Grey’s Grace
Grey Tebulo was born in 1968 and is 42 years old. He has been married three times. He frequented bars and was often found drunk. His appetite for women was great. He is now in his third marriage.
In 1995, while married to his second wife Fanny, Grey began to get sick. He broke out in boils, but instead of going to the hospital, he spent 3 years and much money visiting witchdoctors and hoping for a cure. Fanny showed little interest in Grey after he got sick and she left him to fend for himself even though they remained married. Grey’s condition continued to deteriorate and he was reduced to a skeleton of a man. In 1999 his brother visited him and was shocked at what he found. Grey’s brother immediately took him to the hospital — where he stayed for 7 months. It was in the hospital that Grey discovered he was HIV positive. He was instantly put on ARV’s. When Grey was discharged from the hospital, he and Fanny divorced and he moved in with his brother. A year later Grey married his third wife – Happiness.
Grey kept his HIV status from Happiness and secretly took his ARV’s. In 2001 Happiness gave birth to their first daughter, Caroline. Immediately after the birth she became seriously ill and her sister came and took her back to her home village and there they went to the hospital. Happiness discovered she was HIV positive after her sister insisted she take an AIDS test. She then asked Grey to come. When he arrived in Liwonde (Happiness’ home) he was escorted to the hospital where Happiness was admitted. The doctor spoke to him about her condition and Grey feigned surprise. Nonetheless, the doctor recognized symptoms in Grey that pointed to the fact that it was possible that he too was positive. While in Liwonde Grey got malaria and had to be admitted to the same hospital as his wife. This was when the doctor discovered Grey’s status and the fact that he had been hiding his ARV’s from his wife and secretly taking the medication. The doctor arranged for counselors to meet with Grey and Happiness and talk about their status. They were able to reconcile. Happiness, though devastated by her husband’s lies, forgave him and they returned to Lilongwe together.
When they returned they joined a support group for people living with HIV/AIDS that was headed by their local parish. There they learned a lot about the disease and later became counselors. They discovered that many of the people that were a part of their group came from Mgona – one of the poorest communities in Malawi, with one of the highest HIV infection rates in Malawi. In 2006, Somebody Cares began an HIV/AIDS support group in Mgona. Grey and Happiness joined SC and provided leadership to this support group in Mgona.
Grey talks about how much his life has changed in the last 5 years as it was through SC that he came to know Jesus and was transformed. He hardly recognizes the man he used to be – the man who would put his family in danger just to keep a secret. He now speaks the truth to many, saving their lives by opening up his. His passion and zeal is what has made the group vote him each year as their Chairman. His wife Happiness also serves in the ministry as a teacher at the Somebody Cares Childrens Feeding Center in Mgona. She thanks God that she is alive and able to give back by caring for children.
The story of Grey and Happiness Tebulo started out as a nightmare but is now a testimony of the redemption of Jesus Christ and the life that is found in Him.
- Grey helping with Food Distribution in Mgona
- Happiness (2nd in line) Dancing for Joy Near the Mgona Childrens Center

