We started with some training and information on HIV. Our team had had dinner with the guy who gave the training, one of the members of Gallery Church who is HIV positive, has been diagnosed for about 10 years. Teams were being sent to three areas of the city, where the Gallery Church was partnering with clinics for free HIV testing. We went to Spanish Harlem to pass our cards for free HIV testing. The clinic we were near was where Greg, the church member, works. We went through the facility to get an idea of the work they do, the services they provide. The cards were black on one side with the red ribbon and had "Know Your Status" printed on it, with the addresses of the three clinics that we were partnered with one the back. Our team of about 20-25 people were stationed on various corners around the Harlem clinic. These cards were harder to pass out, in that people were not as open to taking them as the free gum. I think the phrases "Free Packs of Gum!" and "Free Test Today!" will stick in my mind for weeks to come.
I had one longer conversation with a gentleman who was 56, was not HIV positive, but shared that he was gay and had not had a partner for 4 years because he was being careful. I was able to tell him that we were friends of the Gallery Church, partnering with the clinics because we know that God loves people, and we want to show His love to the city by caring about them. I had three people specifically ask where the clinic was (Jerry and I had a corner about half a block down, and kitty-corner from the clinic). We had 200 cards each, and when I was down to about 50 cards, they told us to stop handing out cards because the number of people who had come by the clinic for tests was now overwhelming them! I praise God that we had that kind of impact on the community, . One statistic we were given was that if one HIV positive person finds out their status and practices safe habits, it can result in 2000 people NOT being infected with the virus.
That evening was the art show, and it was incredible. They had a one space with various photos of the persons who had answered the "two question" papers, with their papers hanging next to them, a video screen of all the photos was playing, and one wall covered with the responses, separated by boroughs, other states and international responses. Beyond the visual of it, was the amazing variety of answers. Some just broke my heart to see what people would do, if there were no tomorrow.
There was a second art area in the gallery/church area of the building of art by the Alabama State Prisoners. Their pieces were so thought-provoking and the art itself was AMAZING.
Overall, this trip went way beyond "Phyllis" and was God working through me. Jerry has said that he was stunned by how flexible I was, how I had a good attitude no matter what happened, and was able to just do or carry on whatever was needed. I'm glad to hear that, because we've been told that on our mission trip to China (September 16-25) that we need to be "even more than flexible, we need to be fluid!" and I really wasn't sure if I had that in my. It may not be "in" me, but God certainly can bring that out!
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