Gulu Women Living Positively with HIV/AIDS

The past several days have been so incredible that words can't even begin to describe all that Team Gulu 2014 has experienced. It is like drinking from a fire hose (in a good way) from the moment we begin our days to the time we debrief in the evening. Today was no exception. I will give a brief overview of our day, but would like to focus on one part of the day that touched my heart deeply. We left our hotel at 7:45 a.m. and headed straight to the World Vision office for our morning devotions with the World Vision workers. It is so special to worship with them! Right after devotions, Jeff and I had the privilege of meeting the last of our five sponsored children. His name is Innocent and he and his father traveled over one hour two days in a row to meet us after they missed meeting us yesterday. The time with Innocent was precious and such a blessing. Directly following our visit with Innocent, the entire team hopped into the World Vision vehicles and drove to a community where we were able to see the progress that has been made with the WASH project (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene). We were so impressed with the pride the community has taken in maintaining this life-sustaining project. Our next trip was a visit to a medical center where we met nurse Agnes who does a phenomenal job vaccinating, diagnosing, educating and even counseling patients on various medical issues. Each of the above-mentioned visits could be one blog in themselves, but I promised to focus on just one, so I will hold to that promise. Our last visit was with a group of women who are living positively with HIV/AIDS. All of these women have HIV/AIDS and they have become an amazing support group for each other. Each of these women have started small businesses that allow them to save a portion of their profits, which they pool together to help provide for medical expenses, food and their children's education. In the midst of physical and emotional suffering, these women rely on God for their strength and they are so full of joy as they acknowledge that God is providing for their needs and the needs of their children through their support group. Our team had the privilege of meeting each of these women and hearing some of their personal stories. We also had the privilege of handing out "Caregiver Kits" that have been provided through World Vision's partnership with various churches/sponsors/donors(see picture above). The kits include badly needed items such as wash clothes, latex gloves, ointment, petroleum jelly, cotton balls, acetaminophen, and a log book. These are items that we could easily go to the store and purchase in the U.S., but they are not readily available here in Gulu, especially for someone who is too sick to travel to the store on the rugged roads and in the heat. The kits that we handed out included handwritten notes from the individual who prepared the kit. It was incredible to see the joy on the women's faces as they opened their personal kits and found notes that someone across the globe had taken time to write to them. This concept of the kits reminds me of what Midland Free does with the Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes! I can't help but wonder what kind of impact we could have as a church body and even within Children's Ministry and/or Women's Ministry if we decided to take on the "Caregiver Kit" project specifically for the Gulu district with whom we are already partnering. Only God knows if He will allow circumstances to come together for something like this to happen. I am going to pray about this and ask that you pray along with me. The unspeakable joy that was on these women's faces when they received the kits is an image that will live in my memory forever! God bless all of you, and thank you for your continued prayers. In His Service, Kim G.