December 1st, I was to facilitate the weekly meeting with the women and staff. Somehow, I woke up in very early in the morning to plan on the activity and remembered it was World AIDS Day, so I planned the activity focused on HIV-AIDS. Towards noon, Fr. Larry Barnett, a Columban priest friend, paid us a surprise visit and brought a huge box of freshly picked persimmons from the mountains where he worked with the Taiwan Taya Tribe. He joined us for lunch and the women just loved him talking in Taiwanese with them.
At the meeting, we had a big group of 12 women including the staff. Surprisingly, most of them did not remember December 1st as World AIDS Day. After introducing the theme, we watched a DVD, “Hug With Love”, an HIV-AIDS documentary produced by the Department of Health. It was a well presented documentary of HIV-AIDS in Taiwan and it was all in Chinese, interviewing local person affected with HIV-AIDS. The group was so focused on the presentation however the seriousness of the issue was evident to the silence afterwards. Afterwards, I asked everyone to make an AIDS ribbon, and each light a candle to pray for someone they know who are suffering of the disease or supporting and advocating the HIV-AIDS pandemic. Each one has a choice to put on the ribbon or lay them around the Advent Wreath made of fresh pine leaves and branches, to signify our solidarity in our own FEARS and the fears of those who have AIDS, to connect our own HOPE with those who are dying of AIDS. After everyone lighted her candle, we all gathered around and formed a circle hug acknowledging each others’ presence and support. This was followed by each of the women sharing how their week at the center was like.
Through our gestures and silence, touching the meaning of Advent with our fears and hopes as those suffering from HIV-AIDS made me realized the depth and meaning of Advent. For the most of the women, they may not know fully what Advent is, but they understood that it is about hoping. Finding within themselves the seed of hope and change, in the midst of their struggle to rebuild their lives, to form friendships with one another and eventually, in their own phase find their rebirth. It is in these moments, Jesus’ birth find its meaning to those whose hearts are changed.
