South Africa:FW Country & prayer pages 27/8/08 16:20 Page 36
Province of Southern Africa
South Africa
M
others’ Union works at the heart of the community to address the
many challenges facing families each day including poverty,
HIV/AIDS, unemployment, crime and domestic violence.
Counselling and care
It strengthened her to face the broken
HIV/AIDS is a major issue and Mothers’ nights with a crying baby and touched her
Union is involved in the fight against the to know that there were other mothers out
disease at all levels – raising awareness, there supporting her. In another family, a
especially in rural communities; supporting baptism anniversary card encouraged the
orphans; home-based care for people living parents to attend church again after a long
with HIV/AIDS and counselling for those break. ’The personal touch, the one-to-one
voluntarily coming forward for testing. relationship, is what touches and reminds
us…Jesus cares!’ says Jennifer Krill, Mothers’
Baptism support Union Baptism Ministry, Port Elizabeth.
In the Diocese of Port Elizabeth Mothers’
Union members are involved in baptism Hospital visiting
support. New mothers are given a ‘Love Box’ In the Diocese of Free State Mothers’ Union
which includes seven small personal gifts members regularly visit the rural hospitals,
for the mother – one to be opened each day sitting with the patients and talking to them
of the week, a gift for the baby and a about their families and concerns,
baptism card of welcome, with the aim and sometimes reading to them and providing
objectives of Mothers’ Union printed on the companionship. They also take gifts of
back. A lasting relationship is established blankets, soap and other toiletries for the
with the new mums with further patients.
cards being sent annually on
the anniversary of the child’s
baptism. This project is
having an amazing effect.
One of the new mothers
said that she was
encouraged by one of the
Bible verses in her ‘Love Box’.
Fact File
Population: 43,786,000 Mothers’ Union Members: 62,300
The Province of Southern Africa is the oldest province in the
continent. Mothers’ Union started in South Africa in 1904.
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