Sofe Lanhan - perspectives on Ethembeni

Mpophomeni Family Centre and Ethembeni has a magnetism that just draws you back again and again. Recently I returned to MFC for my third trip since 2009 and have had the pleasure and privilege of seeing some wonderful developments physically of MFC and also within the staff who work there. It has been amazing to see the changes in MFC such as properly tiled flooring, computer spaces, wonderful new ovens in the kitchen, brightened and painted walls in the ECD and activity room and a useable play therapy room, which when I first arrived was just a storage/dumping room. It has also been amazing to witness the changes in the staff who serve there; each of them with their own individual and defined role, yet also working together as one team. It has been possible to see the staff thrive under their different responsibilities and really be proud in the work that they do.

Since I first volunteered with Ethembeni in 2009, there have been a whole host of volunteers each year and it is wonderful to know that knowledge of Ethembeni, MFC, the staff and kids is now worldwide and continually growing. The way volunteers are now utlilised and cared for has developed hugely. It is also wonderful to see the increase in local volunteers from Howick and the surrounding areas who serve on a regular basis in multiple areas of the ministry. They have enabled long-term relationships to develop and the development of projects such as iPhepha beads and the such like which gives the opportunity to learn novel skills.

My visit to MFC recently, although too short was one which I once again thoroughly enjoyed and loved every minute of. Been given to chance to reconnect with staff and kids in person and develop new relationships with new members of staff has once again been amazing. It is a place which is very special and although left by a very many number of people, I know it is never forgotten. 

New Ethembeni and MCI ministry property?

The time has come where Ethembeni and Mpophemeni Church International jointly embark on an exciting project which requires a leap of faith. We are considering purchasing some land in order to relocate the care centre and have a permanant site for MCI. The new property would enable more patients in the local community to be cared for and allow staff to recieve training in designated rooms.The current care centre would then be transformed into a house for the frequent volunteers to stay in. This venture would also allow MCI to grow and build God's Kingdom as they would have a stable home in which to put roots down.

As a management team we visted this site, we are now at that point where we need to make a firm decision as to whether to purchase the property. It will be a big commitment financially, therefore would you please join with us in prayer as we seek guidance from God. We want to be wise and steward the resources God has given us. These are exciting times. Thank you for your continued support.  

A TESTIMONY OF GOD'S GOODNESS (Zulu & English)

Isisebenzi saseThembeni – Octavia Zikhali

Ngasindiswa esibhedlela ngo 1985 December. Lapho ngangigula kakhulu ngifika esibhedlela ngingakwazi ukuhamba ngiphakanyiswa. Impilo yami yathola ukusizakala ngokuba ngamukele uJesu njengeNkosi nomSindisi.

Yaqala yashintsha impilo yami ngakwazi ukuhamba ngawadla kahle namaphilisi, kodwa ngiqhubeka ngimbonga uNkulunkulu.Sekufana nephupho ukuthi bengingakwazi ukuhamba.U Jesu wayenginikeza ithemba lempilo uMoya oNgcwele empilweni yami ngaphuma esibhedlela.

UJesu wabeka ubizo lokusiza abagulayo, ngibashumayeze, ngibakhulekele, ngibanika ithemba elinguJesu okwazi ukusindisa umuntu enyameni naseMoyeni.

Ngalithola ithuba eThembeni lokuhambela abagulayo. Ngiyambonga uJesu ngalo, ngikwazile ukusiza imideni egulelweyo ukufakaza ngoJesu ngichaze ngempilo yami, ngayinika ithemba. Kukhona abakade begula kakhulu sebelahle nethemba ukuthi bazophila, ngabavakashela ngabafakazela ngoJesu osiza umuntu – izinyanga, nodokotela sebehlulekile, uJesu omsindise umuntu.

Ngiyayibonga iThembeni nabasebenzayo bonke, nabasilethela ukudla ukuze abantu baphile emzimbeni naseMoyeni, ngoba basindisiwe bonke. IThembeni ihamba phambili ngosizo.

Testimony of EThembeni worker – Octavia Zikhali

 I was saved while I was in hospital in December 1985. On my arrival at the hospital, I was very ill and had to be carried as I was unable to walk. My health improved when I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour.

 Taking my medication, my health improved such that I could walk again, and I continued to praise God. That I had been unable to walk before, seems like a dream to me now.  Jesus gave me hope in the Holy Spirit, and I was eventually discharged.

Jesus called me to help the sick, to preach to them, to pray for them, and to give them hope in Jesus who can save a person physically and spiritually.  The opportunity to visit the sick arose at eThembeni. I always thank Jesus for enabling me to help out in families affected by illness, and to witness how Jesus healed me and gave me hope. There are some among those I visit who have lost all hope, and I testify of Jesus who is able to do all that witch doctors and doctors cannot do. Jesus only is the One who saves.

I wish to thank eThembeni and all my co-workers, and all who bring food to nourish body and soul, for they are God’s people. Ethemebeni is tops in helping others.

Translated by Nora.

Exciting things have been happening with Ethembeni's supervisors and managers over the past 2 months - it has been so encouraging to see them develop their business skills.

Shan Cade has been working with them on the CLIP System - check lists for improved productivity - a simple but effective way of improving office efficiency using check lists as a control tool.

After the first workshop we started the programme by introducing a "FOCUS" check list for each person within their job function. This took some getting used to but many of the team are really finding it useful in helping them meet deadlines, manage risk and also enabling continuity of service.

Well done team - keep on keeping on

Sports fun and Nonhlanhla prayers

During Easter time we had two weeks full of fun with a sports tournament involving all of the children at the family centre and Azusa Pacific University in AMERICA. The children really enjoyed it and were able to develop more in-depth relationships with the volunteers since they had to team up and compete against each other. The challenge we faced during this time was that ourstudent social auxiliary worker broke her leg. Nonhlanhla was taken to hospital by our volunteer Khanyi, and went on to have an operation. Praise God, she’s recovering well back at home. Thank you to the staff who visited her, prayed for her, and encouraged her. She appreciated your support - keep praying for a complete healing.

It's not ALL work

Kanye getting breakfast at market!!

Rouen practicing some shots before heading out on home visits and food distribution

Lihle taking a break on retreat

Phindile and Phindile on their way to training

Pastor Themba "lost his way" on retreat

Dudu taking a break at first aid training

First day of new sewing project in Kwa-Hasa

Respecting family and partners skills - Nokwazi's story

Nokwazi (not her real name) has been with us for about 4 years. She is still young, living with her brother and granny. Nokwazi’s father died last year December due to illness, when he died she was living in one of the home because the father was an alcoholic and the granny was too old to manage to look after the two children living under the same roof with an alcoholic man. Working together with the social workers in Howick we managed to walk with Nokwazi to make sure that she survive last year. Nanie our child care worker, she had to go with her to Durban hospital, spending time with her even overnight, Nanie was her mentor. Now Nokwazi has been placed at Impendle where other family members lives, then we decided that we have done enough now that she has been reunited with her relatives, but we are still working with the family since her brother and granny are still living in Mpophomeni.