Living Hope

We had a great first day of work! This morning we took a tour of Living Hope, the ministry we are working with this week.  John Thomas, the founder, shared the story of how it began in 1999 when as a local pastor he was told that the HIV rate in a local township was 44% ( About 10,000 people) Although he later found out that it wasn't that high, this statistic is what God used to move him to start a ministry.  What began as a hospice and HIV prevention program now is a huge ministry that includes a health center, life skills & economic empowerment, homeless and addiction programs and much more.  You can find out more about Living Hope on their website www.livinghope.co.za  It is an amazing ministry and they need more partners to donate and volunteer.
This week we are going to be having eye clinics at various townships in Cape Town.  We are fitting people for readers (there is a great need for glasses) as well as screening for hypertension and diabetes.  In addition we are washing the feet of the patients, both to look for sores and to minister to them.  We had a great afternoon!  We were reminded by Kathy tonight at our team devotion that we are in this world to be a light.  We are visiting places of so much darkness and hopelessness.  Please pray for us this week, that we would shine bright as we share and live out the gospel.  Pray that these South Africans would find the true and living Hope!