Fields of Gold, Fields of hope

Before I came to South Africa I was given a picture which someone said she felt this was what God was saying. It was a picture of sunflowers and in the middle of each flower was a head of a person, in the place of the seeds. A scripture was with it from Joel 2:28 ' I will pour out My Spirit on all people.'

Well I have to say that I have found the Fields of Gold - the sunflowers and the Fields of Hope - in the people which I minister to. As I take food to the people with HIV they tell me it isn't the food that is important it is the hope you bring - please pray for us.

The fields are truly ripe for the harvest; the people are dying of hunger both physically and spiritually. We visited a patient who asked us to visit a friend who was very ill. When we got there he lay dying, unable to get up, shaking. He cried silent tears as he saw us and said now I truly know there is a God. We gave him food, love and prayed with him and read him psalm 121. He asked if we would leave him the bible he needed to read it he was hungry.
The next day we visited he was sat up smiling, it was truly miraculous. Three days later he was walking with a frame. This young man had been abandoned for a month,alone in his house, the clinic had stopped his medication. Now he had hope and was going to live, he said I am truly happy, so happy, thank you.

Field of sunflowers, the harvest ripe, fields of Gold.

Psalm 121 I lift my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip- He who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you- the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm- he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and for evermore.

Item posted on the 19th February 2009

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Work in the townships

Dorah and her husband Walter live in this tiny shack with their four children. Walter manages to get casual work occasionally.

There are so many stories I could tell of the wonderful resilient people here in the townships of Bloemfontein. It astounds me how they manage to survive in such conditions. Of course many do not as HIV/AIDS and TB take a grip on their lives and with the lack of medication, food, and hope they eventually lose the battle. There is no money here in South Africa for Anti retroviral drugs for newly diagnosed patients until April this year - the money has run out they say.
Everywhere you turn there are people hungry and dying, in terrible conditions. It is where I feel I belong.

I've included some pictures of some of the people I visit each week - please pray for them. If you would like to have more information or to donate to the care of these and others please contact me (Hilary) through this website.

All photos and information are given with the consent of the people represented.

Lydia with a blanket made by the Anglican Womens Federation.

If God is for us - who can be against us? (Romans 8:31) A lady wearing a T shirt speaking out for people with HIV/AIDS.

Amanda - unable to walk, and her mother Rosie. They live in a tiny shack with three more children. It is beautifully kept.

Vuyo and his Grandmother Dorah - Vuyo has TB and AIDS - his Grandmother as you can see loves him so much. His mother has died and his father disowns him.

Item posted on the 28th January 2009

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Work in the townships

The water supply in the township - which stops when there are no rains.

The people live in tin shacks in a 38 degree heat.

Joy and her four children. She has been too ill to look after the children, and this is the day that we collected her children and returned them back home.

Marj from Tsepo House and Gladys - the lady who is to help me in the townships.

The Very Reverend Don Narraway - The Dean of Bloemfontein Cathedral. My boss, mentor and friend.

A visit to Tsepo(Hope) House - a hospice for people suffering with HIV/AIDS has taken me out into the community where they have initiated a homecare project. It is a hospice which I visited last year and was very moved by the work and the people. When I visited this time I was told that the hospice and homecare was to stop due to lack of funding, and indeed since my first visit this has happened and everyone has been made redundant.

The vision to start a homecare project in the township is one which we were given during a prayer session before I came out to South Africa, and I had also been given a substantial amount of money towards the work which I was to do here- from some friends. I have therefore decided to continue the homecare project for a few months to see how this goes, and more importantly so that the people are not left without food and support. The people are all women and children. I visit the township once a week to take food and medication if it is needed, and to give support, with the help of a Christian lady - Gladys who lives in the township and Yianni - a Christian man who is from a free church and who has offered to help. I am excited by this, and also quite daunted as the work is not without risks, but I feel sure that we will be ok.

I am settling in, becoming more confident, and finding my way around. I have now got a smaller car as someone has bought a new car and I have got theirs. It has air conditioning, which I am very grateful for.

The Dean and his wife - Don and Pat Narraway are treasures and they are very supportive. I am very grateful for them.

As the Advent Season starts it seems mind bending that the temperature here is 38 degrees and we are preparing for Christmas.

Please pray for people affected and infected with HIV/AIDS as Advent starts. 1^st December is World AIDS day.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas, and may God bless you with His peace.



Item posted on the 30th November 2008

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First Days in South Africa

Hello from South Africa!!

Well I am actually here after all the waiting, which proved extremely valuable in the end, with spending time with friends and deepening relationships. The journey over was very good - I had three seats to my self and so slept for a solid 6 hours on the plane. I left London in the snow and came to South Africa in the blazing sun.

The first few days were hectic buying furniture - the essentials - a bed, desk and household items, and moving into my house.

Hilary's house in the Cathedral grounds in Bloemfontein

The house is in the Cathedral grounds and it is like the garden of Eden with so many trees, plants and birds. My garden has a palm tree, a mulberry tree, an apricot tree and cactus! Friends are welcome anytime. I have been given lots of time to settle in and get used to the how the life here ticks and to adjust, I am so grateful for that as it is a very emotionally and physically demanding time. The people here are very welcoming, friendly and helpful and I am well looked after.

I have learnt to drive the automatic car I have been given and been trying to find my bearings. It is important that I am safety conscious as it is not a safe place in some areas. But there are also some really nice places which are safe. Today I took my first midweek service and the Bishop of Bloemfontein rang me to congratulate me, he is so encouraging. The Sunday services are very different here and I am learning the new ways.The Cathedral reminds me so much of Holy Trinity, it is about the same size.

The patio (known as the stoop in South Africa)

The weather has been very hot, but after praying last week for rain we have had huge thunder storms and monsoon like rainfall! The people rejoice at the beautiful rain here, but really that is life - in the townships there was no water and crops and animals had started dying, so they really are grateful.

Item posted on the 12th November 2008

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