HIV & AIDS casts a dark shadow over the whole African continent, and South Africa has the highest number of cases in the world. In the midst of the AIDS pandemic, Project Positive Ray is making a difference by offering help and hope to thousands of Zulu villagers.

A partnership of the Evangelical Church in South Africa, SIM's HOPE for AIDS, Two Tunics, and churches in the UGU region in Southern KwaZulu Natal, Postitve Ray focuses on:

• education and prevention, and
• home-based care.

	One way Positive Ray is spreading the prevention message is by placing teachers in the local schools to teach about HIV & AIDS.

In addition to voluntary testing and counseling, Positive Ray has a Biblical foundation to their prevention efforts. The project offers a Bible study course called "HIV and AIDS—Purity and Sexuality" which helps lay a foundation for holy living. Many people also receive Bibles when they come for testing and counseling.

Home-based care visits show Christ's mercy to the sick and suffering. Many times the volunteers bring food parcels to the homes of people who are too poor to buy food and too sick to grow their own. They also offer financial help for funerals.

"Positive Ray, on behalf of the church family is making critical interventions to help reduce/control the AIDS epidemic," Clement Joseph, the director of Project Positive Ray, says. "We need your prayers as well as moral and financial support to win the battle against HIV and AIDS."

Pray

Please pray for God to strengthen the volunteers as they care for the sick and share a message of prevention.

Give

While PEPFAR has helped to fund some of the aspects of this project, financial help is still needed to support the spiritual aspects of this ministry. Your gift will enable South African Zulus to be tested, counseled and cared for, shining a ray of hope into the darkness of HIV & AIDS.

Visit www.hopeforaids.org to learn more about Project Positive Ray.