ARV treatment of pregnant women

HIV/AIDS consultant/advisers from all over the world met in Arlington Virginia, U.S.A from the 5-8th of April 2008. The main topic of discussion was the ongoing research of ARV's (Anti-Retro-Viral)treatments with pregnant women, babies and the youth who have contracted HIV. This meeting was attended by many representatives from several areas. Among the Thai community consultants were 2 staff members from the AIDS mission program who participated on behalf of the CCT (Church of Christ in Thailand). A. Sanan Wutti is the representative of RINES (The Health Science Research Institute at Chiang Mai University). Supalak Namuang is the representative from the prevention of mother to baby transmission program in Thailand (PHPT). Church leaders were also involved including a Pastor from Zambia and a Pastor from Washington, U.S.A. Along with representatives from the "House of Grace" and Prapokglao Hospital.

As you can see they are working with HIV/AIDS in every corner of the world. There will be a church leader involved with working seriously and continuously at every level of the AIDS pandemic in order to let the will of God appear in the middle of the AIDS crisis. In this meeting they were able to report the success and progress in preventing the transmission of HIV in babies and the youth. Unfortunately, one of the consequences of HIV/AIDS is that it causes these children to become orphans in the future. The world community and churches must work together to find a clear path and solutions to deal with these problems.

Training camp for youth leaders for empowerment and people living with HIV/AIDS

On May 17th, 2008 Reverend Sanan Wutti and Khun Somdet Pornnimitsakun conducted a training camp for 30 youths affected with HIV/AIDS. The groups consisted of youth that are HIV negative and another group that is HIV positive. This training camp was held at the Thummila House in the Chiang Rai province. World Vision organized/sponsored the event.

The program began at 9am with a prayer. The first activity included singing a song, and then the youth played a game to break the ice for everyone to get to know each other. The youth participated in a discussion on who they are and what they are doing in their lives. The second activity had each participant receive a paper with a drawing of various people in a tree and each person had to choose a person on the drawing that reflected them in their life. Some people in the drawing were swinging happily on the tree branches and others were just hanging on or actually falling off. Each person was allowed to discuss which person on the drawing that they chose and why.

After this activity Rev. Sanan read a passage from the bible that related to the previous activity. Then everyone watched a DVD produced by public health department of the government that taught about ways to prepare the youth and the people living with HIV/AIDS to work and live within the community. Rev Sanan conducted a ceremony with washing of hands and then annointing with oil. The day ended with all the youth talking together about all the new information and knowledge that they have gained from all the days activities. They all left with a better understanding of themselves and each other, and had a great time as well.

New Mission Worker at CAM

Sawat dii khrap,

My name is Brett Faucett and I am the new mission worker from the PCUSA (Presbyterian Church USA). I am the farang (foreigner) in the blue shirt in the left of the picture. My wife, Shelly, is diagonally across from me and Jan and Jeff Hudson are sitting at the table to my left. My family and I came to Thailand in August of last year. We have two little girls Acacia and Annapurna, ages 6 and 4 years old.

My job title is "HIV/AIDS regional consultant for Asia." I will be working in Thailand, India and China. I met A. Sanan at the airport when we first arrived and, unfortunately, was so bleary eyed that I don't remember much. However, I did remember that in the future I would be spending a lot of time with A. Sanan and the staff at CAM.

My wife and I immediately enrolled into language classes after settling into our new home. We are doing well with the language, but still struggle sometimes. I work now with CAM along side Judy Cook, another Mission worker from the Baptist Church. I am very impressed with all the good work CAM is doing with addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Asia. Asia currently has the highest rate of HIV transmission in the world.

I'll give you little background on myself. I am a registered nurse and worked in critical care at a hospital in Newport Beach, California for 6 1/2 years. My wife and I are certified HIV/AIDS instructors with the American Red Cross. We both served in the Peace Corps for 2 years in the Republic of Moldova (Former Soviet Union). I served as a health educator and Shelly served as a English teacher for the high school. We have travelled extensively and have visited 45 countries. We have a 3 year assignment here in Chiang Mai, but we hope to make it a lifetime commitment. I look forward to working with CAM for many years and the opportunity to serve God for whatever He has planned for my family and me.

I will update this blog on a regular basis, so stay tuned!

God Bless

Brett Faucett (Mission Worker)