Sunday, June 11, 2006




25 years -- 25 Million deaths

Since 1981, 25 million people have died of AIDS. The first person I knew to die from AIDS was our Ugandan accountant in Southern Sudan, John Abitia in 1985. And then there was Night Phoebe, Quakers David and Senta Onanga, and our milkman Waswa. Last year, the woman who lived and worked in our home during our six years in Uganda, Betty Sanyu (above), died of a brain tumor caused by AIDS. AIDS is not just a number, but faces and friends.

And faces and friends I do not want to forget. John Abitia taught us about this “Slims” disease among our African friends. He died before any of us really understood how sick he was or how bad this epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa could be. While the world become aware of AIDS through the image of Rock Hudson, I saw AIDS through the unnoticed, difficult life and death of a Ugandan refugee named John Abitia.

Ron and I met David and Senta Onanga at the Quaker Meetinghouse in Kampala. David was a convinced Quaker. I always appreciated his testimony about discovering Quakers and knowing in his heart that he experienced God and Christ in much the same way as the early Quakers. He knew that Christ was present to teach His people Himself, and he saw that worship at the Quaker meetinghouse reflected that reality. He and his wife, and Betty Sanyu are just a few of the hundreds of thousands of Ugandans who became HIV+ during the years of upheaval and war in Uganda during the 1980's.

Today over 40 million people worldwide are living with HIV and AIDS. The world we leave for the next generation will see even more AIDS deaths before the epidemic turns around. Young people between the ages of 15 and 24 account for half of all new HIV infections worldwide - more than 6,000 become infected with HIV every day. Not all people infected with HIV/AIDS become infected due to poor choices or promiscuity. Many were/are victims of abuse and other types of violence. It calls attention to the fact that we need to view our bodies and our gift of sexuality as sacred.

In days such as these, the Quaker testimonies of simplicity, peace, integrity, community and equality should speak to our sexual morality. The powerful force of sex in our lives can be used for great good or great evil.

Sexuality and all relationships should be defined by simplicity. They should be uncomplicated, not illegal, nor should we put ourselves in situations where we have to lie to cover up inappropriate relationships.

Sex should be a peace issue. We should never use our sexuality to cause harm or do violence to someone we love. HIV and sexually transmitted diseases cause great harm and can even kill.

Is our sexuality moral and our relationships distinguished by integrity? Do we as a worship community protect our children from sexual abuse when they are in our care? Do we encourage our youth to be sexually moral?

Do we as a community honor and protect the sacrament of marriage? Do we as a community offer love and support for those harmed by relationships and inappropriate sexuality?

And do we hold to the equality of all humans and hold men and women to the same high standards of sexual morality?

HIV and AIDS affects real people....not just numbers. Let us not forget their lives........and the lives of so many who face this epidemic in our world.