Back in April, my husband, Brian, had the opportunity to travel to Kenya with Pastor Rob and Vince from our church in Atlanta. Their trip was more of a fact finding, hammering out the details of what direction our church should take in Kenya. While he was there he had an incredible chance to meet Frances in Njure. Pastor Frances, as I call him, was not always a Pastor. He was an accountant that felt God calling him to minister to people affected with HIV/AIDS. Fast forward to now...he is pastoring/counseling two HIV/AIDS communities near Karima of widows/widowers and their families. These two communities, one named Hope and the other Victory, wanted to support themselves. They were saving and had a plan on how they were going to purchase some cows and then use the cows milk sales to help sustain their communities. They would put all of the money into a general account and which ever family had the biggest needs at that time, the community would come together and help that family out. Imagine that, living as a community, serving and helping each other out. When Brian returned home he told me about the HIV communities and I fell in love with them, without ever meeting them. I knew God wanted us to do something. Brian was diligent in seeking God out about how to help, with that we felt we were to give monies towards purchasing a cow. So together with our church we were able to purchase two cows, one for each community. Back in July, Brian and I attended a GOA (Glory Outreach Assembly) meeting with Bishop David from Kenya. While we were there, Brian was able to present, on behalf of the church, a check that would pay for the cows. It was an emotional giving, and I remember wondering and hoping that these cows would help these communities.

On Monday, November 24, Pastor Rob, myself and two other team members, Sheila and Sandy were given the opportunity to visit with Pastor Frances and some of the members of these two HIV communities (mainly widows). It was an amazing morning!!! I met Anna, a HIV positive mother of three, and we instantly became friends. She told me that she has been HIV positive for nine years and that her eldest child is HIV positive as well. Anna is so full of life and looks very healthy. She is able to take medications and she tries to take care of her body. In addition, Anna educates people on the truths about the HIV/AIDS virus and how it is contracted. She has such a sweet spirit about her. Once most of the widows arrived we had a time of worship and then we sat down to hear updates from the communities.

We heard some really great news. The cows that were purchased were healthy and yielding milk. One of the communities has been able to take care of families, purchase goats and hens. They will use the hens for the eggs, which they will sell. They have also had a little bit of surplus to plant some crops and buy food for the cows so the milk will be good. They also mentioned that they are saving to purchase another cow. The second community's cow was doing just as well. Once the updates were given the real emotional part came. Pastor Rob asked me to come up to the front of the room with him, mind you there were probably 30 widows and widowers in the room from each community. My heart was definitely with these brothers and sisters in Christ. We presented to the group money to purchase at least one more cow, we thought we had enough for two but turns out the cost of cows went up from the previous purchase. The people were so over joyed. Then Pastor Rob asked me to say something. I could barely stand there let alone say something. I was so emotional, so filled with love and compassion. I told them about how Brian came home and told me all about them. How I have been praying for them and how much I cared. It was amazing!

Then just when I thought it couldn't get more emotional...it did. A few of the widows wanted to serve us tea, made with the milk from one of the cows and bread. Now that might now sound like a lot to you or me, but it is a very big deal there. You see, the milk that they used to serve us could have been sold and the bread probably cost them a weeks wages. It was a very BIG DEAL. These widows served and gave us out of there need, out of their poverty. A truly beautiful gesture but one I still don't believe I deserved. We sat with some of the ladies and had the tea with bread, I cried through the whole experience. I am not even capable of putting into words my experiences that I had with these men and women that day. Hearing how they have been shunned from their families and society. Stories of children with AIDS, I know that it raises questions of why does God allow this? But do you know that these men and women don't get mad at God for the sickness that is upon them, rather they rejoice in the life that they have. They work together in community with each other to meet each others needs. They have learned what so many of us may never fully comprehend. How I wish God would eradicate AIDS and heal every single person inflicted with it!
I know that when I return to Kenya, God willing, this is where my heart is. Working with those who have this terrible disease. Sharing God's love with them, praying with them, crying with them and allowing God to use me. I am serious when I say I love these men and women, they hold a very special place in my heart. And I am thankful that God has given me such a big heart to be able to hold so much in there.
There are still many needs for these communities. Medicine, transportation to hospitals to receive treatments, schooling for their children and the list goes on and on...but for now it will start with two cows and the diligence and hard work of these communities will help to make their lives less stressful and meet their needs. God is awesome in how he provides!!!
I hope this entry makes sense, it is late and I am very tired and emotional writing this one...so I may have to come back and rewrite some of it, for the grammatical errors I apologize...