Zulu church in the community as a venue and made plans to transport approximately 20 children from the nearby crèche to the church for the party. The visitors coming from the ECSA church would bring presents for the children and KFC (yes that KFC) for the meal. On the day of the event the heat and humidity were very high. We managed to get all 19 children and 3 or 4 helpers to the church on time and I went to meet our visitors to bring them to the rather remote site. At the agreed upon meeting time I received a call from the visitors saying one of them had some medical problems and they would be an hour late. Meanwhile Robin, Onnie, the children and the women were cooking in the small church with little ventilation and almost no nearby shade outside. I offered to pick up the KFC to save some time (15 min drive each way). Fortunately Robin had planned a couple games for the kids and brought some music to dance to (they love to dance). The sweat was rolling by then!
Eventually our visitors arrived and the event was a blessing. One of them named Mike could hardly walk due to his back problem but he was committed to come and so was there and shared a message with the children. We had a time of prayer for Mike’s healing and the kids loved the food and gifts.
- Kids with their Christmas gifts
We learned that our visitors came from a church named Ebenezer Church. Obviously being Christmas time and giving a party for children brought to mind Ebenezer Scrooge from “The Christmas Carol”. An interesting name for a church we thought but Robin and I remembered it was a Biblical name and that at one time we had studied (and forgotten) its meaning.
Back home we looked up the “Ebenezer” passages in 1st Samuel and found this reference to an Ebenezer Stone in 1 Sam 7:10 & 12: “Now Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, and the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the Lord thundered with great thunder on that day against the Philistines and confused them, so that they were routed before Israel. … Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen and named it Ebenezer saying, ‘Thus far the Lord has helped us.’” A footnote in my Bible says Ebenezer means “stone of help”.
“Thus far the Lord has helped us”. The truth and significance of that statement rings deep in my heart. Where would I be on this journey if the Lord had not helped me? How many Ebenezer stones should I have erected this year, this month, this week? I mentioned in an earlier post that I believe I am in a war, that we are all in a war. What battles have we come through recently? Did we recognize the Lord’s thundering in our defense? Do we realize we are only here standing because “thus far the Lord has helped us”? We probably don’t feel like the enemy has been routed but he has, time and time again. What will be my Ebenezer stone that I and others who see it may remember his help and victory?
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
A Visit to Sinothando Creche
Today's post will hopefully be a little lighter and more encouraging than the last. It will also be more of a story of our activities this day and an opportunity to hear about someone with an awfully big heart. More about that later but first a little background.
Since early this year Robin and I have been developing and implementing a Two Tunics' program to help support orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) that are being taken care of in their communities. These communities here in the Ugu District of KwaZulu-Natal are being devastated by the AIDS epidemic. 40% of women of childbearing age are HIV+ and as the epidemic matures women in their twenties and men in there thirties are dying at high rates. This is leaving thousands of children (more than 1.2 million in South Africa) without moms and providers.
Orphanages are not an approved or acceptable way to care for orphans in South Africa (as it is not in the US) and nearly all of these children are cared for in their communities by extended family or neighbors. But this often leaves the children vulnerable. Schools provide an important protection and safety net for many of these children. But for those younger pre-school children it is the neighborhood "creche" that provides this support. Many creches are started by women who have a heart to care for the children in their community. They often give sacrificially of themselves and what they have to provide a little something for the children. We have been finding these people and their projects (creches) and coming along-side them with some encouragement and support.
Today we returned to visit one of these women and her project in the township of Gamalakhe. Nomapasika (Pas for short) is a big woman with a huge heart. For about 2 and 1/2 years she has been providing daycare for up to 25-30 children in her shack of a home. Often the children's parents/guardians leave the children with her into the evening and on the weekends. Although she has little, she pro
vides amazing care for the children. Anyone who visits is quickly aware of her love for the children and their love for her.
In the picture Pas is on the left with some of the children. This was taken a couple months ago as Robin gave her a new (used) crib for some of the many babies she cares for. The small shack in the background is the only indoor space she has to care for all of these children. When it rains (often this time of year) the yard turns to mud.
Today we went back to visit her creche to make a plan to provide her with a better facility for the creche. We hope to be able to help her build a 5x3 meter building wit
h attached toilet and wash basin. Our friend Ian went with and has offered to act as the contractor and work with a local builder. Hopefully the work can get underway in January. We also hope to provide some playground equipment so the children have something to do during the day. As you can see in the picture on the right the kids are often quite bored.
In our work we must be very careful about coming into situations and trying to rescue or provide free easy solutions. But over a period of months we have observed Pas and the work she is doing and believe she and her project are the type deserving of Two Tunics help. We believe that our assistance will help provide loving care to many OVCs over the years. It will help Pas sustain the work of her heart to meet a growing need in her community. It is a priviledge to be a part of this work and thank you to Two Tunics donors who are making this possible.
Since early this year Robin and I have been developing and implementing a Two Tunics' program to help support orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) that are being taken care of in their communities. These communities here in the Ugu District of KwaZulu-Natal are being devastated by the AIDS epidemic. 40% of women of childbearing age are HIV+ and as the epidemic matures women in their twenties and men in there thirties are dying at high rates. This is leaving thousands of children (more than 1.2 million in South Africa) without moms and providers.
Orphanages are not an approved or acceptable way to care for orphans in South Africa (as it is not in the US) and nearly all of these children are cared for in their communities by extended family or neighbors. But this often leaves the children vulnerable. Schools provide an important protection and safety net for many of these children. But for those younger pre-school children it is the neighborhood "creche" that provides this support. Many creches are started by women who have a heart to care for the children in their community. They often give sacrificially of themselves and what they have to provide a little something for the children. We have been finding these people and their projects (creches) and coming along-side them with some encouragement and support.
Today we returned to visit one of these women and her project in the township of Gamalakhe. Nomapasika (Pas for short) is a big woman with a huge heart. For about 2 and 1/2 years she has been providing daycare for up to 25-30 children in her shack of a home. Often the children's parents/guardians leave the children with her into the evening and on the weekends. Although she has little, she pro
vides amazing care for the children. Anyone who visits is quickly aware of her love for the children and their love for her.In the picture Pas is on the left with some of the children. This was taken a couple months ago as Robin gave her a new (used) crib for some of the many babies she cares for. The small shack in the background is the only indoor space she has to care for all of these children. When it rains (often this time of year) the yard turns to mud.
Today we went back to visit her creche to make a plan to provide her with a better facility for the creche. We hope to be able to help her build a 5x3 meter building wit
h attached toilet and wash basin. Our friend Ian went with and has offered to act as the contractor and work with a local builder. Hopefully the work can get underway in January. We also hope to provide some playground equipment so the children have something to do during the day. As you can see in the picture on the right the kids are often quite bored.In our work we must be very careful about coming into situations and trying to rescue or provide free easy solutions. But over a period of months we have observed Pas and the work she is doing and believe she and her project are the type deserving of Two Tunics help. We believe that our assistance will help provide loving care to many OVCs over the years. It will help Pas sustain the work of her heart to meet a growing need in her community. It is a priviledge to be a part of this work and thank you to Two Tunics donors who are making this possible.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)