WORLD MISSION
EAST AFRICA AIDS PROJECT
KISUMU, KENYA
SUBJECT: REPORT ON THE GROUND
-In partnership with Africa Inland Church-
I feel delight to submitted this report to you. I am so grateful to the Lord that at last I can get to you something. I personally gathered this report. I visited Kisumu in June 30 to July 3, 2005.
The Pastors are truly an encouragement to this work as you will agree with me in the report below. They have truly devoted themselves to this work.
I. THE GROUPS
1. There are over 30 listening groups
2. The average number of each group is 18. Therefore there are over 540 who are actively listening to these Bibles. (These are mainly oral learners which mean they require a non-literate form of learning.)
3. The listening groups have been group as follows.
a. Widows
b. Youths
c. Mixed groups (Church groups)
d. Streets children
e. Pupils (primary)
f. Youths out of schools
B. REPORTS FROM THE PASTORS
1. The Bible is creating time for them to share the gospel especially for the most left out groups e.g. widows and those that are deeply involved cultural practices.
2. This is a very effective tool to win many to Christ.
3. The Bible is bringing people together, creating a lot of friendships and companionship.
4. The Bible is spoken in a very consoling manner. It is an instrument of hope to many. People can even now hear those books that are rarely read, read.
5. People are very happy and excited. Through the testimonies, the church esp. has seen the need to help and care for each other.
6. The testimonies esp. have made people to accept that the AIDS is a reality. Many can now share how they have been impacted by it.
7. Many people are ready to change their ways of living. During the discussion after listening they are asking deep spiritual questions.
C: NOTED IMPACTS
1. There are many people who are actively listening to these Bibles.
2. People are willing to know about their HIV status.
3. People can now talk and discuss even those issues that are traditionally considered taboo. They are bravely challenging those cultural practices which are harmful and which make the virus spread quickly e.g. wife inheritance and death cleansing.
4. People are changing their lifestyles. E.g. one Pastor has reported four alcoholics have given their lives to Christ.
5. The Bible has united many families. Men especially can sit together with other members of the families to listen and discuss the bible.
6. The Testimonies esp. have made people realize that they not suffering alone. This makes them feel encouraged and brave to continue fighting on.
7. It was reported also that some women take these bibles esp. to those bed ridden patients so that they can listen.
8. These devices are easy to operate and to use.
9. One group is visiting and helping 6 people who are HIV positive and visiting 30 orphans.
D: CHALLENGES
1. The demand for the players is so high.
2. Kiswahili especially for the old and from the rural is a problem.
3. Many infected families need more than listening. They need other support like medicine, orphans to be taken off e.t.c.
4. It is difficult to confront some of the cultural practices which are harmful and dangerous and especially those that make the virus spread quickly.
5. Because of poverty, there are cases of widows that are moving from town to rural areas in order to be inherited, thus making the HIV virus to spread more.
6. There is lot of misconceptions within the community. For example
a) The disease is for the rich. So it is not AIDS that kills poor people but something else which could be very different like being bewitched.
b) If sex is just done by the people around the locality the virus will never be spread.
7. Each Pastor has established these groups in the area where he pastorate. These areas of operations are quite big and to visit these areas becomes very difficult.
OBSERVATIONS
Youth are the most affected and are still at the risk of contracting HIV. They are involved in risky behaviours which are putting them in dangers of getting the virus. Such behaviours are,
1. Drinking excessively thus prompting them to engage themselves in sexual activities.
2. They are involved in many different sexual relationships.
3. Many youths are involved sexual activities even with infected widows
UNFORGETFULL SITES
As I was visiting the listening groups, and as I was going through the homesteads, I was being welcomed by many graves. Many of these graves are not old. They ranged from four to eight graves in each homestead.
On first of July, I witnessed many bodies being transport for burial. People looked devasted, broken and hopeless. I too felt the same and I wished I could do something.
Mourners going for burial