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March 2002
Dear Friends and Family,
I write you from the States, where I am currently and will be
for four months, meeting with various churches and groups to share
my experiences relating to HIV/AIDS in South Africa. And, as usual,
I’ve got too much to say for the space provided, so let me
move quickly on.
I recently attended an international Christian conference on
HIV/AIDS that had a profound impact on me. Entitled "Prescription
for Hope," it was held mid-February in Washington D.C. Organized
and sponsored by Franklin Graham’s Samaritan’s Purse
and the Billy Graham Association, 916 delegates from frontline
ministries in 87 countries around the globe gathered to meet,
exchange information and stories, and seek opportunities to learn
and link together in our common efforts to address this global
pandemic.
We heard from renowned medical experts, church leaders, and government
and foundation/donor representatives interspersed with video clips
of specific responses from ministries around the world. To say
it was a highly profound, powerful, encouraging, emotional, challenging
experience is an understatement! Certainly one never to be forgotten
and hopefully a springboard to what could be a pivotal event in
jarring the giant of the Christian church awake from its slumber
to respond in a united, universal effort to stop the spiralling
upward trend of HIV/AIDS and to effectively care for those infected
and impacted by it. As an African saying (translated) goes: "They
didn’t die all, but all were affected." Even our own
country, the United States, cannot go untouched and unaffected,
even though our infection rate is but one fortieth of the global
figure. Not insignificant, by any means, though paling in proportion
to the global context of the disease.
Though I have learned a great deal about this pandemic in the
last several years, particularly in the African context, I was
still sobered and horrified by some of what I heard. Let me share
some of what I know and what I learned to give you some sense
of our ever growing concern.
Globally An estimated 40 million people are currently infected,
with 15,000 new infections each day (5 million a year, compared
to 3 million in 2001); 95% of these are in developing countries
where instability exists or where people are marginalized, leading
to the breakdown of family structures; 22 million have died in
the past 20 years; in 2001, there were 12 million AIDS orphans
with 40 million anticipated by 2010; Russia and Eastern Europe
have the fastest growth rate, increasing tenfold since 1997; India
is second only in total infections to South Africa.
Sub-Saharan Africa Home to over 28 of the 40 million infected
as of 2001; 30-50 million are expected to die in the next 10 years.
Currently 83% of all deaths are HIV/Aids related. Staggering,
isn’t it? Can you even begin to grasp this? Try as I might,
I can’t!
South Africa Home to the highest number of infected persons in
the world; 75% of 15-year-olds are expected to become infected
in their lifetime; the military reflects a 60-70% rate; recent
studies of pregnant women at a clinic and truckers on the road
showed rates ranging between 85% and 98%. And 9 out of 10 don’t
even know they’re infected!
So, as Christians, as the Church of Jesus Christ, what are we
to do? How are we to respond to a situation that seems absolutely
out of control and beyond all hope? We pray, first of all. A lot.
And ongoing. For what?
- That the Church step to the front line of the battle and fill
the leadership vacuum. We need to unite and partner together
to maximize our efforts. Another African translation: "If
you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."
That we must.
- That we help remove the social stigma and denial by showing
the same compassion and love of Jesus. Ours is not to condemn
or judge but to respond with care in love.
- That we educate in truth and love, teaching prevention, supporting
healthy life styles, addressing sexuality issues clearly, and
teaching that we place ourselves at risk when we operate outside
the parameters God has defined for us.
- That we allocate and share resources. "To whom much is
given, much is expected."
- That we enlist others to get involved.
- That we support families and those caring for orphans.
As one speaker said, "I don’t know if you’ve been
there. I don’t know if you’ve seen." I have. At
this point there is no end in sight to the spread of this disease.
It continues to escalate beyond human comprehension—and beyond
our human ability to curb it. We need God’s intervention—
your prayers will enable that. Please, won’t you join us?
"With man this is impossible, but with God all things are
possible" (Matthew 19:26).
With blessings and love,
Cindy Easterday
The 2002 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 46
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