Testamonies

What a morning! Jim Copple, Bernie Murphy, Chris Ringwalt and Jerry Lambert are here from the US doing assessments dealing with our Swaziland Partnership. We sat with a Support group for HIV/AIDS. Jim ask questions and 3 of the people volunteered to tell their story. A 52 year old man with a family was diagnosed in 2003. He went for testing because he was very ill and was having trouble seeing. At the time he did not suspect that he was positive. He then had to go to South Africa because Swaziland did not have ARV's for treatment at that time.

A lady with the name of 'Happy' and that she showed all over her face became a care giver for the HIV/AIDS Task Force in 2004. She was tested as she was encouraging others to do and was positive in 2005. Her husband didn't want to test or have anything to do with it so he skipped out on her and the children.

Another shared that she (a Mother of 12 children with 8 living and 7 grandchildren) tested positive in 2004 after becoming quite ill. Some of her children will not be tested due to not wanting to know the truth. Listening to her share made us feel that she is very concerned about each of her family.

Some of the challenges each one shared was the lack of food that is a must in order to take the ARV's. Also the stigma among the community they live in and among their family members. They shared the challenge of getting to the Hospital where they receive their ARV's.

All seemed open to share about their situation and tell others about the need to be tested. They shared about the positives of the Support Group where they can openly share what they are going through and feeling. They help one another if there is lack of money to get the proper treatments.

One of the projects that is being started here is a garden plot where these people can raise some food for themselves and also can see the extra to the community for profit. The gardens are started by loving people from the US who donate money to fence in the gardens, and buy seeds for then to begin.

Mary Magagula and Evelyn Shongwe the Task Force Directors gave them clothes that had been sent here from the US and some food. They were given a Relay to Life shirt 2003 from Ohio and all put them on immediately.