Thobeka’s Story
“Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink . . . or naked and clothe you . . . or sick or in prison and visit you?” And the King will answer them, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers or sisters, you did it to me.” Matthew 25:37-40 (esv)
The AIDS pandemic continues to sweep through South Africa, the country with the highest number of infected adults and children in the world, 5.7 million. The South African government estimated that between 1.4 and 1.9 million children younger than eighteen were orphaned by AIDS in 2008. Thobeka, a twelve-year-old Zulu girl, was one of them. In fact she lost every member of her family except for her aging grandmother.
Desperately poor with no source of income, her grandmother began selling Thobeka’s services as a prostitute. By the age of thirteen Thobeka had contracted HIV. Her health quickly declined. But God was watching over her. She was taken to a safe house sponsored by Tabitha Ministries in her home village.
In spite of the loving care she received there, Thobeka became weaker and sicker. The ministry worker took her to the government hospital. There she was treated for tuberculosis, pneumonia, and AIDS. When she was released from the hospital she was taken to the Hope Center, the care facility of Tabitha Ministries, where she received proper nutrition, rest, and loving care. The Tabitha doctor quickly put her on the fast track for antiretroviral medications.
Through the love and care of the women of Tabitha, Thobeka slowly regained her health. Today, she is once more living in the safe house in her community and is attending school. She is slowly healing emotionally. Local believers whose calling is to minister to the “least of these” continue to share the love of Jesus with Thobeka.
Dear Savior, thank You for rescuing Thobeka. May she soon become Your daughter and a bright light penetrating the darkness of her school and her community. Father, bring a powerful spiritual awakening to South Africa, one that results in holy lifestyles to stop the AIDS pandemic. Enable Your people in South Africa to be faithful witnesses who share the good news with every African people group. Amen.