This is a text-only version of an article first published on Wednesday, 15 May 2019. Information shown on this page may no longer be current.
by Claire BarrattTwo members of Church House Oxford staff, Caroline Todd and Claire Barratt, recently visited the Embo Community in KwaZuluNatal, South Africa as part of a volunteer team with the charity Medic Assist International. The trip was led by John Earwicker who was featured in the Door in June 2016. The charity's vision is to provide access to healthcare to those in need where it is currently not available and one of their projects has been to work with the church in Embo since 2009 to provide much- needed care to those with HIV, Aids and tuberculosis. In 2014 MAI facilitated the building of a clinic in the church grounds which now has over 3,000 treatments per month and recently completed an extension allowing tuberculosis patients to be seen separately. MAI also financially supports the church caregivers and a vehicle to help those in need in the community.
Women waiting outside the church in Embo.
During their visit, Caroline assisted with the caregivers and in the clinic, while Claire helped in the church run crèche and orphanage as well as singing at a youth event for around forty 15-25 year olds.
The volunteer team also took the orphans out for a day trip and provided a 3 2 course lunch in the church for around 100 'Gogos' (grannies) to whom we also sang and gave a talk on Frist Aid.
The team also ran a Sunday School session on prayer and forgiveness, and participated in the Sunday Service with Pastor Leonard and around 400 others from the Embo Community Church.
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