Theresa Malila passed this on to us.  Please read this note, and Theresa’s thoughts about the Roseta passing away.   While this is hard to read, we must read it to understand more about the realities of the battle against HIV/AIDS. Pray especially for Roseta’s children and for the Somebody Cares staff  and Home-Based Care volunteers as they work with and care for the children during this difficult time in their lives.

Roseta died on a cold and gloomy July 7. The next day we attended her funeral and consoled her children who were in a state of shock.  Roseta’s husband could not even afford a coffin for his wife, so Somebody Cares provided the family with a coffin and our Home-Based Care volunteers made the funeral arrangements.

As we sat in the crowded slum called Mgona with Roseta’s children, in a very real way they have something to say to each of us. They have something to say to every Christian leader in Mgona and in Malawi who has remained silent behind the safe security of their comfort zones and religion. They have something to say to every politician who blatantly lied and fed them with empty promises of development, free education, shelter, health, water and sanitation when they seek votes. They have something to say to parents who procreate without any thought to the future of their children. They have something to say to every citizen of this nation who has passively accepted the evil system of greed and corruption and who has stood on the sidelines and ignored the plight of the 65% of the population who have no voice and say in matters concerning them. I believe that these children are saying to us, that today we can no longer pretend that there is no problem in our society. We must not only be concerned about the death of their mother but also about what happens to them! This death must not anesthetize us but show us that we must work passionately and unrelentingly for the realization of improved health services and laws that protect and provide for women and their children that are being orphaned at an alarming rate.

I am a great believer in the fact that nothing just happens. God still has a way of working all things out for good and for His purposes. God is not taken by surprise but as long as we compromise our Christian standards – we have no right to preach a gospel of love and grace. These innocent children have cried out to the Lord and just as he heard Hagar’s baby, he hears Roseta’s babies.

As I was thinking about all of this I was struck by the stark contrast of Roseta’s funeral and Michael Jackson’s memorial. What a difference between the two funerals. What a difference between the words of Paris Jackson, and Esther — the 12 year old daughter of Roseta. Esther cried out, saying:

Mummy with whom have you left us? How am I going to take care of the baby? Will I be able to take care of him? Our father failed to take care of you and of us while you were alive and sick. Who is going to take care of us now? You have not done the right thing, dying and leaving us like this.

This 12 year old girl had already assumed the role of a mother. Will there be a sunrise for these children? Will there be a ray of sunshine in this place?

The Scriptures tell us that “A little child shall lead them.” Maybe – just maybe – the voices of these defenseless little children will lead this society from the barren path of man’s apathy to a place of searching, serving and separating unto God . The untimely death or Roseta may lead us into a place of helplessness and nothingness to substitute our limited vision for God’s eternal vision. As I sit up and meditate on God’s faithfulness I can truly say that inspite of this dark and blinding reality I cannot afford to despair or give up. I cannot not become despondent or apportion blame. I refuse to lose faith and continue to believe that God is forever working all things for good, and that as Christians we will and must learn to respect the dignity and worth of every human being. What can you say to these little ones that will give them any assurance of a future, let alone a life? It is virtually impossible to console them as they look blankly around seeking a familiar face, an assurance that will embrace their dilemna and give answers to the questions they keep asking as they weep for their loss. You can say very little or absolutely nothing, but hope in the Lord who does not disappoint. Children aught not to have to suffer such calamities on their own, but they do and continue to do so more often these days.

What can I say? This life is hard. In bleak and difficult moments such as these it looks like the sun will never rise! The weather itself cold, bleak and chilly speaks of the circumstances of these children. How can you tell them things will get better, that they should not despair? What assurance can you give children? You can only but travail in silence and trust God.

What then is the conclusion to all this? The children desperate, innocent, and helpless are the victims of one of the most vicious and tragic circumstances. They don’t know what the future holds for them. Will they become mere statistics like the numerous forgotten faces from the silent injustices resulting from the HIV/AIDS pandemic?

We continue to fix our eyes on God who is the author, editor and finisher of our faith. Today, I know that Rosetta who gave her life to the Lord, is with Him. He neither sleeps nor slumbers. And, just as His eyes are on the sparrow so will He watch over her Roseta’s five children.

May God’s grace continue through those who support Homebased Care workers and the Women for Orphans and Widows program (WOW) to enable us to support and take care of patients like Rosetta and these beautiful children who need to believe and experience that SOMEBODY CARES.

The following was sent to us by Theresa Malila, the Founder and Executive Director of Somebody Cares Malawi.  While this is a long post, please read it and pray for Theresa and her staff and volunteers, Roseta and her family, and the thousands of others, who like Roseta are the innocent victims of the ravages of AIDS.

I was thinking of the TV Series 24 HOURS. This is what Home-Based Care,reminds me of each day.I feel somewhat like Jack Bauer – caught between trying to beat the odds but finding so much up against us !!!!

What you are about to read is the story of Roseta. Telling you about Roseta is one of the most difficult things I have ever written.

On June 15 I visited Roseta in the community called Mgona. Roseta is 27 years old and has five children. Esther her oldest is 12,and Sherif is only one month old. Roseta is skin and bones — barely weighing 50 pounds. When I walked into the 40 square foot room where she was laying – lit only by a slim ray of sunlight coming through a tiny crack in the roof, I smelled death. I hate the smell of death. Death has a terrible smell in the slums of Mgona. But this smell also triggers what may seem and sound like a paradox – the hope in me – Christ!

Roseta was laying on the floor in her room; she could not say a word. As I prayed for her,all she could manage was a weak, squeaky, and very soft “amen”.I told her Jesus had come to visit her and wanted to comfort and heal her. I asked her if she knew the Lord – she shook her head slightly to say “no”. I felt this river well up in me and started to pray that she would accept Christ as Lord and Savior. She continued to whisper “amen” as I prayed. She followed the prayer with a few slurred words that were barely audible. I totally broke down as I continued to pray with her. I knew that the Lord had purposed for her to receive His great salvation and comfort. I knew that it was all God’s work because the circumstances were totally hopeless — but I remained hopeful in the supernatural. I sensed God’s presence in the room with us.

I Was with a team from God’s Economy (one of our ministry partners) and I walked out of that one room shack,a completely broken person. God had brought me in that instance into a place of brokenness of spirit. I have never really broken down during home visits But this was one time when I was forced to openly acknowledge my helplessness in the presence of others. I have always been the strong one – encouraging others in this battle. But the one thing I knew then and there as I wept for this family, that the Holy Spirit was also weeping over this helpless mother and her children, and God’s heart was broken.

I took baby Sherif and asked two others to join me as the Holy Spirit prompted me to have the baby dedicated. While raising the baby heavenward we prayed and dedicated him. The mood was somber as we left Roseta and continued visiting other patients. That night I couldn’t sleep. I kept thinking about Roseta and her five children.

The next day our HBC volunteers brought food supplies and a lamp to the family as the husband had deserted them and had not been home at all. Regina, Rosetta‘s HBC volunteer informed us that they were going to take Roseta to the hospital as she would need to go for her ARVs. At the hospital the doctor insisted she be admitted, however, the support group who had taken her did not have the authority to do so as they needed the husband’s permission so they returned with her to Mgona.

On Sunday I did not go to church, I spent my time in prayer for this dear family — and in the afternoon I decided to go back to Mgona to visit the family again. I took clothing for the children, some dolls, formula for the baby, and fortified meal for Roseta and her children. When I got there I spent time with Roseta and praised God – for she had regained a bit of strength. The children were very excited with the clothes and dolls.

Roseta began to tell me about her husband. She said she was tested for HIV/AIDS when she was pregnant. When she told her husband that she was HIV positive he refused to accept what she told him. She never went back to the clinic, and when she gave birth her health completely deteriorated. That was when we found her. Roseta also told me that her husband is never at home and is always drinking. He also told her he is just waiting for her to die. I told her she needs to fight the disease so she can recover and take care of her children.

On Monday, June 21 I woke up at 1:00am in the morning and my thoughts were with Roseta, I felt led to pray for her and her family. Later in the day I felt a strong urgency in my spirit to visit her – even though I had other meetings to attend. When I got to her home, she was lying on her mat – obviously in pain. I knelt down to hear what she was trying to say, and heard this pitiful wimper “please take me to hospital – I don’t want to die.”. We immediately made arrangements to try and take her to the hospital. In the absence of any stretcher or wheelchair, one of our volunteers lifted her up from her mat and carried her out of the house, it was a very sad sight to see, this 27 year old woman, looking like a ten year old – Regina her HBC volunteer strapped Rosetta on to her back as we walked to the Feeding Center to wait for the truck which would take her to the hospital. When the truck arrived, four volunteers put her on the back of the truck and left for the difficult journey to the hospital.

While Roseta is in the hospital, Catherine our HBC Coordinator and Charmaine are cooking food for her, and providing her with fresh clothing. Regina, another HBC volunteer is taking care of the children until Roseta is released from hospital.

As of June 29, Rosetta’s husband has not been to see her or the children. While Roseta is gaining strength, she is still very ill. My prayer for Roseta is that she will recover and live to take care of her five beautiful children who are totally oblivious to the dire situation their mother is in and they find themselves in. Pray with me that God will prevail in this situation, He is the God of the impossible.

ALUTA CONTINUA – THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES

As I leave Rosetta in the care of our wonderful unsung HBC hereos my next stop is Alice Jumas’ home. Alice is recovering and able to walk and take a bike to the hospital and get her ARVs. She is a testimony to God’s amazing grace – the same grace I believe He will provide for Roseta!

PLEASE PRAY FOR ROSETA AND HER FAMILY.

What can I say? If we discard the people who are dying from AIDS … then we can no longer be called the body of Christ — the Church of the Living God, so we continue to stand and having done all … we stand. My appeal to you who “support a home-based care worker” is not to get weary in doing good.

Somebody Cares could not care and support mothers and children like Rosetta and her family without your help. As we continue to serve the dying and the sick through your generous giving and prayers. Your prayers and giving continue to make a difference in the lives of those we support in the slums and communities we serve. Homebased Care and Recovery Support has made tremendous strides – a year ago we used to experience 8 -10 deaths a week, now it has dropped to 2-3 a month with miraculous recovery due to support and care and fortified meal distributed to the sick and the many who have access to ARVS. God Bless and increase you as you continue to express your deep compassion in this world of real suffering!

Theresa Malila