GRACE & HEALING MINISTRY

Dodoma is the capital city of Tanzania, home to everyone from wealthy Members of Parliament to destitute urban poor. Grace & Healing Ministry (G&HM) began when a group of women from a local church were moved by the plight of those suffering in poverty and dying of HIV/AIDS all around them. They met, prayed, and founded a ministry together with very few resources but great faith. The leader of these “Mothers Of Love,” Esther Muhagachi, approached Lahash about starting a Sponsorship Program to care for children whose fragile lives were at risk of ending too soon.

Many of the children cared for by G&HM have lost one or both of their parents. They are cared for by a single parent, extended family, or family friends. G&HM staff visit the children at their homes, and offer counseling and prayer, advocacy with teachers and doctors, nutrition support, and any other resources they can gather. Every week, the children gather at the church to participate in a program of Bible teaching, choir practice, games, activities, and a meal. In addition to this weekly “program day,” G&HM also runs a Nutrition Program to provide a daily meal for the children who are HIV-positive.

Children in the Sponsorship Program are cared for holistically, meaning that spiritual, physical, educational, and community factors are all considered in providing care for each child. The kids are given the opportunity to attend a local school, and Lahash engages in ongoing training and development efforts with the program staff to creatively and compassionately improve the children’s lives.