Evangelizing and Educating tomorrow’s Africa

The hills of Zululand are rolling and green, threaded by bumpy, dirt roads only navigable by 4x4 vehicles. Just outside Durban, the Amahlongwa River meanders frequently across the road, never letting travelers forget its presence. Occasionally large white funeral tents can be seen between the rondovals (round mud huts) clustered periodically among the hills. The whiteness of the tents creates a glaring blemish of hopelessness amidst the poverty. The funerals are frequent due to the rampant HIV/AIDS pandemic that plagues many families of the Zulu nation. The Joint UN Program on HIV/AIDS reported that 5.5 million South Africans were living with HIV/AIDS in 2005. Sadly these are only the reported cases. The Zulus are reluctant to be tested for the virus because they fear they’ll be ostracized by their community.

Amid the groups of tiny mud dwellings an occasional farm can be seen. Zulu workers toil in high humidity harvesting papaya, mango, bananas and wild guava for little more than 30 Rand (about $5) a day. ITMI missionaries, Kelly and Cherise Smith entered this world last September in order to share Jesus with the Zulu people through an HIV/AIDS ministry. They envision land and buildings where they can offer bi-monthly clinics, skills and English training, clothing, a distribution center, HIV/AIDS education and counseling to the surrounding Zulu community. Just five months after they arrived in South Africa, the Lord provided the land.

The Smiths purchased an already operating farm in Zululand last September. They immediately began to look for ways to build relationships with the 13 workers. Even though the Smiths were informed that neighboring farmers would not like it, the Smiths gave their workers a small, much needed raise. In an effort to keep peace they explained to their workers that the extra money was from Jesus. At Christmas time they encouraged their staff with bonuses, an expected custom in African culture, which were received with overwhelming gratitude.

Victoria is a worker on the Smith’s farm. Her uncle, Malume, suffered a stroke years ago that left him a paraplegic. Day in and day out, Malume lies on the cow-dung floor of his family’s hut. His only way to leave it is on the back of a friend or family member. Recently the Lord directed the Smiths to a used wheelchair at a friend’s moving sale in Durban. They took it straight to Victoria’s hut. When the family saw the wheelchair they were overwhelmed. Tears of joy streamed down their faces. Victoria dropped to her knees on the dirt road, hugging Cherise. Then they jumped up and down, shouting jubilantly.

When Malume found out about the chair, he was all smiles and his enthusiasm was almost uncontrollable. Kelly wheeled the gift in from their car while the family admired it. When they sat Malume up in the chair, he stopped smiling and talking. His face became serious and his eyes began to water. Kelly said, “Would you mind if I prayed with you?” and Malume bowed his head. After praying, Malume was quiet while the others visited. He must have been imagining how this new-found freedom will change his life. He had probably never even dreamed about what he would do with such a gift.

We trust the Lord will provide for the growth of the Smith’s ministry so that they will have many more stories like this in the coming years. The Smiths have begun the process of building a multi-purpose ministry building on their property to be used as a clinic, distribution center, and educational skills training facility. ITMI has opened an account for anyone who would like to join with the Smiths in this endeavor.