An update we received from a Mosotho (person from Lesotho, singular) who is working with Help Lesotho. It will give yuo a better idea of what we're up against, in terms of HIV infection rates. Heart-wrenching, to say the least...Joel and I will be living working with the people in Mahlekefane. *** "A lot has happened on this trip, more than I can say yet I'll do my best to describe it to you. Peter and Peggy [Help Lesotho volunteers] went ahead of me to 'Mamohau on Monday 20th. I made my way on the 22nd and joined them to Mahlekefane. As we sat at the Lejone taxi rank waiting for the 4*4 to fill up (which took 4 hours). Peggy starting relating to me their experience both at the school and the Hospital. She mentioned that they had met with a group of government employees up at the hospital who had just conducted an HIV/AIDS workshop for 60 women and girls in a near-by village. She said one of the facilitators said after all the presentations they urged the women to do voluntary testing right there and then. 31 of them consented and took the test. The other 29 were too frightened to be a part of this. The woman told Peggy that of the 31 that were tested, 29 were HIV+. I literally almost choked at the mention of the numbers. I thought- that cannot be true, this nation would have to be at the brink of extinction if that were the case. Unless those facilitators were playing some sick joke or trying to impress the whites with the numbers in an attempt to secure sympathy and thus donations, this was an appalling, heart-wrenching situation Peg. I have to pause from time to time as I write this letter to you because I still haven't recovered from the shock of the events I've just been through. I must say, for the first time since joining the Help Lesotho Team, I felt like we were facing a Goliath that cannot be defeated and that goes with a sense of helplessness I can't describe. We went on to Mahlekefane and got there very late. 'M'e Ratia [principal of the school] was a darling and she welcomed us with an open heart and prepared a hearty meal for the three of us. We ate and went to bed. The sleeping quarters were very pleasant and all in all, the generosity was almost embarrassing; but being a Mosotho, I understood how important it was for us to receive with gratitude every kindness extended to us. Peter and Peggy blend well and were just great. The following day, the 23rd, there was a huge public gathering called by the Chief. It was amazing Peg! The kids from the school sang and the women did traditional dances. Peter and Peggy did their presentations and I did mine. I was still shaken from the information I had gotten from Peggy the previous day, so I came down on them like a tonne of bricks about HIV/AIDS. Picture this Peg, A young girl, wearing a pair of tight jeans in rural Lesotho, who, by just looking at her you see a total misfit; the same girl stands before this very conservative group of elderly people and is talking explicitly, unapologetically about sex and sexuality. At first, they were not impressed with my choice of words. I'm sure they perceived me as disrespectful and a lose canyon. But I really didn't care how they saw me. In the face of this disease, I don't think there is room for apologies and all the cultural excuses we always make when we want to avoid reality. I was driven by compassion and anger to talk the way I did. Anyway, I ended up getting a very loud round of applause from the very crowd that was initially a bit hostile. I hope they will change their attitude though.