Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of AIDS, I will have no fear of stigmatization or death because you are walking with me.

Over and over, we've heard people say that if it wasn't for the support of Guardians of Hope (GOH), they would be dead. They weren't being melodramatic! These beneficiaries say that they have gained the most hope from the people who have accepted them, who meet them where they are with God’s love and support. Stigma and loneliness are the worst part of AIDS for those affected. GOH walk with them, offering love, acceptance and positive solutions as medicine for the body and soul.

As GOH supporters, you help extend this crucial ministry to those who have least access to social and economic supports. Earlier this year we set out an aggressive plan to double our commitment in response to the overwhelming need. Out of the $350,000 budgeted we have received $145,000 to date. By year's end, we hope to reach our target for 2006 so that we can enter 2007 in step with our African partners.

Through GOH, which offers compassionate community, microcredit and more, thousands of people like Felecite (pictured) have hope and a new life.

Laurence Mukashema, HIV/AIDS coordinator for the Association of Baptist Churches of Rwanda, reports that 23 Guardians groups are now engaged across the country in the battle against AIDS. The impact of GOH involvement over the last two years has been great! More than 1,000 people living with the consequences of AIDS are receiving support and hope. The majority are women who are widows struggling to care for their own children and other orphans. Many widowers and youth have benefitted from skills training and small loans provided by GOH.

Felecite, 54, graciously shares her story to encourage others.

I have been widowed for 20 years now. My husband was very ill when he died during the genocide. I was finally tested for AIDS after long illness and given anti-retroviral therapy which has extended my life. I was feeling desperate and alone when I discovered that I was HIV positive and a health worker advised me to attend a local GOH group. I became a member and received a small loan which I used to buy two goats. As they produced milk, I was able to sell the milk and buy some chickens. Now that I am in better health, I have resumed caring for my small farm. Thanks to God and to GOH, I am filled with wonder and gratitude. I have a new life and new strength.

For children at risk, especially those orphaned and in charge of households, it's often the local pastor, such as Jonas Bikorimana (pictured centre), who they turn to for help and support. Pastor Jonas' compassionate approach to the great needs of children has become the benchmark for GOH programs in Rwanda.

Children at Risk

Rwanda now faces the incredible challenge of increasing numbers of children at risk, including those living in child-headed households where siblings struggle to live together as a family after the death of their parents. Some are genocide orphans. Others have lost their parents to AIDS. They are often alone and vulnerable in a world that can seem very hostile and uncaring.

Guardians of Hope and the Association of Baptist Churches of Rwanda are currently meeting with vulnerable children in two potential regions as part of a survey to lay the groundwork for a unique GOH pilot project in each area. These new initiatives will build on the strengths of these children and enable them to become fully respected and contributing members in their communities. These resilient children have identified social isolation, food security, land issues and housing as primary concerns.

The program will also include training and advocacy to address child rights, education and vocational training, mentoring and other psychosocial supports. By early 2007, we hope to see the new program launched. What an amazing opportunity to actively bring our resources alongside our capable Rwandan brothers and sisters to counteract the devastating effects of HIV/AIDS among children at risk. This is just one example of where GOH is in need of your continued support.

Children participate in the opening of a clinic in their area which will offer HIV testing and counselling. This clinic is part of GOH ministry in the Masogo region.

We rejoice that some victory is being seen in the battle against AIDS in Kenya. Government statistics show that there has been a slight decline in the rate of HIV/AIDS infection in the last year. Good news, but at the same time AIDS- related deaths continue, severly impacting Kenya's capacity to maintain a healthy infrastructure and sustainable living conditions for her citizens.

There is hope though -- we see it springing up in communities like Masogo in western Kenya. Here GOH has joined with church and community leaders to expand their efforts to beat back the advance of HIV/AIDS. Six years ago, the Africa Brotherhood Church began training in community capacity building. As a result, the Masogo Self help Group was founded. They received training in health, spiritual formation, agriculture and micro-credit business. Today we are starting to see the impact. The over-all standard of living is improving for the first time in decades in spite of the problems caused by the drought.

This group has since identified health issues as their major concern. HIV/AIDS is adding to the already high death rate form malaria, dysentery and other infectious diseases. The nearest health facility was a long walk away, on the rim of the valley. Most people in the valley could not access health services when they needed it the most.

The Masogo Self-Help Group did an amazing thing considering the loss of so many healthy young adults to AIDS. With the support of the ABC they set to work building a dispensary on the church compound. They then invited the GOH to join them. Early this year, the structure was completed and operating in one third of the expected time!

The results:

• Affordable basic health care for a community of more than one thousand people including 500 school children.
• AIDS prevention training in the school and community.

Through your support, we hope to see this clinic grow and others like it open in other remote and needy areas.

Health! Hope! Life!

Through GOH, Africans and Canadians work together in HIV/AIDS ministry. Pictured, left to right: Martha Nthenge (Africa Brotherhood Church); Laurena Zondo (Canadian Baptist Ministries); and Titus Kiilu (Africa Brotherhood Church).

GOH sponsored two of our outstanding Africa GOH leaders to attend the 16th International AIDS Conference, held this past August in Toronto. Martha Nthenge and Titus Kiilu attended training workshops and also participated in an ecumenical pre-conference, ‘Keep the Promise, Stop AIDS'.

They shared their unique approach, “Heads Together", which offers the twin ABC’s of prevention:

• Abstinence and Advocacy (addressing social, political, physical, spiritual and economic triggers to AIDS infection);
• Behavioral change – Being faithful to one partner ;
• Condom use for those at risk and Cultural Change to Kingdom values and;
• Decision for life to Develop integrity.

Through this approach, they aim to educate, equip and empower people to face the challenges, live positively and avoid the risks that lead to infection. Besides the much-needed encouragement and solidarity that they encountered, they noted that the conferences were especially helpful in confirming their belief that they have the right focus, integrating church and community, in the battle against AIDS. They are now implementing some of the new approaches to care that they learned about, most notably in working on nutrition and food security.

Martha and Titus were also able to visit several churches across the country including a special presentation at the Atlantic Baptist Convention during their stay in Canada.

GOH helps pastors in Angola receive training to conduct HIV/AIDS awareness seminars in their own communities.

After nearly 40 years of war and isolation, Angola is under reconstruction, emerging into the global community. Canadian Baptists have maintained their relationship with the Angola Evangelical Church during the wars. Now, we are able to partner more closely together and the timing is crucial. AIDS is on the rise in West Africa. With the high numbers of people in transition, i.e. soldiers and refugees returning home, there is a corresponding need for more HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention. Young church leaders are rising to the challenge. Supported by GOH, they have started to offer workshops in their communities.

In September and October, they held HIV/AIDS training seminars for pastors after discovering that they could not move forward with AIDS prevention without educating pastors on the reality of HIV/AIDS and promoting a biblically compassionate and appropriate response. GOH provided the funding for these seminars which are a part of their ongoing effort to raise AIDS awareness and advocate for healthy life styles in Angola. Because of the success of this initial training, GOH hopes to increase our financial commitment in 2007. We can do so only with your continued support.

‘The wheel is rolling!’ so often notes our African partners. People are being mobilized into action. People living with AIDs say they are profoundly touched by GOH groups who reach out to them and accept them, extending care and compassion, welcome and safety. A place to grow strong and be encouraged to develop to their full God-given potential.

Our challenge is to be a sustaining partner. To not only keep the wheel rolling, but to maximize the momentum. Through your support, we can continue to increase the impact that our dedicated partners are having not only in Africa, but also in India and South East Asia, where AIDS is spreading rapidly. In regions where large numbers of people are already struggling to survive in vulnerable and precipitous conditions.

We can make a huge difference. Let's press forward together in prayer, funding and action.

Thank you for your support!

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