God Loves Me!

AIDS in Africa has been a major concern for over 25 years. Many new drugs are available to help extend the life and quality of life for victims of HIV, but as of yet there is still no cure. In 2006 I traveled with a group of individuals to Swaziland in Sub-Saharan Africa to begin the process of teaching the churches of Swaziland how to confront the issue of AIDS from a faith perspective.

     AIDS in the United States has a completely different cultural perspective than AIDS in many African countries. A great deal of education and information is available to our citizens in massive quantities. Famous people and organizations have championed this cause and put their fame and fortune to work to make sure the right amount and right kind of information became available to all who would listen. While there is still no cure, great progress has been made in quality and quantity of life. Within the last few weeks basketball star, Magic Johnson, appeared on the Tonight Show and celebrated his 25th year of life and the fact that he is still just HIV positive and does not have full-blown AIDS.

     AIDS in the U. S. was once thought to be a disease of lifestyle–a disease of consequence. In African countries that can also be the case, but not always. Sometimes hunters who hunt and butcher the monkey that carries the virus can contract the disease during the butchering process. Wives who are property of their husbands can contract the disease because of their husband's infidelity. Babies contract the disease from infected mothers…and more often than not, families are devastated by the disease because the income earners become ill and eventually die, leaving behind many young children with no one to care for them.

     Kukani O'Kushah Zion Church in Swaziland, Africa has worked very hard to set up institutions to care for the ill and dying as well as the education and care for children who are left behind….and there are many, as Swaziland's AIDs rate is number 1 in the world. Unfortunately there is much more need than resources. And yet, through the love and dedication of the church, the commitment of its members and God's blessings along the way, a great number of children are loved and cared for, nurtured and educated through the many schools and orphanages operated around the country through the church's efforts.

     This year our Vacation Bible School will work with Operation Kid-to-Kid making 'God Loves Me' blankets to send to Kukhani O'Kushah Zion Church to share with AIDS orphans in their schools and orphanages throughout the country. Operation Kid-to-Kid is a powerful, hands-on mission project designed to educate children regarding the needs of children throughout the world and empowers them to work towards alleviating suffering now, not when they grow up. It is a partnership of Group Publishing, Inc. and interdenominational Christian organizations dedicated to creating hands-on service opportunities for children in North America. These incredible projects have reached millions of children all over the world and, this year, we join with others in sharing God's love with suffering children in Swaziland by making and sending these 'God Loves Me' blankets during our week of Vacation Bible School. We will have a special service of blessing to pray for the recipients of these blankets before shipping them overseas. 

Join us June 16th-20th, 5:30-8:15 p.m. for a week of fun and learning and serving a world in need.

Blessings,
Tracy