HIV Test

About a month ago we arranged for there to be HIV testing at one of our Carepoints. Sitting there as we set up for it I decided that I wanted to be tested as well. Not because I thought I might have been exposed but really just to see what it was like. I figured if I was going to encourage people to get tested, I’d better do it myself and be able to share what the experience would be like. There are a lot of misconceptions of what is involved in an HIV test and I wanted to see for myself what was involved; needles, amount of blood they actually take…you know discover things like that.
What can I say, the experience shook me. I sat there listening to the pre-counseling session in SiSwati…I’m not sure if that made me more nervous or less. He was telling the group about the disease and then explained the options involved after one is found to be positive. So I didn’t really understand what was said…so basically had a lot of time to think before the test. It was crazy the emotions, feelings, doubt, fear that came over me while I waited. The crazy thing is I really had nothing to fear or be worried about but still the experience freaked me out. I then tried to put myself in the shoes of someone who did have something to fear. Imagine sitting there waiting for an HIV test going over in your mind all the people you’ve had sex with…thinking to yourself, I wonder about her, or her…I wonder if its possible…what will my life be like…what will I tell my pastor…what will I tell my family…what will I tell my wife…I was going to get married but…I have kids, do they have it…so much goes through ones head, so much fear…so much doubt. I sat there like that for awhile and it was thick, it was rough, just trying to experience what millions are going through…I think I understand why people do not go for HIV tests here…it is scary and for a lot of them it’s a 50% chance their life will be hit by a freight train….HIV (Charles, came up with that train comparison).
Then something happened inside of me. I realized that for me, or someone like me, a Christian, someone with a relationship with Christ, we have nothing to fear. In Galatians it says that Christ has conquered everything, everywhere…that means disease & death. Jesus Christ is hope even when you are looking death straight in the eyes.
Another realization I had is that by getting an HIV test you get to know where you stand. If you do not go for the test it just means you are ignorant of your status…you either have it or you do not…if you never get a test, the disease will still be there whether you know about it or not. The test does not change anything; it just changes what you can do about your situation.
Here are some pics of me getting my test -





- Yes, I was negative...yes, they double check, and yes I was still negative