I’m sitting at the Matata Spar. It’s the biggest grocery store around, maybe the biggest in the country. It’s one of the only places with internet around. The power just went out, rolling black outs are part of life here. I’ll see how my computer battery does.
There are a lot of things around here that are just a part of life, AIDS, sickness, death, poverty, hunger, thirst. It’s easy to feel hopeless at times.
I met this beautiful boy when I first got here. Turns out he is an orphan, both his parents died of AIDS and he is also infected. He lives alone in his parents old house, extended family members occasionally bring him food, but we think that they also beat him. Something in his sweet spirit impacts me every time we pull up to the care point. He loves to be held, touched, and played with.
(One of the World Racers Zach with the little guy on his shoulders)
Today the whole way here I was holding a baby who most likely has TB and AIDS whose mom is dying of AIDS. I wonder if Dudu (the mom) will make it through the next week. I don’t know if the baby Sinethemba will make it through the next few months. But when I asked in the car, they said that his name means “to hope for or to have faith.” That’s all I can do. It’s hard to keep hope here. But, I’m continually reminded that the only hope I have, and the only hope I can give is in Jesus.
(With Dudu and Sinethemba)
Yesterday Pastor Gift our host here told our group that, “When you watch a person die, you are dying together with them.” Being here, a part of me is dying with Dudu, but I also know that I’ll go on living stronger for it.
