A week ago another friend, Carolina, died of Aids. Her baby son, now three months old was passed on to Carolina’s sister… Taking her (the sister, Sifa) to the clinic last week (already suspecting) she was also diagnosed as HIV+…
On all sides, in every single house of our close (and not so close neighbours!), there are people with HIV/Aids. The saddest is when small babies like Abu (Carolina’s baby) is affected by this – totally defenceless and without guilt…
The positive part is that the government sponsors the Aids anti-viral medicine 100%!
The challenges are: the closest post where the meds are distributed is 4 hours walk or 2 hours on a bicycle away. Very few sick people can make this trip on their own and if they by some miracle do, they tend to stop going (they need a monthly supply) as soon as their symptoms diminish…
Most people, like Caroline, like Carlos, like Maria, simply die. Leaving behind spouses and children – vulnerable to die of this disease too.
Carolina’s death was a shock. Four days before her death, she finally agreed to go to the clinic (to get tested and for treatment). She just started with the medicine, when she suddenly got worse, and died. Early Sunday morning, we heard the crying and keening, knowing that someone died… A day of sitting with the family, crying with them, helping where we can followed. Sifa, who was still feeding her own son, was given little Abu (now 3 months old). My heart broke for each one of them: Sifa, losing a sister, being given the responsibility of a new baby, her son who had to be weaned early, and little Abu, such a sweet, beautiful little guy. Seeking his mom, but quiet as if he already knows and wait to see what his fate will be.
You may remember that we wrote several years ago that our sponsor in this community, closest neighbour and friend, Americo has symptoms of HIV and that we are concerned about him. It was amazing, but the Lord worked circumstances together so that he and his first wife, went with Carolina when she got tested to get tested also. As we suspected, both Americo and his fist wife are HIV+… He is still in shock. They have seen too many people die to ignore the threat, but their culture does not really allow for preventative medicine or life style. More than this, abstinence is a totally FOREIGN idea in the Mwinika culture. To their way of thinking, it is impossible.
And in the mean time, babies, mothers and fathers die. Truly Satan has this community deceived and in his death grip.
We ask that you pray with us, not only for the treatment and healing and prevention of our friends and stopping it from spreading, but most of all for the Truth to set them free. Jesus truly is the only one who can save them from themselves.