Lessons from Cross-cultural Living

Jo French serves with MCC in Tanzania, serving women with HIV/AIDS. One of these women is Tatu, mother to Asha (12) Khadijah (3) and Halima (16 months.) Tatu was diagnosed with HIV while pregnant with Halima and began attending the monthly support group at the Iringa Road Mennonite Church where she met Jo. Tatu receives prayer, counselling, and material support.

Jo has walked alongside Tatu with home visits and as she had her children tested for HIV. Her oldest and youngest daughters test results came back negative, but Khadijah tested.

“I remember sitting in the hall with a smiling Khadijah in my arms, too young to understand the news,” Jo writes. “I watched Tatu on the other side of the room staring at the crumpled test result slip still in her hand…she had the posture of a heart-broken mother. It is impossible for me to express or know how she felt in her heart and soul that day.”

Tatu has received many Home Based Care visits and is now doing better. Asha helps out when Tatu's husband is not home and the church community has given her great strength, so much so, that Tatu wants to be baptized. Her faith has grown by watching those who have cared for her.

“I have been touched by the beauty and gentleness of Tatu and each of her girls,” Jo says. “I remember Tatu's words about the power of fellowship that has given her courage and strength.”

This reflection reminds Jo of a quote by Kallistos Ware: Because we know that God is three in one, each of us is committed to living sacrificially in and for the other; each is committed irrevocably to a life of practical service of active compassion.

Jo invites us to pray for Tatu, for all the program workers there and those being supported. She also asks for prayer for herself:

“Please pray for health and enough energy and rest, for joy and love to grow in friendships and relationships, for perseverance in difficult challenges, and wisdom in present and future decisions.”

Jo is one of 820 service workers worldwide, living a life of practical service of active compassion. You can too: for more information contact Sophie at our office or email stiessen@mccbc.com

You can hear Tatu share her story and the recent test results her children received when you visit: www.aidscarenow.org/voices/tatu.html