World Vision Experience: AIDS

Over the past several weeks, I have helped work on a special event that is going on at our church. The World Vision Experience: AIDS brings Africa to you. The sights, the sounds and most importantly the stories. In the Experience you have the choice of four different children to follow. Once you put on the headset and step through the curtain, you are that child. Some of these stories are more graphic than others, but they all give you a real sense of what it is like to walk in their "shoes".

Christian and I went through Emmanuel's story. He was 3 when his story starts. He knows that his father died of "THE sickness" before he was old enough to remember. He lives with his brother, Fred, and mother in a small hut over looking banana fields. Around the age of 5 his mother gets very sick. Fred takes her many miles to a clinic to see what is wrong with her. The workers tell him she has "THE sickness", she has AIDS. They give him some medicine and tell him how to care for her. AIDS can affect so many people across the globe, but it is harder for those that live in poverty. Without proper nutrition, housing and medical care AIDS ravages through a person's body quickly and painfully. Emmanuel's mother dies.

Fred is now the care taker...he is 9 years old. After burying their mother, Fred and Emmanuel walk many miles to see their aunt. They hope she will let them live with her and her family. She does not. She is afraid they may have "THE sickness" and does not want them around. They travel back to where their mother is buried and set up a makeshift shelter to live in. With out much food or shelter the boys have a very hard time. Emmanuel becomes sick over and over again...Fred is afraid. He talks with a teacher in a nearby village and he learns what AIDS is, how it can be contracted, how he may help his brother. When he learns you can get it as a baby he insists they travel again--to a clinic. They want to know if Emmanuel is going to be like their mother or father. They want to know if he will die. After many agonizing minutes they find out he is well...he is negative!!! By the end of this story Emmanuel is 7 years old. A World Vision worker has come into their life. They live in a real house, have clean water and can go to school. Not all of these stories have a "happy" ending, but Emmanuel did.

Going through this with Christian was very special. He was sad and concerned for Emmanuel and Fred throughout the story. He was sad when their mother died, but was so happy when he learned Emmanuel did not have AIDS. When your story is through you enter a chapel area with pictures of Africa and the people who live there. Your headphones are playing quiet music, some scripture is recited and you are encouraged to reflect on what you have seen/heard. A basket of pictures is nearby filled with children that need your help. You are asked to take one and pray over them. We picked a little boy named Samuel. Outside the chapel is a wall full of children you can pick from to sponsor. Some people like to pick one near the birth date of their own child or or other special date. Christian wanted to keep Samuel...he said that's who he prayed for and that's who he wanted to help. We talked about all the things that are different in Samuel's life and how Christian could pray for him. We agreed that some of the money he might earn for helping around the house could help Samuel get food/water, clothes or books for school. We have prayed for him each night (even though C was quick to point out that Samuel lives on the other side of the earth and he is waking up when we go to bed--such a smarty pants). We look forward to writing him and getting to know him better over the years.

Christian's eyes were opened to another part of the world. He asked some hard questions, but we were able to work through the answers. He realizes a little more just how good he has it. He made the connection that Daddy's hard work at the office every week is what pays for his food, house and toys. He said he was glad Daddy did that for him. He is grateful that his mommy is here to help him, love him and teach him. I hope he remembers this experience for years to come...I will.