HIV/AIDS in Rwanda... and two of the new Samaritans
Two women who are already seeking to meet both the physical and emotional needs of people with HIV/AIDS are Valérie Nshiminiyimane and Immaculée Muhavye. Both are HIV-positive and are thus able to show real sympathy for the people they visit. Valérie and Immaculée both feel strongly that the Bible’s message of love for one’s neighbour must manifest itself in practical ways. They do not hesitate to venture into the poorest and most crime-ridden parts of Kigali to visit people who are dying from AIDS and who have often been abandoned to their fate. One of these people is Marguerita Mugirigi, a 37-year-old who has come to accept her impending death but is very concerned that, after her death, her children will end up on the streets. Like Immaculée, she was infected by her husband, who disappeared during the genocide. Together, the three women read Bible passages and sing songs which emphasise the power of God at times of human weakness. Later, Immaculée and Valérie visit 42-year-old Celine Ukabaziga, suffering from both AIDS and cancer. (Celine died some months later.) Again, they read from the Bible and sing encouraging songs. Although they have little to offer her in the way of material goods, they leave some fruit. These women of action have refused to yield to hopelessness and despair. Instead, they are drawing on their own experiences and on the strength they find in God’s Word as they challenge society’s rejection of HIV/AIDS victims and re-enact the parable of the Good Samaritan in a modern context. Adapted from articles written by Geir Lid, translated by Howard Gamble and supplied by the Norwegian Bible Society. (WR 378/3 - 7/8.03) |
