the dark side of life

Debbie and I have made dear friends in Mozambique.  There are people we love deeply and to whom we have become profoundly attached.  In many ways we are feel like parents to them. The bond is especially strong with individuals with whom we have personally shared and taught the gospel, helped them through the difficult process of repentance and conversion--undergoing that great change of heart and mind and behavior. 
One such dear and beloved young woman we met with this week.  She is such a delightful lass.  Full of joie de vivre and faith and enthusiasm.  She shared with us something that she says she will share with no one else--that she recently went to the hospital to get checked out for unexplained weight loss and horrible headaches--and tested positive for HIV.  I have never taken the time to fully understand the progression of the disease, but it appears to have been a late diagnosis with AIDS symptoms in play already.  She is being evaluated (apparently a month long process here) to see if she is eligible for life-saving treatment. 
I am not prone to depression nor even too much discouragement.  But this news has rocked our little world.  We are so deeply saddened--truly as if she was our own child. 
HIV and AIDS are harsh realities here.  Public estimates of infection are between 20 and 30 percent of the population.  There are still a lot of infections occurring in medical treatment due to unsterile syringes.  This is a very tough place.

On a happier note:

Debbie is standing next to little Izza.  Izza has one dress and this is it.  We were on babysitting duty for many hours yesterday as Izza's parents pursued their documents to get married--and endless process that is still incomplete.  Soon after this photo, Izza fell asleep in the back seat of our vehicle and thoroughly soaked it.  Our car now has a lasting memory of her presence that will likely remain long after our departure.

We had a small youth activity last night with a Mozambican version of jeopardy.  Debbie has always wanted to be Alex Trebec.