|
Compassion in difficult times |
 I recently met Sarah at the home of Henry & Esther Mumba, our ministry coordinator in Zambia. This petite 19 year old was overly shy. She never smiled or looked anyone in the eye: profound was the sadness in her eyes. Eventually opening up to me, I fought back tears as she related the tragic events that changed an innocent girl into an HIV/AIDS-infected prostitute.
Sarah giggled as she shared her childhood memories. She remembered her father as a handsome, hardworking, truck driver who earned a good living. She spoke of her mother who worked as a bank secretary. They were a happy, close family. Sarah and her two sisters were in want of nothing. But then her mother became sick and soon died. Shortly thereafter,
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Prayer Bulletin September 5, 2008 |
 Ten years ago my Dad – Uncle Piet as he is commonly known around here – walked into my office and announced that he was reporting for active duty. Of course, knowing that he was already in his seventies and retired I expressed my puzzlement. But he quickly explained that he was not asking for job, nor expecting any favors in return. Rather, he had come to realize that his time here on earth was running out. So, as a strong man physically, with a lot of practical skills to offer, he desired to give his last years serving God’s purposes with the strength of his hands and through a life-time of experience in construction, maintenance and structural development.
What could I say! The Lord had just given AFnet this huge property at the time, and here was my Dad; a man that I knew could do anything, reporting for duty. But I also knew that he was a man who never took “no!” for an answer. And so, Uncle Piet has not only become a household item here on campus, but also has turned this once abandoned property into a beautiful campus that we all are proud to be associated with.
Today at 83 Uncle Piet still has the strength of an ox. And, his stubborn refusal to bow out of any physical challenge again came to the fore,
|
|
Read more...
|
|
Dear Friends and Partners,
Two regional concerns have dominated the news around southern Africa in recent months: the political crisis in Zimbabwe, and the fact that the HIV/AIDS pandemic continues to spiral out of control. In spite of all national efforts, foreign and regional intervention, this region of Africa stands to be pulled back into the dark ages. And, from our perspective, it seems like only a divine intervention will pull us through!
You may have heard on the news how Zimbabwe’s brutal dictator, Robert Mugabe rigged and stole the recent so-called democratic election in that country from the rightful winner, the official opposition! But, what you may not have heard is how many people have died at the hands of this mad-man president in recent weeks and over the years.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
