Living With AIDS

Reprinted from the most recent GlobalFingerprints newsletter ...

The translation of his name into English seems odd to the Western ear. “Bolingo” means love. “Dadokolo” means bad luck. Bolingo Dadokolo is an 8 year old little boy whose father died before Bolingo was born. Three months after his birth, Bolingo’s mother died. He was left in the care of his 78 year old grandmother.

Pastor Deolo, HIV/AIDS Coordinator of the Congolese Free Church/Congo, shares about Bolingo:
 
“He suffered from a chronic cough and scabies that covered his body. His grandmother tried many traditional medicines to find a solution to his health problems.   She also tried a recurring prayer time for the Bolingo in hopes it would chase out any evil spirits of death and sickness. Nothing helped. Bolingo continued to suffer with his varying illnesses.
 
At the urging of Kamolo, the CECU (the Congolese Free Church) supervisor for the GlobalFingerprints program, Kamolo and I went to visit Bolingo and his grandmother. After praying with them, I asked if Bolingo had ever been taken to the hospital. His grandmother said she didn't have the money to pay for a hospital visit.

Kamolo and I decided to take Bolingo to the city of Gemena where he could receive treatment at the church health center. After the initial examination, the nurse gave him a prescription for Cotrimozole, an antibiotic that helps prevent infection.

Because of his poor health, the nurse also decided to do some lab exams. Bolingo was found to be HIV positive. The diagnosis enabled him to get treatment at the government hospital. Thanks to the antibiotic Cotrim, his cough has disappeared. For the present, Bolingo is well.  Glory to God!”

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, there are at least 43,000 children who live with AIDS. The children can be infected at birth, during breastfeeding, through a blood transfusion, use of contaminated needles or because of rape. Hundreds of thousands of children there have lost both parents from AIDS.  In February, a seminar was held at Tandala Hospital to train 300 traditional midwives in prevention of HIV transmission from mother to baby.  This training will help save babies from AIDS while bringing glory to God the Father as the Congolese Church serves their villages. Pray for great impact from the training and work of the Congolese Church with the children and HIV/AIDS needs of the country.

RACHEL'S UPDATE

Rachel is visiting the Congo April 6-May 15, Rachel hopes to talk with many of the sponsored children to learn what happened to them during the recent uprising. Pray for Rachel and the GlobalFingerprints staff as they work together with the GlobalFingerprints supervisors to visit the children.

UNREST UPDATE

We are very thankful to report that the fighting in the broader Dongo area southwest of Tandala has completely subsided. As of last week, all GlobalFingerprints orphans have been accounted for in the Dongo Region, where the fighting during the uprising was the heaviest.  The Congolese are still waiting to get an account for those in the region called Imesse. The people there fled as refugees and have not returned. Rachel will be meeting with the rest of the supervisors on Friday and Saturday.  They are hoping to get word about the supervisor and the children in Imesse.  Thank you for praying!

SPONSORED CHILDREN

1,103 GlobalFingerprints orphans are being sponsored thanks to many new monthly donors!!

CHALLENGE YOUTH CONFERENCE RED BACKPACK PROJECT

In June, 7,000 high school students from all around the U.S will converge at the Challenge Youth Conference in Columbus, Ohio.  One of the ministry outreach opportunities for students this year is the GlobalFingerprints Red Backpack Project. 
Students have the opportunity to make 5,000 Red Backpacks to send to every GlobalFingerprints orphan in the Congo, the children to be sponsored at the India launch site, and to children orphaned in Haiti’s earthquake.
On-site volunteers are needed in Columbus, Ohio.  For more information: http://www.globalfingerprints.org/challenge-conference-red-backpack-project

THANK YOU!

We thank God for our partners like you who have joined us to be the fingerprint of Christ in the lives of these children.  Thank you for your prayers and support.

GlobalFingerprints is a ministry of EFCA TouchGlobal. Visit TouchGlobal at www.touchglobal.org for information on how lives are touched and hope is found, across the country, around the world, every day.