HIV/AIDS

If you know me well, you might know that I used to not want to go to Africa partly because of my paranoia about getting AIDS. I was very scared that I would get AIDS that I didn't want to be anywhere close to anyone who had it. There's a certain lady in the town that I'm from who has AIDS (of no fault of her own). God has miraculously kept her alive for years now. One thing she does is make scarfs and give them away. We received one of these once but I was fearful to use it. I didn't know if I could get AIDS since she touched it.

Since this time, the God has been working in my life and heart to make me more open and willing to be around people who have this disease. I think that He has been working on me so that if the occasion arises I will be willing to reach out with His love without hesitation. When there is fear then satan has a foothold. AIDS is horrible yet not hopeless. I think that this disease has been made worse than most just by the shame, seclusion, hopelessness, and loneliness that comes with it. Sometimes we fear just because we don't know; we fear what we don't understand.

I find it interesting that for one of the topics we are suppose to research for homework here is HIV/AIDS since I have seen God freeing me in this area and this has just helped continued the process in my heart.

Here are some lies that people believe surrounding the HIV/AIDS virus:

~ “The HIV virus is found within saliva. Therefore, it is possible to get HIV from
kissing.”

~ “Having sex with a virgin can cure HIV/AIDS in a person.”(Common in parts of
Africa and has resulted in the rapes of many young girls.) (satan uses this lie to infect and ruin more people's lives.)

~ “HIV/AIDS only occurs in gay men”

~ “HIV/AIDS only occurs in sex workers”

~ “HIV/AIDS only occurs in injection-drug users”

~ “The CIA created HIV to kill the African population”

~ “HIV can be transmitted through day-to-day contact with an infected person” (such as sharing a glass or food, hugging, coughing, etc) (This is a important one I think. This lie keeps us from reaching out.)

~ “It is possible to contract HIV from giving blood”

~ “Mosquitoes can spread HIV”

~ “Women with HIV can't have children”

~ “Women can't pass HIV to men”

~ “A person can not get HIV from having sex just one time”

~ “HIV and AIDS is the same thing”

~ “There is a cure for HIV/AIDS”

~ “A person can get AIDS from a toilet seat”

~ “All people who get HIV will get AIDS”

I know that God is going to keep helping me work through this issue in my own life. I hope that this was beneficial in yours if you struggle with this like I do. When the time comes I hope that I reach out to whoever it might be with arms filled with Christ's love.

God is Amazing!

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you. Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous and shout for joy, all you upright in heart! -Ps 32:8-11

Pics!

Hey, here's a few of the pics so far. Some of them are from assignments and some are just for fun. I hope everyone is doing well and thanks again for your prayers and support!!!!

Having fun during a field trip....

Enjoying "The Painted" church

Yes, I did meet the gecko from geico.

The ocean after dark....so beautiful still.

A group of us went up a mountain and froze our butts off but it was still fun. The point was to get some star trails but since I had to hold down my shutter button I didn't succeed. It was still a cool experience and helpful for learning more about photography.

One of my most recent favorite assignment shots. Motion at night.

Book #1

Okay, so here at our training we're suppose to read a number of books and write about them as homework. I will be posting some thoughts I have about them after finishing them. The first book that we read was called. "Is that really you God."

This book is basically the story of how YWAM got started, stories from the first 20+ years of the ministry from the eyes of the founder Loren Cunningham, and their journey of learning to hear and obey God's voice. If some of you are wondering what YWAM is all about, and thinking "I have no idea what ministry Chrissy is involved in", this is the book for you. It's also the book for you if you want lots of stories/examples of hearing the voice of God and obeying/not obeying and the consequences.

One thing in the book that stood out to me was from Loren Cunningham's life and his family. Loren came from a line of christians in full time ministry. His grandfather felt called to preach and then his father and mother as well. At a young age Loren heard the Lord call him to preach and he gave his first sermon at the age of 13. What a blessing it was for Loren to have this legacy. It reminds me of the verse "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us." He had the honor of growing up and having "this great cloud of witness" to encourage him in his relationship with God.

Another blessing that goes along with the first, he grew up learning Christian truths as a child; truths most people never learn. It's like the difference between a child growing up in a bilingual home verses a one language home. Speaking two languages to that child is like second nature and he doesn't even have to think about it. Where most people who grow up only having learned one language never learn a second and if they do, most of the time it they won't learn it as well.

It's amazing how God has used Loren for his kingdom and what he's accomplished and the people's lives he's impacted. Not only the people YWAM ministers to but the broken people who come here to "serve" like me. It's sort of crazy being here at the main base and reading all that was involved to get to the place YWAM is now. A lot of work, tears, joy, obedience, mistakes, prayer, and a simple trust in the Savior.

The book ended on this thought "This is what hearing God is all about, isn't it?" Getting to know God better."......

Human Trafficking

Last night, we watched a video about Human Trafficking. It was heartbreaking to see the faces of innocent women and children who are exploited for someone's "satisfaction". It's horrible to imagine children being being robbed of not only their childhood but their innocence, purity, and spirit!

Just some facts from the different countries from around the world (some of these may be different depending on what source you get your info from.):

Ethiopia, sex with a child $0.50,

In Chiang Mai, Thailand, the rate is around $5-60,

Amsterdam $45.

Thailand is a big prostitution country. In both, prostitution within the country, as well as their own women/children being taken to other countries. It's amazing to me because I have been in Chiang Mai on more than one occasion. I never suspected or thought about this happening in this place I enjoyed visiting.

"On this trip, I've had sex with a 14 year-old girl in Mexico and a 15 year-old in Colombia. I'm helping them financially. If they don't have sex with me, they may not have enough food. If someone has a problem with me doing this, let UNICEF feed them."

-Retired U.S. Schoolteacher

Amsterdam, even though prostitution is legal there I'm sure without a shadow of a doubt that there are women and children who are being forced to live that life style. There's a certain red light district that I read about where the girls stand in windows on display just like mannequins! When a man finds a girl he likes he knocks and they discuss the price and other details. I know that some of these woman have freely chosen this lifestyle but others have no choice. (I use the word freely, but really, who can chose to live like this and not at least be enslaved by Satan?)

America, I just realized recently that there is human trafficking in America! I mean, I guess I realized that people were raped and kidnapped but never realized it is a growing industry. I just read a story of a girl on the internet (whether it was true or not isn't important since this really does happen.) To make a long story short she told how a man won her trust, convinced her she loved him, took her to another city, and forced her into working for him as a prostitute. She was suppose to make $5oo a night but the first night only came back with $50. The Pimp beat her as an example to the other girls. She met her quota the next time but was abused further. These girls are required to make $500-$2,000 a night. No longer is this just a problem of "other" countries but it's my country's problem. It's happening here.

Here is the Sex and Money website, if you'd like to watch some of their webcasts. http://photogenx.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=8&Itemid=93 I hope you will not only watch but that it would motivate you to pray and to take action however you feel the Lord lead. This is a group, Sex and Money is made up of former PhotogenX DTS/Track people.

The Sex and Money Team hoping to complete their video by the end of this year to expose human trafficking in America. If you are interested in helping their cause, you can vote of them so they win a grant from Pepsi. www.refresheverything.com/gosetfree

Get ready to grab some Kleenex and get down on your knees for these people who's situation must break the heart of Almighty God! And the question lies, now that we know, what does God want us to do?