CATF

Before we decided to move to Columbus I told Jenn that whether we stayed in KC or moved to Columbus I had to get involved with helping people living with HIV/AIDS. Since we moved I have been in contact with the Columbus AIDS Task Force about volunteering in client services. Saturday was my training and I spent about six hours learning about HIV/AIDS. We watched a couple of videos, did some sensitivity training, learned the science of the disease and heard from a panel of three people living with HIV.
We watched a documentary filmed in 1989 about the stories behind some of the names on the AIDS quilt. It was sad to see those that had lost loved-ones from the disease tell their story. It was infuriating to see how the disease was ignored because it was thought to only effect gay men and early on was known as “gay cancer”. It took the president nearly five years to even say “AIDS”. Part of the documentary showed an interview of a doctor at the time who said that the disease is not being fought because it is primarily killing gays. He said that if this disease was killing middle-class, white, heterosexuals there would already be ways of preventing or even curing the disease. Ignorance, contempt and fear have contributed to the death toll.
I was fascinated with what I heard from the panel members, Ronnie, Cassandra and Eric. Cassandra has been living with HIV for twenty years and through medical breakthroughs she is living a healthy life. Eric is only 24 and has known that he is positive for about a year and a half. He said that he didn’t know anything about HIV/AIDS but he knew that he should be tested because he is gay. I think it is amazing that this is still being swept under the rug and kids coming out of high school, gay or straight, don’t have all the facts. Ronnie has been positive for about ten years. When asked what is the most frustrating thing about living with HIV he said that it was having to explain to everyone that he likes women and didn’t get the disease from a homosexual relationship.
My time spent at CATF Saturday was enjoyable, enlightening, disturbing and uncomfortable. One of the best moments was when Ronnie said, “Somebody tell me that thing on the table is a saltshaker.” Sorry Ronnie, it wasn’t a saltshaker, it was being used to show the correct way wear protection. There have been few times when I have felt so removed from what makes me comfortable. It is freeing to step out and live by kingdom principles rather than to be confined by the legalism and moralism that imprison many well-intentioned believers.
I look forward to writing more about my interaction with the people I meet through CATF. Even more I look forward to being able to live out the gospel in community with those who are sick and struggling with this tragedy in their life.

Thy will be done, as in heaven so also on earth.

Everyone at the training was given a small card to share with others that has a HIV/AIDS related statistic on it. Here is the statistic I was given:
In 6 sub-Saharan African nations, over 20% of adults are estimated to be HIV-positive. Swaziland has the highest prevalence rate in the world at 38.8%.