Selflessness

It’s a gut check for me as I witness the selfless acts done by people with little or no resources. Pastor Frank Hararwa and Mr. and Mrs. Timbeti are just two examples of people across the continent of Africa who see a need, recognize that something has to be done, and selflessly take up for the cause.

Pastor Frank is Malawian by birth but God moved him to South Africa to attend Bible College. Frank and his wife stayed and have a powerful church ministry that has also grown and replicated itself 7 times in a community of 600,000 people. Frank and his team have hundreds of kids in school and have worked with the government to place teachers in these schools and provide a sustainable education solution for these children. Frank has a vision to create a foster care system in the community that he lives in. They have the property, they have the homes, they have the playground and the garden, electricity and water. They currently have 6 children in Foster care and have capacity to move to 42…what they don’t have is funding. I believe that HopeChest and Focus Africa have an opportunity to partner with a strong existing ministry and see HIV/AIDS orphans cared for, loved and not discarded as they might otherwise be. I am already beginning to pray for the church that comes alongside Frank. We walked away and were encouraged by the ministry that Frank is doing. He truly is a man of vision and follow through.

Mr. and Mrs. Timbeti have grown children. They oldest would have been 40 this year but she passed away 4 years ago from HIV/AIDS. The live in the Valley of 1000 Hills, and yes the name is appropriate. Possibly one of the most beautiful places on earth, but it is riddled with poverty and disease. Mr. and Mrs Timbeti saw a need and have begun a feeding program that feeds 160 children with a goal of 1x daily. They literally have no money, the governmental grant that they were receiving has stopped but the need to feed the children hasn’t. They have property that is suitable but without sufficient funds and long term sponsorship cannot continue to minister. I was amazed by their daily routine. They have contacted a local pastor and have requested the use of the church for a feeding center. He agreed to let the Timbetis use the facility when it’s not being used for church meetings. Mr. and Mrs. Timbeti travel to town and go to all the local grocers and seek out any food that might be available for donation. They take it to their home and cook for 160 children over an open fire daily. They then take the food approx 2.5 miles down to church where they feed all the children that have come for the day.

Do the Timbetis get paid? No they do this out of their desire to see these children, most of who have been touched by HIV/AIDs (whether through the loss of their parents or directly by infection) fed and cared for. It’s a powerful ministry. I believe that they will be a partner of ours in the near future as well. God has exciting things in store for the Timbetis and the church that comes along side of them.

Lord continue to reveal my selfishness and challenge me through the witness of example of people like Frank and the Timbetis.

-greg