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 Rossa, one of the clinic’s patients.

Rossa had lived much of her young life on the street, learning to take care of herself while searching for a man’s love. But all of the pain and empty promises left her angry and hardened to anyone who might truly care for her. She sat on the clinic bed with a smirk on her face as Brian read off the list of diseases she had. Though Rossa pretended to be unmoved, Brian knew that above anything else, she needed healing from Jesus.

He paused in the middle of his medical evaluation and looked at her. “I know what you’re missing,” he said. “You need someone to love you. All of these men that you’re going to, they give you this false sense of love but they’re throwing you away like trash. Jesus won’t do that.”

She looked back at him; her defiant glare slowly giving way to a trembling lip and weeping. Rossa stood and burst out the exit crying. Brian, alone in the exam room holding her medical chart, prayed for her.

After six months of not knowing if Rossa had moved away, accepted Christ or died, Brian was in the clinic when three young women walked in. He greeted them, then noticed a familiar face: Rossa.

She smiled at him and, gesturing to the others said, “Would you please tell them what you told me?”

Brian grinned back. “Yes. I would love to.”

Italicized names have been changed to protect identities.