Funerals

Last week I attended two more funerals. The custom here when there is a death is to have nightly prayers every evening for a week. On Friday or Saturday night there is an all-night prayer vigil, then at 6 am or 7 am the funeral service begins. Many get up to speak about the person, there is a viewing of the body, then the coffin is taken to the grave. Everyone goes to the graveyard and sings until the coffin is lowered into the grave and covered with dirt. Then everyone returns to the home where a meal is served. The family of the deceased is responsible to provide tea and bread every evening after prayers and the meal after the funeral service which can often be a great financial burden.

Both of the funerals I attended were women, ages 24 and 34, and both died of “tuberculosis” as many here do. As one of my coworkers recently said, “In Africa tuberculosis is spelled A-I-D-S.” They do technically die of TB, but AIDS is the reason that they have acquired TB and why their body is unable to fight it off. Though the stigma is slowly being broken down, it’s still here. One of the great things about Botswana is that it offers FREE ARV’s (anti-retriviral drugs) to AIDS patients. It was the first African country to do so. But one downside I’ve come across because of this is that many believe it’s a cure for AIDS and therefore don’t consider the consequences of their actions. Millions in Africa are slipping away in the same manner as these. If you haven’t heard this statistic before I believe it can help give a picture of the enormity of the situation here....as many die every month in sub-Saharan Africa from AIDS as died in the Tsunami. And it’s a problem that is only growing in many areas. Would you pray for this devastating pandemic. Pray for authentic Christians and strong Christian leaders in this country that can help education people in strong moral values. People who will promote abstinence and help equip others to stand strong and find hope in the one who will never disappoint us, Jesus Christ.