Hot off the press…

Dr. Patrick Dixon has written many many books.   Today we received his latest – a Marathi translation of AIDS and You.

We are excited to have this simple but powerful book which helps people understand what HIV/AIDS is and gives practical and wise guidance for how to respond.

Later this afternoon we will have a small prayer meeting with a local pastor who has a real heart for people with HIV and ask God to use this book to help people with HIV and those who look after them.

Jeevan Sahara Kendra is also privileged to be listed as one of the contact addresses given for people who want to follow-up and who would like advice and referrals.

We know that a single phone call and make a huge difference for a family in need.  Sadly every month we read in the newspapers about people with HIV who have given up hope and have committed suicide.  So much can be done – and so much hope is available.   With great opportunities come great responsibilities!

Keeping trust alive

The person behind the paper has HIV.

But we are not showing the person’s face.

Why?

Because we still live in an age where to admit you are living with HIV has serious consequences.

People who you know do not want to know you.  Your job may be at risk.  Your landlord may ask you to leave your room that you are renting from him.  Your own family members may not welcome you into their homes any more.

Though we have had HIV in India for 23 years now – it is still the disease that dares not speak its name.

At Jeevan Sahara Kendra we are committed to serving people with HIV.   We are also very aware of the stigma that so many of our Positive Friends face when others find out about their status.

That is why we try hard to maintain the confidentiality of each person we serve.   That’s why every person who gets counselled and tested for HIV has a code number.  That’s why our prayer calenders always use pseudonyms to refer to the Positive Friends we are seeking prayer for.  That is why we assure our Positive Friends that whatever they share with us will remain confidential.  We will not disclose their identity, status or situations to other people.

At the same time, we wish for the day when people with HIV can be more open about what is happening in their lives.   The fear of others ‘finding out’ does so much damage.   Besides keeping people from getting the correct treatment for themselves, it also means that many procrastinate telling their spouses and other loved ones about their status.

When combined with a sense of denial – it means that many with HIV never let others know the truth about themselves – always hoping that they will ‘get better’ – always postponing the decision for ‘another time.’    Sadly, for some this means that when others find out about their HIV status, it is too late.

I can remember a young man being carried out on a stretcher – on his last journey to the hospital – mainly because he and his widowed mother did not want others to know about his status.

We must work at both nurturing the trust of people with HIV, helping each person know that their trust is safe with us.   At the same time, we want people with HIV to be bolder and come out more about their status.   The best example for others to emulate is the courageous step of a person getting up and publicly telling others about their HIV status.

At Jeevan Sahara Kendra we want to be as harmless as doves, but as wise as serpents.  We want to protect the identity of our Positive Friends – while at the same time pushing back the boundaries and allowing People living with HIV to stand up and tell about their situations!

Home visit

Meeting a person with HIV in their own home is the simple but challenging key to Home-based HIV care.

Simple and solid – because we are in the person’s own place of residence.  We are now the guest – instead of calling the shots and telling people where to sit as happens in a hospital OPD.   As we stoop to enter the door, we are also (hopefully) stooping in our inner being and accepting hospitality.  This is sometimes hard to do,  but so important, since it gives great dignity to our positive friends and their care-givers.

Challenging, because you never know what will happen.

When the neighbour lady stops in to see who the ‘guests’ are – then the conversation has to avoid anything to do with HIV, medications etc.

When things get out of control and an argument erupts between the spouses we are meeting.  Do we allow the talk to take its course?  We we intervene?  Do we get up and say we will come again?

Difficult when each time the same issues keep showing themselves.  Each family has its own share of miseries.  For some, it is fear and shame regarding others.  For others an inability to get work.  Still others are tired of being sick – and caring for the sick.  Others have issues of alcohol abuse – and the seedy business of working through broken relationships.

For each home visit we go with a prayer.  We listen.  We encourage.  We check on the physical well-being, the emotional situations, the relational issues, the life of the spirit.   We leave words of encouragement.   Offer advice when needed (and likely to be heeded!).  Usually share some words from God’s word – and a prayer.

Coming out of the home we never know how much good has been finally done.  But we do know that lives are being changed – as they go through the valley of having HIV.

Counselling and Testing for HIV/AIDS

Jeevan Sahara Kendra is happy to announce that we are now able to counsel and test for HIV at the JSK centre.

Anyone who would like to be tested for HIV – or has a family member or friend they feel should be tested – is welcome to come between 9.30 AM and 5 PM from Monday to Friday and from 9.30 AM to 1 PM on Saturdays.

Our experienced counsellors will meet with and explain the HIV test and possible outcomes to those who need the test.  After getting voluntary consent, a blood sample will be taken which will be testing for HIV anti-bodies using 3 different reagents.

Though the cost of the reagents alone is over Rs. 400 we will collect a minimum fee of Rs. 10 per person.   [note: individuals who would like to contribute more are welcome to do so - this will allow us to test more people who cannot afford the costs].

The test result will be given along with post-test counselling on the next working day.  All results will be confidential.

The Jeevan Sahara Kendra will be able to help people who test positive through medical supervision and home-care, as well as being able to refer to the government health facilities.

Please call up at (022) 25899248 for further information.

A telephone call

The man on the phone wanted to talk.

He was a young man and had a good job. A few of his friends took him and they had some drinks. Then they went to the red light area in Mumbai. Along with his friends the young man had sex with a prostitute there.

Now he is going to get married. The date has been fixed. But in his mind is fear. Does he have HIV?

He agreed to come to Jeevan Sahara for counselling. Dr. Sheba met with the young man. She explained the risks that he had taken. She explained that it would be good to test for HIV – but that since the risk exposure was recent that we would do one test now and one in 3 months.

We got a call recently from this young man. His second test has come back negative. But he did it at 2 months and wants to get married now….

In a world where almost every film and every other TV show tells us that sexual fulfillment is the only way forward (and that too not with a loving long-term wedded partner – but by ‘playing the field’) we are see so many who take the long-term risk of getting HIV in exchange for a night of pleasure.

JSK is currently involved in over 200 people living with HIV in Thane. Each one is precious. Almost all have the disease because they or someone they trusted were sexually active outside the marriage relationship. Lets not let it go any further.

Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise.

Youth Against AIDS Fest 08

We are excited about the opportunity for young people to get together learn how to take control of their lives and live confidently in an age of AIDS.

Jeevan Sahara Kendra has been blessed with some wonderful staff, friends, partners and volunteers (often all of these at once) who are working hard to make this programme happen!

More details can be had at: www.YouthAgainstAIDS.com

Prayer on World AIDS Day

Positive Friends Retreat

Do you ever want to ‘retreat’ – to be in a peaceful place – where you can think and learn and reflect and be fed?  We all do – and were recently able to bless many of our Positive Friends by organising a 3 day retreat in Mira Road.

The time was filled with fellowship, input sessions (like the one above being conducted by Dr. Sheba), games, songs, art, food, prayer, personal ministry, time with children…

And so we came to the end of 3 wonderful days of being together – with the majority of the 62 of us HIV positive. Each person was blessed in some way – big or small – and challenged to be a blessing to others.

We are very grateful for bro. John Forbes who lovingly led us in 3 key sessions at this retreat for HIV Positive People of Faith.  John poured himself into all of us – and had just come to us from the US and a very stressful number of months. But here he was with the JSK staff and our many positive friends – and being a blessing to all of us – just like retreat theme Blessed to be a Blessing urged us to.

It would not be exaggerating to say that for some of the ladies this was the most comfortable and relaxing time that they have ever had. What a blessing to serve these dear ones in the various ways. Our hope is that all of us will be able to do what John urged us to in his final session – to bloom where we are planted – understanding that God himself has chosen us, loves us very much, and has placed us in contact with specific others who he wants to touch through us. That’s where we want to see all of us moving into – HIV positive as well as HIV negative – to making a real difference through our lives.

Light a candle

For a person who has HIV – life can seem absolutely dark.

At Jeevan Sahara Kendra – that’s something we understand because we meet people every day who are living with HIV/AIDS.

But we also know that however dark it may be – there is always hope.

Hope that change is possible.  Hope that the trauma and fear that HIV bring to so many will be replaced by peace and courage.  Hope that the inner darkness that so many struggle with will go away as lights are lit.

Join us in making this possible.  Will you visit a family?  Will you spend time to listen to the pain?  Will you pray with a person who has lost so much?  Will you share some of the food that you are blessed with – to make it possible for a widow with HIV to look after her children?  

We know plenty of people who can be helped by your lighting a candle in their lives.  Here in Thane we are in touch will over a 100 families.   If you live outside Thane, we can put you in touch with folks who have HIV in almost every part of the greater Mumbai area.

Light a candle.  Do it now.  Drive a little bit more of the darkness away.

Look Outside Yourself

                                                      

It is easy to go through life ensuring that you have enough money, that your family are cared for, that your friends like you, and your neighbours think you are a “good fellow”.

 

This is a very two dimensional life, and one that brings little reward, in this life or the next.

 

To be able to look outside yourself, to be able to view others suffering and be moved to action, to be able to view the world from an others perspective, and feel empathy. This is what separates man from the other animals. This is a higher plane of human development, and is closer to God’s heart.

 

In kindness is Godliness.

 

Since 2002 Jeevan Sahara Kendra has been reaching out to those suffering from HIV/AIDS in Thane, Maharashtra India. In Indian Culture and society these people are often rejected, outcast, and stigmatized.

 

Jesus reached out to lepers, tax-collectors and sinners when he lived on earth as a man. If he were a man here today I believe he would be right at the heart of HIV/AIDS ministry.

 

Jesus said in Luke chapter 6 verses 32 to 36;

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ’sinners’ love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ’sinners’ do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ’sinners’ lend to ’sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

At JSK we so many people whose lives are broken mended, so many people without hope receive hope. So many people who have been rejected are shown love and acceptance. So many people walk from death into life.

 

Dr. Adam Black served with JSK as a volunteer from 2005-2008