“No Matter” has Died

At roughly 5:30 A.M. this morning, I received a call that informed me that Rebecca’s 8 year old grandson had died after being in intensive care for two weeks.  Rebecca held a vigil at the hospital, leaving her grandson’s side only to go to the bathroom and wash her clothes.  The child’s name was “No Matter”, because her mother and father abandoned the child stating they never wanted the child to begin with.  Both his mother and father have HIV/AIDS and have been nothing more than pathetic parents.

Rebecca took the child into her home.  I have spent time with the child over the last seven months and have danced with him at church.  He would frequently come sit with me at church.  He fell ill several weeks ago, and Doctors were trying to change his medication.  Rebecca is 63 and has AIDS.  She is one of the most active people at Vida Humana. Her commitment to the child is enough to touch the hardest of hearts.  The cause of death:  HIV/AIDS!

– 4 hours later –

Death is in the air this week…

It has been a busy morning.  I just came back from purchasing a casket for “Doesn’t Matter”.  That was a nickname given to the child by Rebecca.  The child’s mother (Rebecca’s daughter) and the husband did not want the child.  Rebecca told them “it ‘doesn’t matter’; I will take care of the child.”  And she did.  For seven loving years, she took care of this child along with several other grandchildren and orphans.  The biological mother finally came to see the child last week.  She too, has HIV/AIDS, and has the reputation for being a whore/prostitute.  She really doesn’t even know the child.  People (including me) reluctantly gave her condolences knowing full well she was totally absent in this child’s life.

Caskets here are hand-made of cheap wood.  It is then covered with black cloth and a white lace cross on top (assuming you can afford the cloth and lace).  I have paid for the casket, the trucks to take people to the gravesite, for people to dig the grave, and for the fellowship that follows. This is my gift to Rebecca.  It is a weight off her shoulders knowing that she does not have to worry about where the money is coming from.  Grace, Mrs. Ruwa and Margareta have been with Rebecca all morning.  They sing songs and accept visitors offering condolences.

Misheck, Felizardo, and I then went to the hospital to get the death certificate and a release for the body.  While we were there the doctor was frantically trying to save a three-year old girl.  It did not work, and she died right in front of us.  The mother was distraught and fell into my arms with tears.  She stated she had no husband and no family and that her daughter was the only reason she wanted to live.  Her grief brought us to our knees.  She is from Zimbabwe and spoke excellent English.  Death is everywhere and commonplace here.  This woman is now without her child and is alone.  The child died of Malaria.

Earlier in the week a 29 father of two died of HIV/AIDS but did not tell anyone he was infected until the day before he died.  He heard about Misheck and I from within the community and asked a friend of his if we could visit him.  We asked how serious he was and were told that he is fine, but wanted some advice.  Misheck spoke with him that day, but by then it was too late.  The next day, Felizardo, Rebecca and I were going to visit with him to talk about how to survive the disease.  When we started to go visit him we learned he died during the night.

HIV/AIDS used to be the “C” word (i.e., Cancer) that we felt thirty years ago.  Today, people say with pride that they are a cancer survivor.  I pray that we do not have to wait thirty years before people say, “I have HIV/AIDS.  I am alive, and know that if I take my medicine and take care of myself, I will live a long life.”

The average life expectancy in Mozambique is 40 years old.  Felizardo is 59 and Rebecca is 63.  Both have HIV/AIDS.  Both are in better shape than most of us.  Both attribute their living to following Christ and taking there medicine when they are supposed to.

The funeral is tomorrow morning.  The heat essentially makes it necessary to have the funeral in the morning before the heat really sets in.  I respectfully asked Rebecca if I could take a few pictures tomorrow to let you know what a funeral looks like in Mozambique.

Pray for strength for Rebecca.  Her vigil at the hospital has taken a toll on her physically and mentally.  Also, remember this:  Love is something that you give as a gift.  Give it freely knowing that people gain strength knowing you care about them!  Period!

I ask that people say a prayer for strength for Rebecca over the next several months.  She is still taking care of five other grandchildren.  I have to go to Vida Humana now, so I will leave it at this:  In all things we will glorify God!  Like with Job, we must praise God in times of suffering as well as times of prosperity!