Sunday October 12th. 2008
Next Sunday is Mission Sunday
Alice was found lying on a mattress on the floor of her one-room home. Angry and distressed, Alice did not welcome her visitor and hastily asked her to leave. However, within a week, word came to the Love and Hope Centre that Alice wanted her visitor to return. As Sister Patricia sat with Alice, Alice admitted that she may be suffering from HIV. She was immediately given the treatment she needed to relieve her distressing symptoms. Both women then prayed together, asking our Lord to heal her if it be his will. Alice had truly felt God’s presence had entered her home and urged Sister Patricia not to forget her.
Alice's condition had not improved by the following week as she now complained of intense chest pains.
Alice accepted Sister Patricia's offer to be taken to a chest specialist in the general hospital in Nakuru where she was subsequently diagnosed with TB. Alice remained in hospital for two months, during which time members of the Love and Hope team visited her regularly and prepared her for a HIV test; the results were positive.
Alice's condition continued to deteriorate and doctors asked that she return home as there was little they could do for her. The Love and Hope team continued to look after Alice, endeavouring to tend to her every comfort. Each day members of the team washed her, cleaned her teeth, brushed her hair, cooked for her, prayed with her and took her for short walks. During this time Alice's daughter Rose was taught how to care for her mother.
Within a few months Alice was back in hospital, this time requiring emergency surgery. A couple of days later she was yet again in a critical condition as her wound had become severely infected, prompting further surgery. When she finally returned to her one-room home, Alice was quite emotional and so grateful to find a new bed, a mattress and blankets as a welcome home gift from the Love and Hope Foundation.
Today, Alice is supported by her daughter and all at the Love and Hope Foundation. Although Alice is HIV positive, she can be seen walking around the slums in Nakuru sharing the news of how the Love and Hope Foundation helped her to live and gave her a precious gift of her faith. This story is repeated each day in different ways in different countries in the work supported by Mission Sunday.
Alice's condition had not improved by the following week as she now complained of intense chest pains.
Alice accepted Sister Patricia's offer to be taken to a chest specialist in the general hospital in Nakuru where she was subsequently diagnosed with TB. Alice remained in hospital for two months, during which time members of the Love and Hope team visited her regularly and prepared her for a HIV test; the results were positive.
Alice's condition continued to deteriorate and doctors asked that she return home as there was little they could do for her. The Love and Hope team continued to look after Alice, endeavouring to tend to her every comfort. Each day members of the team washed her, cleaned her teeth, brushed her hair, cooked for her, prayed with her and took her for short walks. During this time Alice's daughter Rose was taught how to care for her mother.
Within a few months Alice was back in hospital, this time requiring emergency surgery. A couple of days later she was yet again in a critical condition as her wound had become severely infected, prompting further surgery. When she finally returned to her one-room home, Alice was quite emotional and so grateful to find a new bed, a mattress and blankets as a welcome home gift from the Love and Hope Foundation.
Today, Alice is supported by her daughter and all at the Love and Hope Foundation. Although Alice is HIV positive, she can be seen walking around the slums in Nakuru sharing the news of how the Love and Hope Foundation helped her to live and gave her a precious gift of her faith. This story is repeated each day in different ways in different countries in the work supported by Mission Sunday.
The Story behind the
Mission Sunday Poster
This year’s Mission Sunday Poster has a very lovely story behind it.
The nun in the poster is Sister Patricia, a qualified nurse from Ireland who has been in Kenya for over ten years. Alice is just one of 500 patients tended by Sister Patricia and her Love and Hope team.
Sister Patricia came across Alice Achieng on one of her many home visits to suffering victims infected with HIV.
The nun in the poster is Sister Patricia, a qualified nurse from Ireland who has been in Kenya for over ten years. Alice is just one of 500 patients tended by Sister Patricia and her Love and Hope team.
Sister Patricia came across Alice Achieng on one of her many home visits to suffering victims infected with HIV.