We all know that AIDS is a bad thing. It transforms lives for the worst.
We know it’s practically a death sentence in many cases. We watched a movie with Matthew McConaughey we gave him an oscar. We think we understand it.aa
The sad thing is, we really don’t.
Before I left for the race I thought I knew a lot about the disease. I had looked at the Wikipedia entry more than once in moments of interest while attempting to write a 13 page paper in college.
I got the point.
It wasn’t until stepping foot in Africa that the Lord began to transform my heart for the crisis.
It became a reality.
AIDS has minimally affected me personally. We are taught to be overly cautious. If anyone, even a child, has a cut or nosebleed, we create a barrier before caring for them, and stay away if we have any open wounds. We do not walk around barefoot, because if we cut our foot on the same beer bottle that someone with AIDS cut their foot on, we could contract the disease. But, mostly we trust in the Lord.
The story for the Swazi people is very different. How does AIDS affect their population?
They walk down the street with the reality that every other person they pass will likely die of it.
Swaziland is the nation with highest rate of AIDS in the world, at 27%. That percentage is considered to be extremely muted, though, as most people refuse to be tested due to the social disgrace that label entails. It is thought that about 50% of the population has the disease.
It does not only affect the people who have it, though. It’s shaped the culture, the economy and even the family unit. It’s a ripple effect.
Because of the massive amount of deaths associated with this disease, the life expectancy is 51 and approximately half the population is under the age of 18.
In ministry, almost every child we encounter has a deceased parent. About 18% of the population is made up of orphaned or abandoned children.
Most family situations include a mother or grandmother caring for a lot of children, some who belong to them and some who don’t. Families including a mother and father seem almost non-existent, as the chances of both parents surviving is low.
This restricts the economy, as most individuals don’t have the opportunity to advance in their careers due to the young life expectancy. Swaziland has little opportunity to advance in productivity levels and break out of the LDC label.
This reality leaves most families in poverty, as unemployment rates reach up to 70%. The average income provides for 13 dependents.
Most importantly, the people of this nation live in fear of the disease.
But, I believe that God can transform Swaziland from a nation defined by fear to one marked by hope.
Only God can do it, but He can use us. He uses our prayers, our hearts and our feet.
AIDS is powerful, but God is far more powerful. What AIDS has taken, God can restore many times over.
He can heal a nation and eradicate a disease.
He can change the culture story by story, and resurrect hope.
“So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.” – 1 Peter 1:6
