Notes from Presentation give at the Children Methodist Home

My part of the presentation was on HIV/AIDS. I used a flyer from the Sumter County Health Department supplied to them by the Office of Pubic Health and Science. One of the sections talks about"You are more than just a body". Since we were at a Methodist home for Children I shared two scriptures with the girls. The first scripture was Matthew 24:43 which states:

"But know one thing, that if the householder had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have kept awake and not allowed his house be broken into." New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures Revised 1984.

I told the girls that HIV/AIDS is similar to the thief mentioned above, the question they need to ask themselves is "Will they keep awake an not allow HIV/AIDS to rob them." Staying awake means being aware of the consequences that comes with the choices we make about sex and our bodies.

I talked to the girls about the information I found at the CDC on their HIV fact sheet. The HIV fact sheet gave several risk factors they are:

• Biologic vulnerability
• Lack of recognition of their partner's risk factors
• Inequality in relationships
• Having sex with older men who are more likely to be infected with HIV.

The girl ages at the Methodist Home range from 11-18 years of age. I shared some of the facts on the flyer such as:

1.) Almost 1,000,000 teens become pregnant each year.
2.) Abstinence not having sex---is the only 100% sure way to protect against pregnancy and STDs.
3.)Teens are more likly to have problems during pregnancy.
4.) Babies of young teen mothers are more liklely to be born with serious health problems
5.)Sexually transmitted diseases are at epidemic levels (STDs).

Some of the questions the Teen Talk flyer suggest teens ask themselves about sex are:

1.) When I get married, will I be glad I waited to have sex?
2.)Would my parents approve of me having sex now?
3.) If have a child, am I responsible enough to provide for its emotional and financial support?
4.) If the relationship break up, will I be glad I had sex with this person?
5.)Am I sure no one is pushing me into having sex?
6.)Do I know how to tell my partner I don't want to have sex now?
7.) Am I absolutely sure my partner is not infected with an STD including HIV/AIDS?

As I asked each question, I tried to get a response from the older girls. The older girls were kind of afraid to speak in front of the houseparent, several responsed. I did not strictly speak about HIV/AID, although I tried talk about issues relevant to the subject such as good communication with parents and ways girls end up in certain situation that may lead to an unwanted outcomes.

I ended my part of the presentation with another scripture 2Samuel 13:1-19 which states "And Amnon began the hating her with a very great hatred, because the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her." I told the girls this character represented how when indivdual allows his or her emotions to get the best of him or her it could lead to unexpected and unwanted consequences. I told them to stay positive, and to keep their minds on uplifting things. They listened attentively.