Sok Nay had been married for about two years when her husband became severely ill.

“My husband became weaker and weaker,” she said. “He was pale with a poor appetite and diarrhea. He then passed away without us knowing what type of illness he had.”

She remarried and had a son. But suddenly, the 31-year-old Cambodian woman also became ill, with similar symptoms of her first husband. She went to a hospital for a blood test. The results came back with the worst possible news. She was HIV-positive.

Sok felt like her life had been shattered.

“I was shocked and frightened,” she said. “I felt I had plunged into darkness, and felt empty and hopeless like it was the end of the world.”

But the worst was yet to come. Her husband didn’t understand how she could have the dreadful disease. Her neighbors became fearful.

“My husband accused me, and beat me,” she said. “People started to look at me as if I was a stranger, or like an enemy, and they discriminated, hated, rejected, and persecuted me. They laughed at me and I was abandoned by them. Villagers and relatives no longer came to visit or even talk to me. My husband divorced me. It was a horrible time and I didn’t know how to face these circumstances, or how to survive with my old mother and a young child. I wanted to die quickly, which I believed was better than living with suffering and a hopeless life.”

At her darkest hour, God provided help. Ramy Souern, a woman who was trained by Samaritan’s Purse to provide home-based care for people living with HIV/AIDS, arrived in Sok’s village.

“I was shocked and wondered why she had come as she didn’t even know me,” Sok said. “She spent time talking to me, and telling me stories about her and her family. She then wanted to hear from me, and so I started to share my story with her.“

Ramy continued to visit her. She taught Sok about the disease, and how to care for herself. She taught her about the ways to prevent it from being transmitted to her mother and child.

“I was provided with encouraging and comforting words, as well as support in meeting my physical needs,” Sok said. “It made me feel good and it gave me hope. The Home Based Care program really helped me recover from emotional sickness.”

God also healed Sok from spiritual illness. Ramy told her about Jesus Christ, and about His sacrifice on the cross for sin, and how He provides forgiveness and salvation for all who accept Him as Lord and Savior.

“She has been sharing with me about His wonderful love and mercy to all people,” Sok said. “She said that God always cares for everyone no matter whether you are rich or poor or have HIV like me, but He still loves, cares and is concerned for all. This message has made me hopeful and able to trust in Him, even if everyone in the world hates me, I know that there is one true God who loves and cares for me.”

Sok faces an uncertain future because of her disease. But, with the help of the Samaritan’s Purse home-based care program, she can face it with courage and assurance.

“This program has changed me,” she said. “It has provided me with a greater understanding of HIV/AIDS and correct prevention methods, and brought me new life, joy and peace. I can smile again with new hope.”

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Samaritan's Purse , Cambodia , Prescription for Hope , Smiling with New Hope