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AIDS in Colombia
Magic Tuesdays
Ministry to AIDS victims brings comfort to outcasts
By Heidi Isaza PHOTOS
BOGOTA, Colombia—Every day, 10 people in Colombia die of AIDS.
For most of these people, death brings relief—an escape from rejection and criticism and the almost unbearable solitude in which most people infected with HIV live.
More than 1.7 million people Latin America are living with HIV or AIDS. Almost 55,000 of those people live in Colombia, according to a report by UNAIDS, although health officials here estimate the number of infected people is closer to 172,000.
Angel is one of the people behind the statistics. She waits in a chair close to the door of the AIDS home where she lives. Her body is fragile from the infection. She is also malnourished, a symptom of the depression she has suffered since being diagnosed with HIV six months ago. Her legs no longer support her; but her smile still works, and it draws those she meets to say “Hi” and give her a hug.
Today is Tuesday, the day when this old brick house on the outskirts of Bogotá feels a little warmer, thanks to visits from Marlene and her team from Iglesia Bíblica Bautista, la Castellana, a local Baptist church.
Four people come to the home once a week to share the love of Christ with the 12 or more people who live at the home at any given time.
Ignacio, the founder and director of the home, says that a little bit of love can make an important difference in the lives of the people there.
“The biggest need I see in all of them is the lack of love,” Ignacio says. “Money is not as important as love. Most of those who have died did so alone, without anyone with them, without a brother, a friend or a parent by their side. They need love and understanding more than anything else.”
Ministering to this group of people has not been easy for Merlene. She began visiting the home several years ago with another group of people. After a short while, however, one-by-one the others stopped visiting. Merlene, on the other hand, could not abandon them, “I felt so much love for them that it was hard to even think about leaving them and not going back to visit… you can see their need for God there. These are people who have been rejected by their family and by the society,” she said.
To some, this ministry is not admirable, and those who choose to help this segment of society often become a target of criticism and ugly comments themselves.
“There are still people who hear the words HIV or AIDS and think that by shaking their hand or giving someone infected a hug they are going to contract the disease,” Marlene says. Ignacio, a nurse, was cut off by his family when he shared with them his desire to help people with AIDS.
“It’s hard when the whole world abandons you, when you know people are pointing you out, when your son won’t speak to you and your brothers and sisters won’t even look at you,” he says.
But the people who live with HIV are thankful for the sacrifices Ignacio has made and for the visits from Merlene and the other members of the ministry.
Jorge was diagnosed with AIDS seven years ago and has been living in the home for four years now. Jorge is fortunate: He is one of the few people at the home who has contact with his family. Yet he still feels alone. He waits excitedly for Tuesday to come so he can spend some time with Merlene and the other members of the ministry.
“I love it when she visits,” Jorge says of Marlene as he hugs a stuffed animal she gave him for Christmas a few years ago. “She seems like such a nice person. She teaches us about God. She is an unconditional friend.”
Teaching and hugs from Marlene and her teammates help Jorge and others at the home deal with the most difficult prospect of all—death.
Those infected with HIV often feel the pressure of their time running out. Death is something they face frequently as their friends and roommates are overcome by the infection.
Jorge shouldn’t be alive today, according to his original diagnosis. He is quite aware of the possibility of dying.
“To see a friend die is the hardest thing,” he says. “In the four years I have lived here, I have seen a lot of people die.”
Marlene also has seen several deaths, but one of her goals is to help the others look at death from a different perspective.
“There have been about 10 people who have passed away, but I know that they are with God now,” she says. “The best thing in the world is when someone dies and we know that we are going to get to see them again in heaven.”
Through her ministry she has seen several people come to know the Lord. When they do, the change is obvious, she says.
A woman named Angel accepted Jesus as her savior last December. Before she knew about God, she was afraid of dying. She worried about what would happen to her children. She was afraid of the future.
Today, she says God has given her “a lot of peace.”
“My way of thinking has changed,” Angel says. “Before I was afraid. But now, for my part, I would like Him to take me quickly.”
Ministry to AIDS victims brings comfort to outcasts
 | |
|
BOGOTA, Colombia—Every day, 10 people in Colombia die of AIDS.
For most of these people, death brings relief—an escape from rejection and criticism and the almost unbearable solitude in which most people infected with HIV live.
More than 1.7 million people Latin America are living with HIV or AIDS. Almost 55,000 of those people live in Colombia, according to a report by UNAIDS, although health officials here estimate the number of infected people is closer to 172,000.
Angel is one of the people behind the statistics. She waits in a chair close to the door of the AIDS home where she lives. Her body is fragile from the infection. She is also malnourished, a symptom of the depression she has suffered since being diagnosed with HIV six months ago. Her legs no longer support her; but her smile still works, and it draws those she meets to say “Hi” and give her a hug.
Today is Tuesday, the day when this old brick house on the outskirts of Bogotá feels a little warmer, thanks to visits from Marlene and her team from Iglesia Bíblica Bautista, la Castellana, a local Baptist church.
Four people come to the home once a week to share the love of Christ with the 12 or more people who live at the home at any given time.
Ignacio, the founder and director of the home, says that a little bit of love can make an important difference in the lives of the people there.
“The biggest need I see in all of them is the lack of love,” Ignacio says. “Money is not as important as love. Most of those who have died did so alone, without anyone with them, without a brother, a friend or a parent by their side. They need love and understanding more than anything else.”
Ministering to this group of people has not been easy for Merlene. She began visiting the home several years ago with another group of people. After a short while, however, one-by-one the others stopped visiting. Merlene, on the other hand, could not abandon them, “I felt so much love for them that it was hard to even think about leaving them and not going back to visit… you can see their need for God there. These are people who have been rejected by their family and by the society,” she said.
To some, this ministry is not admirable, and those who choose to help this segment of society often become a target of criticism and ugly comments themselves.
“There are still people who hear the words HIV or AIDS and think that by shaking their hand or giving someone infected a hug they are going to contract the disease,” Marlene says. Ignacio, a nurse, was cut off by his family when he shared with them his desire to help people with AIDS.
“It’s hard when the whole world abandons you, when you know people are pointing you out, when your son won’t speak to you and your brothers and sisters won’t even look at you,” he says.
But the people who live with HIV are thankful for the sacrifices Ignacio has made and for the visits from Merlene and the other members of the ministry.
Jorge was diagnosed with AIDS seven years ago and has been living in the home for four years now. Jorge is fortunate: He is one of the few people at the home who has contact with his family. Yet he still feels alone. He waits excitedly for Tuesday to come so he can spend some time with Merlene and the other members of the ministry.
“I love it when she visits,” Jorge says of Marlene as he hugs a stuffed animal she gave him for Christmas a few years ago. “She seems like such a nice person. She teaches us about God. She is an unconditional friend.”
Teaching and hugs from Marlene and her teammates help Jorge and others at the home deal with the most difficult prospect of all—death.
Those infected with HIV often feel the pressure of their time running out. Death is something they face frequently as their friends and roommates are overcome by the infection.
Jorge shouldn’t be alive today, according to his original diagnosis. He is quite aware of the possibility of dying.
“To see a friend die is the hardest thing,” he says. “In the four years I have lived here, I have seen a lot of people die.”
Marlene also has seen several deaths, but one of her goals is to help the others look at death from a different perspective.
“There have been about 10 people who have passed away, but I know that they are with God now,” she says. “The best thing in the world is when someone dies and we know that we are going to get to see them again in heaven.”
Through her ministry she has seen several people come to know the Lord. When they do, the change is obvious, she says.
A woman named Angel accepted Jesus as her savior last December. Before she knew about God, she was afraid of dying. She worried about what would happen to her children. She was afraid of the future.
Today, she says God has given her “a lot of peace.”
“My way of thinking has changed,” Angel says. “Before I was afraid. But now, for my part, I would like Him to take me quickly.”