Care for AIDS

Care for AIDS is a Kenyan led, American supported program began by two Vanderbilt students and two Kenyans, Duncan and Cornell. Many poor Kenyans, when they test positive, quit their life. They stop working, eating and figure death is near. Care for AIDS provides Hope. This Christian organization educates positive HIV clients that AIDS is controlable with medication. They teach how to go back to work, start small businesses, and look to having a future. Started just a couple of years ago, they now have seven Care for AIDS centers, ran by Kenyans and still growing.

Rainer and I were joined by fellow volunteer, Ryan from Kansas, and joined Sarah and John for home visits last week. It was an amazing day. We walked over 5 miles and attempted to visit over a dozen client's homes, with only about 7 that were there (others were at the market, or thankfully at a job). We met with the client, were greeted warmly, had conversations, and finally prayed for them. Because those with AIDS are sadly shunned by others, their positive status or the disease is never discussed in the homes. We are simply friends visiting. Some of the spouses, family members and neighbors don't know the client is positive.

We enjoyed this project so much. It was so powerful and God used us. We will be doing Care for Aids home visits at least one day a week for our duration in Kenya.

In the middle is the client. She lives in a tiny single room. She was so excited to have visitors, she was shaking. She has very little, but because in Kenya, it is hospitable to offer guests something to eat or drink, she left and brought back each of us a banana and then sent us home with potatoes!

On the couch is our host. I'm holding her two month old. None of her children are positive. She so graciously went and bought us Cokes and Sprites! Kenyans are so kind. It is rude to not accept what is offered.

The gentleman on the left and his wife are both positive. They have 5 children in a two room house. They are both working very hard and have good jobs. They loved having us in their home.