Dec

Ministry Report 2 – HIV/AIDS in the Mumbai slums

I have two friends who are part of Harvest of Grace Church in Mumbai, India. For several years they have given themselves selflessly to caring for those infected and affected by HIV and AIDS among the poor and destitute of Mumbai. (Their personal story comes at the end of this posting.) On receiving a report from them recently I felt their ministry should gain wider recognition. copy-of-nelpam-1-large

Nelson and Pamela began the ministry within the slums of Mumbai in May 2002. Since then they have taken on both individuals who are infected and their dependents who are affected by this foul disease. They have ministered in very practical ways to 73 people who have been infected and more than 250 others who have been affected (ie as dependents), always sharing the love and compassion of Jesus, and have explained the gospel. They have seen many find faith and peace in Jesus before they have died.

The following report summarises their work over the recent past.

Vision
> To care for the HIV/AIDS infected and affected people with their families preparing them to face the challenges of health, giving them a hope, and a reason to smile and live their lives with dignity and self- worth
> To bring awareness & prevention to a society largely unprepared to face the challenges of HIV/AIDS

Their goals by 2016:
> To bring awareness to 50,000 people
> To provide Home-based care and treatment to 200 people and families

Inspiration

‘Rescue those being led away to death, hold back those staggering towards slaughter’ (Prov 24:11).

‘If you say, “but we knew nothing about it”, does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it?’ Prov 24:12

Here are some testimonies…
Arvind
“If it was not for Stepping Stone - Asha, I would have committed suicide as I could not cope with facing life (HIV) from a losing position. Today, after 3 years of being cared for, even after losing my wife, I can still bring up my two children and give them the education they need. I love my children and I am grateful to Stepping Stone - Asha for standing besides me during my darkest hour”

Babita
“When I discovered I was HIV, the earth beneath me shook. Life came to a stand still. I was hardly able to cope with my situation when suddenly my husband became very sick and was hospitalized. He died in June 2007. My condition was getting worse. How would I manage? What would happen to my 8 yr old son when I died? It seemed that every thing around me would crumble, until I came to know about Stepping Stone - Asha. I was welcomed as a friend. They visited my home & started counselling and caring for me. Today I am glad, not just because I am being cared for and treated but because I know I have friends to whom I can now go and share.

Sangita

‘From the beginning of my end to the start of a new beginning’

I had only my last 2 tablets. My close family had withdrawn any further support to help me with my ARV drugs that would cost around Rs 5000/- p.m. (about £7 or US$10). Having lost my husband 2 yrs back, I had no other alternative but to withdraw my children from school. Life was a struggle with sleepless nights. Where would my help come from? What would happen to my children? Who would look after them? This was the beginning of my end.

With just 2 tablets to hold on to, Stepping Stone - Asha visited my home. They helped me to see life beyond with hope rather than just to cope with. That brief moment with Stepping Stone - Asha was the turning point in my life. Not only did they arrange medicines but they also helped with my child’s education fees.

Now I do believe this is the start of a new beginning

…and some stories

Arun

Recently Arun, whom we having been caring for the last 6 years but now stays 800 kms from Mumbai, phoned Stepping Stone – Asha and requested us to share about Jesus.

When Arun was detected to be HIV 6 yrs ago his wife left him and took his son with her. About 3 yrs ago she brought her son back to his village but she refused to stay with Arun. It was a joy for Arun to have his son back - but his joy was short lived as a few months later his son died in his sleep aged 11 yrs. Doctors say he died of shock.

Arun had mustered courage because of the Bible that he used to read. On the phone he requested that we share the gospel. Arun has now decided to throw away the idols that he worshipped. He wants to get baptized. He has been praying for some people who are sick and has seen God healing them.

Some statistics - 2002 – 2009 (March)
Caring
Presently being cared for: 40 people (6 born again)
Died while being cared for: 33 people (20 born again)

Awareness
6100 people

Touching affected families
250 – 280 people

Groceries & Nutrition
Infected: 36 people
Affected families: 22 families

Education Assistance
Infected: 5 children
Affected: 16 children

Nelson and Pamela’s story

Inspired? Because Jesus radically changed Nelson and Pamela thousands now benefit from the overflow of his love and compassion to them.

Behind every Ministry there is often a personal story of God’s leading. Here is that personal story as to the way in which Nelson and Pamela have been led and supported by their church, Harvest of Grace in Mumbai.

‘It was the year 2002 (May), when I was spending time alone with God, God arrested my attention to a dressing table mirror in our church office. I could see myself clearly with my big stomach (belly). God started speaking to me that I need to do some thing about it i.e. - exercise. I began to talk to the Lord & said ‘Yeah Lord, perhaps I need to do some running, jogging or go to the gym’. The Lord again spoke to me ‘I am not speaking to you in the natural but in the spiritual. You have been fed a lot – you now need to do something new, which you have not done before’.

‘As I reflected on my spiritual life I realized I had been on the Newfrontiers training programme in Goa, and had been involved in church planting, evangelistic outreaches, administration & working among the poor in Mumbai. I began to wonder what it all meant or what I needed to do. God spoke to me a week later from very sharply Prov 24:11-12, as I was going to a prayer meeting:

‘Rescue those being led away to death, hold back those staggering towards slaughter. If you say, “ but we knew nothing about it”, does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?’

’During those days a very close friend of mine was infected with HIV, but his wife and family had rejected him. God put him on Pamela’s and my hearts to care for such people. I was very scared. I began to think ‘Why put our life at risk as we could get infected’. But God inspired me to read Prov 24:11-12 again. This time the Lord took away my fear as the Lord brought my attention particularly to v12; “Does not he who guards your life know it?” God’s word “does not he who guards your life” took away all my fears. From then on there was no turning back for us.

‘We had no clue how to go about finding the HIV-infected people, but here again the Lord spoke ‘I will bring them to you’. Since then not only has God brought these people to us but He has been faithful in helping us to care for such people and lead them to Jesus.

‘Apart from the Lord Jesus, my wife Pam and Harvest of Grace church have been strong supports and pillars both to me and with me in rescuing those being led to (HIV) death, giving them a hope and a reason to smile, and to live their lives with dignity and self- worth.’

Footnote

There are hundreds of ministries with the Poor in the family of Newfrontiers churches worldwide. A special fund is held to make small grants, particularly were there are urgent needs. If you would like to support Stepping Stone - Asha with a gift, or any other ministries with the Poor in the Newfrontiers family, please send donations payable to Newfrontiers marked for my attention to:

Newfrontiers
17/23 Clarendon Villas
Hove, UK
BN3 3RE