 Hallelujah Moment from South Africa: "I Got Tested for HIV" |
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by Hannah Hanson |
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May 28, 2010 So we all got into a taxi and headed for the clinic in Alberton. After an introduction and some questions, we were asked if we wanted to be tested for HIV. I was actually hoping all of the students regardless of age or material status would get tested. Some students were tested for the first time. Can you imagine that kind of pressure? Tests always present pressure, and even the things you think you know may not be valid. So I went in the room with the nurse, had my finger pricked, and waited to see the results. I am a big proponent of accepting testing. I think it keeps people from perpetuating the stigma. When I came out of the room, I was careful with my facial expressions, because everyone’s status is their own and I didn’t want to affect anyone else’s feelings. My exit counseling was a little rushed, but the experience gave us all better insight to relate to the people we were meeting in the home based care visits. This story is an excerpt from a longer story that can be read at: http://hannahatshade.blogspot.com/ Hannah Hanson is a Mission Intern--a young adult, three-year missionary of The United Methodist Church--who is working as a teacher and farmer at a center for sojourners, SHADE, in Johannesburg, South Africa. SHADE stands for Sojourners: Help, Advocacy, Development, and Education. SHADE replaces the words "immigrant" and "refugee," with the Biblical word, "sojourner," to endow displaced families and travelers with a sense of dignity as they escape persecution and seek God. The Alberton health clinic is a ministry of the Alberton Methodist Church. Ways to Support this Ministry Support:
Go to: advancinghope.org. To learn about becoming an international young adult missionary, link to: http://new.gbgm-umc.org/connections/youth/interns/ Hallelujah Moments
Worship Bridge The wonderfully joyous "Amen Siakudumisa / Amen, We Praise Your Name, O God" (Global Praise 1:4, The Faith We Sing #2067) is one way we can praise God for all the persons who are serving in ministries in South Africa such as SHADE. If you are able spend a few minutes before worship teaching the low-voice men the "fill" sung pattern that is sung after each of the melody line phrase - do it! They will have so much fun singing and the congregation will pick up on the joy of the song. For accompaniment, consider using a light shaker playing straight eighth notes on top of a strong hand drum pattern. This song can be used in so many ways in worship: as call to worship, response to the scripture, as a response to a time of joy or prayer of thanksgiving. The possibilities for praising God in worship are unlimited. Children, youth, and adult choirs will enjoy leading this song. Once the song is in your congregation's memory banks, add hand clapping, colorful streamers, and liturgical dancers to the procession! Praise God Together! Global Praise 1 and all Global Praise resources are available from Cokesbury Music Service
(1-877-877-8764 or email cms@cokesbury.com), from Cokesbury
(1-800-672-1789 or www.cokesbury.com), or your local dealer.
Date posted: May 27, 2010 |
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