By MAD21
A few weeks ago I posted Part 1 of my interview with Ashley Wagoner from Prescription for Hope, Samaritan's Purse. A wonderful organization that works with people all around the world to help those affected by and infected with AIDS/HIV. They bring them health care, educational programs, and the love and knowledge of Jesus Christ. As promised, here is Part 2 of this series. Thanks again to Ashley and her team for taking the time to talk with us about their experiences.
Prescription For Hope
MAD21: In the communities around the world where PFH ministers to people who suffer from HIV/AIDS, what is the general view of life itself? What kind of value do they place on an individual’s life? Since so many of the people who are infected are outcast from their communities, does anyone care if they live or die?
Ashley: The outlook on life differs, and is dependent on each country where we work. We do come across all sorts of stigmas, mainly due to lack of knowledge about the disease. For example, in many areas of Sub-Saharan Africa, there is a prevailing myth that AIDS is a curse from the ancestral gods. Those who have AIDS are then quarantined, and left to live out their lives in isolation, without true knowledge of the disease. Becoming HIV-positive in these societies can be a lot like receiving a death sentence.
The good news is that we see dramatic change in communities through education and the hope of Christ. Once people understand the truth, it breaks this stigma, and community members begin to care for their own. We strongly believe in working through the local church in these communities. Many pastors have not had the opportunity to receive any sort of Biblical education, so our staff help disciple church leaders and give them vital training, also showing them how to reach out to their community. The church then becomes a safe haven for those living with AIDS, and the church experiences growth as a result!
MAD21: Do the people who are outcast due to having HIV/AIDS want to extend their lives? Do you ever have them turn you away and reject your help?
Ashley: As far as I know, we’ve never had someone reject help. Many of the people that we work with are in very remote and rural areas, and they often don’t have access to any other type of help. I’ve always been welcomed with open arms to someone’s home, whether it was a hut or a mat under a mango tree!
There is a story about an HIV-positive man in Uganda named Martin who had been abandoned by his community, but after meeting Samaritan’s Purse, he now volunteers to help care for those who are sick.
In the months he spent recovering from a severe case of tuberculosis and bouts of malaria, it seemed that Martin Oken would never again experience a normal life. His wife had died several years earlier, and the illnesses that plagued his body made others afraid to visit his small hut. But in only a few short months, Martin would be strong enough to carry neighbors in need of medical treatment on the back of his bicycle to the nearest clinic. Martin’s life began to change when Samaritan’s Purse came to his village in northern Uganda to hold a series of health workshops. Staff members noticed Martin on the fringes of the crowd, hiding behind a mango tree. “People never wanted me to sit near them,” he said. “I had lost hope completely, because people were treating me harshly, and nobody wanted to associate with me.”The staff encouraged him to be tested for HIV. When his result came back positive, they facilitated medical care and taught simple ways he could improve his health by eating nutritious meals, drinking only filtered water, and sleeping under a mosquito net to avoid malaria. Martin saw the love of God through their care and compassion, and began a relationship with Jesus Christ. With proper medical care and restored hope, Martin recovered from TB and malaria. He wanted to pass on the love he had been shown with others. He trained as an HIV/AIDS community educator and now hosts workshops, cares for those with AIDS, encourages his neighbors to be tested for HIV, and supports children orphaned by AIDS and other vulnerable children. He also works with a local healthcare center to make sure ill people in his village receive proper care. And he carries people who are too weak to walk to the clinic on the back of his bicycle. “I’m still alive because of the love of Jesus Christ,” Martin said. “So I will work with all my strength to help the vulnerable persons in my community as long as I live.”
Martin with a chicken from the chicken rearing project for those who are infected or affected by HIV/AIDS.
MAD21: Do you ever try to move those who have been outcast into communities where they will be accepted?
Ashley: We wouldn’t want to create more stigma for those who are infected or affected by singling them out to live in one particular place. Instead, we work to educate their family members, church members and their community about the basics of HIV, and help mobilize volunteer teams to train and care for others in the community.
MAD21: I understand that the fear of contracting HIV runs deep. When going into a new area, how do you begin to educate the community? How do you get them to believe what you are saying is true? I’ve heard some horror stories about the things people think they can do to either prevent them from getting HIV or that it will take it out of their bodies. One of those stories involved the raping of very young girls. If people are so scared about contracting the disease that they will believe and do such things, how do you convince them of the real preventatives and treatments?
Ashley: You’re right. There are countless myths about the nature of this disease world-wide, and it is a real issue. You may have heard some of these. One common myth is that someone who is HIV positive can cure themselves by sleeping with a virgin. Some of the most common myths, that HIV can spread from hugging someone, for example, cause the most damage because the HIV positive person is typically isolated due to fear.
The fear is real. That's why it's so vitally important to educate people on the truth. Our program is rooted in prayer, and we go into new areas believing that the God of wisdom and truth, who created these very people we're sharing with, will open their minds and hearts to understand.
Additionally, our education methods are based on Biblical principles, and help move past the disease to address some of the root issues. For example, many people don't realize that marital unfaithfulness is one of the leading reasons why HIV spreads. In many societies it's acceptable for husbands to keep mistresses. The husbands then unknowingly bring the disease home to their families. So, by teaching HIV prevention through the Biblical lens of marriage faithfulness, we end up improving marriages and combating HIV by addressing the root issue.
MAD21: Have you seen a significant reduction of the spread of HIV/AIDS in the areas PFH is working in?
Ashley: Yes! Most of our work focuses on prevention among adolescents. The Johns Hopkins School of Public Health did a statistical study of our work in Mozambique recently. They found major evidence that young people do change their behaviors when educated and empowered to make healthy choices. Within two years, the percentage of females in Mozambique who reported choosing abstinence rose 15%; for males the increase was 7%.
MAD21: Have you seen a significant change in the way the people affected with HIV/AIDS are being treated by their communities because of the educational programs you provide?
Ashley: Absolutely! It’s incredibly encouraging to see the way people respond to those who are infected once they are educated about the disease. For example, we started a program in Cambodia to equip the church to reach out to those in their community who were suffering with the disease. We first focused on ensuring that church leaders were taught the foundational truths of Christianity. Then, we focused on basic facts of HIV and how to start a compassionate care program in your church. Two years later, we followed up with these churches. Of the 40 we worked with, 38 still had programs in their church to reach out to orphans, widows, and those who are more vulnerable to the disease in their community. The change was tremendous. Before the training, one of these pastors felt that addressing AIDS wasn’t his responsibility, and now he's heading an effort in his own community!
MAD21: What is PFH's main goal, the end result that they are working toward? (I mean aside from bringing people to Christ and praying for a cure!)
Ashley: The crisis is still very real, and the disease is still without cure. 33 million are living with the disease, and it took the lives of over two million people last year alone. 15 million children have been orphaned by AIDS. These numbers seem daunting, but we believe that this pandemic is one of the greatest opportunities for the Church to demonstrate the Gospel to people that desperately needs hope.
We've seen the hope of Christ completely transform communities amidst this crisis. Furthermore, we've seen such a dramatic impact from those who answered the call to respond to this pandemic. Imagine the impact we could have if we were able to engage the whole body of Christ in a global response to AIDS.
For us personally, this year we reached the milestone of educating 1 million people around the globe in Biblically based HIV prevention that focuses on abstinence and marital faithfulness.
We dream of seeing 1 million more lives impacted. We dream of seeing the love of Christ continue to transform communities in such a way that every person suffering from AIDS will be cared for.
MAD21: I think your website does a good job covering the overall function of each of your programs. Is there anything specific about any or all of them that you would like to address?
Ashley: Over the past year, we realized that many churches in North America are involved in mission efforts in areas that likely have a high rate of HIV. Because this is an issue that doesn't get much air time from the podium, most churches don't really know how to respond. So our new focus is not only to equip the international church to respond, but also to equip the North American church to respond to the pandemic in areas where they're already working.
One of our newest initiatives was to take our own educational programs that have proven successful overseas, and re-create them as a tool for churches and missions projects so they can effectively respond to AIDS in their work. You can order these educational materials on our website.
Often, churches we work with come to see that it's about more than just a disease. It's also about building Godly relationships and marriage faithfulness. Once churches see that, they often realize that they can help make a difference.
MAD21: How can the readers of this interview get involved?
Ashley: It was a real challenge for me to think, "If an elderly, blind widow in Liberia can care for two orphans, there's so much more I can do!"
Our slogan is "Every action, no matter how small, can bring about change." And we really believe that.
- You can start small by joining our e-list. Also, search for Be the Virus on Facebook and Twitter (@BeTheVirus) and invite your friends to join. Spread our videos around the web.
- Invite our interactive Be the Virus event and touring photo exhibit to your church, campus, or community. We'll even supply a speaker.
- Donate your race, concert, birthday, or other event to the cause through Team Samaritan's Purse.
- God continues to act through the prayers of His people. So start a prayer team in your community and pray for an end to this crisis!
- If you're part of a church, we'd love to equip your church with strategies to help you address the HIV pandemic in areas where you already work.
