She walks!

Today I was given permission to visit Unga. Permission is required as I am not working these days, until the team and I agree that I have recovered and been restored after all the events of the last month. I appreciate the care my team provides, that they would allow me to rather tell me I am not to minister until I myself am whole again, however, I have missed Unga! I have missed my friends!

But, Patrick and Joe were sent by CMF to get some pictures and video of what's going on here in East Africa. The poor guys have had a world-wind but I am sure life changing trip! They have visited nearly every ministry in Kenya and Tanzania! I can't communicate how much driving, early mornings, walking, and working they did!

Well today was my day, and although I am "not doing ministry" right now, I was allowed the exception to take them into Unga, visit my friends and share with them my heart, and they will hopefully be able to communicate that with you over the next several months! You will see some fruit of their work in upcoming newsletters and on the CMF Website and publications I am sure.

It was fun having them, but I have to be honest, it was even more fun to go see my friends! I was able to visit Elizabeth who shocked me! She was walking! Last time I saw her I thought it would be my last! She was so sick and well, she was dying. She couldn't lift her head off her pillow and she could barely speak, but today, she was radiant! Still skin and bones, and still living with AIDS, she is gaining strength. We joked and laughed and rejoiced on the sofa as she shared with me how she can now help sweep around the house, and do chores for her aunt (she lives with her aunt as her parents died of AIDS a little over a year ago.) It was a fantastic visit. She hopes to gain enough strength and find the money to return to school!

We went from there to visit another lovely friend of mine who is muslim, but attended our CHE vision seminar, who also has HIV. She had been sick too, but mentioned getting better and planning to return to work in the next week. It was a joy to greet her!

The last home we visited was the home of Mary, a little girl I have written about before. She is 11. She has HIV. She is an orphan who is trying so hard to live! She too lives with her aunt, who is caring for mary and her own daughter on her own after the death of her husband to AIDS a few months ago. Mary wasn't feeling well today, she not only has HIV, but Malaria as well. We made sure she got her malaria medication before we took off towards the church.

After our home visits we visited Mary Msuya, the pastors wife of the church we have been using to spread news of CHE. We also got to see all my friends at the local Compassion International office for that area of Unga. It was like a homecoming. I shared with them the challenges of the last few months, and explained to them my absence in the last few weeks and then made plans to contact them when all is well again, letting them know that even this hurdle is not too big for God to do BIG things!

It was a fun day. I thanked Patrick and Joe at the end for giving me and my team a reason to allow me to go visit Unga. I look forward to being fully restored, and being able to fight the poverty that grips Unga in the future!