As AIDS ravages the continent of Africa, Southern Bsptists and others respond
with God’s love and a message of hope for the future
Sue Sprenkle
SBC International Mission Board
As AIDS ravages the continent of Africa, Southern Bsptists and others respond
with God’s love and a message of hope for the future
The elderly woman sits in silence just outside the hospitals open door.
The electricity is off, but she does not notice the darkness.
In a moment, a loud sob escapes her lips. It is the sound of
grief – her daughter died just 20 minutes ago. Now, the woman grabs the
hand of the person next to her and lets out a piercing wail. Soon, the wail
turns into a slow, sad, mournful song.
For the past few days, this elderly woman sat next to her daughter,
holding her hand, coaxing her to eat. When the daughter shivered from burning
fever, she added a blanket. As visitors came and went, the mother made sure
everyone greeted her daughter, even after the girl was comatose.
When the room filled with the sickening, sweet smell of death,
everyone left but the mother – still smiling, still hoping.
In the hallways of Zimbabwes Sanyati Baptist Hospital, no one dares to
mention the cause of this death. But knowing and experienced eyes speak. Here,
it is called “slimming disease.”
AIDS.
As the HIV virus sweeps mercilessly across the African continent,
only a few try to address it. Most simply look away.
To acknowledge one has AIDS can mean certain death. A South
African woman who told a televised audience of her condition on World AIDS Day
was found beaten to death by family and fellow villagers six hours later.
Most persons do not know how or when they caught the virus.
Many never know they have it. Many who do know do not tell. Doctors and obituaries
do not list it as a cause of death.
AIDS in Africa bears little resemblance to the disease in America.
It does not just affect individuals but entire societies. Few families remain
untouched.
Indeed, the hope is gone from Zililos eyes as he stands
in his family cemetery. Raw mounds of earth scar the area. Thorn bushes cover
graves to keep wild animals from digging. There are 17 graves in all. A few
years ago, there were only three.
AIDS is real to Zililo – very real. His wife and children,
brother and sister all have died from the dreaded disease.
“Whos going to be next?” he asks to no one
in particular.
Overall, 13 million Africans already have died of AIDS –
and 10 million more are expected to die in the next five years.
In Kenya, one in seven people is HIV-positive – and the
list of the dead grows by 500 a day. In Zimbabwe, nearly one in three people
carry the disease. In Botswana, it is one in four.
On a continent ravaged by wars and mired in poverty, AIDS is
wiping out much of a generation. Families are being destroyed, and the most
educated and skilled workers in the history of the continent are being cut down
in their prime.
It is estimated that – due to AIDS – sub-Saharan
Africa will have 71 million fewer people by 2010 than it would have.
The Africa-Operation Whole organization reports that 36.1 million
people in the world have AIDS – and 26.1 million of those are in sub-Sahara
Africa.
Other statistics for the continent show a rate of 15,000 infections
a day last year, a reduced life expectancy (from 66 years to 25 in one country),
5,500 funerals per day in sub-Saharan Africa and 60,000 babies infected each
year in South Africa alone – most of whom will not see their second birthday.
Those who suffer most from such numbers are children.
Indeed, Africa is becoming a continent of orphans. United Nations
statistics project that there will be 40 million AIDS orphans in Africa alone
by the year 2010.
Meanwhile, the deaths continue.
Here, too weak to eat or drink, the woman lies motionless on
a pile of old blankets on a cold, mud-packed floor. She stares blankly into
space as a visitor tries to coax her to eat. She gives no response, so the visitor
leans in close to pray. A lone tear streaks down the dying womans face.
“Ive been so bad in my lifetime that God could never
forgive me – God will never forgive me,” the woman whispers, turning
her emaciated body away from the visitor.
The woman is typical of what has been called the largest unreached
people group in the world – people of the 15/45 Window – named
since most cases of HIV/AIDS occur between age 15 and 45.
Ninety percent of them have never heard about Jesus or have
not entered into a personal relationship with Him.
In 20 years, AIDS has killed 22 million people worldwide –
most without a knowledge of Christ. AIDS sufferers urgently need to hear the
good news of Gods love and forgiveness, missions observers emphasize.
Chaplain Philemon Satiya counsels hundreds of them each week.
“By the time I see the patients, most are already wondering about life
and death,” he says.
“Most pray to receive Jesus Christ as their savior. Even
though its too late for them to physically survive, its never too
late for God to welcome another child into his kingdom.”
Last year, Satiya says he prayed with more than 740 people
who asked to receive Christ.
“We have to leave this in Gods hands,” he says.
“No one knows how AIDS will end. But we do know that God is in control
and through him, we always have hope.”
Hope is what Zacchaeus has found.
His sunken, tightly-drawn face is identical to most AIDS victims,
but there is something different about him. Zacchaeus has a smile that never
ceases. He does not sit around and think about death. He walks around talking
and singing about life.
“Sure, maybe it is my fault that I have it,” he says.
“But you know, God doesnt look around and see if you have one leg
or two. He wants you as you are.”
Zacchaeus says God is his strength and hope.
“God has rules,” he reminds people now. “If
you follow them you dont get AIDS.”
Indeed, AIDS education is on the rise – in the schools,
on the radio and television. And as the next generation learns about prevention,
Christians are joining the crusade with True Love Waits campaigns teaching “Gods
rules.”
There is much to be done – and it is going to take a miracle,
missions leaders acknowledge. However, God can work miracles – and his
children can pray and work, they add. (BP)
(Various resources related to AIDS in Africa are available via the Internet.
These include an online video at www.tconline.org/Stories/July01/aidsvid.html;
Africa AIDS photos at www.tconline.org/Stories/July01/aids1.html; a full-color
map tells the story of AIDS in Africa at www.tconline.org/Stories/July01/map2.html;
True Love Waits resources for teens, parents and leaders at www.lifeway.com/tlw;
information on a True Love Waits project in Zimbabwe at www.imb.org/southern-africa/true_love_waits.htm;
and a free 14-day prayer guide on the Africa AIDS crisis and free Africa prayer
map at www.imb.org/resources)