REIKI for HIV Sufferers in Zimbabwe! Brenda's Journal

Brenda McDaniel is a Registered Nurse that has been working for Arkansas Hospice for 10 years, she is a Reiki Master/Teacher, Certified Hypnotherapist, Crystal Healer and does Soul Retrievals. She is also part of “The Practical Holistic Living” team at the Pain Relief and Massage Studio.
This is her Journal!

May 1st 2010

Arkansas Hospice, here in Hot Springs, is sending a group of 9 people to visit their sister Hospice in Zimbabwe, Africa on May 25, 2010. It is there, that their founders Veronica and Simplisius are working tirelessly to help the hundreds of men, women and children dying of HIV.

They have little medicine or comfort drugs to help the people through their transition. I was inspired by their sincerity and their passion of service and as I listened to them talk about their Hospice experience without medicines or support systems, I realized just how much I take for granted here in America, they helped to connect me back to what ‘Hospice’ is about, and why I am working there.

It is not just about comfort drugs and medicine, it is about supporting the Body, Mind, and Spirit through transition. I realized there was a practical way I could help them by attuning them to Reiki. Reiki is like therapeutic touch, it is an energy process using ‘Universal Energy’ that helps to relieve pain and relax people.

I discussed this with them and did practice sessions on them. They became very excited about getting their volunteers attuned to the Reiki and being able to attune their patients so that they could relieve their own discomfort and pain.

Due to the political climate there, it is extremely difficult to get material aid to them, so any tool or education that can help empower them and help ease their plight is very gratefully received.

The money for us to go was raised by the people of Arkansas through yard sales, chili dinners, and donations from local business and just regular people that want to help. I feel that all of the people that are making this possible are going with us in spirit.

We can still use donations for things like mosquitoe netting, vaccinations, etc. Call Arkansas Hospice, 501-318-9992 and tell them you would like to donate to the Zimbabwe trip.

Brenda will be journaling her adventures with the group in Zimbabwe, so stay tuned in.

May 18, 2010

Since I last journaled, I have been very busy getting ready for my trip to Zimbabwe. I took 8 vaccinations, 4 in each arm. We had our last garage sale Saturday, The neighbors helped. It was fun sharing stories and drinking coffee together. Selling all and anything for $2, so much stuff was left over that we were ready to give it away. Becky and I went shopping for hiking boots and ended up buying mosquito netting, water purifier, and deet insect repellent. I know when I get back I will have to detox myself from all the insect repellents, vaccinations, malaria pills and more. I have spent a lot of time getting the Reiki material together. This will be interesting since most of my students do not read English and some don’t speak it. Sunday the 9 of us met and went over the trips and the dos and donts in Zimbabwe. We packed nine suitcases full of clothes, including baby clothes, and toys for the children. We did have to leave out some things to keep them under 50lbs. We will not see each other again until Tuesday May 25 at 8AM, the Little Rock Airport. Then off for the great Adventure!!!