Ethembeni: "Places of hope"

Today we found out where each of us will be for service sites! We visited each site once over the past three weeks to see where we felt that God was calling us to serve. There were a limited amount of people that were able to serve at each site so we all picked our top two choices.

I chose Ethembeni, which means,"places of hope," as my first choice and I found out today that it is my service site! I am so excited! It seems that everyone is very happy where they are at, which makes it so great! I just know that God had this all planned out and that we all are meant to be serving at the places we are assigned to. Ethembeni is an HIV/AIDS ministry that has a few different programs within its ministry. One way that the ministry serves the community is by helping to restore and mentor the community by providing help with family care and support for orphans and vulnerable children. The community that we will be serving in has a population of 43,000 and 80% of the population is unemployed, and more than a third of the people are infected with HIV. Saying that last fact is surreal, and it is hard for me to grasp the truth and reality in that statement. I cannot imagine living in a place like this but I am thankful for the opportunity to serve and love on this community.


(Above: I know it is small text, but Howick Community is right above Pietermaritzburg)

Please pray for our group of seven who will be serving at Ethembeni and to prepare our hearts to serve. I pray that we will be able to work as a team and spread the Love of Christ and that we are able to show them a light where there is darkness. I pray for strength, open minds, humility, empathy, and an overflow of love at Ethembeni. Please pray for all 53 students at different service sites, as well, and that God's hand will be working everywhere as we are dispersed throughout this region in South Africa. We will be starting out service sites in about 2 or 2 1/2 weeks!

I found this quote to be very encouraging to serve and love one another:

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other." -John 15:12-17

This is the website to the ministry at Ethembeni! Check it out, it is very cool: http://www.ethembeni.co.za/

Thanks!! I love you all!! :)
<3 Jamie