The Lord decided He needed Avery in Heaven.  Avery passed away Wednesday afternoon.  His funeral is this afternoon, so please pray for his parents, sister, Allie, grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, and those who knew Avery.  I cannot imagine the pain they are going through.  This is the 2nd child in my old church family to pass away in the past month.  Little Josie's mom posted on Avery's website last night, and my heart just broke for all of them (pray for Josie's family, too, please).  A hurting family offering support to a hurting family.  Sometimes life doesn't seem fair, but God knows what He's doing.  We just have to trust in Him that one day we'll know His reasoning.

It's not too dissimilar to what I sometimes see when I visit orphanages in South Africa.  Why has God allowed these children to contract HIV/AIDS?  A lot of these kids are actually 'just' suffering from the 'sins' (I use that term VERY loosely!) of their fathers/mothers.  AKA, they were born this way.  Because of the high cost of health care, it is difficult, especially in the very rural areas, to afford to go to a doctor or nurse.  Culture for many of the tribal peoples allows them to 'sleep around' before getting married (this is not dissimilar to the sleeping around that happens in the US, but people here are better able to get condoms to try and prevent the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS), and I know of one tribe that allows them to marry as many women as they can afford.  Women of this particular tribe who divorce are never allowed to remarry, while the men can. 

Most are victims of rape.  If you've ever heard that the 'witch doctors' tell the people if they rape a virgin they can rid themselves of AIDS and doubted it, don't.  It's true they are telling them that.  In a culture where sex at a young age is more than normal (girls 2 years ago were telling us that their friends where making fun of them because they'd not had intercourse yet, and they were only 12), these people are raping small children!

So, you may ask, what do I say to these children?  Do you know they have never asked me, "Why me?"  Most places that I have visited are Christian-based, so they minister to these children on a daily basis.  But I have an answer for them.  God has assigned us all a reason/purpose for being here, and some of us are assigned long-term projects.  Some have a shorter list of things to get done.  They bloom like a wonderous flower; here for a season, to share their beauty; remembered forever.  God has chosen them specifically to be that amazing flower!

Why do I still go back, you may wonder?  Because God keeps providing the opportunity for me to go, opening the door so I know it's where He wants me to be.  I love the time I get to spend with these precious children.  They love, and accept my love in return, without question, without worry, and I feel that God has given them the ability to know we are there to show them how wonderful they are.  And He has given me the ability to show them how much He loves them!

In a country where HIV/AIDS is so prevalent, it still has it's stigma.  I think that is a reason another big reason it is still being spread like wildfire.  Our first year, we had maybe one family tell us that there were people living in the home with HIV/AIDS.  Other's told us it was breathing problems, or heart problems, and the occasional TB, which is one of the end-stage things that most AIDS patients contract everywhere, not just in South Africa.  So, those with HIV/AIDS won't talk about it with others because no one will have anything to do with them. 

I do think the thing that is the most amazing is that it is not dissimilar to what happens here in the US.  No one wants to talk about HIV/AIDS.  Most people don't want to even think about it!  But we MUST talk about it, and we MUST think about it if we aren't protecting ourselves.  I'm not stupid enough to believe that people will quit having sex outside of marriage.  But I would hope that people will stop and think more about their risks, which multiply greatly each time they take a different partner.  And for EVERYONE'S sake, use a condom EVERY TIME!  Ladies, don't feel (or let them make you feel) like you're being a tease if you say, "No!" because there isn't a condom.  Ditto for guys! 

Did you know that one of the, if not THE, largest growing population of new HIV/AIDS patients in the US are married women from 25-45?  Sometimes HIV/AIDS doesn't show up in bloodwork for years.  So either partner could be the carrier if they have had sex with someone else before marriage.

Even condoms, however, are not 100% effective.  Condoms CAN break.  If they are not removed/disposed of properly, they can still pass on bodily fluids.  I have to find the name of the STD that can still be spread while wearing a condom that isn't compromised. 

This was so not where I planned to go with this blog entry, but sometimes, those are the 'best'.

I will be returning to SA sometime during the next few months.  Please pray that God will provide all I need before, during, and yes, after this trip, especially the words I need and the voice for the songs I will sing.  (I'm song leader again!)  I don't want to get a cold this year!

God loves you, and so do I!

Hugs,
April

HPV can be passed while using a condom. It is one of the rising leading causes of cervical cancer in women.

One of my good friends got it from her husband, who got it from a girlfriend years before in college. They used condoms, and the doctor said this is very common.

Thanks, Dream!

When my pap turned up abnormal last year, they did the HPV test, and it came back negative. It was the main reason my OB/GYN wasn't worried about my having cancer. I still have to go back for my 3 or 3 test, but plan to wait until after I get back from SA. Also have to get my baseline mammogram done, too. I had one a few years ago when I had a lump in my left breats, and it hurt like nothing I've ever felt!

Hugs,
April