Agnes: From Confused to Confident
A diagnosis left Agnes isolated and lonely. Her own family of six grown children turned their back on her. The stigma of being HIV positive caused her to be rejected by society, filled with fear, and confused. But all of this changed when a friend who was also HIV+ began encouraging Agnes. This sister brought Agnes to Homecare Fellowship and the Fadhili Women’s Program.
This program creates space for a group of women, all HIV+, to meet every week with the goal of empowering these sisters spiritually, physically, and economically. Through complex but inspiring conversations and intentional time spent together, they have built a sisterhood and learned what it looks like to live in community. They’ve even discovered the power of forgiveness!
Agnes personally testifies that she has been transformed and blessed by the devotions shared during their weekly meeting. She has forgiven those who have wronged her in the past and shares that she is no longer a captive of her circumstances but has been set free by God. This new-found freedom has even allowed her to restore relationships with her children.
In the past, there were times when Agnes would go to bed hungry or struggled to pay rent. Part of the Fadhili program is fixing meals together. Not only does this mean better nutrition but a balanced diet is so important for antiretroviral medicine to be the most effective. Rent is no longer a problem as Agnes participates in income generating activities like making and selling liquid detergent.
We love this final piece of Agnes’ story. One of her daughters has bought land for her outside of the city where she is building a home for Agnes to live into her retirement. What a beautiful sign of restoration of family relationships and a testimony of God’s grace and goodness.
Agnes has gone from isolated and lonely to gaining confidence and being at peace with herself and others. This sweet sister knows that she is beloved and is healing emotionally and psychologically, all the way down to her soul!
"God bless you with a long life, good health,
and abundance."
- Agnes’ prayer for you
*While faith is important to us, we believe in advancing gender justice and creating opportunity for all women, no matter their background or tradition.
