As of August, thirteen groups
had been started. Most groups make and produce a specific product,
but one group bought a fishing net. They had been renting the
net each week, and saw only a small profit. Now they have more
profit to use for transport to the river, for food, and for offerings
to the church and the women’s work.
Monique, the leader of the women’s department, tells about
a widow whose husband and child died of AIDS. She was left with
three children ages 12, 10, and 8, all of whom were malnourished
and none went to school. After six months buying and reselling
maize with her group, the children have recovered and two of the
three are now in school. Monique said this woman is now proud
and grateful and for the first time in a long time feels a peace
present in her life. Monique and her fellow leaders believe that
giving each group $300.00 would help the women see more immediate
changes in their lives, but lack of resources prohibits this at
the moment.
In September the PC(USA) held a conference in Nairobi Kenya so
that African church leaders could talk deeply and honestly about
HIV/AIDS. Thirty leaders from 17 countries attended this five-day
meeting and were encouraged and challenged by all that went on.
Discussion groups included topics such as “church behaviors,”
for example, how the silence of some churches promotes the spread
of the disease. If churches don’t shed light on AIDS it
remains a mystery and therefore uncontrollable and leads to apathy
about changing one’s behavior. Another unhelpful church
behavior is not speaking out when people with AIDS are stigmatized.
Leaders talked about the need to confront the sin of adultery
in a manner that leads to behavior change but at the same time
allows people to find forgiveness and full fellowship in the church.
A discussion on “Spirituality and HIV/AIDS” underscored
the difference between the African worldview (spiritual) and the
Western worldview (scientific) and how Christianity impacts the
two. Since many Africans think HIV/AIDS is caused by evil spiritual
forces, they discussed how the Christian faith, which has reached
an accommodation with science, can help the churches engage more
fully in loving care for those infected and affected by AIDS.
These leaders are people of deep faith who are concerned for
their churches, their countries, and their people. They are overwhelmed
by the challenges and urgently seek our support, our prayers,
and our encouragement. I encourage everyone to pray regularly
for them. Contact me if you’d like to know their names.
Pray for me as I finish my time at home and prepare to return
to Africa. I’m moving to Ghana in January 2005. I’ll
be looking for a new home, a new community of fellowship, and
some friends. Please be in touch with me any time. I love to hear
from you.
As we approach Thanksgiving and the Christmas holidays, I continue
to thank God for the grace He continually shows me through you.
You have blessed me in many many ways and I am so thankful.
Have a blessed and joyous holiday season always remembering Jesus
Christ and His love and sacrifice for each and all of us,
Caryl
The 2004 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p.
38 |
