World AIDS Day

For the past 21 years, December 1st has been recognized as World AIDS Day, to spread awareness about the global pandemic that is the HIV/AIDS virus. You may or may not know that I happen to be pretty passionate about this topic. Three years ago, I was given the opportunity through Cal Baptist to attend the International Conference on AIDS and the Church at Saddleback, Pastor Rick Warren's church. It was two days full of information about the HIV/AIDS virus, how it worked, common myths about it, the connection with poverty, what we as the church should do about it, and so much more. I could talk about it for a very long time, but I'll try to keep this at a reasonable length.

One of the things I did in Ouallum was tag along with Don and Teresa as they did presentations is villages about AIDS. Even though I know a lot about this topic, this was still eye opening to me. It seems that we always assume that a person who is HIV positive contracted the virus through some immoral means and that they deserve it. However, facial tattooing is very popular in Niger. It is done with a razor blade at home. There is nothing immoral about this practice, but it is a behavior that could lead to the spread of this deadly virus if the blade is not properly cleaned which is not very likely. The same goes for the needle used for ear piercing. Also, it is possible for a mother to transfer the virus to her child while he or she is in the womb. Is it the child's fault? Did the child do something to deserve this? Obviously not. Or what about the woman whose husband has been unfaithful, but she does not have the right to say "no" even if she knows he is infected? Just because someone has the HIV/AIDS virus does not necessarily mean that they were doing something sinful. Even if they were, who of us has not fallen and made a mistake? None of us is perfect. I always try to remember that God is the judge; not us.

This is such an easy thing for me to talk about, something I am very knowledgeable about, and yet I am finding it very difficult. You see, the AIDS pandemic is a very complicated thing. I really could spend hours talking about it and explaining it to you. However, right now I feel like my words would fall on deaf ears. It seems that as much as I can talk about this, few are willing to listen. Most people do see it as a disease that people bring upon themselves. Very few really care about those suffering from this disease.

This is something very dear to me. I don't want to talk at you about it. I would, however, love to talk WITH you about it. If you would like to discuss it please feel free to contact me.

So I'm going to cut this blog short. I apologize for the lame update. Instead of spending my time writing useless words I'm going to do something much more productive. I'm going to go pray. I'm going to pray that the hearts of Christians everywhere would be softened by this global tragedy. I will pray that they will see this complicated pandemic and see the amazing ways that God could be glorified through it. I pray that we would realize that the Church could stop AIDS if we truly want to. It's possible. Anything is possible with the Creator on our side, including the softening of the hard hearts I feel whenever I mention the topic of HIV/AIDS. I'm going to pray; I think you should too.