Dear Friends,

Recently, we participated in a local government organized annual health screening day in Cato Manor. Cato Manor is a predominately black African community near to downtown Durban. Cato Manor has a history of inter-racial violence and still struggles with a high crime rate. Even so, eight of our health builders from five different Durban area churches were eager to join us for the day. Our health builders know the Lord Jesus, and they are not afraid to be witnesses of the love and healing of Christ by serving in places like Cato Manor, where this witness in both appreciated and needed. As I left a little boy said to me, “I want to help you; I want to be a doctor when I grow up.” This is the usual sort of reception that our health builders get, a good welcome from the people.

We had an excellent day of Zulu dancing, gospel singing, food, fellowship, health screening, counseling, and referral. We were joined by HIV counselors of the Treatment Action Campaign, as well as by some doctors from a local church. The local health department contributed some medical supplies. We set up eight private stations for testing for HIV, blood sugar and blood pressure. On this day, we found of 63 persons we screened for HIV that 12% were positive, 13% of the women and 9% of the men tested. Of note, 60 percent of the people had abnormal or elevated blood pressure, some critically so, and about 15% had abnormal blood sugar. We were able to provide counseling and referral on the spot, in association with the local clinics, the local government, and the skilled Zulu counselors we had available. Follow-up health education was offered at a local church.

At the end of the day a doctor who was present told me that last year only three people agreed to be tested for HIV at a similar event at Cato Manor in commemoration of World AIDS day. What was different about what we did? Why did 63 people agree to be tested at the screening this December? A nurse that we trained in health building at a Cato Manor church introduced the idea of addressing a broader array of problems to the local government officials. This approach removes stigma, enhances confidentiality and treats HIV like any other disease. About 80% of the people we screened wanted HIV testing. The local government authorities were very pleased with the performance of our Health Builders, and would like to have more events like this one. We hope that this sort of positive collaboration will help us get official recognition for our health builder program. We intend to train local people to do health screening in the future.

Jesus Christ came into the world, and His earthly ministry was accompanied by many healing miracles, attesting to his Messiahship. Today we are called to bring the mercy of Christ to men and women who are suffering with diseases, to point them to effective treatment and living, and to share about Jesus who saves for eternity. Jesus is the door to eternal life, and we thank you for allowing us to be witnesses here in Durban, where we the church are doing what the clinics have been unable to do in the past. This is our witness to our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord who heals men and women. We covet your prayers and support for this ground-breaking mission to go forward in South Africa, where men and women hunger for the bread of life named Jesus, and whose bodies need healing from HIV, hypertension, and diabetes among others.

Grace and Truth,

Rick and Anita Gutierrez