I write to you today for the last time from this side of the Atlantic. It hardly seems possible that two weeks are already over. I want to take this chance to share one story with you from yesterday (Friday).Our now dear friends, the Y's, met us at the Artisan shops in the afternoon because they really wanted to get us a small gift as a token of their appreciation. But after the shopping, Jeana, Barb, and I went home with the Y's to do some AIDS patient visits.
We only got to have two visits, but they were well worth it. The first visit is what sticks out the most in my mind. It was a middle-aged couple that both had HIV. They had been on treatment for nearly 18 months. To look at them, you would not know they have HIV. But Dr. Y said that 18 months ago they could hardly walk much of the time or come to the clinic for treatments. Dr. Y gave them a ride back to their house, where 6 children awaited them ranging from age 2 to the late teens. They treated us like royalty, busily moving about trying to find 4 chairs for all of us to sit on.
As we sat and talked with them (through Dr. Y) we realized how much hope just 18 months of anti retro viral drugs (the best drugs on the market to treat HIV right now) can offer to a family. He told us how they pushed their two oldest children very hard in school and hoped that they would be able to attend university. He said that they knew they must prepare for the future of the rest of their children because they didn't know how much of their future they would be around for. He spoke of how hard their life was, how HIV causes people to lose the little chance of making a small income that they have because it takes all their energy away. Before we left, I asked if we could pray with this couple and their family. I told Michele and Jeremy (those are their names) I would tell their story to people back home. I told them that our church would be praying for them. Please join me in doing that.
My friends, for about $25 a year a person in the Central African Republic can be treated for HIV/AIDS! I know we cannot save or help every person, but think how often we flippantly spend $25. I know I am so guilty of this. If you went to Starbucks every day for a WEEK and got the kind of drink I do, you could have helped a mother or father with HIV/AIDS for a YEAR! Does that put things in perspective? It does for me. We really do have to give up so little to make a difference in the physical life of these people! And Spiritually, do you realize that many of these people are brothers and sisters in Christ? If they are hurting, we are hurting. I plead with you to lift those affected by this disease up in prayer. The Lord is waiting for us to ask Him to help our brothers and sisters. When we return, please ask us what we've seen. Ask us what the Lord is doing here. Peoples' futures, earthly and eternal, are counting on it.
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
Ephesians 3:20
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
Ephesians 3:20
Laura Gibson
March 3, 2007
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