6. An Inspiring Girl - Anonymous, Zambia

“Just because you’re HIV positive doesn’t mean that you’re all alone. People are out there willing to support you. You are surrounded by so many loved people. When you’re HIV positive, it doesn’t mean that it’s the end of the world. It doesn’t mean that God has abandoned you.”[English translation follows Bemba]“Hello world. I know you’re all wondering who I am and I wish I could reveal myself, but I don’t feel like I should. But what is more important is for you to listen to what I have for you. I’m a girl living a positive life. I was born in the year 2000 on the 14th of July.It’s really funny, it’s weird, it’s strange, it’s… it’s a miracle. I was actually born HIV positive, but by that time, I never knew anything, my parents never knew anything. I grew up, I was still healthy, nothing was wrong with me and I thought all was well with me.In the year 2017, that was in September, I decided to go for an HIV test. And unfortunately, I was found positive. It really hurt me a lot. Like, I cried uncontrollably. People tried to encourage me, but it was just so hard for me to accept. I felt like the world turned its back on me. And of course, it did. And I thought that God had left me. I almost committed suicide. I almost wanted to die. But by the grace of God, I didn’t. Because with the support that I received from different types of people; I’m grateful for those people. It was a really sad moment for me, like, even when I started taking the medicine, it wasn’t easy. It would do a lot of sudden things to me.But, listen to this: my word of encouragement is that, if you know that you haven’t gone for an HIV test, or if there’s anyone out there living a positive life, just listen to this: it’s not the end of the world. There’s something, there’s something beautiful, there’s something greater that is coming ahead of you. Just because you’re HIV positive, doesn’t mean that… no, you… you’re all alone. People are out there willing to support you. You are surrounded by so many loved people, when you’re HIV positive it doesn’t mean that it’s the end of the world. It doesn’t mean that God has abandoned you. It means something, yea, I know it hurts. It hurts to be living a positive life because the only thing you think about, you think about the negative things, but I want you to start thinking positive because it’s not the end of the world.Just as in for me, yea, even after I discovered that I was HIV positive, once I started taking the medicince, I used to feel real sick, I used to get sick often, here and there and sick, here and there and sick. But, when I just came to finally accept that I’m HIV positive, I got all… all was well with me, and right now I’m feeling fine, I’m still schooling. And by the grace of God, this year I’m completing, I’m finishing school, but with my status, because I know that my status can take me back, so I want to encourage you that whether you’re HIV positive or not, just being HIV positive, let it not hinder you from achieving your goals, let it not hinder you from achieving your dreams.Look at me. From 2000 until 2017, that’s when I came to realize that I was HIV positive. So, I thank God that I’m still alive and that I’m living and that I know that I will achieve my dreams and achieve my goals. Same with you, so don’t worry, don’t stress your mind, just keep on, just keep on taking care of yourself, just keep on following the procedure of the medicine, just drink the medicine, do regular exercises. You are going to live a full life. You are going to live a successful life and nothing, nothing will ever go wrong in your life. I hope you have gotten something from what I’ve just said.”[Credits]This testimony was recorded in 2019 by the speaker with assistance by Ba Cecilia. Music by Peace Corps Zambia volunteer Adam Greenberg, Rural Aquaculture Promotion Extension Agent. Podcast cover art by Kristen Jussila.Anonymous girl, thank you for sharing. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hivpositivevoices.substack.com