'Know Your Status' is the South Africa campaign slogan for HIV/AIDS testing.
Positive? Negative? Not sure?
Limited financial means + limited transportation + limited accessible health care = a great need in the township of Ntshongweni.
To that end and with the mercy of Jesus Christ, I organized with the Hillcrest AIDS center for a Wellness Clinic at our community hall on Saturday, April 21.
First stop, grocery store for 70 boxes of toothpaste.
more and more boxes of the important dental product.
At our center we had 101 toothbrushes which were brought to South Africa last fall from a team coming from America, but we ran out of toothpaste.
The 70 boxes were purchased with funds donated by my friends who wanted to help in a tangible way.
boxes, boxes, boxes and they were HEAVY. Remember we have no transport and have to walk everywhere carrying everything!
I took my hoodie out, tied it around my waist to make room in my backpack for all the boxes, plus loaded up my green grocery bag that I carry with me. Plus my ministry partner, Ginger loaded up her backpack and her grocery bag. In South Africa we are use to carrying our own 'packets', they charge for each grocery bag that you need.
Full backpack.
Ginger and the four bags filled with toothpaste.
Left to Right: Zandle, Lungi, Gugu, Pretty, Busi
Saturday morning arrives and so do the 5 nurses from the AIDS center.
The AIDS center gave me 15 posters to place around the township. 10 in Zulu, 5 in English. I gave them to people, attached them to the fence around our creche, the 'Lutheran Church' street sign, at the schools, and tuck shops. But these clever women came with their own method of 'advertising'.
Matthew 9:35-36
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Driving through the township with the bullhorn.
‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’
“‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’
“Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’” Luke 14:21-24
The women set up 5 tables: one for blood pressure & blood sugar check, weight. The other four were for HIV testing.
Checking blood pressure, blood sugar and weigh.
Who should get tested? According to the organization, nearly everyone:
There are two kinds of HIV tests:
One tests for antibodies in your blood, which might not show up for three to six months after initial infection. You can get results from this test immediately.
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I've mentioned this before, anytime we open the gates to our center the children flock here. Partly out of boredom and partly because we have the only soccer field & playground in the area.
But today I had my IPad with me at the toothbrush/toothpaste table.
The day was begun with prayer and ended early because over 100 people had come for HIV testing that they ran out of supplies. The AIDS center wants to come back in two weeks for another day. Praise the Lord. The people of this township know more about their health, know that we are a Lutheran church that cares and loves them. Knows that Jesus is the Great Physician.
That's a positive status.
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