Mr and Mrs Ethembeni

A fun filled afternoon took place in November when Ethembeni hosted a Mr and Mrs Ethembeni dress up show. There were 3 "modeling routines" judged by three teenages who attend the family centre. Routine one was "funny dress" = routine two was sporting/cultural and routine three was smart! The winner of Mr Ethembeni was Xolani Ngubane and Miss Ethembeni was Thembelihle Mkhize and Mrs Ethembeni was Ellen Mthalane! See the pictures and see there will be a video!

11th year Ministry celebration

In November 2011, Ethembeni celebrated God's faithfulness in 11 years of ministry. A yummy cake was cut by Louise Stobart symbolising this milestone. See the picture. New staff management positions were also announced and "anointed" in prayer. Please pray for the following people in their new ministry responsibilities:
- Zwelihle Sokhela = Family Centre Manager
- Thembekile Mkhize = Assistant Family Centre Manager
- Londeka Gasa = Volunteer Coordinator

We praise God for the inspiring and servant hearted friends of Ethembeni called Rachel Saxton and Claire Henry. They have faithfully ministered to all in 2011 and we praise God for them! Hamba khale.

Ethembeni Fire Fighters in training! Story by Londeka Gasa

On top of all the crazy wonderful things that happens @ Ethembeni; today we learned how to protect ourselves in cases of fire and had fun doing it. Ten of our staff from all three ministries (Mpophomeni Family Centre, Home Based Care and Care centre) had a chance to actually handle a fire extinguisher stopping the fire.

Now we know what to do and the right way of doing it in terms of fire.

Check out Nonjabulo Ngxabi using the fire extinguisher to put out a possible fire.

Discovery Health and Tshikululu Social Investments visit with Ethembeni

On 30th August 2011, Discovery Health represented by Sandhya Vedalanka and Mandi Mzimba paid Ethembeni a visit. Also visiting was Tshikululu Social Investments (TSI) represented by Juliana Thornton . The day was filled with story-telling about nation building and how partnerships are making significant differences in communities all over South Africa. Ethembeni thanks Discovery Health for funding our primary health care program and TSI for being hope builders through their social investment networks. We look forwards to future story telling days – see the pictures for evidence of what went down on the day!

Ethembeni's Heritage - reflections on who we are in 2011

Ethembeni was born out of a humble beginning in 2000 – a great big desire by special people, to help those families in Mpophomeni that were affected by HIV/AIDS.
Today, Ethembeni serves the people of Mpophomeni in many ways and all for the glory of God:-
• The family centre takes care of the children from families affected by HIV/Aids, by giving them a sanctuary of love, care, food, rest, help and spiritual guidance
• The care centre takes care of those people severely affected by HIV/AIDS, by giving them spiritual support, prayer, medicinal care, personal care, food and “hospice” type care - all this done in the small but effective care centre
• The family support programme takes care of families affected by HIV/AIDS, by giving them spiritual guidance, prayer, food parcels, clothing parcels, social support, motivation to grow their own vegetables, and when possible having them earn some money working on sponsored programmes, like “packing and labeling Wedgewood products” or manufacturing beaded items for sale, etc.
Since the inception of these ministries, we have worked with over 800 HIV infected families, directly benefiting more than 3000 people.
The core values of these three programmes are simply God’s love and hope

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.