We’ve just finished our two workshops with the HIV+ support group at JL Zwane. Fre and I were quite moved by what they had the courage to reveal about themselves and how this virus has altered their lives and their families. It is like gas: silent, invisible, quick and deadly. These men and women are so hungry to learn whatever we have to teach them; for new experiences beyond the ordinary hardships they are facing everyday.

They thanked us for giving them a place to learn about each other in a new way. They rarely, if ever, get to be really listened to and have the experience of being known without being judged. When this happens LOVE is present: love for self and love for others.

Zanele took her one-word gift to the world- HAPPINESS- and shared it with everyone she saw on her way home. She said that she smiled at them until they felt happiness. Baba’s one-word gift was UPLIFTMENT. She shared it with her daughter and grandchildren, and they were relieved because she had been depressed for a year and had withdrawn from the world. They were thrilled to get their mom back.

One of our men, Johnny, shared that he felt more connected with the world since he started the workshop. Before, he lived a very isolated life, leaving home only for support group meetings, sometimes to see a friend, and to get groceries on the day JL Zwane distributes food to the needy. As a man who has been blind for the last 15 years, he had given up so many of his passions, first and foremost, his love of reading. In the workshop, he realized how much he missed it. Now that he has felt this connection to the world, he wants to read. Johnny promised to go back to the school for the blind to learn how to read Braille so he can read books, use a cell phone, ride an elevator and do other things outside of his home.

LETTERS

The participants in both workshops so generously wrote letters to someone who just discovered they had the virus and wanted to die. They were asked to share their experience of finding out their status, and with living with the virus in a way that would make a difference for the reader.

Tamsanqa wrote a long letter in which he told his new friend, “Please don’t stress. Be cool and listen to your self and your heart beat. I was diagnose in 2003… and went home angry…I couldn’t believe it was me with this Devil. But I forgave myself. I never thought this could happen to this clever boy, but I was stupid… I never used protection… But now I am a changed man because of the people around me… Please my friend be strong and try to pray even if it’s once a day. Your friend in South Africa, Tamsanqa.”

Nasipho wrote “I care about you very much. Please call me if you want something or you need help. I’m here for you.”

So much love and wisdom flowed out of these letters. Olipha recommended “the way you must feel about this virus is to have control over it. You must be in control of your body and life, always think positively. If you allow negative thoughts in your mind you shall always be depressed. Once you are depressed and you have stress, it becomes easy for opportunistic diseases to attack you.”

All of the letters are just gorgeous. I can’t wait to share them with the many different support groups back home and also with the wider public for they are a gift of hope and call for prevention.

Bongani says it best, “Love yourself… you can go far. HIV is just a word. There are many diseases around that world that can kill you. I’m proud to be HIV+ positive because God [has} got a purpose for my life. Call me if you want help feeling proud!”

Anasuya