Tuesday afternoon, March 10th

After lunch, Justin took us to Dandora, another area of town where people have put up temporary dwellings on every square foot of land. We were to see the CHEO team today and see the good work that they do. As we stopped along the side of the road in front of a 2 story plaster and cement block building, we were greeted by about 6 or 7 very enthusiastic ladies who were wearing “Feed The Children” t-shirts with the letters CHEO on their sleeves. These women hugged us on both cheeks and acted as if we were their long lost relatives who had just returned from a long journey. They told us their names and invited us into a 2nd floor room which was dimly lit by the light filtering in through the door, since there were no electrical lights. There were plastic chairs all around the room in a circle on which we were invited to take a seat. They seemed to be waiting for someone, but decided to begin telling us a little bit about themselves. Florence, one of the Community Organizers and Team Leaders began telling the story of what they do and how she became involved. As she shared and introduced everyone around the room, then another very friendly and outgoing woman walked in and was greeted with double hugs by all. We were introduced to June who is the CHEO Director. I wish I could remember exactly what CHEO stands for—I think it is Community Health__________Organization, but nevertheless, let me tell you about these wonderful people!

June told us about how this area and other slum areas are divided up into 9 districts and that there is a volunteer Team Leader and a team of volunteers who minister to the needs of 11,000 different patients in the community who have tested positive for HIV. They identify those in the communities with the most severe and pressing needs and take them on as clients. Among other things, they distribute food for these people and their families enough to have 2 meals a day for each day of the month. They also provide assistance in getting people to the hospital to get their free HIV medication which enables people to have a very good quality of life even though living with the AIDS virus. These volunteers work full time to visit each client 3 to 6 times each week to encourage them and they might do anything needed by the family from running an errand to helping bathe a sick HIV patient. These women and men are truly Angels of Mercy. June told us that these volunteers lived either in the community or near it and most of them had been personally touched by the HIV virus in their immediate families. We were told that in this area of Dandora, a staggering 65% of people are infected with the HIV virus as compared to 8% nationwide.

What motivated these approximately 60 CHEO volunteers to do what they do every day week in and week out? I found out that “Feed The Children” is able to give them a small token to help with their transportation costs which they stretch to help provide for their own families. When I asked Florence how they do the work they do, she told me they trust God to provide.

Then, June took us to the dwellings of 2 of their clients. Both clients were women who tested positive for HIV, one 38 and one 40 years of age, who each had 4 children including a young baby. As we found our way through the maze of temporary dwellings down very narrow paths in between these makeshift buildings, I waved and smiled at half naked children wearing anything from no pants to a winter coat only. When we arrived at the dwelling where each respective family lived, we entered through a fabric draped across the entrance into one tiny room with a mat or blankets over on the side where we saw each mother laying with her youngest child. The heat in these metal shelters was almost unbearable, but I suppose it offered a place to get away from the sun and rain. These mothers gladly welcomed us in to their homes and one of the frail, thin moms kept repeating the Kiswahili word for ‘thank-you’ over and over. It was quite heartbreaking. We prayed with the moms and children and Danita even prayed with one of the mom’s who had not yet accepted Christ who quietly said she was ready to accept Christ.

I don’t know if I could do what June and her team do day in and day out. I truly don’t know. The problems seem so overwhelming, but Jesus said, “Whatever you do for the least of these my brothers and sisters, it is as if you are doing it for Me”.

God bless you June and CHEO!