he line for those who have had to flee discrimination or expulsion from families. I didn't know what to expect. My mind and heart were very tender from the experiences over the last few days. I was quiet, somehow deeply aware that I was to walk into something that I really needed to walk into.Borges had prepared matters well. Each of the people we were to visit had been asked if it was alright that others would come along. I am sure that he explained to them Karen's role and my presence. Some had said no, not wishing to draw any more attention to themselves within even this community.
We found the first home and got out of the car. There, laying on a mat, was a women in her early twenties though she looked much, much older. Her son was by her side and her mother was t
here to help. As she struggled to raise her head but could not, my pastoral skills kicked in - detach emotionally and focus on the most immediate need of the person. I handed my camera off to one of the other young men - it was time to be fully present in this space, not take pictures. All I could do was to maintain eye contact her when possible and somehow convey to her that she was not alone. Borges turned out to excel in pastoral skills - his voice was calm and reassuring, his gestures and attitude conveyed respect and dignity to the person and there wasn't an ounce of judgment about her circumstances. He checked in with her about her most immediate state of health. He shared her circumstances with us and her basic challenges. Like most HIV women, they are without partners and left to care for the children on their own. This woman was fortunate to have her mother come from their village to help as she could. When the food arrived, Borges explained to the mother the need to make her daughter eat to minimize the effects of the medicine. There was a sense of gratitude. I also pray that there was a sense of hope for them.This next case challenged us all. This woman and her two children and mother
had been robbed of absolutely everything they owned - clothes, pots, food and even the prescription for her anti-viral drugs. The grandmother herself was badly crippled. Neither child went to school. Their home showed signs of considerable deterioration and they were having problems with rats at night. Earlier that day, neighbours had pity on them and had 
brought a bowl and people poured in a little bit of rice as they could. But no charcoal for cooking or nothing to cook in.The strain showed in Borges face. The disbelief was evident in all our faces. Two thoughts went through my mind, both of which felt like they would erupt in rage. The first I believe was common to us all in that circle - how could anyone take such advantage of the disadvantaged!?
It took a few moments for the answer to arise through another question: what desperation was that person experiencing that would cause such behaviour towards a fellow human being. Perhaps I'm naive.
The second question that raged through my mind came about because of my experiences with the women at the Medi-Plantas project. Perhaps without that experience I would have simply wallowed in the horridness of these circumstances. But I saw what a difference could be made through the medicinal plants and consistent support and education. It is a proven difference. No amount of money should prevent the development of that project in every corner of this country. I rage even now, the only difference being that I rage to others whereas then I kept the turbulent feelings silent.
The next woman was far less incapacitated. Her and her son lived in a rental home that was falling apart. There was little to cook with and no food. Yet she was mobile and in relatively good health at the moment. She was anxious to work and take her son out of these circumstances while she had relative health. Her determination reminded me of the women in Molumbo.
Back in the truck, drive through this maze of roads and pull up for the next people. The house before us was large and well built. The husband who had done the work died leaving the wife at home and unable to care for herself. She had a daughter who lived reasonably near but the daughter refused to help her. Interestingly that same daughter came into the house as we talked with this women (you can see her legs in the corner in this picture). I think we all got the sense that this daughter was likely to take half the food we were going to give to the mother. Borges did not confront the daughter and I was unaware if something was said quietly that did not get translated to me.
Borges remained calm and engaging of the woman herself.
A little further around a corner was another woman on her mat. She is an older teenager. She has a son
and most uncommonly, her husband who himself is 16 has decided t
o stay with them. Because of my Canadian context and our ability to seek out support services for the caregivers themselves, I wondered who this young man turned to with the problems before him. It was interesting to see how Borges responded to the young man and drew him into the sphere of dignity that he developed with all of these people. It was to this young man that Borges explained the need for nutritional support and encouraged him. It was nice to experience the laughter in this space.The next y
oung woman was HIV positive but was more concerned about her baby who was also HIV positive. The medical system teaches the mothers who have AIDS to not breastfeed their children after the first few months. The longer the child is breastfed, the higher the risk of infection. But what is a mother to do when there is little food or clean water? Early intervention and support seems so easy to say, but with many, many children infected early to mothers who have been abandoned or forced to leave their communities of support only to be left to fend for themselves, how easy is this to do?When we went to the next site we met 3 women who had become a small network of support for each other. This excited all of us for we know how the quality of life increases when you have fr
iends to be there for you. I saw in them that look I met in the Medi-Plantas program. Karen quickly began to talk to them about the importance of w
hat they were doing. She mentioned 
the other more mobile and independent woman we had met earlier and suggested that maybe she could be part of the group. They seemed to suggest that woman was indeed on that got these others together. How wonderful to witness this! Karen and Borges talked to them about the Medi-Plantas women and the PEDRA success of doing things together. Karen explained to them that the PEDRA t-shirts could help their visibility in this neighbourhood and maybe others would like to join their group. The women seemed to react positively to these thoughts.How positive was all that!The woman in the middle picture lived a little bit down the road and she insisted to Borges that we come to her house to see how she lived. She was fiercely independent and proud of it. The house was orderly, the laundry was drying and her smile would melt you. I prayed that life will give her a chance for she seemed poised for something.
This was such a positive experience and reinforced for me that notion of trying to start a Medi-Plantas project here for there was already a potential team of women who could be educated and helped to start. I did however, keep that notion to myself at this point.
We had one more visit and delivery to do. Around
the back of a modest home was a women sitting on her mat while her sons were grinding the corn into flour. Her 
husband paced around the yard and finally sat a distance away where he could observe things but not be part of the conversation. This woman's sister also had AIDS and had recently deteriorated. Seeing that obviously made this woman very sad and afraid for herself. She also seemed nervous with her husband sitting there and watching us. Borges did a good job of repositioning himself to block the view of the husband in order to create a safer space. He truly has been remarkable in his ability to read and react to every situation we walked into.This afternoon was exhausting. On the way back to the CCM office, Borges asked if we could take a bit of time to have some feedback from me. My mind and heart were still swirling but I agreed. After a short break we met in the PEDRA room under the fans which I was most grateful for. A cold drink refreshed me and I turned my thoughts to what I was going to reflect back to these young men and the ministry they have taken upon themselves.
I hope I gave them some useful feedback. I know I praised their abilities in setting up the programs with the local leaders. I hope I conveyed my utmost respect for Borges and his skills with the people he was working with. I do also know that something I said or how it was heard made Borges defensive. I had tried to explain how I approach these challenges in Canada with the range of options and support services available to us. A multi-disciplinary approach is feasible; therefore I think of support for caregivers, food protection measures, transportation options etc. Somehow it seemed that he heard that as a judgment of their work that fell short of my measuring stick. When I realized this misunderstanding, I tried to correct it but i could tell from his eyes that he was left a little deflated. I so regret that for his work was outstanding in his context of options.
After this session, we were all tired. Time to go back to Karen and Bill's home and have a quiet evening. After a brief time on their lovely porch full of plants, the mosquitoes started to invade. We moved inside and talked through supper about the last days and particularly today. Bill and Karen were offering us all a chance to debrief from the intensity. My emotions were still largely locked up and the conversation was more from my head rather than my heart. It was however nice to talk about the Mozambican context while acknowledging our Canadian context as an affecting worldview. The darkness came soon and it was time for my last sleep in Mozambique.
I leave this day with a picture of the PEDRA girls making a cake for tomorrow's goodbye. They had started the pan cake in the oven in their meeting room but then the electricity went out.
Being brilliantly resourceful girls, they quickly made a fire in the courtyard of the office complex and continued to bake the cake there. I understand there were more challenges but I can say the cake turned out delicious!
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