ORPHAN HOPE Here is a letter from Jake who is now in South Africa, in an area with 50% HIV rate rampantly killing the young. He is helping orphans and AIDS victims.
From Jake:

Today is the Lord's and I will rejoice in knowing that I am his! Pray for the children of South Africa as they struggle to survive in a world set against them. Pray that I might have the grace and strength to make a difference in the lives of the children in our home. Pray that Christ would strengthen me to know his love more fully so that I will have something to give to those hungry for the affection and care of a family.

Let me share with you an experience from this morning - Thembalethu has only one orphan home at this time due to lack of financial support, but this one home is making a difference for the lives of 13 children. The orphan home, Goodhope, is just down from where I live and the kids come to play everyday after school and also stay every weekend with us. It is now the Easter Holiday and all the kids are out of school so they are staying with us this week. Raymond, the youngest of the boys, is probably 6 or 7 seven and is a bundle of smiles and laughs. However, he is HIV+ and is continually fighting to stay healthy. He is constantly battling soars which breakout all over his body - his head is covered with open soars and his armpits and genitals are covered with small rash-like soars. When he is able to take antiretroviral drugs (ARV's) we are able to keep the soars contained and he heals quickly, but ARV's are not always available. The local hospital usually supplies ARV's but even they are inconsistent and often run out of antibiotics. This morning I bathed him and applied antibiotics to his soars. But when clothing him, I was hardly able to get his shirt on because of the pain it was causing him to simply pull the shirt over his head. The poor little guy is doing his best to be strong but he faces the same problems every day and for a boy this young and without a family it is difficult. My challange is to be there with him, showing him love, caring for him as best I can, trying to provide the best family I can for someone who has none. My heart is breaking for these kids - so I do what I can to show them the love of a Father they are only begining to know. Thank you for your prayers and support which is making this possible. ~ Jake

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