Brokenness

Almost each day brings us face to face with the tragedy of HIV.

While we have been teaching and sharing with people from all over north India in the gospel hall just behind our centre (courtesy of the kind help of the local Brethren Assembly) some people have been coming for HIV testing - and others have come holding test reports that they are HIV positive.

Lets focus on one family.

He is scared. He is HIV positive. He is sick. She has come straight from the village to care for him. They are vegetable vendours from the hinterland near Varanasi. She hides behind a bright red veil, not showing her face to anyone.

They have moved from place to place in his sickness. No one wants to look after them. Finally they ended up at his elder brother's room here in Thane. His elder brother looks old and weathered enough to be his father.

The man is shattered and scared. His wife - fresh from the village cannot make sense of the city. They yearn to be heard. The older brother is disgusted "He never listened to me - now look what has happened to him". But at least the older brother somehow found out about JSK and brought this little family here.

The story is not over. The story is far from over.

But a beginning. A contact. A friendship has been started.

Listen. Understand. Suggest. Pray. Encourage. Hope. Touch. Hold. Believe.