Fasting is defined as eating sparingly or abstaining from some foods. More commonly we use it to mean that we are skipping meals for a specific purpose. That purpose is often religious or spiritual but nowadays fasting is also used to diet.

For thousands of years, by many eastern and western religions, fasting has been used to purify oneself, to offer penitence and as sacrifice for a desired outcome. 

For thousands of years, by many eastern and western religions, fasting has been used to purify oneself, to offer penitence and as sacrifice for a desired outcome. Here in the Nkomazi many Christians ‘dry fast’ for several days, meaning that they deny themselves both solid foods and water. There is also a three-week fast where people eat only vegetables and liquids, but deny themselves meat. While fasting is not in itself unhealthy, there are certain methods of fasting that are and are not healthy. There are certain rules for healthy fasting that should never be broken. 

BOOK OF HOPE reached out to all the schools in the khulangwane circuit from 30 July to 3 August. The two teams consisted of volunteers, five people from the people’s church in California and four South Africans. Jacques Von Bommel is the leader of BOOK OF HOPE in 10 southern countries; Ansie is the coordinator for BOOK OF HOPE in Nkomazi and pastor rose worked together with the Hope Ministries in Boschfontein.

During the outreach it became clear to us that teachers and students need spiritual help desperately, funerals of students and teachers have become a harsh part of school activities at one school a principal asked for a weekly spiritual assistance.

We will to thank the following people and institutions, BOOK OF HOPE international for giving us books, teaching materials and training.

The people are church in California for helping to raise funds for the team members to come and work in South Africa.

In the year 2010 approximately 100 million People will be infected with HIV worldwide. We have to learn to live with it!

 Coming To Terms With HIV

Whatever you are feeling right now, it is important that you know that having HIV does not necessarily mean you are going to get sick or die soon. HIV works slowly in the body. Most people with HIV infection are healthy and fairly free from symptoms for over 5 years. Most people don’t get an AIDS diagnosis for over 10 years. Even after an AIDS diagnosis, with proper treatment people are living more then twice as long as they were in the past.

Dealing with Fear, Anger, Grief and Depression

HIV is a serious infection; it is natural to feel shock, grief, anger, fear and sadness when you first learn that you have HIV. You maybe also afraid of how your lover, friend, family and co-workers will react to finding out that you have HIV.

• HIV is a serious infection; it is natural to feel shock, grief, anger, fear and sadness when you first learn that you have HIV.
• You maybe also afraid of how your lover, friend, family and co-workers will react to finding out that you have HIV.