PAPUA — Here, a husband’s unfaithfulness is expected. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), tuberculosis and HIV are passed around like a common cold. Because women are denied basic rights, they suffer from curable diseases or fatal illnesses because they can’t or won’t get help.

In this society Brian, a Crossworld worker, set up a clinic to care for HIV patients and offer treatment for the body and hope for the soul. Here is the story of Tahlia, one of the clinic’s patients.

“Run away and go somewhere safe,” Tahlia’s mother told her. After years of abuse by her alcoholic father, she agreed. Soon she met an older man she thought would take care of her. Safe, she thought — just like her mother said.

But she awoke one morning after a drinking party and realized she had been gang raped. Where could she run? Where could she hide? No one will want to be around me, she thought. Soon, she became a drug runner for a heroin dealer, hiding her pain behind drugs and selling it to girls just like herself.

HIV began making Tahlia sick — so sick that she asked her mother to find a poison and kill her. Her mother prepared an insecticide, but just before giving it to Tahlia she remembered the clinic. “Go there,” she told Tahlia. “It’s your last hope. If they can’t help you, come home and drink the poison.”

Tahlia’s wasting frame doubled over in pain at the clinic. The examination renewed the trauma of the rape. After diagnosis, the staff discussed treatment with her and shared the gospel.

“You can be free,” said Felicity, a nurse at the clinic. “Not only from physical pain, but in Christ you can also be free to live in relationship with God.”

Tahlia frowned and shook her head. Freedom from the physical pain of STDs seemed unreal. But forgiveness? Impossible.

Over time, Felicity led Tahlia’s mother to trust Christ. After they had both shared with Tahlia for several months, she too began new life in Christ.

As Tahlia grew healthier, she returned to finish high school. One day she came into the clinic with a big smile. “I just got accepted to a university,” she said. “I’m going to be a medical assistant. I want to be just like Felicity so I can tell other girls that there is hope.”

Italicized names have been changed to protect identities.