Today, Dec. 1, is the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day, an international day of awareness about AIDS prevention and treatment. Here’s a small sampling of resources I’ve found worthy of attention:

Mthatha Mission
Jesse Zink, a graduate of our church’s youth program, is serving as a missionary with the Episcopal Church’s Young Adult Service Corps. He’s currently stationed at the Itipini Clinic in Mthatha, one of the poorest villages in South Africa, where he cares for HIV patients and their families. His stories from the front lines are filled with warmth, humor, sadness, and awareness of global inequalities.

Partners In Health
Before Paul Farmer started his free clinic for HIV and tuberculosis patients in Haiti, world health organizations wrote off these desperately poor areas as presenting problems too intractable for aid workers to solve. Farmer’s revolutionary model is based on hands-on involvement in patients’ lives, addressing not only their medical needs but the economic and social injustices that are the underlying cause of their plight. Their website says, “Our mission is to provide a preferential option for the poor in health care.” Tracy Kidder’s book Mountains Beyond Mountains is an excellent introduction to PIH’s history and worldwide achievements.

Jesus in Love
Armando Lopez’ painting “El Martir”, a reinterpretation of St. Sebastian, is posted at Jesus in Love, Kittredge Cherry’s always-provocative website exploring queer spirituality and the arts.