Serving AIDS Orphans in South Africa
Join a group of people to work with Penny in South Africa this summer! She has been living in South Africa since last year, extending her ministry that began in Kansas. Penny started an AIDS ministry in Kansas back in 1992. Her husband had AIDS, and as she took care of him in his final days, she felt the call of God to spend the rest of her life ministering to those living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.
South Africa
This June you could spend three weeks working with a non-profit organization called Ukukhanya, which means “light in the darkness.” The organization’s focus is to show the love of Jesus to individuals affected by HIV/AIDS, by providing physical, emotional, and spiritual support. Ukukhanya is in the township of Ntuzuma, which is about twenty miles north of Durban, South Africa. Ntuzuma has a population of 500,000, with approximately 47% infected with HIV.
Vulnerable children and orphans
The HIV/AIDS pandemic has lead to a massive population of orphans. As a result, thousands of children, sometimes as young as eight years old, are left to care for themselves and their siblings. In addition to these child-headed households, many households in Ntuzuma are headed by grandmothers who have lost their children to AIDS and are left to raise their orphaned grandchildren. Many of these families are left with little to no resources and live in severe poverty.
The government offers grants to orphans, but the paperwork involved is often overwhelming and difficult for these kids to handle. Part of the goal of this trip will be to help these children fill out this paperwork. We will also provide a camp for those who are on break from school--a place where they can be fed and have fun. Ultimately we want to bring the hope and love of Christ to these children.
Details
DATES: June 18th – July 9th
COST: $3500; $2300 needed by April 30th to purchase the ticket
CONTACT: Greg, at greg@ywammadison.org, if you want more information.