Testing my faith

This is Sharon. She is 8 years old and lives in a very remote area that used to be a camp. I was having an HIV vulnerable group meeting in her camp a few weeks ago when I met Sharon. It was towards the end of the meeting when I was praying with our clients and I opened my eyes saw Sharon sitting on the dirt in front of me. Her little body was so frail and emaciated and her eyes were sunken in and hopeless. My heart instantly broke for this girl. She waited patiently until we had distributed meds and then Bonnie, Tony and I took her to the corner of the church and began to find out her story. Her parents had both died a few years ago from HIV supposedly and left her and a younger brother living with her grandma. Her grandma is an alcoholic, as many people living in these camps, and forced Sharon to dig in her fields and prepare all of the food or she would beat her. I would think that day after day of hearing sad stories would harden my heart but once again I fought back tears. Her voice was so weak and hoarse it was obvious she had tuberculosis. The three of us drew close to her just to hear her as she whispered. Since she was born, everyone had told her she was HIV positive so when she heard we were in the camp and came wanting some medicine for HIV. Two women from the meeting then approached us to validate the girl's story and mention that they had tried to help in the past but the grandmother had refused to allow anyone to help Sharon. We then bought some food in the trading center area and asked one of the women to bicycle Sharon to another trading center the next day for HIV testing. We had to be sure she was positive to know the best way to move forward. As we left her camp on the motorcycle I couldn't hold back tears.

Surprisingly the next day we found her along the way with her grandmother. She said the person who does the testing was gone for 3 weeks. So we asked the grandmother if we could take her back with us to the town where we stay and get her properly tested. She agreed and this scared, frail little girl hopped in the truck with 3 white strangers and headed to town, where she had never been before. To make a very long story short, we spoiled this sweet girl rotten for 2 days and got her tested and SHE IS NEGATIVE!!!!!!! PRAISE THE LORD!! It is only a bad case of TB that she is suffering from. So we registered her at a government health center and placed her on the 6 month schedule of TB meds. She was so thrilled to hear she was negative! There is HOPE! Please pray for Sharon as she is back staying with her grandma. I am seeking God's wisdom as I visit them this week and speak with the grandma and determine if we need to find Sharon another place to live. We cannot leave her in an abusive situation. Also many of you will remember Morris, another orphan who has AIDS that we are providing for. He is doing well and studying well in school.

Our Ugandan staff and I have talked much lately about what true Christianity is. James 1:27 says that, "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world."

As God opens our eyes to the suffering of many orphans in this area, I am honored and humbled to be able to serve them practically and show them that they have an ALL LOVING FATHER IN HEAVEN who hasn't forgotten about them.

This is where the rubber meets the road. It is a constant test for me if I am actually living out what I say I believe. Whoa!

Please keep praying!

Shaunessy