Tag: HIV

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Stopping the Spread of…

spread “What are we going to do with these men,” they asked. “Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”  Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.  But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”  (Acts 4:16-20)

Well, the kids are back at school and that means it is time to think about ways to stop the spread of that school stuff that wants to come home and live with you!  The CDC has posted the following recommendations: frequent hand washing, avoiding close contact and staying home when you are sick.  Okay, am I the only one who thinks the germs from school laugh when they read this list?  They manage to infiltrate no matter how hard I seek to stop the spread!

As I read this passage in Acts, it sounded like the Sadducees were employed by the CDC!  These self-protective agnostics were also trying to stop something from spreading!  What were they trying to stop?  Peter had seen a crippled beggar and in an act of kindness healed him in the name of Jesus.  It was the spread of the “Jesus germ” that the Sadducees sought to stop.  Their strategy was to get the apostles to stop speaking–the thought was that if they could quiet the apostles this spreading kindness–this spreading healing might also stop!  Does that strike you as odd?  With previously uncharacteristic boldness, the apostles responded to the Sadducees in effect, “It’s too late, we’re sorry, we are already infected and we can’t help but spread this!” 

R. Kent Hughes shares an account from our own history of a man who was spreading the same germ!

Peter Cartwright was a great circuit-riding Methodist preacher in Illinois.  An uncompromising man, he had come north from Tennessee because of his opposition to slavery.  One Sunday morning when he was scheduled to preach, his deacons told him that President Andrew Jackson was in the congregation.  Knowing Cartwright was used to saying whatever he felt God wanted him to say, regardless of how people might react, they warned him not to say anything that would offend the chief executive.  He stood up to preach and said, “I understand President Andrew Jackson is here.  I have been requested to be guarded in my remarks.  Andrew Jackson will go to Hell if he does not repent!”  The audience was shocked.  They wondered how the President would respond to this, but after the service the told Cartwright, “Sir, if I had a regiment of men like you, I could whip the world.” (( R. Kent Hughes, Acts The Church Afire, Crossways Books, 64))

Interestingly enough these Spirit infected Jesus followers were on a world mission–not to whip it but to win it for the Jesus that they had come to devotedly adore!  This “thing” that the Sadducees tried to stop is unstoppable–it is not something–it is someone–the Sovereign Lord of the Universe who is on mission!

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Veggie Tales

March 25, 2004

Hello Friend,

Today we had a very cold start to the day.  All the children came to the dining hall with their sweaters pulled up around their ears. The mamas say once you have malaria you feel the cold more than others do.  After breakfast got started,  I assisted Carolyn by going to the front gate to buy vegetables for the Children’s Center.   GateVeg1 (Small)This was a first for me and I learned much!   Most of the time I am tied up with work at the village, so Mike has become our family shopper.  He knows the prices of everything and I certainly have not learned that to this point. 

Today was my day to begin to learn.  Once a week, about 11 women pick their produce and then gather at the entrance to the gate hoping to sell what they have grown.   They bring sweet potato, eggplant, greens, tomato, papaya, banana, pumpkin, fresh beans, zucchini, avocado and Ntuli — which is a bitter little thing that looks like a tiny green tomato.  I did learn that bargaining is quite fun. As they name their price, they start at about twice what the going rate for the vegetable is.  DSC01746 (Small)I am supposed to look shocked at this first price and say, “Ah, my goodness!  Why so high?”   They furrow their brows and shake their heads sadly, describing how dry it has been and how that makes each item more rare and precious. Their explanations are suppose to make me willing to pay the expensive price.   I counter with the argument that we are buying for many abana (children) and that we cannot afford to pay such high prices when we buy so much. With smiles they suggest another price for me to consider.  The cooks have directed me what the pantry needs are, so I move from person to person wanting to buy something from each.  It feels like such a ministry to the community to have this impromptu market at the gate.  We go back and forth and settle on a price that brings out the smiles. DSC01745 (Small)Today, I spent about $7.50 and had the whole back of the Prado stuffed full. Jane, there is one lady who lives across the road from Rafiki who is suffering from HIV.  She is the most stunningly gorgeous woman that I have ever seen — she has exotic features and such a wining smile.  This rare beauty has also been left in a desperate circumstance.  DCP_0258 (Small)Like so many women here, she was used as a “wife” by an older man in the government and then abandoned. 

When I asked the aunties about this man they said, “JjaJa that man is not well behaved.”  That turn of phrase is used for anyone who lacks integrity or honor.   I would guess that this man was the one who infected her before casting her off to fend for herself.  Unfortunately, she now has children to care for — a very young child and an older toddler.  DCP_0257 (Small)Whenever we meet she is anxious to talk about her faith and her hope. 

She is very bright and resourceful.  In our conversations, she discovered that we mzungus missed having good lettuce,  so she planted this lovely, tender, Boston-like lettuce at her place and she comes to sell it each week.  I buy more lettuce than I can ever eat just so she can have shillings to feed her family.  There is also a very enterprising Muslim woman who comes to the market and she too grows gorgeous produce.  She seems surprised that we Christians are open to buying from her and each time she listens carefully to what we need and the following week those items are there in abundance.  She is prospering for sure.  It was a good time. 

In Great Grace–lissa