The Family Grows!!
With over 16 million AIDS orphans in the world, the need for someone, anyone, to help them is huge! He Intends Victory through our outreach, Terry’s Kids, is committed to helping all of those AIDS orphans that we can. But where do you start? And can we really make a difference?
Those were both questions I asked the Lord while on my first trip to Africa in 2001. I was in a remote village in Central Uganda called Nagamuli in with my HIV co-workers, Herb Hall and Mike McIntrye. We were there to “spy out the land”, that is to see if the ministry of He Intends Victory would work in Africa. The three hours over bumpy dirt roads and trails it took to get to this village were quickly forgotten as soon as I saw the 200+ mostly women and children dancing as we approached. They were happy to see us, that was for sure. AIDS, this far out of the city? Yes, many of the men in this village had already died and their infected widows were doing the best they could to raise their 2 or 3 or 6 children. But when you have no visible support, when you are as a mother are yourself sick with HIV infection, when you have no money to buy seed or food, even having an acre of land doesn’t help much. And then what happens when ‘mom’ finally dies? Where do the children go? When the disappointment that we were not doctors finally subsided, the joy that we were pastors prompted the women to bring their tiny, sickly babies to us for prayer. It wasn’t long before I heard in my heart that soft and gentle voice of the Holy Spirit, “Start with the one in front of you”. It was a privlilege to pray and know that we could do more to help these helpless children as we wept through our words to God and it was there in our hearts that Terry’s Kids was birthed.
Terry Duffy being interviewed by Dan Wooding
Terry Duffy was Board member, friend, sister in Jesus, and committed to helping people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS all over the world. But Terry never had any children of her own so all kids became Terry’s Kids. And when she finally went home to heaven from cancer in July of 2002, it made sense to honor her memory and her love for AIDS orphans by calling our AIDS orphan sponsorship program, Terry’s Kids.
For the last five years we have been blessed to have Terry’s Kids working in Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, India, and Paraguay. Today we have over 50 children sponsored who are now able to go to school, wear a school uniform and shoes, eat healthy food every day and all in the name of Jesus! One great thing about Terry’s Kids, unlike all other AIDS orphans programs is that ALL of the $ 40 a month to sponsor a child through our outreach goes to the child’s needs!
So as of January 1, 2013 we are pleased to share that we have now added Tanzania and Nepal to our Terry’s Kids countries.
This will soon make our potential a total of 200 children! Yet most of our children are waiting and praying for someone, anyone to care. Please don’t think that that is the total number of children under the He Intends Victory umbrella who could qualify for this program. I recently asked our 20 Country Directors what the total number of children under their care is for whom Terry’s Kids could help. The answer was 11,056! It can’t be that many!! But it is. Then the question comes to my mind, “Can we really make a difference?” And the Lord spoke to my heart and I heard, “If each of you will care on my behalf, you can change the world for these children!” There it was. Just start with the one in front of you and little by little, child by child, we will make a difference!
Do you want to hear what they say? Stephen from Uganda says to his sponsor, “I want to thank God for you and the help you always give. I thank you because I have been able to go on with my studies and I have been promoted to Primary 7.” Yeabsira from Ethiopia says, “Now I am a grade one student. I love you, I love my mom. I love my studies. How are your studies? I thank you for your support. I am very thankful for your being my sponsor. I pray for God to bless you and your family.” And Resty a young teenager from Uganda says, “ I can’t begin to thank you for your continuous support towards my future.”
Our goal this year, 2013, is to have 200 children sponsored. It wouldn’t hard. It’s the equivalent of 8 Starbucks or 2 movies and a popcorn. We COULD do it- together.
So go to Terry’sKids.org and sign up today. Pray about which child, which country you want to change, which lives you want to touch with God’s love. Then sign-up. You’ll get a letter from that child, you’ll get photo, and you’ll have the knowledge in your heart that the someone who cares for that AIDS orphan is YOU!
Read MoreWho Cares?
 |
|
Bruce Sonnenberg and Dan Wooding at the World AIDS Conference in Mexico City |
Well, it’s that time of the year again!
I don’t mean my birthday, I don’t mean Thanksgiving, and I sure don’t mean Christmas. No, it’s that time of the year again where people around the world take a day and think about- AIDS! Well at least they used too. December 1st is World AIDS Day and it now tends to be just a little “bump-in-the-road” of life for most Americans. But really, who cares?
Yes, there are 34 million people living with HIV and AIDS in every country of the world, most of them very poor like Annette in Uganda or Valery in the Congo DR and yes, they live on less than $1 a day which means food is scarce and resources limited, and yes, only about 16 percent receive or ever will receive the AIDS life-giving medications, but who cares? Who cares that they still cost $ 3,000 a month?
 |
|
Children fending for themselves: African AIDS orphans have no parents and, no matter how young they are, they have only each other … the older children struggle to serve as “parents” and breadwinners for their younger brothers and sisters |
I know that there are 16 million AIDS orphans in the world today like Mark, and Florence and Abigail and Emmanuel, but what can I do about that? And besides, really, who cares? Why doesn’t their own country take care of them? Didn’t they do this to themselves? Well no, but who cares? Isn’t this God’s judgment on all of those sinners? Of course not! Is breast cancer God’s judgment on “women” sinners and prostate cancer God’s judgment on “men” who sin? Don’t be silly but… who really, let’s be honest, who cares?
On December 1st people around the world facing HIV/AIDS, people being kicked out of their churches for being HIV+, children with no parents, will be asking “Will someone help us?” But who cares?
Jesus Does!
And so do we at He Intends Victory! We really care and have been caring since 1990 and will continue to care with YOUR help. Since World AIDS Day last year, we have cared for 68,484 people living with HIV in 20 countries around the world. So if you really care and would like to help us bless those facing HIV/AIDS around the world, contact us at: PO Box 399, Irvine, CA 92650, USA, or by phone at: 1-800-HIV-HOPE. Our website is: www.HeIntendsVictory.com where you can get a free copy of Dan Wooding’s book, “He Intends Victory.”
Read MoreWATCH: A Basic Course in HIV-AIDS
Bruce Sonnenberg of He Intends Victory shares with you the basics to HIV/AIDS.
Read MoreInternational AIDS Conference 2012
I just returned from the International AIDS Conference in Washington D.C., and I’m more determined than ever to continue fighting the “good fight” against HIV/AIDS around the world and in the U.S.
I’ve just seen so much fruit borne from this ministry because of generous friends like you that I can’t help but be encouraged amidst what appear to be incredible odds!
Whether it’s goats being delivered in Jesus’ name in Africa, bringing critical supplies to children in Vietnam and Malaysia, or sharing the Good News in Washington D.C. your support of He Intends Victory is making a difference today and for eternity. And we’re also preparing for another life-changing mission trip to Belize in October!
I hope you too will be encouraged by this issue of Living Hope especially how you’re making an impact on our support groups in Washington D.C. providing compassion, support, and hope to so many who are desperate. Your faithful support means so much especially now when giving is typically lower than at other times of the year.
And I ask that you consider giving a special gift today on behalf of the children in Vietnam who are in desperate need both body and soul.
Thank you for partnering with He Intends Victory fighting the “good fight” for so many who cannot fight for themselves.
We praise God for you, and the hope you’re bringing to God’s people around the world and in the U.S.
Read MoreWe MUST finish 2011 strong . . . PLEASE HELP US!
There are only a few days left in the year . . . and our ability to reach out to men, women, children, widows, and families around the world in the year ahead will largely be determined by how strong we finish 2011.
The need right now for help and hope around the world is greater than ever . . .
will you respond in Jesus’ name with a generous gift of support now?
Over 16 million of children around the world are suffering because of HIV/AIDS in their parents lives — it breaks my heart and makes me want to shout out loud to anyone who will listen that the fight against HIV/AIDS is not over yet. And we must reach those who are suffering with the help and the hope of Jesus Christ before it’s too late.
Please give now . . . any amount will help.
And remember, you can deduct any gift you give by December 31 from your 2011 taxes.
Until it’s over,
