It was a year ago today that I spent my first day in South Africa at a hospital with 2 children and a caretaker waiting for hours to be seen by the doctor. They are all HIV+ and I can still remember sitting there and watching the small waiting room fill up - there were 25 chairs and 3 benches along the wall. The room continued to fill to standing room only and eventually a line began forming outside. All of these people were HIV+; there were a few men, many women, and some babies. I was holding Kwanele on my lap (he was 3 at the time) and just hugging him tightly, amazed that he was sleeping soundly on my lap...because I was a virtual stranger to him. Kwanele and I would become friends over the course of my time in South Africa. There weren't many days when he didn't take a nap either on my lap or in my bed (he loved my sleeping bag)! He had a way of putting his arms on my chest and looking at me before laying his head down to go to sleep. I miss him and thank Jesus that he made it another year. I don't know how many more he has left.
I am missing my kids with all my heart today. I would love to see them smile, watch a movie, run around the compound, read a story, or lay in bed and have them crowd in with me. They are a precious gift and I'm so blessed to love them.
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