Patrick Onyango Ogota
My name is Patrick Onyango Oguta, I am the last born of children in the family of Onyango. I was born in 1972 in a small village called Korando, Kisumu District. In the family we were five children 3 are girls and 2 are boys. My father died immediately I was born. The three girls have been married, two have died and one of my brothers. So am the only one who remained in the home of Onyango.
I did my Kenya Certificate of Primary Education in 1988 and passed well but I couldn’t continue with Secondary level because of lack of school fees, so I decided to join my uncle in Eldoret town in the year 1999 to train as a carpenter, the training took two years then later I joined Kibiyu saw mill in Eldoret as a carpenter and that was 2002.
In the year 2004, I married my first girl friend in Eldoret and God blessed us with a baby boy called David Ochieng. In 2006 got another boy called Kelvin Ochieng and after a short while my wife got sick and died and by then we did not know our status.
After burying my wife in our home land I came back to Eldoret and then in March the same year my wife died I decided to know my status and I was found HIV positive. At first I was worried that I was going to die and leave my children as orphans but on 23rd, January 2007, I joined a support group therapy called Victory Care and Support (He Intends Victory) and by then I had so much stigma but as i kept attending the support group i came to realize that living with HIV was not the end of life.
In the support group we began a merry go round so did elections and I was elected to be the secretary of the group. Since then I have learned a lot, the group has given me morally to talk openly and share with others how to live positively, right now I can share with others groups what HIV is, the other thing I learned is having a relationship with Jesus and I am now a born again Christian and when I speak with my friends I have no stigma. At the moment visiting others who are living with HIV/AIDS is the most important thing, I pray with them.
I can say in conclusion that this support group has made me a man and a half under the management of Irene Mwololo and our Director Martha Ambani, and all i can say is God bless Martha and Irene to keep on teaching us.
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Emily Exler
Jeremiah 29:11 reads, “”For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”" I’ve heard this verse quoted hundreds of times, have heard just as many sermons preached on it, and have read it for myself several times in my life as I’ve read through scripture. As familiar as this verse has been to me, it was not a verse that had seemed to have great meaning or application for my life. Sure, I believed it was true, for everyone else. It was a nice ideal, an encouraging saying, but with the circumstances in and surrounding my life, I had decided long ago that this was one verse that just was not meant for me.
Growing up in an abusive home certainly laid the foundation for the belief I held, but the proverbial “nail in the coffin” was being diagnosed as HIV+ after being raped. Upon receiving this news, I very much believed that my life was over. Learning that I could live and function well with HIV was not a great comfort to me, at least not initially. The thought of taking medication for the rest of my life did not thrill me, and the stigma and shame that I felt were so overwhelming that they clouded everything. I felt like any of this “good news” was nothing more than a token prize in the midst of absolute defeat. There would be no planning for a future, no more dreams or goals; for whatever reason that was not to be a part of my life, and I thought that the sooner I accepted this fact, the better off I would be. Even if I had wanted to believe differently, when I compared my circumstances with Jeremiah 29:11, I just could not. Something was wrong.
Three and a half years later, God has drastically changed my heart, my beliefs, and my life. As I trusted Him, and let go of the anger, bitterness, and pain into His healing hands, He begun to bring true healing to my wounded heart and life. He showed me that who I am is not defined by what disease I have. My identity is found in Christ alone, and in who He says that I am. “Most beloved of My soul, child of the King, daughter,” these are what defines me, this is truth, this is who I am. Other labels and stigma assigned by the world have no power or control over me unless I allow them to.
Jesus, through HIV, has taught me what it really means to live, and has brought life to me as I’ve died to myself, let go of my plans, and allowed Him to be in control. The Lord has revealed to me that Jeremiah 29:11 is true for me. He has made it true in my heart, mind, and in my day to day life. God has given me hope and a future and has done so even through HIV. His plans and His understanding are far higher than mine, and faithful to His word, He has made “all things new.”
I was recently accepted to seminary, and as of September 8th, will be a full time student there. I will be studying to receive a Master of Art in Relgion with a focus in Biblical Studies. The Lord has not only provided me acceptance there, but He has also provided a full tuition scholarship, as well as the necessary health insurance, housing, and room/board expenses. After receivng my degree, at this time, I sense the Lord leading me to teach in Uganda. The Lord has also given me a great heart for Africa, Uganda, the people there, and has provided for me to go on 2 missions trips to Africa, one to Zimbabwe, and the other to Uganda.
I am truely overhwelmed at His goodness, mercy and faithfulness, and am rejoicing over the change He has made in me and in my life. Lord Jesus, “I stand in awe of You!”
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A Testimony from Venezuela
I was born in Venezuela 35 years ago, into an evangelical Christian family. I have 6 brothers and sisters. At the age of 14 years, I was curious and wanted to explore and experience what this world had to offer.
In view of the fact that my church was very religious, prohibiting everything, and saying that everything was sin, my curiosity was very traumatic for me and I left home without my parents’ consent. I moved to another city.
I met many people and I fell into the horrible world of drugs. Young people like me were living in the streets, I fell into prostitution, robbery, and all that was evil. I suffered much, much physical and sexual abuse, but nevertheless, I never had the desire to return home.
I slept in the street, begged for money, and I hid my pain with drugs and alcohol.
I became tired of this lifestyle. One day, I met an evangelical Christian family and they invited me to live with them. I accepted. Well, the love that this family provided was very a very beautiful thing. I began to study and went to the university where I received the title of university nurse.
It wasn’t all easy. Even though I wasn’t living in the streets anymore I still continued in the world of drugs. It was difficult for me because my Christian family had gone the way of the world.
My mother suffered from two cerebral hemorrhages and was left in a vegetative state.
I remember that I prayed to God, promising that if my mother would be healed and have a chance to repent I would serve Him forever.
But in reality this was not to happen. My mother was healed bit by bit, but I soon forgot this miracle and the promise that I had made to God.
I continued in the life of drugs because it was difficult for me to leave it. At that time, I got a good job in one of the best clinics in the country. I earned good money and I had many friends. But inside of me I knew there was a horrible emptiness. Those were days of loneliness and weeping.
I became extremely depressed and I attempted suicide several times. I had not experienced the love of my family, and in part I felt that I had betrayed my new family who had given me a new start in life. I took a bottle of rat poison and was found in critical condition. I remained in the hospital for several days and nobody could figure out why I was still alive. I then cut my veins. Several times I tried to strangle myself.
On a daily basis I took overdoses of drugs and alcohol. At age 25, I was given the ELISA test for HIV in the clinic where I worked. This is done on a regular basis there in violation of the human rights of the individual without anything being done to protect our rights.
In those days I didn’t pay much attention to AIDS. I thought that only homosexuals and women who were sex workers could get infected. How wrong I was!
Everything in my life changed when they told me that I was HIV positive two days later. By then everyone in the clinic knew and the criticism followed instantly. I was the talk of the office. I felt that my life had ended. “Oh, God!” That was a painful time. I wouldn’t wish that experience on anyone.
But, I dove deeper into drugs, alcohol and prostitution. I had always said, “Well, if I get infected I will just pay them back the same way.” What an immature, thoughtless person I was toward others, and I was so irreverent toward God. Now I know that God has forgiven me.
I suffered a cerebral hemorrhage which was a complication of toxoplasmosis. I became a hemiplegic. Sadly, I was alone and abandoned in a room with no one to help me.
I only had God for companionship. But today I understand the Bible verse that says that God has a plan for each one of us, a plan that He developed even before we were born. And today I understand God’s plan for my life.
At that time some Christians visited because they were concerned about me. Even though it is difficult to understand, there are still churches that reject people who live with HIV. Thanks to these Christians, I recommitted myself to the Lord at the same time that my siblings in another city were preparing my funeral services because they thought I was beyond help by the medical professionals. My siblings came to get me and took me to my parents’ home to die.
Once I was home, some Christians began to pray and fast for me. Little by little my critical condition was improving.
At that time I didn’t take HIV medications as the government didn’t give them to us, and if any medications were given it was rare. I lived by the mercy of God. Many people died from AIDS.
The worst thing of all was the rejection. I was fired from my job and after that could no longer work as a nurse. It was frustrating, but there was always something inside of me that said that if God provided for me one time he can do it again and again.
I again became gravely ill with kidney failure and severe pain. For several days I couldn’t eat or sleep. I was exhausted and giving up, but I asked God that if he gave me a deep sleep that night and if I woke up improved, I would serve Him with all my heart.
Before I even finished my prayer, I feel into a deep sleep and I woke up as if nothing was wrong with me. That night I dreamed that I was on a mountain and the Lord told me to follow Him.
Since that day I serve the Lord until He comes again. I am the youth leader at my church. I am also a musician and a defender of the human rights of people who are living with HIV/AIDS. I visit the terminally ill and many have gone to be with the Lord. I know that God did not want anyone to die without knowing Him.
Now I understand Psalm 118:17, “I will not die but live so that I may proclaim the wonders of the Lord.”
The Lord has been with me all the time. He is my shield and my rock.
I wish to thank the He Intends Victory ministry for this beautiful work and my sister in the Lord, Juanita Yorba-Gray who has been a strong pillar. Her testimony has been read by and has helped many. God bless you.
I only hope that this testimony will help many people to know that God is great. Without Him we are nothing. Only in Him will we have life and life in abundance. He will deliver us from all our afflictions.
God loves you.
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Mi Testimonio de Venezuela
Nací en Venezuela hace 35 años de una familia de 6 hermanos cristianos evangélicos. A la edad de 14 años como todo joven sentí la curiosidad de querer experimentar y saber que me ofrecía este mundo.
Y en vista de que mi iglesia era tan religiosa y era todo prohibido y todo era pecado pues había ese trauma en mí, y me mude sin la autorización de mis padres. Me fui de mi casa a otra ciudad que yo no conocía.
Conocí a varias personas y caí en el mundo horrible de drogas jóvenes que como yo estaban en la calle, caí en la prostitución el robo, y todo aquello que era malo. Pasé muchas penas, muchos maltratos, y la violación, pero sin embargo nunca sentía el deseo de regresar a mi casa.
Dormí en la calle, pedía dinero, y todas mis penas las escondía entre las drogas y el alcohol.
Ya estaba cansado de llevar esta vida. Un día, conocí a una familia cristiana evangélica quienes me invitaron a vivir a su casa y acepté. Pues el cariño que ellos me brindaban era muy grande para mí. Comencé a estudiar y fui a la universidad donde obtuve el titulo d enfermero universitario.
No todo era fácil pues aunque ya no vivía en las calles, siempre continuaba en el mundo de las drogas. Pues fue difícil para mí saber que una familia cristiana como la mía se había ido al mundo. Mi madre se enfermó de dos hemorragias cerebrales y quedó en estado vegetal. Recuerdo que le pedí a Dios que si la sanaba y le daba una oportunidad de arrepentirse y sanarla yo le serviría para siempre. Pero en cuestión eso no fue así. Mi mamá poco a poco fue sanando y a mí, poco después se me olvidó este milagro y la promesa que yo le había hecho a Dios.
Continuaba en el mundo de las drogas pues era difícil para mí dejar esto. En ese entonces, conseguí un buen trabajo en una de las mejores clínicas del país, obtenía buen dinero y muchos amigos. Pero por dentro de mí había un vacio horrible. Eran días de soledad y de llanto.
Caí en estado de depresión e intenté suicidarme en varias ocasiones, ya que yo no sentía el cariño de mi familia y sentía que en parte a esa familia la cual me había dado esa oportunidad la había traicionado. Me tomé un frasco de veneno para ratas y me consiguieron en estado crítico. Duré en el hospital varios días y nadie sabía porque estaba vivo. Me corté las venas. En varias ocasiones, intenté ahorcarme.
A diario tenia sobre dosis de drogas y alcohol. A la edad de 25 años me hicieron la prueba de eliza vih en la clínica donde yo estaba. Pues eso lo hacen con regularidad, violando así los derechos humanos de las personas sin que nadie haga nada al respecto.
En ese entonces no le prestaba mucha atención al sida. Pues pensaba que sólo se infectaban loa homosexuales y las mujeres trabajadoras sexuales. Que equivocado estaba.
Todo cambió cuando me anunciaron dos días después que era portador del virus, ya toda la clínica lo sabía y las críticas no se hacían esperar. Era la comidilla del momento, sentía que mi vida se había acabado. “¡Dios mío!” Que horrible fue ese momento. No quisiera que nadie pase por eso.
Y pues nada me involucre mas con las drogas alcohol y prostitución y siempre decía, “si me infecte yo pues debo pagar con la misma moneda.” Que inmaduro y que falta de temor hacia Dios. Y de hecho infecté a mucha gente. Hoy sé que Dios ha perdonado todo eso. Sufrí de una hemorragia cerebral que era producto de toxoplasmosis. Quedé hemipléjico. Y lo más triste, abandonado y solo en una habitación sin la ayuda de nadie. Sólo a Dios como mi acompañante. Pero hoy en día comprendo el versículo de la Biblia donde dice que Dios tiene un propósito con cada uno de nosotros antes de nuestro nacimiento; y hoy en día sé cual es el propósito de Dios conmigo.
En ese entonces fui visitado por unos cristianos, algunos que sí quisieron saber de mí. Pues aunque parezca doloroso todavía hay iglesias que rechazan a personas que viven bajo esta condición.
En esa oportunidad, tuve nuevamente mi encuentro con el Señor y, entre tanto mis hermanos que vivían en otra ciudad preparaban los servicios funerales para mí ya que me encontraba desahuciado por el médico tratante. Mis hermanos fueron a buscarme y me llevaron a mi casa materna para poder morir allá.
Una vez en mi casa algunas iglesias cristianas entraron en oración y ayuno; y poco a poco mi estado de gravedad fue cesando.
En este entonces no se tomaba medicamentos ya que el gobierno no los daba y si lo hacía era muy poco solo. Viví por misericordia de Dios. Muchas personas murieron a causa de SIDA.
Lo más horrible fue el rechazo por algunas personas. Fui despedido de mi trabajo y desde entonces más nunca pude ejercer como enfermero. Fue algo frustrante, pero siempre había algo dentro de mí que me decía que si Dios lo hizo una vez lo hará otra y otra.
Nuevamente caí en estado grave pues los riñones no me funcionaban bien y el dolor era demasiado. Tenía varios días sin comer ni dormir. Estaba cansado y entregado pero le pedí a Dios que si Él me daba un sueño profundo que a la mañana siguiente yo amanecía bien yo le serviría a Él de todo corazón.
No habiendo terminado mi oración, caí en ese sueño profundo y desperté como si nada hubiese pasado. Esa noche soñé que estaba en una montaña y el Señor me decía que le siguiera.
Desde entonces le sirvo al Señor hasta su venida. Soy líder de jóvenes de una iglesia. Además, soy músico y defiendo los derechos humanos de las personas seropositivas. Visito a los enfermos terminales y muchos han partido con el Señor. Sé que ese era el propósito de Dios sino muchas persona hubiesen muerto si conocerle a Él.
Y entendí como dice el salmo 118:17 no he de morir he de vivir para proclamar las maravillas del señor.
El Señor ha estado todo el tiempo conmigo el es mi escudo y mi roca.
Quiero dar las gracias al ministerio He Intends Victory por esa labor tan hermosa a mi hermana Juanita Yorba-Gray quien ha sido un pilar fuerte; y su testimonio ha sido leído y ha servido de ayuda a mucha personas. Dios te bendiga.
Sólo espero que este testimonio pueda servir a muchas personas y que sepan que Dios es grande; que sin Él no somos nada; que sólo en Él tendremos vida y vida en abundancia y que de todas las aflicciones el nos librará.
Dios te ama…
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