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Hello everyone!!! I want to update you on my life thus far since Sudan!!!
I have continued to volunteer in the refugee community. Most of these families are from Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, as well as Afghanistan and we have new refugees from Burundi and Rwanda. As you may know, they are in the US because they are experiencing war in their country. Many have been living in refugee camps the last few years and now have an opportunity for a new life in America. We have over 6,000 families here in Memphis. There are many problems when they arrive in America, language and education just being a couple. Because one out of every three adults in this refugee community are illiterate and cannot speak English, we implemented an after-school program for the children and English as a Second Language (ESL) class for the adults in 2002. We serve nearly 250 children and about 100 adults. It’s the only program in Memphis that serves the refugees in this capacity. Life is busy here in Memphis.
My sweet friends in the refugee tutoring program!
I am currently working at Ugly Mug Coffee, a Fair-Trade Coffee Company, here in Memphis. Part of my job is to help develop a Jobs Program for refugees in the community. We currently have two employees, one from Afghanistan and one from Burundi. I teach English as a Second Language (ESL) and help them with on-site job training. We also work with their families and assist them with any need that arise, empowering them to become self-reliant and equipping them to someday move to a better-paying job.
I am excited to share with you an opportunity to support a ministry for individuals with HIV/AIDS. Located outside of Johannesburg, South Africa, Sparrow Village was created to care for those living with HIV/AIDS and those who are in the final stages of the disease. Since its inception in 1992, Sparrow Village has expanded under a vision of ministering to an entire village, rather than limiting their reach to individual patients. They now provide counseling for the families of their patients, education for schools, businesses, and churches, and a work rehabilitation program for homeless people living in the vicinity of the ministry. They believe that people should be able to die with dignity.
Over the past decade. Sparrow Village has said farewell to over 2,000 individuals, but with dignity and peace. As the pressure of beds intensify daily, they have "enlarged our tent" and opened Sparrow Rainbow Village - The first AIDS village in the world. Their new village project enables them to care for 400 individuals including 200 children.
I plan to visit Sparrow Village for the months of March and April. My friend Kate and I, along with our friend Soup and Linda Campbell will be leading this trip. Discussion of this visit arose when two pastors from Fellowship Memphis (my church) returned from a trip to South Africa. They were impressed by the ministry, but wanted to see and learn more of how it operates and who it serves. Given that they could not leave their congregation for the length of time it would take to make these observations, they turned to us. I will be serving with my friend, Kate. As ambassadors from the church, we will, first, be serving in the ministry along with other volunteers from around the world. Our second purpose will be to discern whether Sparrow Village could become a ministry partner with Fellowship Memphis.
You may go to Sparrow's website here to view more about what they are doing!
I will keep you posted as the time to departure draws near....
