Times and times around I have seen movies where the elderly folks are put into homes when their children are either unable to look after them or tired of looking after them. There was a time as well that I personally visited an elderly care home that was runned by a friend of my husband.

Truthfully I do not believe in putting my folks into a home. But I do believe if there is really a need for special care that we should do everything in our powers as children to make sure that our parents receive the best treatment and care that we can afford.

There are many ways to find a nursing home that best suit your needs or in this case the needs of your elderly. I do believe in visiting these homes myself without any information given to the homes that you are going there to see their facility. The reason is that most homes tend to show a different image when they know a client is coming to view their premises. Things always also tend to look better through pictures. Dont believe what you see until you view it with your own eyes.

Different nursing homes have different nursing home services. What I actually mean by this is that some places are only a home where they have normal care for their clients. Where other places have special care and treatment for special clients that need these kind of care. You should also look into the people working at these places and what are their backgrounds. If they have experiences as nurses and care practitioners then it should be a good place. All in all I believe that we should do our best for our elderly before even looking at putting them into homes.

Picking someone as Britain’s worst ever ruler is certainly no easy task. How does one pit someone like the Saxon Ethelred the Unready with say the 20th Century’s Edward VIII? In spite of this, a group of high profile historians have got together with English Heritage and come up with a top three failures; a trinity of shame if you will.

The first on the blacklist is Mary I of Scotland. More commonly refered to as Mary Queen of Scots, Mary I was crowned Queen of Scotland and betrothed to the infant son of Henry VIII before she was even nine months old. Coronated on the 9th September, 1543, Mary’s reign was fraught with difficulties and bad decisions that ended with a period of crushing incarceration before a grisly execution.

When her second husband, Lord Darnly, died in an explosion, Mary was considered the prime suspect in his murder and seriously began to fall out of favour with members of the Scottish court. She then severely exasperated the controversy by marrying the other chief suspect in the case, the then Earl of Bothwell, just three months after Darnly died.

Forced to abdicate her position, Mary fled to England believing that Elizabeth I would protect her from an uprising of her nobles. Instead, the Queen of England was forced to inquire into the death of Darnly and threw Mary in prison.

For the next 19 years Mary devoted herself to plotting the Queen’s downfall. Involved in countless Catholic conspiracies, Mary was executed for Treason in February 1587.

After her death, Mary’s reputation blossomed as a symbolic and romantic figure. A Catholic martyr, Mary Queen of Scots has never been officially canonised by the church but the intensity of her suffering at the hands of both Darnly and Bothwell and then Elizabeth, has lead many to sympathise with her plight.

In spite of her more endearing treats (she was a renown beauty and had mastered several languages), if one is to judge the success of her ability to rule then she certainly doesn’t come off too well. The historian Sarah Gristwood, for example, described her actions while Queen of Scotland as “irresponsible to the point of criminality.” Whatever we may think of her personally, she was undoubtedly a lousy monarch.

The second candidate in the top three is King George IV. Ruling as the Prince Regent whilst his father, King George III, was prone to bouts of madness, and then as King from 1820-1830, George was a serial womaniser and huge squanderer with lavish and gaudy tastes. Frivolous at a time of great social distress, many of his subjects held the King as a fool and a playboy.

Despite seeing Britain’s victory over Napoleon’s French military, George spent far more time and money on expensive palaces like the opulent Royal Pavilion at Brighton and on his various affairs and strings of mistresses.

A total cad and a bounder, George IV (played to the hilt by Hugh Laurie in Blackadder III) earns his position in the trinity of shame by exhibiting almost complete disregard for his office and his subjects.

The final candidate on the shortlist is Edward II. A terrible soldier, during Edward’s reign he managed to lose control of Scotland to Robert the Bruce at Bannockburn in 1314. He also lavished expensive gifts and privileges on his male favourites, especially the French knight Piers Gaveston, a relationship which formed the basis of the king’s rumoured homosexuality.

Edward was forced to abdicate under grounds of incompetence and was imprisoned by his wife’s family. One thing that is famous about Edward II’s demise is, of course, his rather grisly end. Most famously described by the historian Raphael Holinshed in the 16th century, the account of Edward’s murder has gone down in history as one of the most gruesome of all time. The whole ‘Did they? Didn’t they?’ was made all the more famous when Christopher Marlowe decided ‘that they definitely did’ and used Holinshed’s description to close his play, called simply: Edward II.

So, there’s the shortlist. Not exactly Britain’s finest moments, granted, but are they really the worst rulers? What about Edward VIII who completely chickened out? Or what about Richard the Lionheart? Who, despite being born in Oxford (and having a cool name), was quite clearly French, spoke very little English, tried to overthrow his father Henry II and spent almost the entirety of his 10 year reign off in the Middle East murdering Jews and Saracens in a vain quest to capture the holy lands. Nice chap.

I suppose, just as in deciding Britain’s best monarch, it all comes down to matters of personal opinion. After all, was Queen Victoria the elegant Empress of India that dutifully resided over a commonwealth on which the sun never set; or, was she a vainglorious tyrant that condoned the disgusting exploitation of the poorest and most vulnerable people on the planet?

It just comes down to perspective doesn’t it.

Samantha is a London theatre fanatic and regular West End theatregoer. She writes and researches some of the biggest London shows you can view examples of her work here Oliver and Show and Stay.

Austin, Texas, is well known for its nightlife, but there is plenty to do during daylight hours, too. With a wide variety of museums and cultural centers catering to most every interest, Austin provides visitors and residents alike with countless options for cultural outings. Here is a closer look at five of Austin’s best.

1)Lyndon B. Johnson Library and Museum
Dedicated in 1971, the Lyndon B. Johnson presidential library and museum houses the single greatest collection of artifacts and memorabilia from the life and presidency of our nation’s 36th president, including documents, photographs, clothing and automobiles. In addition to the permanent collection, the museum also houses traveling exhibits on American culture and lifestyle. Located on the edge of the University of Texas campus, the museum is open daily (except Christmas day) from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and admission is free.

2)Austin Children’s Museum
The Austin Children’s Museum, located downtown at the Dell Discover Center, was founded in the early 1980s by a grassroots coalition of parents and educators striving to equip and inspire the next generation of creative problem solvers. With more than 12,000 square feet of museum space, the Austin Children’s Museum houses a wealth of interactive, thought-provoking displays and exhibits designed to get kids working together and thinking outside the box. In addition to the permanent exhibits, the museum also offers rotating exhibits and community programs to further engage young and old visitors alike some of these include Discovery Time, Science Sunday and various on-site Spring Break and summer camps. Museum hours and admission prices vary.

3)Pioneer Farm
Located in North East Austin, Pioneer Farm is Austin’s one and only outdoor living history museum. With historically accurate clothing, tools, architecture, livestock, crops and furnishings, the Pioneer farm and its costumed interpreters portray the realities of rural Central Texas life in the 1880s. Pioneer Farm operates on a seasonal schedule, and admission fees vary.

4)Blanton Museum of Art
One of Austin’s premier art museums, the Blanton Museum of Art (or simply the Blanton, as it’s often called) is renowned for its modern and contemporary American works, Latin American art, European Old Master paintings and an extensive collection of prints and drawings. Affiliated with the University of Texas, the Blanton is in fact the largest university art museum in the country, and the largest museum in Texas. The Blanton offers a wide range of community and educational programs year round, including an artist-in-residence program. Museum hours and admission prices vary.

5)Austin Nature and Science Center
Located in Zilker Park, one of Austin’s most popular outdoor attractions, the Austin Nature and Science Center is a hands-on eco-exploration of the city’s natural habitat. With more than 50 unique native mammal and bird species housed in its various wildlife habitats and a wealth of ancient fossils, visitors to the Austin Nature and Science Center can experience first-hand the richness and diversity of the central Texas ecosystem, both past and present. Center hours vary, and admission fees entail a suggested donation of $2.

Ki helps buyers in the Austin area. His site has a search of the Austin MLS and provides general information on Austin real estate and mortgage interest rates.

The French Legation Museum provides a uniquely historic experience. Both a historic site and a house museum, the story behind the establishment of the museum is fascinating, and helps to illuminate a way of life experienced by the residents of old Austin before Texas was a state. Visiting the house and grounds, with its carefully chosen artifacts, brings the story to life. With many cultural events, educational programs, and supplementary information on their web site, the museum preserves and perpetuates a unique piece of Austin’s colorful heritage.

The word “legation” originally referred to a diplomatic representative office just below the status of embassy. Sent by the French Legation of Washington D.C. in 1840, Monsieur Jean Pierre Isidore Dubois de Saligny intended to establish the French Legation of the fledgling Republic of Texas. Renting quarters on Pecan (now Sixth) Street at the corner of Guadalupe, de Saligny was appalled with Austin’s lack of urban sophistication, evidenced most egregiously by the pigs a local farmer allowed to run free in his yard. He determined to build a home and office worthy of a French diplomat.

De Saligny found himself at odds with the locals, both culturally and politically, and he was soon recalled from his post, leaving his servants behind in the building he had designed. A short time later, when the seat of the government was moved from Austin, the building was abandoned. When Texas was annexed as a state, the structure and its surrounding grounds were sold, eventually being purchased by John and Lydia Lee Robertson, who raised their eleven children in the house. When the last of those children died, in 1940, the property was placed under the custodianship of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, who have operated the site as the French Legation Museum since 1949.

Restoration of the property began in 1953, with an effort be faithful to the period in which it was built. Although only three pieces of furniture currently on view belonged to de Saligny, many pieces remain from the Robertson family’s ownership of the home. Gardens and outdoor landscaping, although not authentic to the bare dirt yards of early Texas, provide a refreshing oasis of green in a busy city, and make this one of the premier locations for weddings and other formal functions.

The French Legation Museum is committed to education, providing guided tours in addition to having curriculum supplements for elementary and middle school teachers available on their web site. During the summer, the museum often hosts a history-based summer camp, allowing children to immerse themselves in 1880′s Austin. They offer different cultural events as well, including a twice monthly tournament of the traditional French game petanque on the lawn, and evening concerts under their beautiful old oak trees. Their annual Bastille Day celebration features French music and food, and their association with the Alliance Franaise d’Austin helps perpetuate a unique piece of Central Texas heritage.

Ki looks with buyers interested in Austin Texas real estate. Buyers can search for homes online using a Austin Texas MLS search or read updates on the market on his blog covering Austin real estate.

Before you decide to get a tattoo, you should always take a little bit of time to talk to your tattoo artist. When you speak to him, you should be sure to ask questions and find out anything you can about your new tattoo. You should also find out information about his background, and other important bits of information that will assist you in moving forward with your decision.

The first thing you should find out is how long the parlor has been in business. This will let you know just how professional the quality of tattoo work is and the overall reputation for the business. If the tattoo parlor belongs to the Better Business Bureau you can always check their record and see if any complaints have been files about the business in the last few years.

You should also find out about his qualifications as well. Experience is a must here, as infections and other diseases can easily be contracted if the equipment isn’t clean. Tattoo artists deal with needles on a daily basis, making experience very important. Finding out how much experience and qualifications a tattoo artists has will tell you quite a bit about what you can expect from them.

You’ll also want to find out if the tattoo studio guarantees their work. In the unlikely event that you don’t like the outcome of the tattoo, you’ll obviously want it to be fixed. The better studios will fix it without requiring any money. Refund policies are also important, especially if you don’t like the quality or the workmanship of the tattoo.

The cost is also very important. Before you decide to get a tattoo or agree to anything, you’ll obviously want to know the full cost. The bigger tattoos can be quite expensive, although even the smallest of tattoos can be expensive as well, especially if you’re on a budget. You can save yourself a lot of time and prevent any type of surprises by knowing the costs upfront.

Infection is also something you’ll want to find out about. The better tattoo artists can provide information about infections, and tell you how to prevent them. They will also tell you about their services, and how they can prevent you from getting an infection. When you ask infections, he should also be able to tell you exactly what to do if you think you are developing an infection as well.

If you suffer from a fear of needles, you should always ask if there is a way to help you. You should never feel bad about asking, as many people are deathly afraid of needles. Needles are used with tattoos, as there is no other way to put the ink in the skin. If you are afraid of getting a tattoo due to the needles, you should make sure that you let your tattoo artist know. Chances are, he may be able to take extra steps to make the process go as smoothly as possible.

Asking questions is never a bad thing when it comes to getting a tattoo. If a tattoo artist hesitates to answer any question you ask or acts hasty towards you, you should always leave and find another tattoo artist. Tattoos always have risks and concern, which is why tattoo artists should be more than willing to answer any questions that you may have. Asking questions can help to ease your concern and make you feel better about the artist, which is why you should always make sure you write a list of questions before you visit the tattoo parlor.

Picking a good quality Tattoo Design takes time and research. http://www.tattoo-on-the-brain.com has the latest Tattoo Designs

Like every other community in the United States, Detroit experienced devastating poverty during the Great Depression of 1929. It was during this time that the city’s poor came knocking at the St. Bonaventure Monastery on Mt. Elliot Street, home of the Capuchin Order. Friar Solanus Casey urged the order to feed the hungry with soup and sandwiches. Eventually, the lines grew to more than 2,000 people waiting for their single meal of the day. The friars knew they had to do more.

The friars turned to the men and women of the Secular Franciscans and joined together with them to collect food from farms, make soup, bake bread, and serve meals in the hall next to the monastery. From these beginnings grew the Capuchin Soup Kitchen.

Today, the Capuchin Soup Kitchen serves the poor who suffer from the lack of basic human needs: material needs, such as food, clothing, and household necessities; psychological needs, such as motivation, self-esteem, and rehabilitation; and social needs, such as support systems and meaningful relationships.

The outreach provides a variety of services including 2,000 hot meals served at two locations, distribution of approximately 30,000 articles of clothing to clients, showers and a change of clothing for up to 30 homeless and poorly housed persons on a daily basis, a children’s library and art therapy studio, and a 25,000-square-foot urban farm project, to name a few. In order to serve as a positive healing force in the spirits and lives of needy individuals, the Capuchin Soup Kitchen strives to promote encouragement, direction, and material assistance to foster growth and wholesome independence.

Due to the friars unwavering commitment to their mission, and the dedicated efforts of volunteers and donors, the Capuchin Soup Kitchen spends an unprecedented 87 percent of each dollar on direct client services.

One of the most successful fundraising events for the soup kitchen, the annual SOCK Dinner (Support Our Capuchin Kitchen), has grown to become one of the most successful fundraising events in Michigan. It has been listed in Crain’s Detroit Business as one of Detroit’s top grossing fundraisers.

SOCK first originated in 1942. Billed as the “Men’s Only” Baseball dinner, more than 100 men showed up for the event which was held at the old Soup Kitchen building on Mt. Elliot Street. Each attendee paid five dollars and listened to Connie Mack talk baseball. Over the years such notables as Ted Williams, Casey Stengel, Mickey Mantle, and Joe Garagiola came to the event to talk baseball.

The evening now includes a cocktail reception, silent auction, dinner and entertainment. Mr. Jim Harper, long-time supporter and morning radio show host, has served as the Master of Ceremony for numerous years. Past entertainers include Johnny Trudell and his Orchestra, MOSAIC Youth Choir, and Karen Newman of Red Wing fame.

Even though the format has changed, one thing has remained the same: to assist those less fortunate in the community, Metro Detroiters are still dedicated to attending and supporting this annual Soup Kitchen event. The outpouring of devotion has seen a number of distinguished chairpersons in recent years, including the 2004 Chairs, Anthony and Darlene Soave of Soave Enterprises; Richard and Cathy Wagoner of General Motors Corporation; Bill and Lisa Ford of the Ford Motor Corporation; Bill and Ann McCormick of CMS Energy Corporation; The Hon. Mayor Dennis W. Archer and Hon. Trudy DunCombe Archer , Mayor of the City of Detroit; Art and Mary Van Elslander of Art Van Furniture; and Dr and Mrs. Dieter Zetsche of the Daimler-Chrysler Corporation.

Soave Enterprises is a privately held, Detroit-based company with holdings in dozens of companies. Its substantial financial and managerial resources bring strength to these entities.

Do you really want to be happy? Everyone says yes, but the gateway to happiness makes some of us frown. The gateway to happiness, is giving to others. Think about this: “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” – The Dalai Lama
Some of us may feel that, if we give too much, our generosity will be taken advantage of by others. This is true, and a few very selfish individuals can possibly perceive your good intentions as weakness.
However, people who seek to take advantage are in the minority. To quote Gandhi, “We must be the change, we wish to see in the world.” Think about it, change has to start somewhere, so why not start with you and me, right now?
You can donate anything randomly, without seeking reward, and anonymously, without telling anyone. This is good for you, the universe, and those who receive your acts of kindness. Every time you give, you will receive – even, if you are not looking for a reward.
Try it, and you will see what some call, “karma,” the law of cause and effect. It works like this: For every action there is a reaction. Let’s make sure the reactions to our actions are good ones.
Danny Thomas said, “All of us are born for a reason, but all of us don’t discover why. Success in life has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It’s what you do for others.”
Share everything and you will achieve a legacy of kindness. Share nothing and people will, do their best, to forget you. When my life is over I will only leave memories, in the minds of others, and I want them all to be good ones.
So, how much should you give? It can start with, “heart felt”, kind words, a note, a card, or a flower. You will find that your gifts or donations won’t make you poor. As a result of this, you will see most people, naturally, return kindness to you.
You should also take the time to be polite to all of the people who perform services for you, every day. Many people do not bother to say hello to the maid, janitor, parking attendant, or service clerk.
Once you do, you may even learn their name, and you would be surprised how many of them will go out of their way to give you good service, just by addressing them by their first name.
If you establish sincerity and trust where ever you go, you will be loved by your fellow man. It is really that simple. As Mohammed said, “A person’s true wealth is the good he or she does in the world.”

Hamlet said: “… we end the heartache, and the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to …”

It has always been the function of the actor to be the emotional physician, who gives solace, encouragement and freedom of feeling to people who need it – when they need it.

This has been the challenge of the actor since the beginning of time. He is the torchbearer of a great tradition; a fearless trail blazer into an expanding frontier.

The actor must not be afraid to be the catalyst between progress and people. He must approach his calling with authority, humility and fearlessness.

As the human race progressed, instinct gave way to inspiration. Inspiration became a creative tool of civilization. To be aware of creation, born of inspiration – and to be able to direct that creation, is a result of intelligence.

Controlled inspiration is creation.

Develop the habit of depending upon your subconscious as a source of supply for your inspirations. Eventually, you will have the confidence that your supply is greater than any demands you can make upon it. Your own experience will give you this confidence.

Have faith in your ability to supply more than is demanded. You will experience the fulfillment of free choice in selecting the inspiration that: best suits your needs.

When you have learned to select that which is best, you will have acquired good taste. When you have developed good taste, you will experience a sense of exhilaration – when you are exhilarated, you will have no time for boredom.

Polarize the word boredom – and you’ll find enthusiasm.

Develop the habit of enthusiasm by becoming spontaneously curious. Find out all you can about everything you can.

The uncreative man is one-sided. He develops his potentialities along one line. Be many-sided.

An actor should be a fine individual. He should be many-sided. He should be full of enthusiasm for every phase of living. Each phase that comes into his scope of awareness increases his stature as an individualist.

Audiences are composed, chiefly, of people who have not fully developed their subconscious desires. They depend on actors to vicariously fill this void.

In your desire to be a serious actor, you are applying for membership in the oldest brotherhood of emotional physicianship to mankind.

The duty of the serious actor is great. Thousands of years before the birth of Christianity, acting served the same purpose that it is serving today. Its fundamental purpose has not changed from the time cave men lined up in a circle and performed their ritualistic chants and pantomimic dances to stir the emotions of their audience. Through these rituals, which were basically acts, the primitive emotions were excited to a point of emotional stimulation that propelled our civilization onward.

In times of grief and trouble, it diverted their attention and gave them solace and relief from emotional tensions, while their subconscious minds revitalized them with new inspiration and prepared them to carry on – restimulated.

There has been no fundamental change in the relationship between the actor and his audience in giving them physical and spiritual service.

All through the ages the actor has given emotional ease, rest or stimulus to someone in the audience who needed it desperately, at that particular moment. When a performance is sincerely communicated by the actor, it will serve its purpose.

War renews and intensifies proof of this. Entertainers go to front lines and hospitals, where they perform and arrest time for a short while.

Don’t be afraid to take a chance – do the best you can with every performance you are called upon to do. If you, sincerely, do the best you are capable of, then you will live up to the hereditary tradition of acting. Carry your banner high and with pride.

If You’re An Aspiring Actor, But Don’t Know Where To Start, Then You’re In For A Treat… New Found Book Has The Answers!

Click Here For Free Online Ebook
http://www.actingcamp.net/

Hamlet said: “… we end the heartache, and the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to …”

It has always been the function of the actor to be the emotional physician, who gives solace, encouragement and freedom of feeling to people who need it – when they need it.

This has been the challenge of the actor since the beginning of time. He is the torchbearer of a great tradition; a fearless trail blazer into an expanding frontier.

The actor must not be afraid to be the catalyst between progress and people. He must approach his calling with authority, humility and fearlessness.

As the human race progressed, instinct gave way to inspiration. Inspiration became a creative tool of civilization. To be aware of creation, born of inspiration – and to be able to direct that creation, is a result of intelligence.

Controlled inspiration is creation.

Develop the habit of depending upon your subconscious as a source of supply for your inspirations. Eventually, you will have the confidence that your supply is greater than any demands you can make upon it. Your own experience will give you this confidence.

Have faith in your ability to supply more than is demanded. You will experience the fulfillment of free choice in selecting the inspiration that: best suits your needs.

When you have learned to select that which is best, you will have acquired good taste. When you have developed good taste, you will experience a sense of exhilaration – when you are exhilarated, you will have no time for boredom.

Polarize the word boredom – and you’ll find enthusiasm.

Develop the habit of enthusiasm by becoming spontaneously curious. Find out all you can about everything you can.

The uncreative man is one-sided. He develops his potentialities along one line. Be many-sided.

An actor should be a fine individual. He should be many-sided. He should be full of enthusiasm for every phase of living. Each phase that comes into his scope of awareness increases his stature as an individualist.

Audiences are composed, chiefly, of people who have not fully developed their subconscious desires. They depend on actors to vicariously fill this void.

In your desire to be a serious actor, you are applying for membership in the oldest brotherhood of emotional physicianship to mankind.

The duty of the serious actor is great. Thousands of years before the birth of Christianity, acting served the same purpose that it is serving today. Its fundamental purpose has not changed from the time cave men lined up in a circle and performed their ritualistic chants and pantomimic dances to stir the emotions of their audience. Through these rituals, which were basically acts, the primitive emotions were excited to a point of emotional stimulation that propelled our civilization onward.

In times of grief and trouble, it diverted their attention and gave them solace and relief from emotional tensions, while their subconscious minds revitalized them with new inspiration and prepared them to carry on – restimulated.

There has been no fundamental change in the relationship between the actor and his audience in giving them physical and spiritual service.

All through the ages the actor has given emotional ease, rest or stimulus to someone in the audience who needed it desperately, at that particular moment. When a performance is sincerely communicated by the actor, it will serve its purpose.

War renews and intensifies proof of this. Entertainers go to front lines and hospitals, where they perform and arrest time for a short while.

Don’t be afraid to take a chance – do the best you can with every performance you are called upon to do. If you, sincerely, do the best you are capable of, then you will live up to the hereditary tradition of acting. Carry your banner high and with pride.

If You’re An Aspiring Actor, But Don’t Know Where To Start, Then You’re In For A Treat… New Found Book Has The Answers!

Click Here For Free Online Ebook
http://www.actingcamp.net/

The message on Sarah’s T-shirt is intended to shock people: HIV POSITIVE. These bold words on her self-made shirt are there because she is on a mission to save lives.

Sarah, who lives in a poor, dusty neighborhood in Kenya, is HIV-positive. Living with the disease for more than 16 years, Sarah has found herself near death many times.

Sarah’s 8-year-old daughter, Sherley, is also HIV-positive. Yet Sherley is blessed to have a sponsor through Compassion International, a Christian child advocacy ministry that releases children from spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty.

Through Compassion’s Child Sponsorship Program, Sherley enjoys health care, nutritional supplements, educational opportunities, biblical training and much more. She also receives lifesaving benefits through Compassion’s AIDS Initiative, such as medical checkups and treatments to help her stay strong.

Sarah wears her T-shirt to fight the heavy public stigma surrounding the disease in Kenya. Sarah knows firsthand that people who are HIV-positive are often abandoned by family and friends who are afraid of catching the disease.

Others believe that anyone who has HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome), must be promiscuous and deserves the consequences of that behavior. Still others fear that people will think they too have HIV if they stick by their stricken friends. Tragically, many people who suspect they may be HIV-positive refuse to be tested.

Sarah has seen too many grow increasingly ill with HIV, uncared for and alone. And that makes her angry. “Stigma and discrimination are killing people,” she says. So in her fight against HIV, Sarah preaches abstinence, promotes HIV testing for everyone, and encourages aggressive medical treatments for victims. She also challenges Christians to overcome fear and ignorance, and embrace HIV victims with the love of Jesus. She knows what she is talking about.

Sarah’s husband, brother and sister died from AIDS and she was left alone to raise not only her three children but also the five children of her siblings – all while she dealt with her own HIV-positive status.

“There was no one to take care of them,” Sarah explains. “If I had not watched over them, they would have gone into child labor, prostitution or early marriages in the village. I was not going to make that mistake – so I struggled and took care of them.” Her family’s experience is not unique.

Through Compassion International’s AIDS Initiative, AIDS-affected children and their families receive AIDS awareness education, health screening and medical tests, food supplements and lifesaving antiretroviral (ARV) drugs that can dramatically inhibit the progression of AIDS. Sarah explains, “ARV therapy has changed us from just people who are HIV-positive to people who are living positively!”

It wasn’t always that way for Sarah. Initially, she lived in denial of her disease. Denial turned into depression. But after several years of anguish and fear, Sarah came to grips with her circumstance and began making choices that built a new future.

In addition to caring for her newly enlarged family, two years ago Sarah and three friends co-founded a support group in their church for people with HIV.

The four women – all HIV-positive, all with children sponsored through the Compassion International program – began supporting and encouraging each other in their daily battles. Their hope spread, and soon others from the community joined the group, which now has 50 members.

A key distinctive of Compassion International’s AIDS Initiative is that it is coordinated through the local church. Every aspect of the initiative is Christ centered and administered in Jesus’ name.

Consistent medical care, unconditional love and spiritual growth embrace AIDS victims who receive benefits through the churches in their communities. These churches, whose members are committed to caring for AIDS victims long term, are giving renewed hope and health to women like Sarah and their children.

Through the church and the AIDS Initiative, Sarah’s support group also received a grant to help its members start income-generating enterprises. Sarah makes glass-bead jewelry.

Others sell dry goods from their homes, roast and sell nuts, and make decorative bedspreads to sell. These businesses provide desperately needed money so these mothers can supply food, clothing and shelter for their families.

One group member explains what life was like before she and her son received help from Compassion International’s AIDS Initiative: “I often got sick with malaria and my son suffered constantly from pneumonia. By taking the ARV drugs through Compassion International, we are now stronger.

Compassion International has given us a new start, a chance to live normally again. I now have a purpose, whereas before I thought I would die quickly. But that is not so because of Compassion International. I now live with a fresh start.”

Sarah’s experiences with the horrors of HIV and her unwavering faith in Christ have also given her a unique perspective on her life. People are shocked when she says, “I am grateful to God for the virus!

The virus has made me realize my purpose in life, and I now enjoy sharing my personal experience to influence others. I have been living with HIV for 16 years now. At the age of 40, I have seen my first grandson. This is amazing! Compassion International is why I’m still alive today and I can now assist others.”

Compassion, a nonprofit organization, depends on generous sponsors and tax-deductible contributions to continue saving lives. If you would like more information on this life-changing Christian ministry, or if you would like to sponsor a child visit www.compassion.com or call (800) 336-7676.