I’ve met some amazing people in the last few weeks. Their stories are all so incredibly unique, and mostly unbelievably heartbreaking. When the World Race teams first arrived here two weeks ago, Pastor Gift sat down with me and the two leaders to discuss what their ministry would most likely look like. He told us about six different individuals either dying of sickness or of age. All but one are HIV+, and at least two are under the age of thirty. These are the people that the Racers ministered to during their first week.
The first person he described as follows: She is dying of HIV/AIDS. When she was fifteen she was raped by her uncle and another close relative, and contracted the virus. She is very sick and in the final stages of life. She is not able to care for herself anymore, and is confined to her bed. She has open sores covering most of her body due to the HIV, and needs complete hygiene care.
As he went on, I stopped him to ask a few questions. Is she a believer? Yes, she accepted Christ with the last Real Life team that came through here. Praise the Lord! At least she has a hope beyond her current circumstances. Then I asked her age. Nineteen. My heart dropped, and I asked him to repeat himself, because I didn’t want to believe I had heard correctly. She a child! This poor daughter of Christ is only nineteen and suffering in the body of someone years beyond. How is this possible? How is this okay? How has this nation not changed their ways? Rather, they have allowed their youth to be murdered by perversion, apathy, and incredible injustice, leaving a wake of death, fear, and loneliness in it’s path.
We were able to meet her later that afternoon. Her home is made of mud and sticks, with a dirt floor, and no lighting aside from what came in through the doorway. She lay motionless on her mattress on the ground, void of expression, and barely able to utter a word. We saw the wounds on her body, and it broke my heart all over again. We began to pray over her, but it was overwhelming. Many of us just sat there with tears filling our eyes, unable to formulate the “right thing to say.” What do you say? How do you apologize for this wickedness? What words do you even pray, knowing that her own family has caused her premature death? I’ve asked a lot of questions lately, and I still can’t wrap my mind around this sweet girl.
God, please offer comfort to this daughter of yours. Show your love through the actions and words of the people that minister to her. Give her peace and a rest from her constant pain. Provide for all her needs, but especially for her physical comfort and emotional strength during this last period of her life. May she be a testimony of your grace through her faith in you.
