The hardest thing...

Last week we were able to go and speak at a government highschool. We addressed issues of being a teenager, of course we talked about HIV and AIDS. I think all of us felt that we could offer some hope to these young people that they are the generation who can change their country. They have all these songs about AIDS and have a lot of information, but we challenged them that if they are not living it out is doesn't matter. We also talked and had discussions about other issues such as drinking and drugs and the students were able to share with them about how similar life in America is for teenagers...Until the talk about satanism and human sacrifices, which i guess is a very big problem in the area we are in and especially for school kids. The drink blood from a sacrifice and then are led to money and wealth and good fortune. It gave me shivers as they described these experiences. The teacher stopped the discussion and said that we were here to talk about the big issues - all 90 students began to shout that it was a big problem and she relented and let them talk. Crazy.

We also visited an orphanage this week which was so hard for me. I held a 3 month old baby boy named Voupe, which means gift. He is 3 months old, and is dying from HIV/AIDS. I just wept as i held him, i rocked him and prayed over him, and then cleaned his face. He had bed sores from lying in his crib. Even though the place was clean, they have 26 staff for 113 children, and the infants just don't get attention unless they need clean nappies or to be fed.

Leaving the orphanage was the hardest thing i have done here, his beautiful little face just looking up at me as i said goodbye.

This country is dying from this infection, and the generation who has to change it has lost hope...please pray for Hope.