This short but poetic reminder of how precious and short life really is was sent to Partners in Action by a donor – the subject line read, "One of the best emails I have got in years." She is right. Sometimes we need to reflect and really appreciate how priceless the gift of life is, and how it should be cherished.
We are very fortunate that we continually receive pictures from our volunteers at our homes around the world. Below is a collection of pictures that span the globe!
Seven Years at Agape Children's Home in Africa
by Donna Whitcomb
Late in the night of July 21, 2000, a busload of weary orphans arrived at the Whitcomb home in Accra, Ghana. They had traveled for two days on a perilous road to reach their new home. The kids were warmly welcomed by Donna Whitcomb and Irene Belmoh, and the loving embraces of their new mothers quickly washed away the children's fear, confusion, and fatigue.
Praise God for all that He has done for the Agape Children's Home over the past seven years! Since that humble beginning in July 2000, the home has grown to embrace 93 children in three facilities. The Lord has done marvelous things for our children, bringing healing, salvation, and purpose to their lives. Only eternity will tell all the great things that will result from His work at ACH.
Rejoice with us as we celebrate God's goodness at ACH! And please keep praying for us that the Lord will continue to bless the home. Ask God to anoint the staff with wisdom, grace, and love as they represent Christ to our kids. Pray for the children to grow in their spiritual lives, in knowledge, and in love for one another. Intercede for God's financial provision, and ask for His direction for the years ahead.
Dove International Finally Has a Wall by Judy Nelson
Our miracle wall is almost complete! A cement block wall all the way around 12 acres on the side of a mountain seemed impossible a few months ago. Thank you to each and every person who gave money to make this wall possible. Our children are now safe in Sierra Leone, Africa.
We ran out of money with 125 feet to go but that is good news! We found out that our road is going to be fixed (constructed) and we may lose the front of our property in road allowance. If we had completed the wall, they may have knocked it down for the road work! Once the road is done, we will finish our wall. For now, all that is left is the gate. This is very exciting and again, we thank everyone who contributed not just monetarily, but also with thoughts and prayers!
South Africa HIV Epidemic Easing by AP/Celean Jacobson
Although strides are being made to ease the devastating effects of AIDS in Africa, South Africa cannot escape the crisis. Updated statistics from the CIA state that the life expectancy in South Africa is 42.4 years compared to Japan with the highest world life expectancy of 82.0 – almost double of South Africa. We see the impact of this horrific disease first-hand because of our support of the East London Children's Home in South Africa. Below is a story that gives us hope for the future, but also emphasizes the futility of the present.
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa - The HIV infection rate is dropping among young, pregnant women in South Africa, but it is on the rise for the country's older women, according to a government study released Thursday.
The 2006 survey showed the rate of infection for the virus that causes AIDS fell among pregnant women under 20 from 15.9 percent in 2005 to 13.7 percent last year, and from 30.6 percent to 28 percent in women aged 20-24. In the hardest hit 25-29 year-old group, it fell from 39.5 percent to 38.7 percent. However, the prevalence among women older than 40 increased from 19.8 percent to 21.3 percent in the same time period. And the overall infection rate among pregnant women in the worst-hit province of KwaZulu-Natal was unchanged, at 39.1 percent.
South African Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, who has long been criticized for voicing doubts about the safety and effectiveness of AIDS drugs, said the results showed "a statistically significant decrease" in the overall prevalence of HIV-infected pregnant women from 30.2 percent in 2005 to 29.1 percent last year. "In the last three years, we have been noticing a stabilizing of HIV prevalence in the country. This year we have seen a turning point," she told reporters. "We are quite excited to see this downward trend."
Independent health experts welcomed the drop, but said the statistics may show nothing more than that the epidemic was holding steady, as has been the case for years. South Africa has an estimated 5.4 million people living with HIV, the second highest after India, which has a much bigger population. Last year, an estimated 950 South Africans died each day from AIDS-related diseases and a further 1,400 were infected each day, according to the Medical Research Council.
David Bourne, epidemiologist at the University of Cape Town, agreed with the minister that the decline was "good news" and that the epidemic was "turning." However, he said the decline in the overall rate of infection to 29.1 percent was not statistically significant, as it fell within the margin of error of the study. Bourne said the minister was still "in denial" that antiretroviral drugs were working. "She is using the statistics not scientifically but in a way which suits her agenda. It is not prevention which has caused the change but treatment," he said.
Regardless, the health minister was upbeat. "It may be a small percentage, but that for us is significant enough because it means those messages (of prevention) around which we have been working for many years are beginning to sink in," she said. "We are beginning to see behavioral changes and that's why we see this decrease."
Tshabalala-Msimang has been the target of international criticism for espousing the use of beetroot, garlic, lemon, and the African potato in the fight against AIDS, earning her the nickname "Dr. Beetroot." Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka was appointed last year to lead efforts in revamping South Africa's AIDS strategy, effectively sidelining Tshabalala-Msimang, who had been ill but recently resumed her duties. Bourne said - ironically - the success of the rollout of AIDS drugs made it more difficult to interpret the prevalence statistics. As less people died, prevalence figures may not decline as rapidly as expected and might even rise, he said. "The older prevalence figures that have been used for the last 15 years are no longer an appropriate way of measuring the epidemic. What we want to know is the new cases," he added.
The government survey gave no information on the number of new infections. Tshabalala-Msimang said rates had plateaued in recent years and the government, intent on seeing AIDS cases drop, had intensified prevention programs among young people. She said more than 288,000 people were currently on antiretroviral treatment provided by the government. AIDS activists welcomed the decline but questioned whether the government's anti-AIDS campaign was a success. "The thing that is critical is a decline in the incidence rate of new infections," said Nathan Geffen of the Treatment Action Campaign, which has repeatedly criticized the government for lack of political leadership on AIDS.
The South African government has made reducing the number of new HIV infections one of its main targets, and aims to extend treatment to 80 percent of those with AIDS by 2011.
Congratulations to Josue, Jose, and Cristian at Colima! by the Unraus
We have three young guys in the teen boys home who have committed to study hard and have achieved impressive grades. Josué is in 8th grade and has gained second place in his class with a 91% average. Jose Armando and Cristian are in 7th grade and have attained first and second place respectively in their class with averages of 98% and 92%.
The boys have received recognition each quarter for their accomplishments, and at the end of the school year will receive a diploma commending them for their hard work. Congratulations, guys!!!
A Sad Goodbye to Joy and Pablo at ARK Children's Home in Ecuador by Glenda Allen
We are about to lose two special people. Joy has been here from England since last fall, teaching English in our school, taking care of our 2, 3, and 4 year olds. She will be sorely missed. Now who will say the line from Oliver Twist, "Please, sir, may I have some more?" We also won’t be able to call our diapers "nappies" or put on "trousers" rather than pants. Little Pablo is also leaving us. He's been matched with a family from Italy. He's quite happy to hear that he finally has his own mommy and daddy. He's quite smart and will pick up Italian without a problem.
Hope House India Has Found Another Partner Organization
by Cliff Baker
It has been a year since our visit to India, but the sights, sounds, and the smiles of the girls whose lives were changed by the ministry of Hope House are forever imprinted on our hearts and minds.
We have been diligently searching for a new partner with the same heart and desire to rescue girls from the sex industry in India. We are excited to announce that we have found a ministry partner that has been working in India for twenty-three years. Their accountability standards are impressive. The ministry is India Partners.
India Partners is a U.S. Christian development and relief organization committed to supporting self-help ministry projects in India. With God's grace, they believe in helping the people of India help themselves. They currently support five organizations in India. All five of these partner organizations serve the people of India, regardless of caste, religion, gender, or creed. Please visit their web site at indiapartners.org.
When we approached Brent Hample, the Director/CEO of India Partners last fall about a possible partnership, he informed us that they had been praying about finding a partner in India that addressed the HIV/AIDS problem there. They soon discovered that a major way to combat this serious disease is to attack the commercial sex industry, which is a substantial vehicle in the spread of HIV. After sharing our passion to help young women escape this life of exploitation and spending many hours in prayer, we came to a decision to combine forces in the battle for girls' lives.
We, along with India Partners, made a list of ministries in India that are currently working with our target population. India Partners sent their field representative to one of the ministries in Southern India and we are awaiting his final report. If this ministry does not meet the high standards of India Partners, we will move on to the next organization on the list. We are excited to once again be involved with helping girls in need, but it is crucial to wait for the Lord's choice of ministry, which will be revealed in His timing. For more information, please contact Partners in Action.
Late in the night of July 21, 2000, a busload of weary orphans arrived at the Whitcomb home in Accra, Ghana. They had traveled for two days on a perilous road to reach their new home. The kids were warmly welcomed by Donna Whitcomb and Irene Belmoh, and the loving embraces of their new mothers quickly washed away the children's fear, confusion, and fatigue. 
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa - The HIV infection rate is dropping among young, pregnant women in South Africa, but it is on the rise for the country's older women, according to a government study released Thursday.
South African Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, who has long been criticized for voicing doubts about the safety and effectiveness of AIDS drugs, said the results showed "a statistically significant decrease" in the overall prevalence of HIV-infected pregnant women from 30.2 percent in 2005 to 29.1 percent last year. "In the last three years, we have been noticing a stabilizing of HIV prevalence in the country. This year we have seen a turning point," she told reporters. "We are quite excited to see this downward trend."
David Bourne, epidemiologist at the University of Cape Town, agreed with the minister that the decline was "good news" and that the epidemic was "turning." However, he said the decline in the overall rate of infection to 29.1 percent was not statistically significant, as it fell within the margin of error of the study. Bourne said the minister was still "in denial" that antiretroviral drugs were working. "She is using the statistics not scientifically but in a way which suits her agenda. It is not prevention which has caused the change but treatment," he said. 
The government survey gave no information on the number of new infections. Tshabalala-Msimang said rates had plateaued in recent years and the government, intent on seeing AIDS cases drop, had intensified prevention programs among young people. She said more than 288,000 people were currently on antiretroviral treatment provided by the government. AIDS activists welcomed the decline but questioned whether the government's anti-AIDS campaign was a success. "The thing that is critical is a decline in the incidence rate of new infections," said Nathan Geffen of the Treatment Action Campaign, which has repeatedly criticized the government for lack of political leadership on AIDS. 
We are about to lose two special people. Joy has been here from England since last fall, teaching English in our school, taking care of our 2, 3, and 4 year olds. She will be sorely missed. Now who will say the line from Oliver Twist, "Please, sir, may I have some more?" We also won’t be able to call our diapers "nappies" or put on "trousers" rather than pants. Little Pablo is also leaving us. He's been matched with a family from Italy. He's quite happy to hear that he finally has his own mommy and daddy. He's quite smart and will pick up Italian without a problem.
It has been a year since our visit to India, but the sights, sounds, and the smiles of the girls whose lives were changed by the ministry of Hope House are forever imprinted on our hearts and minds. 
India Partners is a U.S. Christian development and relief organization committed to supporting self-help ministry projects in India. With God's grace, they believe in helping the people of India help themselves. They currently support five organizations in India. All five of these partner organizations serve the people of India, regardless of caste, religion, gender, or creed. Please visit their web site at 
When we approached Brent Hample, the Director/CEO of India Partners last fall about a possible partnership, he informed us that they had been praying about finding a partner in India that addressed the HIV/AIDS problem there. They soon discovered that a major way to combat this serious disease is to attack the commercial sex industry, which is a substantial vehicle in the spread of HIV. After sharing our passion to help young women escape this life of exploitation and spending many hours in prayer, we came to a decision to combine forces in the battle for girls' lives. 
