Who would you turn to if someone in your family had HIV or Aids? Many such families in the UK desperately need support and friendship. Rowena Pullinger, a worker with the charity Grandma’s, shares how God is using her to demonstrate his love and give hope

Grandma’s is a Christian charity that was set up in the late ’80s to help children and families affected by HIV/Aids. We currently work in Greater London, Dublin, Bristol and India. Our primary aim is to enable Christians to get alongside families with HIV within their community and to practically demonstrate God’s love through friendship and childcare.

I got involved with Grandma’s when, at 16, I was given a leaflet about their work at New Wine. God had already started to put a passion and call on my life for orphans and children with HIV. I started to receive prayer newsletters and give financially to their work until I was old enough to get involved practically. I began as a part-time volunteer while I finished my studies before becoming a full-time family worker. Two years ago I took on the role of establishing and co-ordinating a local branch of our work in East London.

My current role means my days vary; from training and supporting volunteers, speaking in churches, advocacy and management to playing with children, visiting teenagers, running holiday or youth outings or sitting with a new mum as she shares her story.

The highlight for me is spending time with the children and families. It’s a privilege to be invited into people’s homes and lives. I love seeing a child’s eyes light up when you arrive at the door for a few hours of play and find out they’ve been asking for you all week. Or to hear from a mum how a phone call or visit has given them the hope to keep going and how much they value the support.

Taking on the responsibility of establishing a branch in East London has been a big challenge. It has been a big journey of faith taking on a workload of 60 families with eight local volunteers, and waiting on God to open doors, provide office space, finances and people. Yet God is faithful. We now have a local office, 30 volunteers, a growing relationship with local churches and God is providing for the work day by day as we need it.

The other challenge I face is how to keep going when ‘the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few’ (Matt 9:37). I constantly meet new families who are referred to us in desperate need of practical support and friendship. Yet not many people are willing to give up a few hours to go and be a friend. Across London we have over 60 families waiting for help, of whom many have to wait between one and three years for a visit.

Without God and the strength and hope he brings I would not be able to keep walking alongside families in so much need. Children I know and love have lost parents to HIV but I have learnt to trust in a God who will watch over them as I put them into his care. When supporting a young person as they learn that they have HIV, or visiting a parent who has lost the will to live or a family who are struggling with the pain of rejection, I have a God who I can cry out to for them. A God who cares passionately about all their pain and the injustices life offers, and whose love I can share with them.

I have seen God answer many prayers to turn situations around; children re-united with parents after living in refugee camps or foster homes; suicidal mums finding hope, the release of housing for those living in one room, children’s behaviour problems transformed and God at work as families ask questions about him.

Recently I have been encouraged to see God provide a volunteer for a 15-year-old girl with HIV in perfect timing for her need. Soon after the volunteer started, the girl’s mum was diagnosed with cancer and the volunteer was able to take the girl to visit her in hospital regularly. One day the girl said to her volunteer, ‘Outside of my mum and God you are the person I am closest to.’ The cancer spread and the girl’s mum died. She is now living in a flat on her own but the volunteer is visiting regularly and teaching her to cook.

There is a great need for people willing to visit a family or help with our group outings or youth programme. All you need is time and a compassionate heart. It also helps if you enjoy children’s company. There is the opportunity for people willing to step out in faith to work full-time in a variety of roles. People’s prayer and financial support also enables the work to happen.

For more information phone Grandma’s head office on 020 7610 3904 or email headoffice@grandmas.org.uk