Thursday, October 3, 2013

ETHEMBENI TEAM INFO

DUDU ZULU ..... who is Dudu?

This is Dudu.... 

A great lady - Kind and caring - Strong Christian principles - full of laughter and always has a story to share.

NKOSINOMUSA LUTHULI .... Who is Nkosinomusa?

This is Nkosinomusa....

Here we find a very strong women of God - dedicated to serving the Lord - always laughing and being hospitable.

SANELE NGCOBO .... Who is Sanele?

This is Sanele... 

Sanele describes himself as a FULLTIME Christian... he is loving and caring and people like to spend time with him. He likes to cook and socialise.

HOMESTAY - WHAT'S THIS?

Well, this concept has become very important to the Ethembeni ministry.
Overseas volunteers need a place to stay and Ethembeni has been proactive in developing a "homestay" concept that is a win, win scenario.

The volunteers get to stay in Mpophomeni with one of the "homestay" team families and learn about the South African way of life, and on the other hand the "homestay" team get to learn about the volunteers countries and way of life - what an opportunity for growth on both sides.

The Homestay team: Phindile, Londeka, Nkosinomusa, Sanele and Dudu:

Monday, August 19, 2013

What about women?

Little girls often find themselves day dreaming about becoming a “mom”, a career women, a wonderful sportswomen or even greater things like being a queen.
Are some of these realistic, one never knows these days.

The one thing that women can be sure of, is that God made them a specific way, and if they align to God’s way the rewards are great—like experiencing love, having great joy, blessed with contentment and every other blessing God has for women.
Men often throw their hands up in frustration because “they can’t understand women” but actually women are quite easy to please….

 As the saying goes “treat them like a queen and they’ll treat you like a king”… Well, what does this mean in depth… there is no space to chat about it in this edition  but who knows, maybe soon.

 Shan Cade

 

Women and men - different and unique?

When Adam stayed out very late for a few nights, Eve became upset.
"You're running around with other women," she charged.
"Don't be ridiculous," Adam responded. "You're the only
woman on earth."
The quarrel continued until Adam fell asleep, only to be awakened by
someone poking him in the chest. It was Eve.
"What are you doing?" Adam demanded.
"Counting your ribs."


This insightful joke reveals the simple fact that our gender shapes the way we think and act! God made us either male or female - unique individuals in His image. Yet our world continues to shape attitudes towards gender issues that lead to complex and heated dialogues around coffee tables e.g. can you be born gay? What we are learning at Ethembeni is that gender specific activities are important in restoring people's relationships with the opposite gender and with God. So Men's Only and Ladies Only events have become regular monthly activities which we encourage for example:

· This week 10 females got together and did an exercise class together - they sweated and laughed together in a safe space where God encouraged them to look after    themselves.

·  Last month 15 men went on a 5km obstacle course set up by Wedgewood nougat (www.wedgewoodnougat.co.za) - we were learning how to be brave and work in teams to get over obstacles - God blessed us with a fun memory.

The list of intentionally planned gender specific activities continues to grow at Ethembeni where the outcomes are restored relationships between the two genders for example:

Mens' Imbizo's are organised in each new area where we start HIV counselling and testing

· These events celebrate and challenge men's roles as key leaders of families and communities.

·     Bake for Profit courses have trained over 50 women in how to be entrepreneurs using baking as the means of business. We are open to men yet it is the women who most want economic development.

 Over 100 young people (mostly boys) gather every Friday afternoon with their dogs to learn how to train them. Go to www.fundanenja.co.za for inspiration and encouragement. So what gender specific activities do YOU participate in that you think we should consider adding to our ministry? Drop me an email at director@ethembeni.co.za with your suggestions.  
 
Blessing Grant

 

CONTINUAL GROWTH


Ethembeni have embarked on a programme of developing their managers skills within the work place.

This is a great initiative—using skilled volunteers. The Ethembeni managers have been allocated to 5 different coaches who will work with them for the next 4 months, in developing managerial skills much needed in any ministry or organisation these days.  The main two focus areas to be worked with during this period are COMMUNICATION and PROJECT MANAGEMENT— these very important aspects of management use many connected core skills like organisational skills , leadership skills, planning skills and many others.

Prayer for this initiative would be appreciated during this period.

To the teams ….. May God work in each person for His glory.

 

JOB READINESS PROGRAMME


Ethembeni works with an organisation called Catalyx to run a 40 hour Job Readiness programme for the unemployed in Mpophomeni. The programme runs over 10 weeks where the candidates are prepared for the workplace, they learn what would be expected of them as well as what to expect in the workplace. Customer service, work ethics, time management and entrepreneurship are a few of the topics covered. Ethembeni also focuses on spiritual development, self esteem development, emotional maturity, problem solving and other character building exercises. Ethembeni keeps a database of candidates that have been through the programme and we have been appealing to local businesses to draw from these candidates when they need staff. We are very excited about this programme as we have seen wonderful results and positive changes in our candidates.


Monday, July 29, 2013

FEEDBACK ON "WINTER WARMTH"

It is always a good thing to receive feedback when working with people BUT, it is very rewarding when feedback is given from grateful receivers of blankets collected earlier on this year, for Ethembeni families affected by HIV/AIDS.

How often those of us that "have it all" forget about people of all ages living on the streets, subjected to the weather variations, lack of food, lack of clothing - just surviving. We need to be on the look out for people in these types of circumstances on a constant basis.

Thanks to Ethembeni for sharing some clothes with us, we (a private few) have been able to start a support programme for homeless children (15 of) and adults (3 of) in the Howick, KZN area. This is a brand new experience for us and is not formal, as in registering an NPO, but rather just providing substance for a need that has been identified.

Our aim now is to give each person a blanket . . . .

Ethembeni - thank you for reaching out "beyond your ministry" to help others.

Shan Cade



Friday, June 14, 2013

God IS at work.....


Testimonies from the Perinatal Education Groups Reunion celebration-  

Nomphilo shared powerfully how God has helped her through her pregnancy and labour. At 16 she became pregnant, and being a severe asthmatic she was told that she would most likely have to have a Caesar, which she was very afraid of. Towards the end of her pregnancy she was hospitalized at Grey’s for observation. She went on to have a normal labour and uncomplicated delivery, which was completely unexpected. She claimed that she followed our methods of non pharmacological pain management and hardly experienced any pain. After delivery, she was able to teach all the other mothers in the ward how to bath their babies! What I loved about her testimony is that she really was giving all the glory to God, for providing the support and care she needed through Ethembeni.

Zinhle, shared how she was a member of the first ante natal class. She shared her story of extreme poverty, and the hope that she found in the group. She also told of how she would phone me up at night, and when she went into labour, how I came to see her at Northdale… She testified that she has visited the group regularly and feels welcomed and loved. We assisted her to get to Howick and obtain a birth certificate, and get a Child support grant at SASSA. She would not have been able to do it on her own (Or so she says!!)

Thobile, who has not had her baby yet, and has only attended 3 of the classes so far, shared how she felt so proud of herself. She had learned so much in our classes, that on her last visit to the clinic she was teaching the other mothers about exclusive breastfeeding and labour! Apparently the clinic sister was so impressed that she wanted to know where she was learning all this information. It really touched me to see a beautiful woman of God, bursting with pride and a sense of self worth, because she has been empowered.

Thuniywe is becoming more confident in her knowledge with each week, and she is using her skills as a coordinator and trainer effectively. Ntombizonke has assisted me on occasion as a superb translator, and she shows promise for leading group activities as she is exposed to more of our groups and learning opportunities. Both Tutu and Zonke came with me to the May Childbirth Educators Forum in Umhlanga, and I was inspired by their willingness to grab opportunities for learning. Nelly Mlotshwa has recently shown an interest in being part of our team, and she certainly brings enthusiasm and spiritual zeal to the occasion.

Successful Perinatal Support


 Perinatal Support

A visit to the Mafakatini clinic has opened new doors for us to take our perinatal education program further into the hills. We will be starting our first six week course in the clinic on the 16th July, giving the clinic sisters an opportunity to “recruit” some ladies for our first class. It is hoped that we will be able to bring hope and the LOVE of Christ to these women who are often unsupported during their pregnancy and road to motherhood.

In Mpophomeni we celebrated this week with a reunion of the mothers that have attended the groups since our inception in June 2012. 39 women, plus their babies, and other siblings squeezed into the upstairs room at Masibambane. Thuniywe, Nellie and Zonke were also there to share in the joy. It was wonderful to share some insights into the role of mothers in the holistic development of their children, and to encourage them to PLAY with their babies! We look forward to a time in our community when children who are failing to attain their milestones will receive whatever treatment they can, so that they can become fully functioning members of our society.

When asked how Perinatal education fits in with HIV prevention my responses are always sketchy. Obviously the PMTCT and exclusive breastfeeding information that we share will help to reduce mother to child transmission. It is however that un-measurable effect of God’s love and value that these mothers will begin to feel, through our ministry. As well as our focus on bonding and parental- child relationships, that we pray will begin to instill a sense of self worth and unconditional love, that results in a generation that does not look for love and affirmation in “high risk relationships”.   

Thanks Discovery


Wellness

Equipment has been purchased (as per the 2012 Discovery Health budget) for doing wellness testing and education. We will begin doing wellness tests for Ethembeni staff members, and these will be repeated annually. We hope to provide a service to keep our staff healthy and fit.

Training feedback


Infection Control

Our star trainer, Tutu and the rest of the Infection control team will commence training of the rest of the staff, in the next few weeks. Dr Bishop has had a teaching tool designed for staff to use on Home visits, and in the Care Centre. Other infection control measures are being implemented in the care centre. Policy and minutes of meetings are available for perusal by all staff/ visitors at the Care centre.

Care Centre Updates


Care Centre

The care centre is now under the management of Sarah Colvin. We have had a good occupancy rate in May, and Dr Larsen was inundated with patients to be seen on Wednesday mornings, with us filling up an ambulance on the one day! We have had two deaths, one patient passed away peacefully, though quite unexpectedly in the CC, and another who passed away after being hospitalized.

CLINIC START-UP


Weekly clinics

 May has seen 5 families leave, and 5 new families being welcomed into the Family Centre program. This brings with it some new challenges, as a few of the children who we closed with are on ARV’s, and although very well, and compliant, it will be important to keep in touch with these boys to ensure they remain healthy.

Vitamin C tablets were handed to each child attending the FC, with a hope that this, plus our new improved menu that includes a daily dose of fruit will help us to keep some of the flu bugs away.

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Changed people change the world!

Hello friends

Ethembeni's leadership retreated to Merci Dieu guesthouse (http://www.mercidieu.com/) on Friday the 17th of May 2013. We spend time exploring the statement "changed people change the world". Our reflections revealed that changed people is Jesus business and that sharing Jesus love is the simplest way to change the world. I was so encouraged by the holy spirit gently nurturing our souls and reminding us that He loves us and equips us to lead in His way i.e. by being a servant, moulded into His image of people who give and receive love freely. Blessings Grant

Monday, April 22, 2013

SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS THINKING

In February the management team of Ethembeni attended a "Sustainable business mindset workshop" held at Harmie and Shanie Com cc and presented by Shan Cade.

The purpose of the workshop is to have everyone thinking about how Ethembeni runs and where savings can be made. This mindset should be constantly in everyone minds, throughout the day, week, month if a positive change is to be seen.

There is always somewhere to save money / time / resources.

It was rewarding to have members of the team draw-up "savings lists" and even implement them.

Go Ethembeni team .......

Friday, March 1, 2013

YAY ...... MANY PRIZES WON


The Ethembeni Team Raffle Event
Over 400 raffle tickets were sold by the Ethembeni team as part of the “learning fund raising” event.

The 10 prize items included:  a SPAR shopping voucher for the person who sold the most tickets, 2 tickets to the AFCOM SEMI’s – won by Nhlayenza Zungu, a teenager who has never won a prize before, and other shopping vouchers.
 
Grateful thanks to all those who participated in the event:
Ethembeni Team

SPAR

Pick Stores

Family Centre Kids

Mpophomeni Community

Volunteers
 

THANK YOU!!!   SIYABONGA!!!   DANKIE!!!

The Sibalukhulu Family

Sibalukhulu Family

The Sibalukhulu family started to attend the family centre programme in July 2012, when a member of the community came to report that the mother of 4 children aged 7, 11, 14, 18 had left them on their own. She claimed that she left to look for a job in Johannesburg. When we arrived at the house there was no food. The children were so sad and missing their mother. The oldest child would go to the neighbors and ask for help to survive. Their mother had been gone for two months when we first met them.  Nqubeko, a male child, was really angry at his mother. And he stated that he is not missing her any more since she had been living them on their own regularly. “We are used to it now” said Nqubeko.
The oldest child, Thandiswa, disclosed her status to us that she was HIV positive but was not yet on treatment. At school she was not copying and she was sick most of the time. The children also told me that their father sent money but their mother would take that money and abuse it. Ethembeni asked the Howick social work department to take over the case as we realized this family needed a major family intervention. The social worker decided to remove the children to a place of safety in Dundee.

The positive thing out of all this is that the children now are safe. Before they were moved, the Ethembeni nurse helped refer all the children to our local clinic for checkups. Thandiswa started her ARV treatment. And joined her mother who made a promise to take her to school in Johannesburg. Bongiwe the 14 year old had TB. The social worker gave us an assurance that she will be looked after medically.
A good team effort involving many different people has resulted in the Sibalakhulu family having hope for the future. The Ethembeni mentors played a big role in restoring relationships and loving these children unconditionally – praise the Lord.

The Josefin Ekstrom Testimony


Testimony

Striving for perfection made me terrible afraid of making mistakes
Ever since I was a little girl I have wanted to do good things, wanted to be a nice person…  But I have also always been tremendously afraid of making mistakes; that people would get crossed with me, and so disappointed that they would leave me behind. The feeling of not being good enough has always haunted me and for many years it tore a big hole in my soul.

First visit at Ethembeni and the Family Centre
When I was here three years ago I felt so happy, relaxed and so complete in this Christian environment. I have not ever had that feeling before. I knew that all of you were working as Gods servants; Claire and I had long and long discussions about God and Christianity every day in the car out to Mpophomeni. And I had thousands of questions! I did also go to the church every Sunday with my host family – Rob and Bridget Langley.

Still not good enough for God
But I couldn’t feel Gods presence inside me, I couldn’t grasp the whole picture of how He is working through us. I didn’t think I was good enough – even not good enough for God… So back in Sweden the wonderful feeling of completeness, from my South African experience with you, eventually faded away and my soul was left with a big hole of darkness again. A hole I tried to fill with all sorts of stupid things.

Turning point
The turning point came when my Mum was diagnosed with lung cancer in July 2011, and a cousin of mine who is Christian gave me a book she thought I should read. However it took me a year to open that book. In September 2012 I felt that I was on my way to fall into the black hole of my soul again. I was about to go into a deep depression with an outcome I don’t want to think about. However, my life on the “outside” was shining bright: I had a nice job, many wonderful friends, Mums treatment was going very well and she grew stronger and stronger for every day. You couldn’t even tell she had cancer. But I knew this would just be for a temporary period. It had been so clear for me that my loving Mum who I loved more than my own life would sooner or later leave me, leave me behind. Why her? Why not me I was questioning?! Mum loves her life, she is such a happy person and I was not… I didn’t like being who I was. I didn’t want to live! My life was worthless, I was worthless,  a such rotten person like me shall not be walking on this beautiful earth… So I thought:  “It is now or never Josefin! You must make a big change NOW! You have tried everything else to find peace in your life, everything from having a super tidy and perfect home to doing yoga early Sunday mornings. Why don’t start reading that book you have had sitting in your kitchen window for a year now…!?”

Jesus came into my heart to stay forever and ever…
So at my wits end I started to read the book, which is called “100 days with Jesus”. Every day I read a verse from the book of John as well as some thoughtful comments from the author. Each day ended with a spiritual task like “try to picturing Jesus in front of you”, “try to see every single person you are meeting today as a child of God”, try to hand over all your worries to Jesus today”. I don’t know when it happened but slowly I started to sense a new feeling of peace in my heart and in my mind I started to formulate two statements which made me realize that I had found my faith in God, that Jesus was working inside me and that I had finally come home to my loving Father. The two statements were:

Compare to my Mum and all other beloved family members and friends walking on this earth, JESUS will never ever leave my side. He was here when I was born, He is here with me today in this very moment and He will be with me tomorrow, forever and ever.

JESUS will always love me no matter how much I think I'm failing. Understanding that God created me with the purpose just like I am, I never need to doubt my right to exist anymore. (1 Cor 4:3-5)

So finding my faith in Jesus has given my life a complete new meaning - He gives me a strength that I've never felt before. A strength which I hope and pray for can help me be a better person - a servant in the name of Christ.
Returning to Ethembeni – Place of Hope

To all of you who works at Ethembeni, the Family Centre, volunteers from Howick Community Church and of course to my Christian Family – Rob and Bridget Langley – who always let me stay with them while I am here: Thank you thank you billions of time for planting a seed of God's spirit in me. Staying with you and working in a Christian environment was definitely a very important step in the process of what I became to realize these last couple of months…

And now I’m here again sharing your hope and trust in God and effort to every day trying to live his way. It just makes me want to sing, laugh and cry at the same time!
So finally I would like to share a poem that came into my mind in October last year after being a Christian for a month, which encourage me and reminds me how I shall keep on struggling in a sometimes very dark world.

“God,
with your voice inside me,
I will be heard.
God,
with your light inside me,
I will be seen.
God,
with you in my life,
I dare to live.

Josefin Ekström,
Howick, South Africa
January 16, 2013

The Story of Buhle and Thuli


The Story of Buhle and Thuli
 
Buhle is a domestic worker with four grown children and six grandchildren. She has raised her children for the latter part of their childhoods as a single parent and also been the mother to several of her nieces and nephews. Buhle has always had at least four but usually five or six children in her care at any one time. She even put a nephew through nursing training.

 In spite of Buhle’s relatively low income as a domestic worker and the ever increasing cost of living, she has a desire to give and care. She is passionate about children and is dubbed in her community as a “social worker” for her ability and desire to help those in need. At one point this included taking in three children who were orphaned. Buhle expressed her desire to care for a child in need of a family this Christmas. The staff at the Mpophomeni Family Centre were contacted and they identified Thuli, a fifteen year old girl. Thuli’s mom died many years ago, she has an aunt who works away from Mpophomeni and returns once a month. She also has a grandmother who lives in Mpophomeni but who is constantly verbally abusive to her. Thuli is, by all accounts of MFC staff, a responsible, bright and pleasant girl. She has a family, but there is very little love and affection shown.

Thuli spent two weeks with Buhle and her family, all of whom embraced her with love and care. All that belong to Buhle’s family was shared openly with Thuli as well. The visit went so well that Buhle and Thuli have started making plans for the next school holidays…!!

The challenge in this story for me is Buhle opened her heart and home not out of her abundance of resources, but in spite of her lack of resources. Her faith that there is always enough for one more. I am challenged by this faith. I want to live 2013 not afraid to give in case I don’t have enough, but to give freely knowing that God is my Father and He has more than enough. Time, food, money, emotional energy, relationships… God has all of these for us in abundance, we can never out give God!