Sadness

I'm in Durban this week doing on site hospice visits. Yesterday I drove out with Zodwa, the Advocacy Coordinator, to a rural site that is 3 hours away from the city. It was a beautiful drive...lots of farmland and lots of farm animals. I even caught a glimpse of some zebras and ostriches grazing along the side of the road!

The conditions in this country are much like the US. There are pockets of extreme (in some cases excessive) wealth, and pockets of dire poverty.

Hospice work is heartbreaking. The mother of this young girl is infected with HIV. They are still unsure if this infection has been passed along to this little one. The two of them live in a secluded hut, about a half mile from the only paved road that leads to the nearest hospice. The destination is a 4 hour walk.

Outside their home, a malnourished goat and rooster peck around for the little vegetation there is on the rocky soil. Inside, cracks line the wall and insects make their homes. And even though winters in this region are fairly mild, it is cold inside. Maybe even colder than it is outside.

The mother is in stage one of HIV. She is still mobile and looks rather healthy. The daughter is despondent and sits completely still. Even when touched, she does not turn or look up. My heart is heavy thinking about the disease, sadness and helplessness of this area. I'm reminded why cause related work is so necessary.