HIV/AIDS

Before I went to Uganda for the first time in May, I had never met a person with HIV or AIDs (at least not that I was aware of). I cared about the issue. But that's what I saw it as- an issue. I knew some of the basic facts, I was in Acting on AIDS & participated in a lot of the activities, I felt bad when I heard the stories, etc. But it wasn't a part of my world.

Then I went to Uganda in May of 2006. There we did things with the TAPP program. We went on home visits. I met people with HIV & AIDS, I touched people with HIV & AIDS, I sang with people with HIV & AIDS, I prayed for people with HIV & AIDS, I heard their stories out of their mouths. It wasn't just an issue anymore, it was something affecting people I know.

So when I got back I had a choice. I could leave everything I saw in Africa, I could leave it an ocean & many miles away from me, or it could stay a part of my world. Actually, I'm not sure if it really was a choice. I don't think I could forget if I had wanted to. When I got back I read. I learned in class. I went to other informational things. I got involved in the local ministry. I told others.

Then I went back to Uganda again and it became even more a part of my world. Again I went on home visits, I met people, touched people, sang with people, prayed for people, talked with people that had HIV & AIDS. I learned about HIV and AIDS with and from people who's lives it directly touches. I held children and played with children who's parents have HIV & AIDS. And so much more. When we got tested for HIV in Uganda, I even got a glimpse of the fear of possibly having it, what people who don't have choice of whether it's a part of their world or not go through. It became not only more than an issue to me and a part of my world, but a part of my heart.