Jenny’s Story, Part 2

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When I met my children, they were desperate for affection, and yet nothing in their social emotional development had prepared them to elicit this affection in the ways we might expect. No smiling, being helpful to mom, or playing peacefully alongside siblings. My then two-year-old had extreme separation anxiety for the first year; I couldn’t be farther than an arm’s reach away, even at night. My six-year-old was so defensive, that she would not let me sit on the end of her bed. It took medication and a year of therapy for her PTSD symptoms to subside.  

When I feel hopeless, I ask REACH staff to pray for us. When I feel discouraged and self-conscious as a parent, I think about all the REACH parents I have grown to love through camp and retreat. We have sat in vulnerability together, as we shared our love and frustration for these kids from hard places. If I wouldn’t judge them for their children’s behaviors, why should I judge myself so harshly? If I hadn’t had their support, I think I would be depressed by now.

Story will continue on Saturday.

Jenny’s Story, Part 1

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I am the mother of three HIV+ girls adopted from Africa. All three lost their birth mothers in their first year of life, which I’m told is common. Pregnancy and breastfeeding take such a toll on the positive mother, that they often do not make it to their baby’s first birthday. Handed from one family member to another or taken to a local hospital wearing only a small t-shirt and a diaper, they found their way into orphanage care. I know little about their early experiences, except that they did not get the nurturing that all children need to develop healthy minds. One of my girls bears strange scars across her back and hairline. I’ve heard some communities throw boiling water or oil on children who are thought to carry the virus, and I wonder if that is part of her story.

Story will continue on Thursday.

Marcus’ Life with HIV, Part 2

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Now, with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Marcus worries about getting sick. At times, his immune system is compromised from temporary healthcare interruptions. “Why is my job considered essential? Customers aren’t taking this seriously. I guess I could get a doctor’s note excusing me from work, but I can’t tell my boss I have HIV. I’d lose my job.” REACH helped Marcus resume HIV treatment to restore his health as he continues to work. 

To sum up his experience with our ministry, Marcus said, “REACH is a space that you can go without feeling the stigma or the judgement or the hate, and it always has been. If I never had REACH, I would be struggling to find acceptance and love through other people. REACH is just so open-arms accepting and supportive and loving that I couldn’t imagine trying to find that support somewhere else. I imagine it would be very difficult.”  

Watch for more REACH stories coming soon

Marcus’ Life with HIV, Part 1

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Marcus was born with HIV and joined REACH in 1997. 

“If I’m struggling, I can go to anyone at REACH with any of my problems, not just health-related issues. I’ve known the people here since I was young. REACH is family to me.” 

“I have to really pick and choose who I tell [about my HIV]. People assume I brought it on myself. Do I really have to explain all about how my mother got HIV, and then passed it to me? In high school, a girlfriend’s mother tried to get a restraining order against me because of HIV. Her uncle physically confronted me to stay away.”  

Watch for Part 2 of Marcus’ story coming soon

Violet’s Life with HIV, Part 2

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Seven years later Violet married a man who accepts and loves her unconditionally. The REACH staff had a frozen yogurt date with Violet as a send-off to Texas, where her husband had a new job. During her years there, she continued to receive personally-signed birthday cards from REACH. She has saved every single card for the last 11 years.

“I believe I am always being thought about.”

Violet and her husband moved back to Tacoma in 2018. Within a few days she gave the REACH staff a surprise visit to announce she was back in town. With her still-quiet voice and beaming smile, she expressed how happy she was to be back with REACH. Now in her late-20’s she plans to “give back” as a volunteer Camp counselor. She can help a new generation of girls know their immense worth – she can tell them how REACH journeyed with her from a fearful girl to a confident adult.

Watch for more REACH stories like this in coming weeks.

Violet’s Life with HIV, Part 1

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Violet, 18, sat miserably at the doctor’s office waiting to find out whether she had mono. The shocking news she got instead: she was HIV positive. She couldn’t believe her ears. She never considered herself at-risk for HIV.

Still shell-shocked the next week, she had her first HIV clinic appointment with Dr. Mary Fairchok—also a long-time camp doctor for REACH. Mary described to Violet all the support REACH had to offer. Violet was immediately drawn to having an understanding friend – a REACH Mentor – to walk alongside her in this new harsh reality. A month later, Violet was matched with her REACH mentor. She was shy at their first meeting, but her wide smile spoke volumes. In the coming years Violet poured out her thoughts and fears to her mentor. Violet admitted she had a phobia of blood draws and pills. She didn’t think she could stomach the horrible tasting medicines. She even admitted she felt deeply “flawed” like no one would accept her again. Her mentor spoke works of comfort and encouragement – this is not a punishment; you are beautiful and special; God loves you.

Read Part 2 of Violet’s story in a couple of days.

REACH just upgraded to a Gold Seal from GuideStar.

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Through 2020, REACH had a Silver Seal, and we just earned Gold! The GuideStar Gold Seal of Transparency indicates we have provided key information to our Nonprofit Profile, giving potential donors and funders better insight into our work, and making us stand out from the other nonprofits in the GuideStar database. 

Grief and Celebration – Together

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At Christmastime, we reflect on our 2020 theme of “Enduring Hope.” Holding things in tension has become second nature during COVID; acknowledging the losses as we celebrate the new and beautiful.

Read our Christmas 2020 newsletter.

We’re Hiring: Office and Events Coordinator

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We have an opening for Office and Events Coordinator. Learn more and Apply by January 5th

World AIDS Day – a fresh perspective from a young adult

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“Hi, my name is Katie.

“I am the intern for REACH Ministries through the 2020-2021 school year. Through this internship I have spent weeks learning about the effect HIV has on lives, and there is so much I wasn’t taught in school. I was prompted to write this reflection after a conversation with my younger brothers about HIV. There was so much they didn’t know and so many questions I couldn’t answer.”

Read Katie’s full essay