Harsh reality

Yesterday, we were able to visit a local club for people with HIV and AIDs. This was our assignment for missing a day of our placement when we went on our Safari. We didn't really know what we were in for when the 12 of us drove out a few miles from our Home Base, but it was the most eye-opening experience yet.

We were greeted by a Madame Sarah, the leader of a group of 20 members living with HIV and AIDs in the local community. They have come together for support and guidance in a community that has ostracized them for their illness. The club meets every few days in a small shop that sells sodas and beer during the day (its owner allows them to meet after closing). Many of the members are unable to meet because they suffer from TB and other diseases contracted as a result of their weakened immune system. We each brought a small gift of rice, sugar, bread, or beans...little did we know what a large impact this seemingly insignificant gift would make for each member.

The streets were busy with shoeless, dirty children yelling "mzungu!" and holding our hands as we walked by tiny mud shacks...we truly felt like we were in a "save the children" infomercial. We visited 3 members who were too sick to go to meeting that week. Mama Sarah was so happy to bring us and to bring gifts for the members. We first arrived at the home of Leonard, a short, weak man with no front teeth who hobbled out to see us on crutches...he suffered from TB and didn't have any food to eat with his medicine, so his legs have become near unusable as a result. He lives alone, with no family or wife and struggles to pay his rent on a tiny (closet sized room). This was the first time that I understood the severity of the situation. We wished him well and he was very thankful to see visitors as he doesn't have them often.

Next we visited a woman who discovered her HIV when her husband got sick and died unexpectedly. She has a 2 year old girl (without HIV) who was being bathed outside when we left and lives with her mother in a small apartment. She looked very thin and sick, and was a bit shy and seemed embarrassed of her situation. Her mother offered us tea and encouraged us to come back, they were thankful to have dinner for the night hugged us as we left.

The third house was by far the most difficutl, it was the home of Grace...a woman of age 35. SHe was fvery unhealthy-looking and so thin, you could break her. Her eyes were yellow and half closed, as if it was hard to see the person beyond the sicknesses she was suffering from. She currently has malaria and her AIDs is rapidly progressing. Her home was the size of half of a closet and was made entirely of dirt and sticks. It smelled musty and besides her bed, there we a few wooden stools on the floor. She cried as we arrived and after two other difficult visits, it was all we could do to hold off tears as long as we did. She held her hands up to God to thank him for the gifts and kissed all of our hands. AIDs felt real for the first time in her tiny little house.

We went back on a few visits today and it was amazing to see the power of human relationships and religion. We made a few of the same visits (Grace and Leonard) and visited a few others.
This time we prayed and brought more food. Dispite the language barrier it was incredible to feel a connection through prayer and thankfulness. We are plannning to go back as much as we can and helping Mama Sarah to buy medicines and food after we leave.