Remembering: Sparrows Childrens Home

Sparrows AIDS Orphanage and Hospice- South Africa- 2006
Dear Friends
Four years ago I started my "African Journey" by volunteering at Sparrows AIDS Orphanage and Hospice " outside Johannesburg, South Africa. This reprint of a blog marks that beginning, in a continent where HIV-AIDS makes dying the norm and compassion a required staple. The ARV's had only just been initiated at that time, so there were many funerals,and graves were even dug ahead of time, and quickly filled. It was a sad time of much mourning and great loss. Following is just one story of such loss, yet it serves to remind me that just "being present" is the greatest gift we can give to each other.
Marie
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July 2006
This blog will be a bit different as I am enclosing a letter I just wrote to a caregiver, a teacher and a bereaved mother from Sparrows Village, on the death of her son just hours ago.


Dear Gladys,
I am writing this to you as I sit with your son while awaiting the undertaker to come and take his body.

My heart is breaking for you and your loss. I pray you will feel God’s love and comfort in your soul and know the peace that only He can give at this time.

On Friday, as I walked down the hall of the hospice, I felt drawn to your sons bedside. When I found out he was your dear son, I understood why.

I spent time at his bedside on Friday and Saturday ,though I doubt he understood who I was, as his oxygen saturation was very low even with oxygen on.

He spoke to me in ½ English and ½ Zulu and smiled when I told him he looked just like you.He said in Zulu”I am tired of being in bed and want to sit outside in the sun”(translated by a caregiver). I ask Sister Ana but she said perhaps tomorrow,so I opened the curtains and let in the sunshine and he said”thank you”

At one point he reached up with his hand and cupped my face very tenderly. I smiled and did the same to him. He then said ”my sister”. I don,t know if he was referring to his sister or calling me” his sister”,but it was a “holy” moment.

Gladys, I don’t believe in putting my spiritual beliefs onto someone else, so the only thing I said to him was “God loves you, so rest peacefully”

Last night I ask Sister if she would have someone knock on the door if he became worse(I now live in the motor home), but I guess she was unable to as I did not hear of his death until this morning.I do not blame Sister for not waking me but I do blame myself for not sitting with him through the night. I have ask God’s forgiveness, your sons forgiveness and I also ask yours.

As soon as I heard I went to his bedside and prayed for him until they came for his body. Corine, also, came in while I was there and said a prayer.

. I wish I had a lot of money, but perhaps this small amount will help you. You have been so kind, gracious, and helpful to me from the first day I arrived from America and I am very grateful.

May the Lord bless you and comfort you and give you peace.

Marie McGee


I also had the opportunity to spend quality time with a 9 yr. old named Abigail, who is in isolation as the (hopefully) last chicken pox victim. She is in a room all by herself and these children are never alone, so she is feeling very isolated, indeed. So, I brought her some books and we spent happy times reading about Indians and Lady and the tramp etc. I've been blessed by her gentle spirit.