This is from the blog of the Director of Food for the Hungry in Ethiopia. He posted this story about a guy who lives in the community we adopted and visited back in March. I have no doubts that what God is doing there, and what our sponsorships of 159 children (and counting) are making a difference!
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Here is the story of one of the people we are working with in Zeway. It was written by our Zeway staff and Endale who is in the HIV/AIDS program.
Endale Mesele is a 30-year-old male who is currently living with HIV/AIDS. He is married and father of a 6-year-old male child. He used to work as a mason until about 3 years back when he found himself to be frequently in bed because of repeated illnesses. He repeatedly visited health institutions and spent a lot of money on medical fees. He finally was forced to remain in bed without any treatment. He is now given care by his wife who herself is HIV positive.
He is in FH/E’s Zeway HIV/AIDS Prevention, Care and Support project. When he joined Endale was bedridden due to lack of medical care and food. He is chairperson of the association of People Living With HIV/AIDS in Zeway. Endale says the following in his own words:
“I am now saved; God has given me FHI to help me. I was in bed by the time I was informed about the program. My dream was death and I didn’t have any future hope and plan for the rest of my life. I was encouraging my wife how to take care of our only son when I die. The staffs and home based care providers regularly come to my home. I some times think and ask my self why do they trouble them selves for dying person.
But today things are completely different. We started to live a new life to the extent our neighbors are surprised, because every thing is reversed. I gradually started to walk out of bed. We are also getting treatment on time. We started Anti retro viral therapy.
We (me and my wife) were given money to start a small business by FHI and we are now able to support ourselves. We are no more receiving monthly financial support from the project. My house is full of furniture and other house hold utensils. I am physically fit, emotionally and psychologically strong. I am counseling others to be tested for HIV and supporting those living with the virus because I remember those days when I was suffering from repeated illnesses, helpless and all that expenses I spent prior to knowing my sero-status. I have no worry about my medication and food. My stress has gone.
My only worry is about my child. I will die at any point of time in the future. My wife, his mother, will also die from this problem. In addition we don’t know his HIV status. This all things trouble me when they come to my mind.”
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