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During this last term they established the Calvary Care Home, an AIDS hospice. It's a four-bed hospice facility on church grounds. Here people dying of AIDS receive spiritual care while having basic physical needs met – as they would at home if there was someone to care for them. The dream is to be able to “love them to the last breath.”
Did you know?
. . . Two-thirds of all people with HIV/AIDS (22.5 million) live south of Africa’s Sahara Desert, a region home to only 10% of the world’s population?
. . . In 2009, an estimated 1.3 million adults and children died of AIDS in that part of the world?
. . . Within that region, South Africa has one of the highest rates of infection, with 5.6 million people living with HIV/AIDS?
. . . Roughly 310,000 South Africans died of AIDS in 2009?
. . . Since the epidemic began, about 1.9 million South African children have lost one or both parents to AIDS?
This the kind of data that led Kyle and Heather to pursue such ministry. Before leaving for Africa on their first term, they participated in a LIFT training in our offices. It was their introduction to respite care ministry as used by churches to counter the pull of euthanasia and assisted suicide. They use the material to train church members for involvement with Calvary Care Home.
Since completing construction last fall, the home has ministered to several patients. Right before furlough, the Farrans posted this report:
Phile arrived at Calvary Care Home two weeks ago. HIV+ and suffering from blackouts, she recently lost her husband and only child and now lives alone. She claimed to be born again, but was paralyzed by fear of the future. The care home was to her a place of rest for the body and peace for the soul. During daily Bible studies we focused on the security and peace that Christians can have by resting in the finished work of Christ. She left a week later, blackouts gone and resting in her savior. God is so good.
Learn more about the Farrans' ministry:
- Compassion Within a Yard of Hell
- Farran Family website
- Kyle and Heather on Facebook
How you can pray:
- Provision of personal support needs - to reach 100%, they need an additional $575 per month
- Funds to support the care home - $62,200 for three years of operation (or $1,700/month)
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