On Saturday in the Mkar region we observed HIV/AIDS support groups called PLWHA (People Living with HIV/AIDS). We had the opportunity to see first-hand the impact of the disease on people in the church, including those in leadership. Part of our group talked with a church elder who was HIV positive and had told his church that he was. We now understand better how HIV/AIDS permeates the whole society and how this is different than our experience in the U.S.A.
Saturday afternoon we gathered in the chapel on campus. 42 young people gathered to learn about HIV/AIDS and to be tested. Rather inexepensive (~$1 each) test kits are available for initial testing. As part of this workshop a Christian Reformed World Missions missionary named Gerald Holtrop gave an impassioned educational talk about AIDS and the importance of being tested. One person in the group tested positive and he was counseled by a NKST pastor trained for this by Beacon of Hope
Sunday morning we traveled to Sai, the site of the first NKST church built by the Dutch Reformed Church in 1911. Clay preached an excellent sermon (no surprise!) which was then given in Tiv by Pastor Saamo, a NKST HIV pastoral counselor. Pastor Saamo had taken notes during Clay's sermon and then summarized it in Tiv (or so we assumed). We were proudly shown a Tiv school where we signed the guestbook, visited a hospital and then had lunch (pounded yams!) at the home of a Sai church official. Sunday night we are in Wukari.
A very busy day. What hard-working, dedicated people! They are making progress but have very few resources. Please pray for them.
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