Reinforcements

UMTV Web Brief #44  3/26/03

Home Base – Intro:

I’m Reed Galin. Welcome to this UMTV Web Brief.

Hundreds of thousands of American families are suffering the emotional trauma of separation. Not by divorce, but by war. We think mostly in terms of the soldiers’ plight, but what of those who suddenly find themselves fully responsible for the family household, shouldering the problems, responsibilities, loneliness and fear?

These trying times have inspired the neighbors of U.S. military bases to step up and support those who also serve … by waiting for their soldiers to come home again. Dennis Ferrier saw that support in action at the Madison Street United Methodist Church in Clarksville, Tenn.

Home Base – Story:

Watching American soldiers in a dangerous, faraway place has become part of everyone’s daily routine. But what you see a lot less of are those soldiers’ families.

They are in familiar places, doing familiar things … but living with an unfamiliar fear.

Meg / Military Spouse:  “The last few conversations are extremely difficult, and I can't imagine the pain that my husband felt when he had to tell both of our children goodbye this time.”

Meg is afraid, but she doesn’t have time to give in to fear. She’s head of the household – the cars, the plumbing, bills, and the physical and emotional needs of her two children.

And that’s what brings her to Madison Street United Methodist Church in Clarksville, Tenn. – less than a mile from Fort Campbell, Ky. A church taking care of more than 30 families who have loved ones in Iraq.

Meg: “This church enables us to feel that we are home and these people are our family that can help take care of us.”

Tom and Sandra Denny chair the church’s Military Families program – a church service that will help you with any problem, from plumbing to personal.

Tom Denny / Madison Street United Methodist Church:  “There’s nothing that comes up that you can’t assist a person with.  You just have to get to the bottom of the issue.”

Tom is setting up a free car clinic for soldiers’ wives.

Sandra helps set up Moms’ Night Out events and calls lonely spouses every night.

Nat Sound: “Do you think it really bothers the men?  I think they can sleep through anything.”

It is constant – a voice over the phone, a helping hand, a little encouragement. It doesn’t replace anyone, but it does help fill the gap until they come home.

Julie Amstotz / Military Spouse:  “If you didn’t have a church, you’d be all alone. The support groups from Ft. Campbell are great, but this is a different kind of support – it’s much more uplifting and it gives me the ability to get up every day and say I can do this.”

Dennis Ferrier reporting.

Home Base – Tag:

The pastor of Madison Street United Methodist Church, Dr. Doug Norfleet, never mentions the controversy of war in his Sunday sermons. He says there are times to theologize and preach – and then there are times to simply offer love. And right now, he feels his job is to embrace a lot of anxious families.

AIDS Allies Intro:

People living with AIDS often say one of the worst side effects of the disease is loneliness. Kim Riemland reports on a program that fights the ache of isolation with a good, old-fashioned remedy called friendship.

AIDS Allies – Story:

There are few things teenage girls like more than shopping for clothes. And it’s no fun alone. It isn’t easy facing HIV alone, either. But this 17-year-old – we’ll call her Kelli – has friends alongside for both. 

Julia and Lynn are United Methodist members of a support group called a “RAIN” team, for Regional Aids Interfaith Network. They help Kelli with her non-medical needs as she deals with the AIDS virus, life in foster care, coping with dialysis, fear of what’s to come. They’re committed to “being there” when Kelli is feeling good. And when she isn’t. 

Lynn Salvaggio / Regional AIDS Interfaith Network: “Her friends at school don’t know of her situation and she spent some time in the hospital and other places. And I think she sometimes feels like she’s alone, and I think it’s good for her to know that she has people who care about her.”

For Twanetta, having a “RAIN” team means there’s always someone to drive her to her doctor appointments. She was surrounded by support when her husband died recently of AIDS. And on this night, it means dinner out with a few of her team members. The caring is unconditional.

Twanetta / HIV Patient: “They know my background and they don’t hold that against me or anything like that. They take me as I am. I just love them. I love them to death. I mean I cannot picture my life without them.”

RAIN team members know that making a difference in someone’s life can be as simple as a shared meal or shopping with friends. And as profound as never having to feel alone.

In Charlotte, N.C., I’m Kim Riemland reporting.

AIDS Allies – Tag:

Each RAIN team is made up of eight or more trained volunteers, paired with one or two people living with AIDS.

On the next UMTV Web Brief, how homeless families are being helped by one woman’s secret wish.

“There was approximately $4 million.”

Thanks for watching. Make it a good week.