Ministry Links

                                Is There No Blood For Me?

These days, no one thinks that they are at risk for HIV. "I'm not gay or a drug addict," I commonly hear. Most teens still think that oral sex is not sex at all. They must have been listening to one or our former politicians on the matter. Twenty Eight years has elapsed since the first cases were diagnosed and I'm saddened by the Churches response; the lack of response would be more accurate. While it is politically correct to want to educate and provide the needed medication to third world nations, and we must do what we can, there are people right here in the U.S. that need to experience the love that is in Christ; and that is through His Church.

In the 1980's, the President remained silent, the world leaders remained silent, and the Church for the most part has remained silent, except for the more outspoken preachers who said with conviction that, "AIDS is a plague sent by God." I was crushed week after week hearing that people like me were doomed to hell. I was clean, had a relationship with God, and had come to terms with my own mortality. My heart broke for the people who were just finding out that they were HIV and hearing that there was no hope for us, not even at Church.

The hardest thing is losing friends, friends that made up my very own, private support group. I have been to so many funerals that I've lost count. I think of all of the people who didn't get a chance to hear about how much God loved them and wanted to be a part of everything they did.

Next month will be the twentieth year I was told I was HIV+. There have been many ups and downs.  There were times when I thought "this is the big one...I'm coming Elizabeth." Even my doctor thought it was the end at least two times that I know of. In fact, I was assigned a "Buddy" from the Haven of Hope to visit me because I was in bed, and sick, most of the time. In 2000, I had run out of medication to go on, and for the next six years the Lord sustained me. My viral load (amount of virus in my body) was high and active but my T-Cells (the cells that fight infection) were also high.

One thing I take issue with is the pictures of people climbing mountains on medication that is being advertised.  I won't be climbing mountains any time soon. When you do find a group of medications (or a cocktail) that works for you, make it a point not to miss your dose. Missing your dose can cause you to loose not only that class of medicine, but a whole line of medicines.
The virus learns to work around missed doses and mutates.

If I had one thing to leave you with, it's: GOD LOVES YOU right where you're at. Invite Him into your life, get to know Him. He didn't promise to take things away from you (though He could and does), but He promised to be by your side through the whole thing. He promised: "Never will I leave you. Never will I forsake you". Hebrews 13:5
"Surely I am with you 'til the end of the age." Matthew 28:20     Lou M.