• Precious Khoza
• Baby Margaret
• Mrs. K

AIDS has already killed 2,400,000 people in sub-Saharan Africa. At the present rate of infection, it is estimated there will be 20 million orphaned children by the year 2010. "…all are precious in His sight."

Baby Margaret

Her mother died moments after her birth-four months after her father's death. Elderly relatives, suspecting the baby's parents had died of AIDS, decided that the baby was 'just as good as dead" and agreed to bury the baby, alive, with her mother.

A sympathetic woman, overhearing this, stole the child and took her to the local hospital. The woman pled with hospital staff to keep the child, promising to come back for her. She never returned.

The child was sent to a Mission Orphanage that is supported, in part by the Central Church of Africa Presbyterian. The baby was named "Margaret" and surprised everyone with her energy. She turned out to be one of the healthiest children in the orphanage. She is now 2 years old.

The plot by her relatives backfired. Today she is a living sign of hope for all other orphans. She continues to grow healthier and stronger each day. She refused to die. She is a beautiful little girl.

Mrs. K

Four years ago, Mr. K died from AIDS leaving a wife and 8 children. He was the only reliable bread earner in this family. His relatives came and stripped the one room dirt floor hut, in the slums of Blantyre, of everything. Soon after, Mrs. K (40 years old), showed symptoms of AIDS (open sores, diarrhea" body pains) and could not work. Just this year, her two oldest daughters (18 and 20) came back to live with her. They are both infected with HIV. One has active herpes; the other, Tuberculosis.

Sometimes, all that can be offered is minimal comfort and support in a hopeless situation. The Orphan Families in Crisis Program Central Church of Africa Presbyterian, Blantyre Synod, found the K. family in early 2001. The family was without income, food, sanitation, support. The older family members were too sick, and the younger members too young to work. Mrs. K could not pay her rent ($4/month).

The youngest child (age 4) is now enrolled in the Synod's preschool children's program. The Synod provides food (a bag of maize), cooking oil, blankets, floor mats for sleeping, soap, and cooking pots and $15 per month.

Mrs. K is too weak on most days to even sit up. Her young children will be orphaned soon enough.