Adelaide

Imagine this- the temperature is in the upper 90’s, plus humidity, you’re sweating profously, you’re walking in ankle deep sand, the kind of sand that rips your flip-flops off of your feet because you sink in so deep, there are no trees for shade, everyone you pass in little shacks stare at you because you are the first white person to go there, or maybe it is because you are walking with someone who visibly has AIDS.

This walk goes on for an hour.

This was my visit to Adelaide’s house.

I met Adelaide months ago in the Machava Hospital’s Women’s Tuberculosis Ward. I used to go there once a week to visit the sick women. I would bring them bananas & juice, sit on the beds with them, sing over them, and give them drinks of water. We would also read the bible and talk about how it applies to our daily lives. Over time, Adelaide and I became good friends.

I remember one week, I arrived late, in the middle of their group tea time. Adeliade was not there. My heart dropped, I thought my friend had died. Then I heard this weak faint voice calling out, “Alise...” (my name in portuguese). She had been calling me from a different bed in another room. She was too sick to even get up and walk to the group table for tea. I was so relieved- she was alive. But none the less, extremely sick.
All of the women in this ward are quaranteened because they have Tuberculosis. TB is a nasty cough that makes you loose weight, suffer severe lung pain, and cough up brown & bloody flemn. Almost all of these women are HIV+ as well. It is safe to say that almost all of these women in this ward will die because of TB within that next month, maybe week, sometimes days

It was almost right after that, on one of my visits, I couldn’t find her again. This time, the nurses told me that they sent her home to die. I was devestated. I had no way of getting ahold of her. I didnt even know her last name. I asked one of the doctors to help me. He said to come back the next saturday and he would help me look through the archives for her name and a contact phone number. I showed up the next saturday, he didn’t.

I began to pray and ask the Lord to prolong her days. I even asked him to do a miracle and let us get in contact again.

2 months later, I got a call from an unknown number – it was Adelaide! She had written my phone number in the Bible I had given her and one day, she came across it. I told her that I had been looking for a way to get a hold of her. I told her that I had been praying God would do a miracle and cause us to get in contact again. I also told her I had been asking the Lord to prolong her days. She asked me to pray for her. She said that since I had started praying for her, she could tell that my God was giving her strength.

Praise the Lord!! She is still alive! So this past monday I went and visited her! From the main road, we walked an hour in ankle-deep sand to her little grass shack. She told me that when she got sick, started loosing weight, and lost all of her strength her mom would carry her on her back on this same dirt road to the main road to catch a bus to go to the hosptail. I couldn’t believe it....




I could tell she had gotten up early to clean that little one room house in preparation for my arrival! Inside the house was a small plastic table, 2 chairs, an empty vaseline jar, some pots in a corner, her jug for carrying water, an empty radio box, and the Bible I gave her. She made sure I was comfortable and then went on to prepare eggs, a salad and tea for me. Of course, by this time, there were neighbor ladies at the door asking if they could come in and hear the white girl speak. As I ate my eggs and drank my tea, they asked me questions. Was I rich like Jennifer Lopez? Did I have a boyfriend? How many siblings did I have? Was my hair naturally 2 colors? Do I have a job for them? Was America as beautiful as everyone says? They then went back to their straw houses to make lunch for their husbands. Adelaide and I talked for a few hours – just about life. She went onto tell me that she has just found out she was HIV+ when she was admitted into the Machava Hospital for TB treatment. She was shocked when she got the results. She did not tell anyone. Besides, if anyone knew, she was scared they would stop being her friends, or visiting her. She is aware of the ostrocizing towards HIV+ people, she has seen it happen to others in her village. She thinks her boyfriend gave it to her- but she never asked him if he has it. Whats the use? She is HIV+, and even if she blamed her boyfriend- it wont take away the fact she has it. I encouraged her to get on treatment- it would prolong her life, it would give her strength to do normal day-to-day things. She told me she didnt know where or how to get treatment. I explained to her the basics of the Anti-Retrovirals (the AIDS medicine) and the pro’s of it. I then went on to tell her that I still love her and think she is beautiful. I told her that the Lord considers her lovely and that He died for her that she might have Hope and Life.

It was then time for me to head home. After saying goodbye to everyone in the village, eating more food, taking pictures, holding people’s babies, we headed down the sand road again, Arm-in-Arm. Please pray for Adelaide, her heart, her health, and that she would start treatment.

(pictures- me and Adelaide (the skinny one with the red and black capullana and the wrap on her head. the other girls are her neighbors/friends)

Hawa Creations

We started Hawa Creations in May to give women in our community an opportunity to make jewelry to sell and get an income in order to support their families! Felismina and Maria come two times a week to make the jewelry. We then try and sell it one other day of the week, usually on a saturday. We decided to name it Hawa Creations because Hawa means Eve, or "the beginning of womanhood" in Arabic. This was perfect since my desire is to give women in my community a hope, a dignity, a "new beginning" with Christ. 

Hawa is also one of the babies at our Baby House. She is Felismina's daughter. I remember when Felismina arrived with Hawa and social welfare to ask for help last May. Hawa was skin and bones- literally. To say she was extremely sick would be an understatement. She was almost 3 years old and weighed less then 6 kilos- about 13 lbs. Hawa is also HIV+. We decided that if we didn't take her into our house for intensive care, she would die soon- possibly the next day. 

We could also tell that Felismina was not OK. To be a mother and let your daughter get that sick without getting help - something's not right. We asked her if she wanted an opportunity to work and create jewelry. Can I just tell you that she is not the same girl since that day?! 

She now comes to work singing, laughing, happy! She has told me many times that she had no idea she could make such beautiful jewelry! She also told me that she is so grateful for a job. That she no longer has to just "sit at home and think about her life". 

You know, I got to thinking. If I was Felismina... She is 20 years old, with 3 children. The oldest is 5 yrs old. She watched the father of her children die of AIDS, she watched Hawa wilt away because of AIDS, Im pretty sure her youngest son has AIDS, and she is HIV+ as well... Where is the hope in that? Maybe she didn't take care of Hawa because she was in denial? Who knows? But what I do know is that the Lord came to give her Hope - regardles

s of her HIV Status - and I so badly want her to

 understand that.

I am encouraging her to get started on Anti-Retrovirals. It is the AIDS Medicine. It is a long drawn out process. I have gone with her to the AIDS clinic to start the process. But since then, the hospital is giving her the run around. The thing is, if she does not start the treatment soon- her health will deteriorate rapidly. I am scared she is not going to come to work one day and I'll call to find out that she died. 

I look forward to Tuesdays and Thursdays when they come to work. We sit together and chat about boyfriends, husbands, kids, families, life. They teach me Changaan (tribal dialect) and I teach them English. We sing worship songs, talk about God. Im also encouraging them to open up bank accounts and save part of their income. Not to spend it all on hair or cell phone products! Trying to teach them how to be wise with money. I want to start a series on Proverbs 31- how to be a Virtuous Wife. 

Please continue to pray for Hawa Creations. For Felismina and Maria. That they would walk in that Hope and Calling that the Lord has for them! Pray for a special blessing on our jewelry

 when we sell it so that they can take care of their families.

For recent Pictures of Hawa Creations and the Baby House go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/allisonscarlett/

Birthdays and Babies

Birthdays!

Nichols and Danny turned 1 in July and we had a giant party to celebrate! Nichols is HIV+ and his mother tried to suffocate him right after she gave birth. He has started on the Anti-Retroviral Treatment and his health is improving greatly! Danny is not sick but his mother died of a C-Section. They are both living in our 2nd house, along with 4 other lil boys. Sapphira is one of our Tia's (Aunties) that we employ to take care of them. She is a wonderful lady and a some what of a mother figure to me. 

  

These are 15 of the 17 babies/toddlers that live with us in one of our 2 houses. L-R Luis, Hawa, Alicia, Idrussi, Aninha with Antonio, Nichols crying, Quiteria with Gercio, Ricardo, Junior, Abu, Thelma, Danny, Marcelino, and Paulo. 

All of these children have been orphaned, abandoned, or their parents can not take care of them because of AIDS. 6 of our babies have AIDS as well. Currently, all of them are on the Anti-Retroviral Medicines which improves and prolongs life!

New Additions

Junior & Abu!!

2 of our newest additions! Around 9pm July 4th, the Police Station called us to say that they had 2 abandoned children at the Station and they needed us to come and pick them up immediately. Both their mom and dad left them at their grandmothers house. The grandma could no longer take care of them, so she took them to the Police Station with 3 plastic bags of clothes, some tangerines, and a few chocolates. Just like that, Junior and Abu's lives were changed forever. Since the grandmother abandoned them before we got to the Police, we didn't know their names, ages, or even where the grandma lived to ask her those questions. We brought them back to the house, gave them good food, baths, clean clothes, and lots of love. Now they are living at our 2nd baby house, doing great!! 

Moises!!

His name means Moses in portuguese. July 4th, a woman was walking home from work when she heard sounds of a crying baby coming from a trash heap off the side of the road. As she approached, she found a 3 day old baby tied inside a plastic bag! She took him to the hospital and then the hospital called us and asked us to take him in. After 3 weeks in the hospital lil Moises came to live with us. We decided to name him Moises because just like Moses in the Bible was found in basket in the river, our Moises was found in a plastic bag in the trash. Pretty cool to think of the awesome plans Jesus has for him. He is doing great, drinking lots of formula and gaining weight!  

luis

baby luis. my love. 

he's one of the 10 babies that live in our first home here in matola. both his mom and dad died of aids. he was left in the hospital severely malnurished dying of aids. pieter and rika (my team mates) rescued him and started him on the anti-retrovirals (aids meds). 

now he's 3 and healthy and happy and full of mischief.  

welcome to my world here

a taste of what my week looks like 

Mondays - PM - Bible Study/discipleship with Dulce, Sapphira, & Maria (some of the Tia's that work here)

Tuesdays- AM Bead Making Project with Maria and Felismina

Wednesdays- PM Hospital Outreach with Adeliade, Virgina, Ermilinda, Maria, Eva, etc.

Thursdays- AM Bead Project with Maria and Felismina.
                 PM House Church with Lacerda, Cardita, Mataneta, Enucencia, and Mama

Sundays- House Church at the baby house (where I live)- this is where people I meet in the city come to join us. People like Anchura, Elisa, and Elisa's sister.

Gems

so these are the women i have been working with - my gems!

Lacerda- 27 yrs old. Her family runs a little store in the local market. She has a 5 yr old daughter Angela who is the cutest little thing ever! Lacerda is my main friend here in MZ. We are becoming such good friends! She is my woman of peace- she knows everyone and everyone loves her. She is the kindest MZ I have ever met. Since she works at the market I love to go and spend the after noon with her sitting down talking with all of the women that come and do their buying for their meals. A lot of women trust her.  

Cardita- 26 yrs old. Lacerdas sister. She is 6 months pregnant. Her boyfriend left her when she wouldn't get an abortion. She also works at the family market place. She is currently in school studying at what would be the equivelent of High School in the States. I go with her to the hospital for her maternity check ups. She has the gift of serving and hospitality. When Im over at her house, she prepares my favorite dishes and makes sure im well taken care of.

Mataneta- 22 yrs old. Lacerda's sister-in-law. Has a 3 yr old daughter Gabrielle who is always sick with something. Mataneta has lots of secrets. Her husband is cheating on her and she knows it. She is a very broken girl who tries to hide it. But when we are together we laugh real hard!

Dulce- 23 yrs old. Runs our 2nd baby house. She is HIV+ and has a 7 yr old daughter Jessica. Dulce goes to school and is in the 7^th grade. She has a very tender heart and we laugh a lot when we hang out. Her family is very wealthy however when they found out that she was HIV+ they kicked her out of the house. She then lived on the streets of Maputo with Jessica when she was little. Dulce has been through lots of crap living on the streets. But now you would never be able to tell. She is full of life and purpose. 

Felismina- 20 yrs old and HIV+. She has 3 children. The oldest is 5. The middle is 3 and HIV+ her name is Hawa and she is very very sick. Stick and bones. She is now living with us. We can already tell a difference- she is smiling since arriving here! Felisminas' boyfriend just died of AIDS. She is a very sad girl. She has started the bead making project with us. Since she has been making jewelry, she has changed so much for the better!! She is very grateful for her job now. She has mentioned many times that shes very happy to have friends and a job because now she doesn’t just sit at home and think about “life”. Im in the process of getting her registered at a hospital that can properly start her on Anti-Retrivirals (AIDS medicine).