How old are you?
17, auntie.
How long have you been here for?
Only 10 days. I’m the new girl.
Do you have family?
No auntie, they all died. It’s only me, and has been for the past 6 years.
As I’m sitting on the bench, engaging in this dialogue with Radha, I can’t help but feel the pain she is experiencing. I am at an HIV/Aids Hospital, sitting next to a beautiful, young girl who not only is inflicted with a fatal disease, but also has no family to be with her to comfort her in it.
I proceed to ask more questions to understand better the heart of this beautiful girl. She said that she doesn’t enjoy doing anything, but when I ask what makes her happy, she answers ‘children’ with a huge smile on her face. She says how they make her feel the freedom that she doesn’t have but longs and craves so badly. She has felt trapped for many years (being in a hostel type place before this hospital), but being with children is an escape for her.
We continue to talk about our favorite things, she loves the color pink, fast music not classical, roses and sunflowers, rabbits and chapatti.
Promise me you’ll come back tomorrow, auntie?
I promise.
Along with Radha, I met two strong, influential women of faith. One woman had half of her body paralyzed, and could only walk with assistance or wobbled very slowly down the hall if she was able to grip the wall along the way. The other woman experienced chronic pain in her body, making it difficult in everyday things. However, despite being inflicted with these diseases and bodies that didn’t function properly, I could literally FEEL their joy and peace despite their circumstances. The word I could fully understand from each was ‘Jesus’, and every time either of them said it, it was with a huge smile on her face and a joyful laugh. They had the hope of the eternal life promised deeply rooted in their hearts and minds, they know that despite the bodies and pain they are suffering in currently that there is a God who loves them, comforts them, and knows them intimately. Who they will be spending an eternity with, in their new bodies, pain free.
The last experience I want to share was about a young man who came and joined us on the bench. He was so tiny and frail, his skin pulled taught, yet older than I. We began talking with the few English words he knew, then asked me to adopt him and take him to America where we will get some American food.
Shortly after a visitor came walking up, stopped and just stood there staring at the man I was talking to. He looked a little in shock and confusion. The man I was talking to stood up and walked to the other bench and sat down with the visitor. I found out they were brothers, and the visitor immediately started sobbing, it was the first time he found out his brother was tested positive and now dying.
It was absolutely heart wrenching to watch these two brothers sob together over this news and reality.
Through my time spent at the HIV/Aids Hospital, The Lord gave me the opportunity to share in these moments and feel with these beautiful souls He has created. He allowed me to sit with them in their hurt, sorrow, confusion, despair, loneliness, joy, and peace. Through that morning God showed me how to be specifically in prayer for these five individuals, how to notify others of that need for those prayers, and how to be praying for all people and families affected by HIV and Aids.
He also showed hit me again with the abundant blessings He has poured out in my life, and with that, how much I can give back because of that. I have a healthy, alive, and loving family. I have loving supportive friends who I have been beyond blessed to know. I am not infected with a life-altering disease or disability. I was born in America where I have countless freedoms and decisions I can make on my own. I have the ability to walk, run, jump, skip; I have eyes that function well and can see all the beauty around; ears that can hear the ocean waves, music, the Indian drums; a mouth that can taste, a nose that can smell, two arms and legs, all fingers and toes accounted for.
There is so much in this life to be thankful for, and in turn to give back to The Lord out of gratitude!
Luke 12:48: But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.
Psalm 107:8: Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
Psalm 108:3: I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples, and I will I will sing praises to You among the nations.
