Don't Want to Leave

This week I joined a volunteer group from southern California. Together we put on a spiritual camp for high school students. It was held at Lake Malawi. Every student that attended the camp is an orphan and is being financially sponsored by Ministry of Hope to go to secondary school (known as high school in the States). There were about 150 students total.

The camp was the most phenomenal experience. I would almost go as far as saying it was the most moving week of my life.

The kids played sports, swam in the lake, did crafts, danced (oh my GOSH they have so much rhythm!), and watched movies in the evening. There were spiritual teachings everyday. One day a speaker talked about staying motivated and becoming someone more than who people think you will become. Another day a speaker talked about boy/girl relationships. Another day the speaker talked about everything concerning HIV AIDS. He taught about statistics, prevention methods, symptoms, etc. After that speech, I actually helped test the kids for HIV. The testing was voluntary and only 1/3 of the camp was brave enough to test, but this is a good number.

We met in small groups to hold discussions about each of the topics. The kids had phenomenal questions... their brains are sponges for knowledge and they are yearning to know God. Sadly, the majority don't even have Bibles because they can't afford them. As you can imagine I gave mine away at the end of the week.

If I learned one thing, its that the kids expect nothing, and appreciate everything. I'm really going to begin living my life like this. In sum, the week was full of laughter, tears, disbelief, encouragement, and challenges.

To test or not to test? That is the question.
One little girl I became close with is named Mercy. During the HIV speech she said that she wanted to get tested for HIV. Both of her parents have died of "disease" but the type of disease is unknown. For this reason, I was REALLY excited when she told me she wanted to get tested.

Surely enough she didn't come through the registration line.

I waited and waited. Most of the testing was finished and no one was left in line. The clinic was getting ready to pack up and leave. As I was getting ready to head out, I saw her through the window. I ran out of the building and asked her why she decided not to come through. She told me she was scared and didn't feel brave enough to get tested. I explained to her that living life in truth is much better than living life in the unknown. I talked to her about how its healthy to know the status of her body and that living in the darkness is living in fear. I made sure she knew that if she did have HIV, I wouldn't think if her differently and neither would God. We would both love her the same, if not more. So we sat down together and prayed. I prayed that the Lord would give her wisdom in her decision whether or not to get tested. That she would feel brave and that He would take away her fears. After about 5 minutes of prayer, I gave her time alone and told her the decision was hers.

Later on she ran up to me and told me she went through with the testing and she was negative! I couldn't stop smiling.