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December 15, 2000
Dear Friends,
When each of us are born, the gift God anoints our foreheads
with is hope…and it is this hope, when it is the foundation
for our actions, which leads to peace.
Listening to the various presenters at the Christian Church of
Thailand AIDS Ministry (CAM) World AIDS Day/Christmas celebration
last week, it seemed hard to believe that another year has passed
and it was again time to celebrate and remember. We celebrate
the lives of those who are working so hard to make a difference
in both their own lives and the lives of other people living with
HIV/AIDS. We remembered those we cared for and those who celebrated
with us in years past but who did not live to be with us this
year. We also celebrated the birth of Hope, of the Prince of Peace,
as we do at Christmas each year.
Hope and the search for hope could well describe the International
AIDS Conference in Durban, South Africa. The conference was very
interesting and worthwhile. Hope came in learning the new scientific
information. Although we are still a long way from major breakthroughs
that will make a difference to people living in the developing
world, there were glimmers of hope in the hard work of people
who have committed their lives to making a difference. Seeing
people again that I met in past conferences and talking with people
who are doing grassroots work similar to the work we are doing
was one of the highlights of the gathering. Perhaps one of the
measures of the success of such a conference is the number of
people from the conference with whom I have been in touch since
then to exchange information or just to say hello.
Also, during the conference we held a board meeting for the International
Christian AIDS Network. It looks like it is getting a new lease
on life and will be taking off in some interesting directions,
including being more international. As I write, our next board
meeting will be in Harare, Zimbabwe, this January.
After getting back from Durban, a group of friends and I did
our second workshop on working with children. The first one was
in May or June (it all seems to blend together) and was targeted
to people within the support groups of people living with HIV/AIDS
who are focusing on working with the orphans. For many, the question
was also there as to how to be better parents for their own children.
The second was targeted to the grassroots NGO (non-governmental
organization) workers also focusing on children. What a pleasure
it was being with people interested in caring for the kids.
In August, after a day of meetings for the Christian Guest House
Board, I went back to the United States for home assignment. Most
of the three months was spent traveling. It was a wonderful time
of seeing old friends and meeting new. I must say that I was so
warmly welcomed and well cared for every place I went that I was
absolutely spoiled (and loved every minute of it!). It was also
a pleasure to try to introduce people to the work we are doing
and the people with whom we work. Even so, it was simply not enough
time, so for those of you who wanted a visit and it just didn’t
work last fall, there is always next year.
Yes, next year. Beginning in February, I will be working as a
missionary-in-residence in the International Health Ministries
Office of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). I’ll be helping
the church look at how we can best make a difference in the global
fight against AIDS, malaria, and TB. (For those of you who are
Presbyterian, have you heard of the "Networker Project"?
If you are looking for a project this one is quite exciting!)
This means that I will be living in Louisville, Kentucky, for
a year.
Which brings us to addresses. Mail can be sent to the International
Health Ministries Office, 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville,
KY 40202. This address will be good beginning in February.
But in the mean time, back here in Chiang Mai, there is a lot
to do between now and then, wrapping things up in the office,
meetings and workshops, not to mention packing up the house and
getting ready to leave for a year. A friend and colleague will
stay in the house for the year I am away. This will work very
well for Christopher Robin, my Labrador retriever, (and also,
for me).
And then there are the Christmas celebrations…. People started
asking early this year to come caroling at my house because they
like the cookies! (It seems that this year the interest in the
cookies is stronger than the fear of the big dog.) That will be
wonderful, as carolers are one of my greatest joys at Christmas
(and I do like making cookies, too). As well as the carolers there
will be many Christmas concerts and I will have my annual Christmas
tea when friends drop in and we have time to just sip wassail,
relax, and enjoy a little peace in the midst of the activities.
I trust that Christmas will be for you and yours a time of joyful
celebrations and of keeping the traditions, old and new….
And in the midst of the sparkle of lights and tunes of Christmas
carols we will all hear again the angels’ song and celebrate
the birth of the Prince of Peace.
Christmas blessings,
Janet Guyer
The 2001 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 165
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