Saturday 6-12-08 Siteki

Yebo,
I have finally been able to find internet access after multiple attempts. So my lack of keeping in touch has not been for lack of trying. I had my first two days doing home visits. I truly do not know where to begin. The depth of the poverty and suffering is truly overwhelming. Once you think that you have seen the saddest situation ever you move on to the next homestead. We drive around in a white truck with seats in front in back. There are 5 of us going on visits, they have allowed David to come along for the first couple of weeks to assess the needs of rural Swazis in person. That has been a great comfort to me. In the pickup part of the truck we bring medications and a few supplies, food...which consists of soya and corn meal, some milk that spoils quickly but the people are happy to have the curdled milk, some beans and that is basically it. Unfortunately, we always run short on the food before the day is finished. We bring enough for about 15 famalies or so but could use many many more food packs. Eightly percent of the patients we see have HIV/AIDS and 50% of them have TB, it is really bleak. It is not uncommon to see a homestead that is run by a 16 year old girl with AIDS, caring for several children (some her own, others who are orphans) usually the mother has already died and if the father is alive he usually abandons the family. Young orphans line the road when they see the truck looking for any available food, most often they have to settle for a smile and a Swazi greeting.
It is quite hot all day with the sun overhead as we travel across the rocky soil and hills. There is no water to speak of, we must 'wash' our hands with sanitizer and hope that it does some good. The homesteads vary from one to another, most are made of sticks, rocks and mud, it really is quite shocking. I am nearly out of time for the internet, they have decided to close early today.
David and I are now living at the Deaf School which is two kilometers from the town and the same to Good Shepherd Hospital. We do lots of walking. We have no hot water and often no water at all, it has been out for the past two days. I should not complain given that we have food and shelter.
Hope you are all well. Missing you madly.
Peace,
Scott