A Time to LoveIn this book a mother tells a candid story of agony and anguish experienced as AIDS took her son. Roger's journals disclose his struggles with his sexuality and his feelings of rejection and alienation. The drama shows how he eventually comes to peace with himself, his loved ones, and God. Roger's family upholds him emotionally, physically, and spiritually through phone calls, letters, prayers, and visits from Kansas to California, where Roger lived. His parents, Helen and Marvin Hostetler, sense God's strength and providential intervention as they go through the ordeal of Roger's last years. A core of friends stand by Roger, and a San Francisco church support group shares compassion and love with the Hostetlers, bearing burdens with them. Persons with AIDS are often treated as social outcasts. The author challenges the church to reflect on its ministry to them, to be redemptive, to walk with those in pain, offering care, friendship, trust, and hope. |
Contents
Acknowledgments and Thanks | 9 |
Authors Preface | 11 |
News from the West | 15 |
Copyright | |
25 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
able AIDS airport asked Bali beautiful believe care-givers Christmas church comfort dear dinner door Doug emotions enjoyed experience eyes faith fear feel felt finally foot locker gave gift give God's Golden Gate Park good-bye Goshen College greeted healing heart homosexual hospice hospice care hospice nurse Hostetler Janene Jesus Kaposi's sarcoma kitchen knew learned leave living looked Lord Marvin meal medications Mennonite mind morning motel Mother's Day never night nurse pain patients peace Peggy person pick plane plans power of attorney prayed prayer Psalm remember Roger Roger's friends Ruth San Francisco schedule seemed Shanti Project Shanti residence share Sheryl sorrow spirit suffering talk tears telephone tell thankful things thought told took turned voice volunteers waiting walk wanted warm Wichita wish wondered words