- How did Ukukhanya Start?
I have done AIDS work in America since my husband passed in 1993 from AIDS. I moved to Kansas and opened a group home called “Someplace Else.” We housed 5 people at a time. During the 90's with AIDS, the turnover was great. From 1994-99 it was about 50 residents. I also began a homeless shelter in our community, working with all the churches in the area, uniting the body of Christ to care for the homeless.
I had come to Africa in 2001 (but not Durban) and in 2003 fall I got a call from Pastor Prince Sithole from Good News Ministries (I had founded New Jerusalem Missions in 1992 for AIDS work). There was an article about New Jerusalem in a publication called Power for Living, from America. When I came over in 2001, somehow Pastor Prince was working at place sorting donated clothes when he saw it at the bottom of a clothing bin.... he put it in his pocket to read later. When he read it he said, “She is trying to do the same thing in America; remodel an old building (we were remodeling our OLD hospital building at the time) to use care for people with AIDS, as I am trying to do in Ntuzuma.” So he invited me over.
I came with a team of 3 others from a discipleship training school we ran, and we spent a week here in Feb of 2004. In summer of 2004, I brought a team over and we worked for 3 weeks. From there relationship developed. Ntuzuma got in my heart, and the sick here...since I believe this is my calling, and it wasn't needed right then in America (although I see the need coming back). I began bringing teams or coming myself 2x a year. In 2007 when I brought a team, the ministry was practically dead. We did an AIDS campaign to serve the community and those sick, so we rented a tent and chairs, invited officials, and had l650 or so people. We named it Ukukhanya AIDS AWARENESS CAMPAIGN, as Prince got the word Ukukhanya and the scripture John 1:1-5.
I came back in November of 2007, because the Lord had been telling me to help start a hospice. I came over with the intent to spend 2 -3 years pioneering here. I could see that I needed to live here to really help, so I reversed my travelling and live here now (keeping home and ministry back in America) and go home about 2x a year for about 3 months total.
I moved over the spring of 2008. Good News was no longer a ministry, Prince laid the church down and we became Ukukhanya Life Care Centre, with a new board, and new Not for Profit status. It is a combination of both of our visions for people with AIDS.
As for the homeless shelter, the Lord had me start it as an Outreach of New Jerusalem and then prepare to stay on the board but turn the actual running over to the community when it is strong enough. I am sure that is the plan here.
- What is the vision God’s given you for the Care Centre?
- The vision is to show the Love of Jesus to people affected by AIDS and spread the Good News of Jesus Christ by providing physical, emotional, and spiritual support.
- We will do this with home-based care, being the hands and feet of Jesus and eyes to find the sick.
- Develop a hospice (having trouble owning land, so currently planning on readying 6 rooms and then eventually l2 to care for those with nobody to care for them or patients whose family need a respite for a while.) A place people can be loved, kept clean, and die or live in dignity. Some will just need to get stabilized, others will pass here.
We will love them and nurture them and care for them through home-based care workers who we will need to hire (for about Rl400 a caregiver, and a need for 5) to do 24/7 care. Nutrition and Nurture is what we offer, we will need to network with area hospitals, clinics and volunteer doctors for the medical care. - In Africa you can't help the sick and not the kids left behind.
We will try and have a feeding scheme, monthly food parcels for families waiting for grants, and a program where an AUNTIE can go and check on children living on their own, and bring them in for fellowship, help with homework and life skills (like washing), and a hot meal and prayer. If money and workforce allows this can expand.
3. Where do you see God moving currently?
Currently we see God brining us sick babies with tired gogo's (grandmothers) or sick moms. We want to get our doors open, and find out what it takes to foster these babies until they’re stabilized and able to live among family. We see the government grant process taking so long and people waiting so hungry and in need of food parcels. Also when you have no money it is hard to get transport to the social department etc.
- What have been some challenges in the ministry?
· The biggest obstacle we have is financing, waiting for our NPO authorization (it has been approved for about 3 months waiting for someone to do the paperwork and mail)....we can run finances through New Jerusalem Missions from the states as we are a 501c3 tax exempt. So start up funds have been our biggest obstacle.
· We have had a problem with lack of integrity in the leadership, that is gone now, but there are still remnants we have to deal with. We are trying to have a new start and build afresh. I feel a good team has come forward.
· We need vehicles and more people to drive.
- How can we be praying for the ministry, the staff, and families?
· Remodeling money for the first wing of 6 rooms, and a bathroom and redoing existing bathrooms and kitchens.
· For our team to not grow weary. They are supported, need support for home-based caregivers (but been cleaning up there too).
· Safety
· Paperwork to come through
· Focus as need comes up and we get sidetracked.
· Balance of teams
· Churches to become involved
· Committed monthly support
· The team to learn how to minister His Love in word and deed
· More of His Presence
· The tools we need i.e.: landline, file cabinets that lock, vehicles, 2, one for me to drive and one to transport patients and pick up supplies here
· Long term committed laborers
· To continually be led by Him and hear daily what to do
· Funds for emergency cases to go to hospital and help when there is no money to bury.
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