A month ago Jonas, Valrey and Itumele came to our house for dinner. I finally remembered to call their daughter Itumele “Musima†which is her second name – the name Jonas and Valrey use. It was then that Valrey told us she was taking Itumele Musima to meet Valrey’s father’s family so that they could give her a new name. Why? So that she wouldn’t be sick anymore. I don’t understand enough myself to really explain it fully, but it has to do with the respect they give to their ancestors and the hope they have that their ancestors would be able to help 3 year old Itumele Musima.
The weekend they had planned to go, Valrey was too sick to travel. She went to the doctor the next week and found out that she and Itumele Musima are HIV+. Our family has been trying to help them on this shadowy path they find themselves on.
Why, Valrey wonders, does she have it, but her husband does not? Growing up she did just what her parents told her. She stayed home and read. She didn’t go out and drink like the other girls did. She only had one boyfriend before Jonas. She and Jonas both tested negative for HIV before they were married. She won’t tell her mom or her sister her status because she is afraid that her mom will be mad and that the family will treat her differently.
Jonas has always been a hard worker. With his ever-present smile and good natured demeanor, he stands beside Valrey and Itumele. Right now, Valrey is so sick that she is taking a month off of her job as a domestic worker. So, after working all day at his job as a groundskeeper, Jonas does the ironing for Valrey so she won’t lose a client. He told me, proudly, that he is cooking now too!
Last week they saw Valrey’s father’s family. His sister (her aunt) gave Itumele Musima a new name. She is now called Lucia Motlope.
Friday I went with Valrey and Motlope to the clinic for a follow-up appointment. The nurse called the lab for Valrey’s test results. She does not have TB, but her CD4 count is 16. I’ve only been learning about CD4 counts in the last few weeks…a normal count is between 500 and 1500. Once you get down below 200 you are eligible for anti-retroviral treatment (ART).
I picked Valrey up this morning so that she could use our washer to do her laundry. She could barely walk 5 feet before she slowed down to catch her breath. Arthur and I prayed for Valrey and Motlope today. We asked the God of Wonders, the Lord of Heaven and Earth, our Creator and Healer to remove their sickness. We asked for a miracle. We know that He has the power to change their status from positive to negative. We trust Him to care for His children.
I’m asking God to give Valrey and Motlope new names. Names that will be a testimony to His grace and power in their lives.