Board of Directors

On Father's Day the first Board of Directors where annointed: Jon, Gordon, Rouen and Denzil

The complete Board Directors of Ethembeni are pictured here. From left to right: Mphuma, Gordon, Elliot, Rouen, Jon, Denzil and Grant

Praise be to God for their willingness to serve.

A tribute to Hlengiwe Mphuthini

Hlengiwe Mphuthini: died on the 10th August 2009, aged 40. Leaving her husband Albert, 6 children and Sipho. Ethembeni pays tribute to her for your faithful service and especially for her amazing legacy of caring for Sipho! Sipho was abandoned by his mother when only 20 months old. Hlengiwe offered to take him into her family home while Linda Smallbones found a more permanent solution. After only 2 weeks of caring for Sipho, Hlengiwe indicated that she was willing to take Sipho into her home permanently. Sipho and her had bonded - God's love had moved Albert to support his wife's desires to have their 7th child in their home! It was a joy for us to watch Sipho and Hlengiwe grow into all God intends for a mother and little boy relationship - laughter, tumbles, stern reprimands, forgiveness....unconditional love and acceptance! When Hlengiwe tragically died we were all afraid that Albert would return Sipho and ask us to find another home for him. But with tears in his eyes Albert told us of how Hlengiwe made him promise to never give Sipho up! He was to always remain part of the Mphuthini family no matter what happened! This is how she taught me to leave a legacy! How you care for people and the promises you make and keep while you are alive - are the witness that speaks powerfully about your life in Jesus! Hlengiwe we miss you and we promise to pray for you and your family faithfully.

Nomusa and the hopeful story of the Care Centre

In 2009, the Ethembeni Care Centre, with its focus on providing care for those who are very sick had 38 patients admitted to our 4 beds. Of these 38 patients, 14 went home better. Close to 35% of our patients can tell a story today of how the following services restored them:

1. Daily spiritual food including workship, prayer and bible readings.
2. Good nutrition: 3 meals a day with lots of healthy snacks
3. Correct and diligent medication.

We celebrate with Nomusa her restored physical health yet it is her spiritual joy and peace that excites us. She knows Jesus is with her for the rest of her life as she lives as a HIV positive person. This picture shows Nomusa with two of our care worker team: Luleka and Thembelihle. We praise God for His faithful restoring of Nomusa. Please pray for her today.

It is important to realise that over 50% of our patients are dying either with us or after being referred to hospital. This is becuase the care provided was too late! This leads me to two pleas:

• Know your status! If you are HIV negative, remain so! If HIV positive, then keep your immune system high so that you do not become sick.
• Make pro-active decisions to help those who are sick before it is too late! Please refer anybody to the care centre for a visit 033 238 0596.
  

Baby Amanda

From our home based care team of Thunyiwe and Nora comes the following poem highlighting the joys, the sadness and the hopes of Ethembeni's Ministry. Each week over 65 families affected by HIV are supported by seven teams. Please pray for them.

Baby Amanda…………..
On one of our visits one Winter morn
In the beam of sunlight to keep herself warm
Was a woman who greeted us with a smile
And in her arms she was holding her child
I looked at her baby and tried to assess
What her age was ~ about 3 months, I guessed
But already her first birthday had come and gone
So clearly something was very wrong

Tears welled in my heart at the state she was in
Undernourished, underdeveloped and painfully thin
Mealie meal porridge diluted with water
Was what this poor mother was feeding her daughter
On milk formula given the babe would not thrive
Desperately her Mom tried to keep her alive
An emergency plan must quickly be made
To save wee Amanda who suffered from Aids

By phone the advice of a dietician was sought
A lactose free formula had to be bought
Expensive though this is for any poor mother
An alternative to this there was no other
Baby Amanda would certainly die
Unless we did all to save her life

Daily a difference we’re starting to see
As this new feed with Amanda agrees
She’s thriving so well and grows each day some more
And her mother acknowledges it’s the work of our Lord

Before we knew her she was a member
Of the cult that follows the teachings of Shembe
To see God at work, she’s been so inspired
That to know Jesus more is what she desires
With her we spoke about Him and we prayed
To trust Him forever, the commitment she made

Amanda is special but we cannot know
How long she may live or how well she will grow
But now that her mother her life has surrendered

In God she has new hope for herself and Amanda

Hamba Kahle Bruno and Selma

Thursday 17th September 2009 was a day where God reminded us of His love for all who serve in His name. Bruno and Selma van Der Riet were "retiring" from ministry after 8 years of sacrificial service. Jesus love was tangibly felt by everyone including special guests Vanessa and Philip Tromans, June and Ruth Bremner. The Freedom of Mpophomeni was conferred on Bruno and Selma by Thembelihle Nzimande after worship from the Ethembeni choir. Pictured is Dudu, Nellie and Khonziwe praising Jesus and the van der riets for the love we share. Francina Mina, everyone's favorite "gogo" had a final word by saying she looks forward to meeting with Bruno and Selma in heaven to discuss their "udondola's" i.e. walking sticks. Hamba Kahle Bruno and Selma. Your have served well and we thank you.

My Transforming Journey at Ethembeni!!

Well after a month at Ethembeni I can definitely say that my life has changed! When the 9 of us walked into the Family Centre I dont think any of us imagined how challenging, exciting and emotional it would be. We built so many amazing friendships with the children and the staff and I was particularly touched by the hospitality shown to us throughout our stay.



We started our stay with 2 weeks of holiday club at the family centre with around 60 children showing up every day! We visited Umgeni Valley where we went on a nature walk and saw zebras much to our excitement! We also introduced the children to some of our songs, dances and games, after the children showed us some Zulu dancing we taught them the YMCA, I really hope they dont think it is our national dance! We had sports days with netball, football, relay races and sack races and craft activities and much much more. We also then helped out at Ethembeni gardening for a few days, we were joined by an amazing group of ladies who put our gardening and trench digging skills to shame! When the amazing Richard and Lisa left they donated a jungle gym for the family centre children to play on this went down very well as you would imagine with the children!





























































































I just thank God so much for all the blessings he has given me in Mpophomeni, the stories told, the friendships made and most of all for the changes that I have made since being back in the UK. Mainly my way of thinking and approach to situations. Seeing and meeting people with such serving hearts, hospitable families and amazingly grateful attitudes really touched me and challenged me to re-think my attitudes towards situations in my life and realising how much I have got to be grateful for. I want to say a huge thankyou and send a Kamorga to all the staff at ethembeni, and the family centre and the amazing families that we stayed with! God really blessed our stay, and I pray that he would keep pouring his abundant blessings and love on his children in Mpophomeni. I will leave you with a few beautiful shots of Mpophomeni!

Rachel.

Transform Team UK

From the 2nd to the 29th July 2009, Mpophomeni and the Family Centre has been home to nine God inspired and transforming christians. These young adults came to serve Jesus and in the process transformed all they met through sharing God's love abundantly! Some highlights of their experience where:

• A children's holiday club where Ed got to act as an Idols judge!


• News games and workship songs


• A walk in Umgeni Nature reserve where Helen competed with the Zebra for devotional space


• Mama Nellie and Primrose from Zulu Mpophomeni Tourism


• Jesus becoming the "best friend" to many vulnerable children

We praise God for using Helen, Clare, Sophie, Alex, Becs, Beth, Johnny, Ed and Rachel to fill us with His love.

MAC AIDS Leadership team visit

Monday 29th June saw 14 hope builders from all over South Africa visit Ethembeni as part of the MAC AIDS Leadership program. Each of these 14 inspiring and determined Africans are going to implement an AIDS prevention plan in their community. We shared with them our joys and challenges especially by advocating that Jesus be the centre of all interventions. His love is lasting and transformational! Amen.

The Mpophomeni Talent Show

On Thursday 25 June the Mpophomeni Family Centre hosted The Mpophomeni Talent Show. The turnout was massive (400 children and their teachers) and everyone had to pay for their ticket to get in. This was a big succes and all the proceeds of the day will go directly to the Mpophomeni Family Centre.

As you can see, Lisa was on the team the very strict judges, together with Samke, Zwe, and Bongani

Mpophomeni Clean-up Day!

We are organising the Mpophomeni Clean-up Day on the 29th of June!

The Ethembeni Organisation is dedicated to work as 'green' as possible and to teach our children and staff to care for our communities and to raise everyone’s awareness to take care of our planet. We sort all our waste and all major disposable reusable items end up in the appropriate recycling bins. Litter especially is an eyesore that despoils our community.

Accordingly, Ethembeni is organising a Mpophomeni Clean-up Day on the 29th of June where all staff and children of the Family Centre and Ethembeni are encouraged (and rewarded) to take part in our Mpophomeni Clean-up Day. We have selected the field in front of the Family Centre as our designated Clean Up Area as it will look great over the next Holiday Club period.

We are thrilled that our uMngeni Municipality have partnered with us and that they will supply all the resources we need for our day. Their Recycling Staff will be on site to help and guide us and they will provide us with bags and gloves and, very importantly, will remove all the waste we collect.

It’s currently winter in South Africa and residing in the mountainous region of KwaZulu Natal it gets very cold! Homes are not insulated nor is there any heating and many kids come to the Family Centre in the only clothing they own, which is their summer clothes. That is why we have decided to reward all participating children with a warm hat with Mpophomeni Family Centre logo embroided on it for all children who take part in this fun filled day. See our dog Harry with the hat!

Be on the look out for the photos of the kids on our Mpophomeni Clean-up Day, as always on this blog!

Mdu’s presentation at the Family Centre

Mdu’s presentation at the Family Centre

Last month the Family Centre was visited by Mr Mdu Mchunu from DUCT. DUCT is the Duzi-uMngeni Conversation Trust and is dedicated to the environmental health of the uMsunduzi and uMngeni rivers. Lisa, Lindiwe and I met Mdu in March at a meeting from DUCT in Howick and the four of us started talking about the issues with our environment and specifically in Mpophomeni.

Mdu joined us all at the Family Centre for the whole afternoon to speak about Environmental issues and to raise the children and staff's awareness of our precious environment. Mdu gave a very interesting and interesting presentation titled “My area is my Environment” and all the children were very involved and engaged which was so inspiring as we need our children and staff to be aware and cautious about our environment and their and our future.

This presentation ties in with Ethembeni's ambition to care better for our environment and to raise everyone’s awareness to take care of our planet. Accordingly, Ethembeni is organising a Mpophomeni Clean-up Day on the 29th of June where all staff and children of the Family Centre and Ethembeni are encouraged to take part in our Mpophomeni Clean-up Day.

Foundation Play Skills for Bereaved Children

"Play is work for children- never underestimate the power of play to bring about healing" - Violet Oaklander

Recently two members of Ethembeni care worker staff facilitated a week long training workshop on Foundation Play Skills. Attendees consisted of several Ethembeni staff members along with staff members from the local Friends for Life organization.

The training centered around using play therapy interaction to help children affected by death and loss. Staff learned how to plan several different play sessions such as stories and puppets, clay and drawings and coping play. The training was originally developed by Rob Smetherham Bereavement Service for Children (RSBSC).

The training was a great success and all those who participated look forward to implementing their new found play skills therapy soon!

A special thanks to Linda Smallbones, Social Worker for Ethembeni who originally introduced the training workshop last year to a few members of the family center staff last year. Linda is thrilled to see the very same staff who attended the training now successfully facilitating the very same workshop!

The whole group of teachers and students together

Manchester United goes on a Soccer Tournament

Last Saturday our Soccer team participated in a soccer tournament near Edendale, up in the hills near Pietermaritzburg (KZN). Our team is made up of the older kids from the Family Centre and is named after the most famous team in the world, Manchester United. Very ambitious I must say, but you know, you shoot for the moon and even if you miss, you'll still land among the stars!

We arrived early in the morning with 18 of the boys and the three coaches Khlakla, Zwe and me (Richard) and after two hours of warming up and waiting we were up against one of the local teams. After a quick goal for the other team from a penalty, we were fortunate to quickly get the deserved equaliser before half time. The second half could have gone both ways but it was really our quality and better stamina which decided the game in our favour through another goal just before the final whistle. 2 - 1 for us and we were in the semi-final!

Some though love from the coach

The semi-final was awaiting and we played against one of the other local teams which we expected to be a lot stronger than our first opponent. Where we had hot (31 degrees) and sunny weather in the morning, the weather had changed now and it started drizzling.... There were chances for both teams but no goals until half time. After a pep talk from the coaches the boys went for the final push for the final..... The pitch got heavier from the rain and everyone was getting tired. We had some half chances but no goals so the game had to be decided by penalty kicks! Unfortunately we missed the first one but they also missed their third penalty so it was 4-4 after the first five kicks.

It was as the weather gods did not want a winner for the game as thunder broke out exactly at that moment before the sixth penalty was to be taken and the game was rained out. That was also the signal for us to pack up and hide. Even though we all were soaked we made it back to the car and we drove back to Mpophomeni.

The whole day there was a fantastic atmosphere around the field with lots of spectators and great music. All together a great day on the field which we spent together playing, bonding, chatting and dancing! And many thanks to the Family Centre for the sandwiches and snacks!

Warm Greetings from Richard Van Eek and Lisa Ring, two newest additions to the volunteer staff at Ethembeni. It’s hard to believe it has already been two weeks since we have recently arrived in the scenic Midlands region of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. This is our first time in Africa and we are thrilled to be here and look forward to helping to make a difference in any way that we can by bringing a smile and helping to bring faith and hope to those affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the region.

To give you a brief introduction of us, Richard Van Eek is originally from the Netherlands where he studied Finance at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. He has worked in the financial sector for several years and has worked across the globe in Amst
erdam, Frankfurt, Sydney and Hong Kong. Lisa originally hails from the United States where she studied Political Science at Northeastern University. After working several years primarily in the field of Human Resources, Lisa most recently worked in Hong Kong where she was responsible for Asia Pacific recruitment for an International Business School. Both of us are very much looking forward to spending the next couple of months with Ethembeni and we especially look forward to highlighting our experiences via this blog.

Volunteering in Africa has long been an aspiration for both of us. In particular we were specifically interested in working with those affected by the HIV/ AIDS epidemic in South Africa. Through contact with Mr. Denzil Tryon we were fortunate to come in contact with Mr. Rouen Bruni, Chairman for Ethembeni. With continued outreach efforts over the phone and email over several months and the decision to leave established jobs in the private sector, we were ready to embark on our journey to South Africa.

We’ve just recently arrived last Monday, March 2nd and were greeted by Grant Edkins, Director at Ethembeni, along with Rouen Bruni. The wealth of knowledge and experience brought by both Grant and Rouen to the organization was a major factor in our decision to choose Ethembeni. We have spent the past two weeks observing and training and have primarily spent focused time at the Residential Care Unit as well as at the Mpophomeni Family Centre. We were also given the opportunity to cross train at neighboring NGO organizations such as CCP (Community Care Partners) in Pietermaritzburg as well as the Umvoti Aids Centre in Greytown. Both experiences were invaluable.

During our first few days at Ethembeni, we spent time visiting the facilities and meeting the amazing children, members and staff. On Thursday morning we joined the community volunteers and a staff member and took part in the weekly home care visits where food parcels were dropped for the family in need and counseling and prayers were provided as well. It was quite a moving experience and we were especially moved by how welcoming many community members were to having us in their home and how open many were to share their personal hardships. Although most of the conversations were conducted in Zulu, many wanted to ensure that as native English speakers, the closing prayer would be conducted in English for us all to understand which was quite touching.

There is more to come as we get up and running and it is our sincere hope that no matter how small or large, that we are able to make a positive impact on the community members we are servicing. Through continued education efforts, faith and hope we know this will continue to have a positive impact surrounding the stigma of the HIV/AIDS epidemic that this region continues to face.

A sincere thanks to Grant and Rouen for your passion, enthusiasm and vision for Ethembeni Ministry of Hope and we look forward to meeting and working with everyone over the next few months! --Lisa and Richard

What is Ethembeni HIV/Aids Ministry?

In the KwaZulu Natal Midlands, 12 kilometres from the town of Howick in South Africa is a settlement called Mpophomeni (The place next to the Water Fall). Of this community of 43 000 people, more than 80% are unemployed and more than a third are infected with HIV. In November of 2000, the Howick Community Church began a ministry to this community, specifically aimed at caring for those who are dying alone, hungry and without hope. The ministry is called Ethembeni, which means ‘Places of Hope’, and has the following mission statement:

‘To provide spiritual, emotional and practical assistance to families affected by HIV & AIDS in the Mpophomeni area through the provision of home based care, family support with a focus on vulnerable children and residential care for terminally ill people.’

Ethembeni has four specific programmes at present, a residential care unit, a family support programme, the Mpophomeni Family Centre working with orphans and vulnerable children and the mentoring of community based organisations. Today our family support program provides a holistic intervention incorporating not only home based care for the sick but also food security, income generation and psychosocial support. On average, we visit 45 - 50 families a month totalling over 200 adults and children.
The residential care centre is notable because it is community based, unlike most other institutions providing similar services in the area. Four people can be accommodated and cared for at any one time. Average monthly occupancy rates sit above 90% - indeed an essential service to the community.
The Mpophomeni Family Centre, a drop-in facility, cares for 70 orphans and vulnerable children a day by providing meals, psycho-social support and structured play activities. The core values of these three programmes are simple, God’s love and hope. Since the inception of these ministries, we have worked with over 500 HIV infected families, directly benefiting more than 2000 people.
We believe in developing sustainable community based organisations (CBO’s), so we are intentionally mentoring two CBO’s. Our shared goal is sustainable resources which glorify God.

Breaking the silence – living hope

Dudu Zulu (pictured) discovered she was HIV positive in 2000 when she became gravely ill with meningitis. She was sad and angry with God. While sitting on her bed one day, she had a vision of a man with white trousers coming into her room, sitting on her bed, holding her hand and promising: “If you go out and talk about the black spots that dirty your body, then you will be healed.” Dudu had the same vision twice more in a week and this prompted her to ask her pastor if she could share the vision and her status with her church fellowship. She was afraid of being rejected yet the man in the vision stated: “Don’t look at the big crowd. Focus on the small group who are encouraging you.” Faithfully she shared for HIV positive status and her church responded with unconditional love. Today she is regularly challenged by the Holy Spirit to share her testimony. God has given her peace in her soul but not in her body as she expected. Dudu says: “It is amazing. God has a purpose for my life.”

Ethembeni volunteers cared for Dudu through our home based care visits in 2001. When she became well enough she attended Ethembeni sewing classes and completed a home based carer course in 2002. In 2003 Ethembeni employed her because Dudu was transformed into living hope – sharing and caring for all those suffering in the same position as her. Today, she is a faithful servant of Jesus and a dedicated Ethembeni Ministry champion!

Why should we act in mercy?
A merely religious person, who believes God will favour him because of his morality and respectability, will usually have contempt for the outcast, “I worked hard to get where I am, and so can everyone else!” That is the language of the moralist’s heart. “I am only where I am by the sheer and unmerited mercy of God. I am completely equal with all other people.” That is the language of the Christian’s heart. When we see the HIV positive sick, the homeless, prostitutes, alcoholics, etc. we know that we are seeing ourselves. We may have lived respectable middle class lives, however we realise that spiritually we were just like these people. Physically and socially we may never have been where they are now, but spiritually we were outcasts just as they are, but by God’s grace we have been saved. A sensitive social conscience and a life poured out in deeds of mercy to the needy is the inevitable sign of a person who has grasped the doctrine of God’s grace. (Excerpts from Ministries of Mercy by Timothy J. Keller, 1997, PR Publishing, USA)

It is this new heart I pray for; Lord, that I would be so overcome with a deep understanding of your love for us that I would be set free to “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” Phil 2:3-4.

We are family, my brother and sister and me!
These are the words of a popular pop song and yet unite us all at the Ethembeni Family Centre. Since 1st of July 2008, over 70 children, ranging from 6 months old to 19 years gather each day to share in family stories at the home of love in Mpophomeni. There is Jabu*, a little girl of 4, who loves to sing and dance (see picture of joyous celebrations). And she loves giving hugs to all visitors! Then there is Zimele*, a passionate 15 year old footballer who earned his “cromes” (soccer boots) by sanding down the windows and doors of the centre. There is Zama*, who writes poetry and whose only family is all of us at the centre. Many tears were shed when Sindi*, who came to the centre after it was discovered she was suffering abuse at her home, was placed in a foster home. Prayer is a part of our everyday activity and we celebrate each meal by saying grace and giving thanks to God for all He provides. (*All names changed.)

Together, we share in life each day. The key value connecting us is family. Please pray for love to be shared amongst our family. That grace and joy would fill the family centre and all of its’ people.

Will you join us today and become a “family builder?”
Choose from the following options:
- Pray for Ethembeni’s ministry
- Join us as a volunteer for a period of time: come and serve for a month or a year.
- Hold a fundraiser in aid of Ethembeni
- Donate once off and regularly e.g.
o R100/$10/€10 buys 3 food packs for a family each month
o R10 000/$1000/€1000 supports 5 care workers and their families for a month

For more information please contact:
Ministry Director: Grant Edkins email: director@ethembeni.co.za

Mobile: 0027 83 647 3977 and ph: 0027 33 330 5943

Website: www.ethembeni.co.za

Mother Theresa volunteer inspiration:
Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat.
We must find each other!