Last Thursday, I was blessed to be able to attend the Annual US Partners Conference for Living Hope. It was conducted in my new home town of Nashville, TN at Brentwood Baptist Church! One of the big treats was being able to see some of my wonderful S.A. friends and also to meet one of my FAV all time Christian artists, Michael W. Smith! How great it was to see John and Avril Thomas (the founder of Living Hope), along with Natasha Hoffman (the mission groups coordinator), especially without having to endure 20 hours of flight time :) Among many other things, they shared with us some of the amazing progress of the past year, including the development of a series of greenhouse “tunnels” which are allowing them to develop a sustainable food source just outside Masiphumelele! WOW- our God is GOOD!!! Some specific items in need of prayer are: - Living Care (the heath care ministry of Living Hope) is losing $32,000 per MONTH of support from the U.S. as of this September and face closing down their much needed facility AND home based care if we cannot find alternative support. $28,000 per month maintains the facility (alternative care for patients who have been discharged from the hospital but still need care AND for those who simply need a place to die with dignity and a loving hand of compassion), and $8,000 per month is being cut from home based care given out in the townships. Please pray that God would move on the hearts of BIG business leaders to partner with us. After all, God did not call the government, but the CHURCH, to take care of the down trodden and oppressed. - Living Right (the ministry “wing” involving Support Groups (for adults) and Life Skills Educators (for kids/teens) who work within the communities to spread knowledge of HIV, AIDS and TB) is losing funding for 10 out of their 20 facilitators at the end of September as well. Please pray that God would raise up people to meet that financial need. - Please pray for the group of HIV positive mothers that have recently delivered babies. Part of the education provided in the new mother support groups focuses on how to keep an HIV positive mother from giving it to their child through proper breast feeding practices, etc. It is imperative that this education not decrease (again, the need stated above is vital!) - Living Way (business skills training, etc.) is in need of bicycles, overalls for farming students, farming equipment and computers. To help with this need, please contact Richard Lundie at [email protected]. - There is also a need to purchase 4 freezers to be placed in each of four townships, so that pre-cooked food may be frozen at Living Grace (the homeless and food ministry division of Living Hope) and then delivered and stored at the communities for people in need. Then, all they have to do is heat it up! The freezers are $500 U.S. ($3,500 S.A. Rand). One was purchased at the conference by myself and another person from the Faith Promise mission team, but 3 more are still needed. If you can help, please send a check (and explanation that it is paying specifically for one of the freezers) to: Living Hope USA, PO Box 1140, Grayson, GA 30017-1140. Tel. 770-879-8411. Of course, one of the ways that ANYONE can get involved is to join me in becoming a D.A.D. (Dollar A Day) supporter! To find out more about this program, please visit http://www.livinghope.co.za/become-a-d-a-d/. Much love and thanks to everyone who is reading this blog and sharing this adventure with me! -Jen
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AuthorI am passionate about world missions, specifically the country of South Africa. As an Ambassador for Living Hope Ministries in Cape Town, I am honored to serve with them in impacting their community for Christ! Archives
August 2018
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