Crossroads is Going to South Africa!
Africa slideshow:
Click Africa slideshow (large hi-res) OR Africa slideshow (lower-res)
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We are a team of 29 people who long to serve the Lord by following His lead to Africa. We are headed to Lesotho (pronounced “Le- Sue- tue”). This small country has a population of 1.8 million and is surrounded by the country of South Africa. It is the only country in the world that is landlocked by only one other country. It is inhabited by the Basotho (Ba-sue-tue) people who have been severely afflicted by the AIDS virus, HIV.
Lesotho has been devastated by AIDS. The HIV infection rate is one of the highest in the world at 29%. It is predicted to rise to 36% in the next 15 years. Currently, the population of 1.8 million is comprised of a large majority of young people and old people. The middle generation has virtually been wiped out by this deadly virus.
The most recent estimate of life expectancy is 37 years old. Many children are orphaned at a young age, and a large majority of these orphans are HIV positive. At the current rate of HIV infection, it is predicted that the entire population of Basotho people will be dead by the year 2020. That’s less than 12 years from now.
Sad outlook isn’t it? Yet we have the opportunity to go love on these people and share our Godís unending love. We feel so blessed to be on this team and to have this chance to experience being used by God. Thank you for being a part of our team through financial and prayer support. We wouldn’t be on this team if it weren’t for you — our extended team!