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Maseeng’s Story
We met Maseeng for
the first time in Lesotho in April 2005. She was part of a
group that came to participate in a sewing seminar. This
sewing seminar is a part of a program that AAIM Adventist
Aids International Ministries conducts to help HIV positive
people with income generating activities.
Maseeng was thin,
pale, and when talking to her we could sense that she was
very alone and depressed. As the sewing seminar was taking
place, and people became acquainted with each other, they
started to share their personal testimonies and give each
other support.
Day by day the
solemn expressions started to change into smiles and
friendships began to form. We were observing everyone, but
Maseeng was very special. We were able to see through her
beautiful eyes that she was hurting. We approached her and
she opened up to us and told us her story.
Maseeng is an
elementary school teacher and some time ago she became
infected with HIV. As time went by she became weaker and
weaker and very discouraged to the point that she was giving
up with life. It was at that time that she decided to come
to the sewing seminar and become part of this support group.
Among the
participants of this group, Maseeng was able to find people
that were loving and caring. This is how the healing process
started for her. Some days later Maseeng was not only
smiling and singing but she was also dancing with joy.
Maseeng was not alone anymore. She had a new group of
friends, people that were in the same situation that she was
in. People that understood her, that did not judge her, and
just cared for her.
Today, Maseeng has
gained weight, color has come back to her face, and she is
full of life and joy. Maseeng is back at work, she now runs
her own day care center during the day. In the evenings she
directs and trains a support group formed up of women from
the surrounding community. They come together to learn how
to sew, and to support each other, with love and friendship.
Also, each Sabbath, a newly formed group of people from the
community comes to worship at Maseeng’s place.
This
afternoon, we called Maseeng, she is doing wonderfully, she
is full of life and she is praising the Lord for everything
that He has done for her.
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