Etembeni..A place of Hope..

Last Week, I was given the opportunity to complete my Clinicals at Etembeni, a ministry in the town of Epophemni. It is amazing to see the community among this township and how even in poverty, these people are thriving both in mind and spirit. Etembeni is a unique ministry in that it sends their own people out as volunteers into the community to offer spiritual care to those with a positive HIV status. It is neat to see because I often have come along side ministries in which outsiders try to push prayer and encouragement onto a group of people..yet, here it is their very own people who are just so evidently loving on and caring for the community at hand. We walked up and down the hills through the community as the volunteers and nurses do all their home visits ON FOOT! My nurse reminded me that we walk because of Love..because oh wow, it was tiring but so worth it! It is amazing to see these people rejoice in our God..even when they have lost family members to AIDS, when they are HIV positive, and even when they have infected their own children with the disease. I am so encouraged by their spirits and their hope!