December 2004

Here it is, nearly the end of Advent, that time of waiting and reflection, of anticipation and hope. It is past time to let you know that I have been thinking of you and wish you a joyful Christmas and a New Year filled with peace.

Since my last letter, in some ways it could be said that much has happened and in others, that it has been a time of rest and reflection. April was a time of celebration in South Africa as the citizens went to the polls for the third time in the “New South Africa.” With “free and fair” voting that was exceptionally peaceful the nation chose to have the African National Conference (ANC, the party of Nelson Mandela) lead them again. A few days later the celebrations continued with the commemoration of ten years since the first democratic elections for all South Africans.

Then in November there were the elections here in the United States. This time I was not only observer but also participant, gladly taking part in my civic responsibility and using a privilege of living in a free nation. I must say, though, that the results have left me very concerned about the directions that the United States will take in the coming years, but the majority has spoken.

April, May, and June were busy, with trips to Malawi (a couple of times), to Ethiopia to visit the Synods and attend an AIDS roundtable, and to a conference on children in Kenya. It was an exciting time because I was sensing that relationships with new friends in various countries were growing. I was looking forward to working beside friends especially in Malawi and Zambia in a new way in August.

In Malawi we decided to go ahead with a project that will help people in villages and communities understand more about how they can support each other in preventing the transmission of the HIV to new-borns—prevention of mother to child transmission, PMTCT. Also, the home-based care project that some of you in Presbyterian Churches have been preparing kits for is going along nicely. In the first part of 2004 I had the privilege of doing site visits and was most impressed with the enthusiasm and commitment of the volunteer home visitors. In Zambia there are several projects of both child/orphan care and home-based care that I look forward to learning more about.

The end of May to the beginning of June my father came to Africa to get a glimpse of my world and to visit me. It was his first time to Africa. I had an opportunity to introduce him to new friends and show him some of the AIDS work in Malawi. We also had a good time exploring new places together (such as the Kruger National Park—a game reserve and the Cape of Good Hope, both in South Africa). It is good to know that he can visualize some of what I talk about now and can share that with my mom and others who are interested.

The biennial International AIDS Conference was held in Bangkok this year. I went a bit early, the beginning of July, to see folks and to see if there was any way I could help friends who were working on the conference. Unfortunately, even before the first day of the conference I fell off a sidewalk and broke the neck of my femur (my hip). That put me in the hospital for two weeks where I had three screws put into my hip and missed the entire conference. Many friends learned that I was there and came to visit. It was nice to see them but I could have chosen better circumstances!

Upon release from the hospital, the doctors did not want me to return to South Africa where I live alone and do not have an orthopedic surgeon, yet. As it happened, a friend and colleague from the AIDS ministry in Chiang Mai, where I used to work, was going to the United States. The doctor cleared me for traveling to the United States with him so I could stay with my parents. It was good to get here and to settle in under the care of my parents. To make a long story short, due to an error in the original surgical procedure, in the end of August I had to have the hip operated on again the old screws removed and new ones put in. At this point I am getting along quite nicely not needing a crutch/cane around the house and only using one when going out.

Thanks to the healing going so well, I have been able to do a bit of traveling these past months. This included a trip to Louisville for the Southern Africa Regional Partners Meeting, to Detroit for a mission weekend, and to Washington D.C. to celebrate World AIDS Day with Western Presbyterian Church. I am looking forward to visiting with friends and in churches in the northwest and southwest in January and in the east in February and the first part of March. As things stand now, I will go back home to South Africa the week before Easter. Oh yes, for those who may be wondering where Christopher Robin, my dog, has been through all this, a family in South Africa has taken him in as a foster dog for the months that I am away. I am most grateful to them and am sure he is very happy, as they have another dog and a little boy who likes to play with him.

In closing, I trust that the Light that shines in the darkness will shine on us all to be a comfort and guide for you both in this Christmas season and in the coming year.

Blessings,

Janet Guyer

The 2004 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 61