Fall, 2001

Water Anyone?
Submitted by Carol Skipper

We all know that water is important, but I've never seen it written down like this before.

75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. (This likely applies to half of the world population)

In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger.

Even MILD dehydration will slow down metabolism as much as 3%.

One glass of water shuts down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University of Washington study.

Lack of water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.

Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.

A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.

Drinking 5 glasses of water daily, decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.

Are you drinking the amount of water you should every day?

Do you need to know the exact amount of water that you should drink each day for your body weight? Click this link for the formula http://www.quickfasting.com/plenty_from_both_ends.html

A NEW SEASON
One woman's battle against HIV
By Kathi Winter

Please send Kathi a message of encouragement at her e-mail address at the end of the story. Kathi is now involved in helping those with HIV/AIDS in Africa through a ministry called Outreach to Africa. The above picture is of Kathi (left) and the head of Outreach to Africa, Evelyn Komuntale.

COSTA MESA, CA (ANS) -- The strength and stamina I used to have is diminishing. It may be a result of simply passing the age of 50, or it could be a result of the numerous pills I have to take daily in order to keep the HIV virus under control. But often I have to change my short and long term business and personal goals just to get through the week.

I am often unwilling to let go of old friends, but if they don't support my walk with the Lord, I have to. If my work becomes too demanding, then I have to learn to say NO. Often I am simply too tired to continue doing it ALL, as I have in the past. This is a good thing, forcing me to look to others for help and not try to be so self-sufficient.

These changes are confronting, challenging, and require more FAITH in my Lord. I resist, struggle against change yet find myself surrendering to a "new season" in my life. As the bible says, "There is a season for every purpose under heaven" (Ecclesiastes 3:1-9).

I can't imagine NOT knowing the Lord and having HIV. I was diagnosed almost 10 years ago. Friends and family couldn't believe that I would be so stupid as to allow myself to be with a man who had AIDS. And fact is, I should have known, as he had been a heroin user before I met him and before he got saved. But denial is part of the devil's plan, and God knows, I was naive in blindly trusting my body to another. I didn't know it was sin, not back then, as I wasn't Born Again when I met this man, as he was a Man of God, a street preacher, who had been delivered from his 10 year addiction in one day when he accepted Christ. After 16 months in drug rehab, he became manager of a halfway house where other former street people were kept to finish their rehab.

It was at the shelter I met this man. I took some friends to the shelter to serve a free Christmas dinner as part of my street ministry, which feeds the homeless, and or those in rehab. I was taught as a child to admire those who have risen above their past, and I had been away from anyone "spiritual" during my college years, so was "hungry" for someone who spoke about Jesus. I fell in love with this man that first night, as he was sweet, seemingly shy, and very committed to his Christianity when he gave his testimony to the group.

What I didn't realize is how much in denial he was. We became sexually active, and this didn't bother him until I became saved some six months later. Then he started to back off, saying we had to be " obedient" and refrain from sex. Once started in that direction however, it was way too hard, so we broke up and it wasn't until 1 1/2 years later that we reunited.

In the meantime I got tested, knowing of his background and that HIV can be spread through the use of dirty needles. And I tested negative, which had me believe not only did I not catch the virus, but also that he was clean of the disease. For this I was very grateful to God, and I went about healing my heart I had been very much in love, or so I thought.

We did get back together, and fell back into the same old behavior but again I denied there was anything wrong with trusting the man who brought me to the Lord. Soon, he became very ill, as did I, and we thought the flu had hit us hard. But he didn't recover, and after three weeks I took him to the hospital. He was diagnosed with full-blown AIDS and had pneumonia and the Dr's said he wouldn't live for 3 more days. Finally he had to tell me the truth; when I was tested again, it was clear I had become HIV positive.

The real part of my testimony begins here, as I was so angry and felt so betrayed. But with the help of the Lord, lots of prayer from friends, and my conviction that God Heals, not only did he get better, and is still alive today, but I too healed in my heart. The wounds in my heart were stronger for a long time than my fear of the disease. And I had to take care of this man who had lied to me; actually, he had refused to be tested, even though I had begged him during our earlier encounters.

What's clear to me today is that what the devil meant for evil, God has turned into good. This man and I still work with the homeless on the streets, only now our testimony is that abstinence and the love of obedience to God's plan, not man's fleshly desires will be the only thing to keep one from getting HIV.

I've learned that God is the only one a woman can trust, and that even a man of God isn't immune from the lies of the enemy. And mostly I've learned the value of forgiveness. If I had to choose all over again and could not have the virus, if it meant also that I didn't come to know the Lord, I'd choose again and again to live with this disease and continue to seek a closer relationship with God.

I am acutely a ware of my brokenness. I've had to look at my weaknesses when I denied even having HIV. Shame and guilt were hard to overcome but again thanks to Jesus, I can try to love myself the way God sees me, not as our society sees me. Being addicted myself to "love" was wrong, and I've had to forgive myself for my stupidity. I just pray that my testimony in schools, and in church will now serve as a warning to others. Don't trust your body to another until marriage, and even then be sure the man (or woman) knows the value of monogamy.

Most of all, I now have a sense of what God did for me when His son Jesus died on the cross FOR ME. This has never been more real as I embrace the truth in Galatians 2:20: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live but He lives in me." I know God can only fulfill our longing. That is the process of experiencing faith. Bless the Lord for those of us in this process.

Thank you for reading this story. It means a lot to me that others even care what I went through. But for the glory of God, I doing just fine now, and love the Lord more each day. Blessings on you all.

Kathi Winter can be contacted at kwglobalinc@msn.com .

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