Another early morning start in order to reach the aids hospice by lunch. We met with the staff and toured the hospice. It’s incredible what they have done, from the use of the adobe style building to save on energy, to innovative ways to cool down the air (make-shift A/C) to finally using light to constantly sanitize the hospice. Bishop Kevin Dowling is a lovely, humble man whom I met in NYC last Fall. He is both the innovator behind the hospice and the overseer of the hospice. He named it Tapologo after consulting a few local tribes who gave him the word which means ‘rest from suffering’.
After meeting with and speaking with some of the patients we sang a few songs and this day was really hard for me. There are very few men in hospice and on aids meds, as the younger men are in denial, not treating themselves and therefore continuing to spread the disease. Younger professional woman are choosing to have children but are refusing to married after they have their first child because infidelity is so rampant. So many people suffering. Maybe they liked the sound of your voice, maybe you jarred a memory, but either way, to receive tears as a thank you for something so small I found completely overwhelming.
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