A fundraising event to support the work of missionary Jill Kinsey in Lesotho, in southern Africa, is taking place tomorrow (February 23) at the International Evangelical Church of the Algarve in Vale Judeu, Loulé, at 3pm.
For the last 10 years, Jill Kinsey has been a missionary in Lesotho, running two centres for orphan children who have been affected by AIDS. The centre at Semonkong has 80 children and the second one at Pulane 89.
This valuable work is supported by various churches in the Algarve, including Jill’s home church, The International Evangelical Church of the Algarve.
For the last seven years, this church has been running a Devon Cream Tea event to raise funds for Jill’s work and this year she will be at the event to talk about her initiatives in Africa.
The event is open to the general public. A limited number of tickets is available at €5 per person, including a Devon Cream Tea (with home-baked scones, Devon cream and jam) and a selection of cakes made by the ladies of the Church. The Salvation Army band from São Brás de Alportel will be playing in the afternoon.
918700524 (Jan Bradford/tickets)
||About Jill Kinsey
Jill Kinsey used to be resident in Carvoeiro in the Lagoa council. Her husband sadly died in Portugal and she decided to spend the next 10 years helping, and providing a home for, war orphans in rural Mozambique.
 From left: Pastor Hlompho, who is manager of the Pulane Children’s Centre, Tlotlo, a young shepherd boy receiving his Samaritan’s box, and Ntate Mojela who is the centre’s chairman and a local businessman in Pulane. He runs a small shop and a combi taxi. |
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In 2002, Jill moved to Lesotho to help orphans infected and affected by HIV/Aids.
She and her team run two children’s centres in Lesotho. Both centres also help needy children living with elderly grandparents in the nearby villages. Jill said: “We believe it is better for an orphan to stay with their extended family when their parents both die but sadly this is not always possible. Many grandparents are also weak and HIV-infected and they do need help with their grandchildren. There is a state pension for over 70s and it is €35 a month. It is a help but does not go very far.”
Through the Algarve Resident, Jill and her Lesotho team would like to thank the many Algarve friends and supporters who help with prayers and raising funds.
“As you can well imagine, the challenge of rearing orphan children in Lesotho grows as the effects of HIV/Aids ravage the rural communities,” Jill said. “A big thank you to the Algarve churches who enthusiastically contribute to the work with orphans in Lesotho. It’ll be great to meet you all and tell you about what is happening with our children.”
