Living in Love
In isiXhosa “Masakhane” means “let us build together.” Masakhane in the Peelton location of the Eastern Cape is a support group that focuses on rendering health and social services to members of the local community who are either infected or affected by HIV and AIDS.
“If you are living in love, you are in heaven no matter where you are. May heaven hold you. May you always, always, live in love.”
From Here If You Need Me by Kate Braestrup
In isiXhosa “Masakhane” means “let us build together.” Masakhane in the Peelton location of the Eastern Cape is a support group that focuses on rendering health and social services to members of the local community who are either infected or affected by HIV and AIDS.
They “build together” love by providing not only home based care to those most affected by the AIDS pandemic, but also by providing a daycare centre to 35+ children. The project has just obtained their own piece of property in the community and built their own structure to house the daycare. The project has provided a little piece of heaven for these 35 children!
“Thembani” means “we have hope” in isiXhosa. The Thembani Special Day Care Centre in the small town of Bedford is giving hope to children whom are mentally and physically handicapped. These children, who otherwise would be seen as the “throw aways” of society, are being loved and provided for by the volunteers at Thembani.
The Bedford Congregational Church HIV and AIDS Project, also in the small town of Bedford, is providing a support group, home based care and a soup kitchen to those who are HIV+. This is also a new project founded by five ladies in the Congregational Church who see and feel the need of their brothers and sisters suffering with HIV and AIDS. Five ladies have been trained in home based care and have been given skills to help bring a bit of heaven to their patients. They are responding in love, as Christ has called us.
According to statistics just released in the Daily Dispatch Newspaper (here in East London, Eastern Cape) on 24 July 2009, there are “an average of 26 HIV babies born in the Eastern Cape every day.” These are not just numbers and statistics, but one that has a face and a life. Every one is a child of God. The United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA), our partner in mission, is responding in love to bring heaven, to bring hope and to bring peace to these children. It is, however, overwhelming. The numbers are staggering, the death is harsh, and the circumstances are heart aching. Pray for those infected AND affected by HIV and AIDS, as well as the churches of the UCCSA as they seek to respond to those in need. Give freely to projects that support these children and provide care to those who need it the most. Educate those around you of what is happening in the world so that we all may be involved. May we have hope, “Thembani” and may we build together “Masakhane”. Let each of us, in our own way, live in love.
Revs. Jon and Dawn Barnes
Jonathan and Dawn Barnes are missionaries with the Kei Regional Council of the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa, South Africa. They serve as development officers in the Kei region of the Eastern Cape of South Africa.