One year ago today, my daughter was on the other side of the world, in the middle of a medical crisis, with uncertainty and danger on every side. We were waiting to hear whether she would need surgery. I was applying for my visa - not wanting to go to India, but wanting/needing to be there with her.
Today that daughter is safe in Michigan. Today I held her new-born daughter (my first grandchild) in my arms - in a beautiful, modern, sanitary birth center. How different from what might have been. How grateful I am.
One year later, other areas of life are very different as well. One year ago a flourishing house church was meeting in our home every week; today we are on a Sabbatical from pretty much all ministry. A year ago today we carried the dreams and burdens for this place and wondered where we would find the energy and resources to make them happen; today we feel released from that load and free to move on to new adventures. What a change that is for us. It feels like a fresh start, turning over a new leaf, opening a new chapter.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
December 1 - World AIDS Day
Today is World AIDS Day - dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. I won't presume to tell you what you should do about this fact. I don't even know yet what I'm going to do. But I can mention some things that we could do.
I could spend some time thinking about a few facts:
-that AIDS has killed more than 25 million people between 1981 and 2007
-that of the estimated 2 million who died in 2007, about 270,000 were children
I could let myself be appalled at the numbers of people currently living with AIDS:
-one million in the Congo
-one million in Uganda
-over a million each in Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and the USA
-nearly two million each in Mozambique and Zimbabwe
-two million in Nigeria
-5.5 million in South Africa
-5.7 million in India
I can applaud the efforts of those who:
-have chosen to minister to AIDS orphans across the African continent
-are using their fame & their wealth to try to curb the spread of disease
-have invested their time to do research and find cures
I can grieve with those who grieve.
I can remember specific people who have died from AIDS.
I can celebrate their lives and the contributions they made to this world.
I can express my gratitude for having known some of them.
I can pay tribute to the amazing and talented Ron Sims.
I am a better person for loving and having been loved by him.
I could spend some time thinking about a few facts:
-that AIDS has killed more than 25 million people between 1981 and 2007
-that of the estimated 2 million who died in 2007, about 270,000 were children
I could let myself be appalled at the numbers of people currently living with AIDS:
-one million in the Congo
-one million in Uganda
-over a million each in Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and the USA
-nearly two million each in Mozambique and Zimbabwe
-two million in Nigeria
-5.5 million in South Africa
-5.7 million in India
I can applaud the efforts of those who:
-have chosen to minister to AIDS orphans across the African continent
-are using their fame & their wealth to try to curb the spread of disease
-have invested their time to do research and find cures
I can grieve with those who grieve.
I can remember specific people who have died from AIDS.
I can celebrate their lives and the contributions they made to this world.
I can express my gratitude for having known some of them.
I can pay tribute to the amazing and talented Ron Sims.
I am a better person for loving and having been loved by him.
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