Nonhlanhla Nkomo - RIP lady of faith written by Grant Edkins

Dear Friends of Ethembeni

Death is a daily part of life at Ethembeni, yet sometimes we are so surprised by who God takes to be with Him. Nonhlanhla Nkomo was one of these surprises - she passed away on 18th June 2011 after contracting flu! Within one week, this strong community leader who was inspiring others affected by HIV to start their own vegetable gardens, had passed away. Nonhlanhla died at age 41 - yet her legacy was left in all of us i.e. her passion for serving others in need. I'd come to know Nonhlanhla in January 2010 when we visited her as a patient of Ethembeni's Family support program. Her warm smile and hunger for God's word endeared her to us. She was the first volunteer to be recruited to join our home based care teams expansion into KwaHaza in July 2010 - and God used her testimony of faith and perseverance to encourage many living with HIV to trust Jesus with all their fears and hopes! Her funeral was a sad yet wonderful celebration of a life full of hardship yet she keep giving back to her community! Nonhlanhla - hamba kahle mhlobo wam. Sizobonana - we will see each other again.

CAN YOU IMAGINE............

SOME VERY INTERESTING FAMILY CENTRE STATS:

FOR COOKING:
• There are 70 children at the family centre – 5 days a week
• There are 14 Ethembeni staff members at the family centre
• 30kg’s of maize meal is used in a month
• 12kg of mince meat is used per month
• 35 kg of chicken portions is used per month
• 14 kg of sausages is used per month
• 20kg of potatoes are used a month
• 5 kg of carrots are used per month
• 90 brown bread loaves are used per month
• 12 litres of diluted juice is used per month

FOR FOOD PARCELS:
• 146 tins of baked beans are given a month
• 73 Soya mince packets per month
• 40kg of maize meal per month
• 60kg of rice per month

CLEANING MATERIALS:
• 5 litres of dish liquid per month
• 5 litres of toilet cleaner per month
• 48 rolls of toilet paper per month

HOURS SPENT BY STAFF AT THE FAMILY CENTRE: 1450 per month

HOMEWORK HOURS SPENT: 15 per week

Having read the above, running the family centre takes some doing – SUPPORT is clearly needed – contact Grant Edkins: 083 347 3977 if you can support this ministry in any way.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE ETHEMBENI FAMILY CENTRE

by Shân Cade

Not having 70 children to watch over one’s self, it is very hard to comprehend the logistics involved in the running of the Ethembeni Family Centre. To mention a few functions or tasks that take place daily, that may get your mind geared to understanding what an enormous task it is:

• Looking after 70 little children – a huge responsibility
• Ensuring these children’s spiritual well being is taken care of
• Ministering to these children with music and song
• Cooking for and feeding these children
• Assisting the older children with homework
• Taking care of developing the children’s skills
• Handling social problems
• Entertaining and ensuring these children have some fun
• Purchasing food and cleaning requirements daily
• Keeping these children healthy
• Seeing that they get the correct medical attention when they are sick
• Sharing in these children’s emotional ups and downs
• Keeping these children positive
• Keeping these children warm when it’s really cold
• Taking care of building maintenance issues as they arrive,like blocked drains
• Coordinating volunteers help
• Fetching and carrying volunteers, staff, children as required
• Reading and doing other activities for the children
• Re-scheduling staff when a staff member is off
• Handling crisis’s –like elect.failure & you still have to cook
• Refuse removal
• Gardening and playground maintenance
• And a thousand other items......

To the Ethembeni Family Centre Staff – may the Lord continue to give you strength, wisdom and knowledge in the running of the Family Centre, and the serious task of looking after 70 children daily. You do an amazing job, with dedication and compassion – we salute you.

KEEP ON KEEPING ON

Isaiah 30:15 “In quietness & confidence shall be your strength”
Isaiah 40:29 “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength”
Isaiah 40:31 “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength”

INGRID ROBERTS - WOMEN'S EVENT & ETHEMBENI

Saturday the 30 July 2011 found the Liberty Mall in KZN, South Africa,vibrant with the Ingrid Roberts Women's Day celebration, and who was there? None other than Ethembeni's Zwe and Mandisa.

The following piece is from Ingrid's email to Grant the Director of Ethembeni....

"Just to say how much we loved having Zwe and Mandisa with us on Saturday evening - and I think they enjoyed the event just as much! Thanks for all you did to make it possible.
Zwe won a Nikon camera, we were able to raise R3075 for your wonderful charity and Mandisa had some additional funds donated to her personally - Graemor accountants engineered this idea and will be looking after the money raised for her - allowing her to spend as and when she requires (over R3000 I am told!)
Hertz car rental - also at the event - will I believe be facilitating her trip/s to the mall for when she wants to use her money.
In all - a fabulous event and another well done to you all for the amazing work you're doing out in the impoverished communities. I felt privileged to put a "face" to just one of the many stories in your community!"

GOD IS TRULY GOOD Support from businesses and volunteers is critical to keeping Ethembeni running. Thank you Ingrid.

VOLUNTEER STATISTICS

Family Support Team
From: Howick Community Church
15 people
•Weekly family visits – prayer, clothing and food parcels

Family Support Team
From: Mpophomeni Community
10 people
•Family visits – prayer and support

Family Support Team
From: Private Sector
1 Person
•ID document processing

Ethembeni Ministry
From: Overseas
5 people
•Specific activities for Ethembeni:
o Gardening
o Family Centre support
o Special skills elec
o Family support
o Maintenance
o Devotions

Ethembeni Ministry
From: Azusa Pacific University
20 people
• Community engagement
• Devotions with staff
• Devotions with kids
• Team building
• Home/school visits
• Building improvements
• Afternoon activities
• Nursing

Ethembeni Ministry
From: CERI
10 People
• Gardening
• Afternoon activities (games)
• Devotions

Ethembeni Ministry
From: Tearfund
28 People
• Gardening
• Holiday Club
• Home/school visits
• Activities with the children
• Devotions with the children
• Medical support

Family Centre
From:Private Sector
1 Person
• Teaching computer skills

Family Centre
From: Private Sector
2 People
• Playing music with the children

Family Centre
From: Private Sector
3 People
Reading groups

Family Centre
From: Heritage Christian Academy
20 People
• Building relationships with MFC youth

Family Centre
From: Hilton College
40 People
• Gardening
• Sports with children

Visit the website to see the stats in table format

TOP PEOPLE DOING A TOP JOB

CLAIRE HENRY“A top person doing a top job”

Claire is an amazing, motivated and sincere volunteer. In her official capacity as ‘Ethembeni’s Resource Coordinator’ she does an outstanding job of getting it altogether - schedules, activities, visits, training, etc are handled timeously and her interaction with overseas and local volunteers, as well as Ethembeni Staff, is done with enthusiasm and joy.
Claire’s desire is to serve the Lord in such a way that whatever she does, shines for Jesus - CLEARLY, THE LORD SHINES THROUGH HER AT ETHEMBENI.Claire’s website scripture says it all……….

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill that cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven.”
Matthew 5:14-16

CLAIRE’S MISSION STATEMENT
My Zulu name is Khanyisile. It means ‘One who brings light’. We are all called to be “The light of the world. A city on a hill that cannot be hidden” (Matt 5:14). Jesus also told us to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matt 28:19). I know the call is different for different people, evangelism starts on your doorstep and there are many ways to help.
But, the way I see it, I am called to get up and go. For me, this is not a gap year project (I’m too old!). It’s a way of life. It’s not about going to a poverty stricken area for a few months and helping out to get a bit of the feel good factor. This is about seeing God’s children who are suffering, and doing everything I can to share His love with them.
I will hopefully be in South Africa for the better part of 2010 to 2013. Based in Mpophomeni Family Centre. I will want to build relationships with people who don’t believe that anyone could possibly care for them. I want to help educate people who have no hope, no dreams and no future. I want to show them how big God is. I want to see their lives transformed by His amazing grace.
My specific role is “Resources Co-ordinator”, which means I organise programmes for local and overseas volunteers; train staff, particularly those teaching the pre-school children; and make sure the Centre has all the physical resources it needs to be as effective as it can be in providing holistic care for over 70 orphans and vulnerable children.
Claire, everyone involved in Ethembeni salute you – may the Lord continue to lead, guide and direct you.
Visit Claire’s website for more details and amazing photos: www.shinethrough.me

ETHEMBENI VOLUNTEERS

DEFINITION OF A VOLUNTEER:
A person who spontaneously undertakes tasks.

Volunteering to do anything for anybody or any organization is a sacrifice by the volunteer. It is something that is done with passion and enthusiasm, for the recipient, by the volunteer. Volunteering generates a sense of caring and community spirit, and shows a strong belief by the volunteer for the organization they are supporting. Without volunteers, especially in NON PROFIT organisations, development of the organization would be a lot slower - volunteers are invaluable.

Ethembeni has a really dedicated team of volunteers, and is also blessed with volunteers from outside South Africa’s borders for time to time.

The statistics table below are an indication of the voluntary support Ethembeni receives locally and internationally, and Ethembeni salutes all the volunteers that give so freely of their time, finance, skills and prayerful commitment. The statistics displayed below are an indication of the volunteer volume that support Ethembeni – we are truly blessed – THANK YOU

Yours in service for Jesus

SHÂN CADE
Sub-Editor