8 going on 16

After walking with Jenelle I returned to Unga for an already scheduled walk with Mama Diwani to visit some people suffering with HIV/AIDS.

I was under the impression I was going to see some mamas today, but when I walked into the first house I was surprised to find the body of a little girl laying curled up on the couch. She couldn't have weighed any more than 65 pounds, her skin hanging on her bones, lacking in color, and peeling. She tried to greet us, but you could just tell by her voice that it hurt to do so. We talked with her aunt, and learned that she is on ARV's and is doing better on them. She has been taking them since February. All the while I am thinking that this poor little girl has had such a rough life. I eventually work up the courage to ask this little girl how old she was, and I know my expression was filled with shock as she replied that she was 16! 16! I was floored. How could this frail, shockingly small creature be 16! Easily, she is battling TB and AIDS. Pray for Elizabeth. Pray she would find comfort in Jesus. Her parents both have died in the last couple of years of AIDS as well, and she is living with her aunt. Pray that her aunt would find stamina and perseverance as she cares for an extra child.

Our second stop was to visit a grandma. Grandma had TB and HIV as well. She poured her heart out to us and her struggles. Her main struggle was the infant she was caring for. Or at least he resembled an infant. He was 3. He also had TB and HIV and a terrible cold. Grandma was caring for him, and herself, because his parents took off a few weeks ago and haven't come back. Grandma is also taking care of his 3 siblings. Pray for Grandma. Pray for people to step in and help her. Pray for strength, encouragement and healing.

Pray for us. I know that the home health care modules of CHE can dramatically improve the lifes of these patients. Pray for those relationshpis to be built and for lives to be transformed.