We spent monday morning with Fountan of Life (FOL) Church and their Home Based Care outreach ministry to people in the Muthare slums who are sick with HIV/AIDS.

We went in 2 teams, led by Pastor Gideon and volunteers from FOL. The ministry volunteers come 3 days every week – 1 day to each of the 3 slums they minister in. They currently have over 60 families that they care for and support – through prayer and encouragement, helping with practical needs like food, school fees, transportation to get medical treatment, and rent assistance. It is shocking to me that most people pay $10-20 USD per month for rent in an 8×10 ft shanty with no water or bathroom, and most do not have electricity. Most are struggling just to have food to eat – it is very difficult on their meager (if any)income especially when many of the women have been abandoned by their husband because they tested positive – they are now a shunned outcast to their family and community, and now care for their children on their own without any support.

Some, like Mary who we met, sleep on the floor- (the church has purchased mattresses for some as they are able). Others, like 60 year old Jane, sleep 9 people (including her 2 daughters and grandchildren) in a 12×12 home. They sleep on 1 twin bed, the couch, the floor or the coffee table, which they eat around during the day and becomes a bed at night.

As we walked through this dark place, where you could see in the eyes of the people true desperation and despair, I couldn’t help but think of of Jesus in Matthew 9:36-38.

Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. ³⁸“Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”

And then we came to the home of Ennis – and my eyes were opened once again to … To Be Continued :)