Can You Get HIV from Deep Kissing?

"Why because you like some of that deep kissing?" One of my goals here in Ghana has been to give talks, 10 in all, to the adolescents at various churches, mosques, and a school on Abstinence, HIV/AIDS, and stigma. So how do you translate John Piper into Mampruli? Well, I haven't tried that yet, but I wish I could. Last Sunday night I got to speak over 100 people that all came back to church that night to hear what the Salmindo had to say.
The talk has evolved and I think improved each time. So much that I wish that I could do the first few over again. Funny thing is that the talks never start less than an hour after they are scheduled because well, it is Africa.
I love getting the chance to speak and trying to paint a better image for these students of why they should save themselves for marriage. For me the greatest messages on this have been John Piper's "Sex and the Supremacy of Christ." But how do you even begin to translate that, or even harder really believe it? I begin with making it clear the sex is not a bad thing, in fact it is created by God for our pleasure. I emphasize that sex causes two to become one flesh and use some of those good ol' illustrations from Worth the Wait back in the day. Some talk about Christ and the Church and the great mystery of loving someone for ever then leads into discussion about the very real threats of unwanted pregnancy (huge problems/death) and HIV. Following that is a plea to love people and to end the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS. I use John 8, the story of the woman caught in adultery. Jesus pointed out the sin of the woman, but also pointed out the sin in the hearts of her accusers. You know the story, do we really KNOW it though?
We have seen a few young girls in the hospital who had unwanted pregnancies. The lack of hope that exists for them is enough to keep me giving these talks. If one girl is spared of that burden to carry a child, it will all be worth. Here an abortion is a death sentence, for both mother and child. When I say abortion I mean, we found gravel in a woman's vagina, or puncture wounds from sticking objects inside, burns from harsh chemicals...should I go on?
I don't think I am really changing the world, but hopefully I am helping to spark the conversation. I do think that accountablity partners are a new idea to many of these young people. I hope that will give them the strength to stay safe, to love God more passionately. To have a good marriage, because it is a great mystery, the mystery of Christ and the Church.