|
Happy Summer!
Greetings!
With hesitancy, I write this letter. I had a whole newsletter prepared to send out in May. One in which I safely skirted the issue that has been laying on my heart for the past few months. Then I received an e-mail.
|
|
|
From Whom?
This wasn't just any e-mail. It was from Swaziland. You may recall reading in our April newsletter about Nomsa. Nomsa is a compassionate woman whom we stayed with when we were in Swaziland. Over the past few years, she and a group of twenty-eight other volunteers walk the mountain of KaPunga to check on the children who have been orphaned by AIDS. Swaziland has the highest adult HIV prevalence in the world*, leaving approximately 56,000**orphans in this small country with a population slightly more than the county of Milwaukee.
Some the orphans we checked on are fortunate to have grandparents caring for them, but many others are cared for by older siblings, just children themselves. We visited during the hungry season - the gap between when the food runs out from the first harvest and the second crop being harvested. This can last for several months. In the past, there have been donors who helped provide food parcels to help the children get through this time, but this year there were none. |
| What Will They Do Now?
For now, these children will scrape by - literally; hopefully getting enough nourishment from leaves and other scraps to sustain themselves until the harvest is ready.
 An Empty Corn Shed Awaits the Next Harvest
As AIDS has reached pandemic porportions in Swaziland, according to the World Health Organization, the following needs for orphans must be met: food, the need for school fees, clothes and shelter, security-especially in "orphan headed families", and the need for community responsibility--for the communities to take it upon themselves to look after their own.***
|
Does this Community Have What it Takes?
The answer is a resounding "YES!" In February, Nomsa took us on a trek over the mountain to the home of one the volunteers. There she showed the wonderful Christmas present this group of volunteers was given from the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He was so impressed with their community-based approach to helping the orphans that he donated five industrial second-hand sewing machines. The volunteers have already developed a plan to sew school uniforms for the children in their community as well as sew items that can be sold in the city to create an income. They plan to use that income to provide food parcels for the orphans during the hungry season. Food parcels would help keep the children's bellies satisfied so they could remain healthy and be able to continue their studies until the next harvest.
One problem.... There is no place to hook up the sewing machines. Although there is power on the mountain, homes do not have sufficient electricity or space to run the sewing machines. The Chief of the mountain has sectioned off a parcel of land for the volunteers, but they need a building in which to use these sewing machines. That's where A Friend in Need comes in.
 Heather, Nomsa, Brenda and 3 Volunteers proud of the sewing machines
|
A New Project
... AT A TIME LIKE THIS?
We were so excited to take on this challenge. We came home with a fire to share such a worthy project with our donors. But then the state of our economy loomed in our minds. Yet even in this economy, I still hear people talk about how God has blessed them.
AND THEN I READ THE E-MAIL...
"Hi Brenda
Thank you so much to hear from you and Im very sorry to take so much time to respond to your email my proble is the poor internet we have hear at the rural areas.. Im very sorry and i love you so much.
thank you again to let me know that you are working on raising funds for the new office I believe God will help you and get enough money to visit us again. I m realy looking forward to the start of the building of the new office I can imagin how Mkhuleko can arrange his office equipment and the careworkers will be very much happy.
Let me asure you I will pray and I strongly believe God will not let us down he will provide us with all we need as h e has promise us. and the fact that I have seen Him doing big things for me it gives me courage all the time.
Lastly Sipho my youngest son is getting married on the 5 of September can you please pray for us as a family to be one as we are preparing for this big day. and also pray for him to get a job.
God bless you
Nomsa."
|
Can Faith Really Move a Mountain?
FUTURE SITE OF MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM
I realize that many of you are in your own state of survival right now. Please know we are praying for you. But if dear Nomsa has the courage and faith that God will help to provide all the resources needed for this building, we too must act on that faith. We cannot let her down. Her last donors gave food parcels in the past, but this year, cannot. Once again, we at A Friend in Need want to give more than a handout. This building will be able to keep on giving. They will be able to continue to sew and generate income to purchase future sewing materials and most importantly, food parcels for the orphans. If you can, please consider giving to help this project that will continue to provide for this communtiy. As little as $19 will help provide a door frame, $64 a window frame and glass, $23,586 for the complete project. Every dollar counts, so please consider giving to this community working so hard to help themselves.
 |
| Heather Bliss & Brenda Rebro
| |
|
|
|
Our Vision & Mission
A Friend in Need is a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to help secure the future of humanity both locally and globally by helping to provide five basic human rights: food, shelter, clean water, health care and education to individuals and communities in need. We do this through community fundraisers, research and advocacy. |
|
Food supplies have been found to drop by 40% in families and communities affected by AIDS. |
|
Don't forget to support local businesses!
Dimples in Downtown Racine is still donating a portion of all non-sale purchases to A Friend in Need when you mention A Friend in Need when making a purchase.
Please support this generous local business!
|
|
Need ideas to keep the kids occupied?
Try making some Homemade bubbles!
BUBBLE RECIPE
Fills a gallon milk jug
11 cups Water
4 cups dish soap (anti-bacterial works best)
1 cup corn syrup or glycerin (available in pharmacies)
Add a few drops of food coloring for colored bubbles
Best if left in unopened container overnight.
|
|
