July 29

July 29, 2009 Kisumu Kenya




Today we were in the field again visiting those who are sick and confined to bed. It is hard to watch people who are dying and try to give them hope which can only be found in Jesus. Many times people become sick and will be in denial about why they are sick. This means by the time they reach the courage to get tested for HIV they are advanced in their illness. Then they are so weak that they get many secondary infections which make them even weaker and sicker. The VCT is doing all it can to create awareness of the importance to get everyone tested and know how to live with HIV. The sooner the diagnoses the sooner the treatment begins and they are likely to have a much longer and healthier life.



Our first visit today was Wilson Rabier. Wilson is so weak he can not speak. His wife left him when he became ill and so he living with a sister who is looking after him as well as a brother. He was very interested in listening as John taught a Bible lesson to him. He then asked for a Bible which we had one with us to give him. He was so weak and thin.



Out next visit was to George Ogola in Kosule. He is a young man whose wife died 4 years ago and now he has been in bed for 2 years. His mother is caring for him. He has no children or anyone else. He was reading his Bible as we entered his mud house. John taught a word to him and prayed for him.



On our way back to work we stopped at a support group members home who had lost her daughter. The deceased young woman was 23. She had malaria and other infections. It was a sad time the body will be brought to the home today and the burial will be tomorrow. We had a time of prayer with the mother.



Also on the road was another woman sitting and selling coal. She too was HIV positive and looked very frail but was trying to make a living. John prayed with her.



Each case is heart breaking. Prayer is huge in the encouragement of the sick.