Looking back, looking forward

Last day of August. We had a review meeting with our team at Jeevan Sahara Kendra to think about this month that has slipped by so quickly.

Our home-based care teams have continued to meet our dear positive friends. The clinic and in-patient unit have ministered to others. A small number - only 7 - people were tested for HIV - but 3 were found to be HIV positive. Our church training batch saw two sessions with wonderful folk from Living Waters church forming the back-bone. The 3 seminary interns we have have pitched in superbly. The self-help groups met once each - small steps for women with HIV - but necessary, though the yields still seem low. Varsha who works with children at risk now has 5 from HIV affected families coming regularly - and visits 21 special kids in their homes. Varsha does all this while seriously pregnant herself!

And so it goes.

This week saw us meet 4 new contacts. Two widows from Thane - both with 2 children each. Both HIV positive. A young man who was recently diagnosed and married just 2 years back. He has a 6 month old baby and is afraid of telling his wife. An older man - 50 plus - who hails from a distant suburb of Mumbai but really appreciated the care and attention he got.

Each person so precious.

We realise this especially when someone leaves. Tonight it was our turn to bid farewell to Sanjeev Mehto who starts nursing training at the Duncan Hospital, Raxaul in mid-Sept. We have enjoyed him over the last 2.5 years - both at JSK as well as in our house-fellowships.

Earlier in the staff meeting we were working on a basic set of beliefs for our team - and a basic set of values. Valuing people was high. We realise that we don't always put this into practice in the day-to-day, minute-by-minute way of living. But we do want to see a celebration of each other as part and parcel of who we are. It was a lovely time as both the Jeevan Sahara and the church family met and thanked God for the time Sanjeev has spent with us. We look forward to further involvement as our lives continue to intertwine.