I found myself looking forward to working with Deepa every day. Since she is one of the commuting students that travels to the center daily, there were some days she was unable to attend. One day this week when class was over I was standing in the stairwell trying to communicate with her about why she had been absent the previous day. We sat on the flight of stairs leading to the roof to avoid the crowd of women moving down the stairs to lunch. Deepa said she had been to the hospital the previous day to get medicine and then she began to cry. She put her hand over her eyes and the tears just fell. I enveloped her small frame in my arms and she sobbed.
There is something else you should know about Deepa. She is HIV positive. She fully understands the implications of this diagnosis and through our conversations I know that she has given up hope on having children. As I sat there in the stairwell holding her and feeling her hot tears fall on my jeans I my heart was moved and I wept for my friend, for her fear and loss of hope, and for her future that seems so uncertain. I cried out for the Lord to move and rescue her, for her healing and for her joy to return.
Please join me in prayer for Deepa and for other women who are frightened and feel they have nowhere to turn; for those women who are shamed, silenced and broken. For those who are facing the cruel realities of life and know no hope. God has not forgotten. God has not turned away. Please pray.
