On March 15, Janet Mkandla died.  She was only 16 years old.
But, Janet's death was not the only tragedy.

Janet Mkandla

Dear Friend,

Thank you so much for supporting ROCK of Africa Mission.  Without your support we could feel overwhelmed -- especially in difficult times like this.

We just received the sad news that Janet Mkandla died in a rural Zimbabwe village.  Because her family could not afford a coffin, Janet's body was simply wrapped in reeds and buried in an unmarked grave in a remote burial area of the Zimbabwe 'bush.' 

She was just 16 years old and in her junior year of high school.  She had so much of life ahead.  Such a beautiful girl with such a sad and tragic ending.

As heartbreaking as Janet's death is, it is not the only tragedy for her family. Janet's story is far more sad, but all too typical of  life in this region.

Janet was born in 1995 to Thando and Mavis Mkandla.  I first met Janet in 2002, when she was only six.   It is important that I first say, we do not know an official cause of Janet's death. There are no autopsies conducted in this area. 

But, we do know the difficulties people face in this region. Janet lived in an area where life can be very harsh and HIV/AIDS infection rates have been estimated as high as 85-90%.  More than 80% of people in these rural regions remain untested for the HIV virus.  It is a silent and insidious killer.

2008 was a particularly difficult year in this region as food was very scarce.  Many women turned to desperate measures to feed their families.  In 2009, Mavis, Janet's mother, became sick and in January 2010, Mavis died.  Thando did his best to raise his daughter, but he was also sick.  In May 2010, just five months after the death of her mother, Janet's father also died. 

As is the custom, Janet went to live with her closest relative, her uncle, Martin.  In the fall of 2011, both Martin and Janet became quite sick.  Martin's health quickly declined and last December he died.  Now less than 4 months later, Janet is the final tragedy. 

Was HIV the cause of this entire tragedy?  We honestly do not know for certain.  However, this is a region of Africa where hope runs thin and life is very hard.

It is so important we continue to help people facing such difficulty.  It is so important you continue to support ROCK of Africa Mission with your prayer and financial gifts.

Thank you for caring about people like Janet and helping ROCK of Africa deliver food, mosquito nets, medicine, Bibles, education, and much more.  Thank you for helping ROCK of Africa deliver HOPE to Africa.

Please use this link to give to ROCK of Africa Mission.

The generous will prosper; those who help others will themselves be helped.  Proverbs 11:25

See videos from our outreaches and Dennis Prager's radio broadcast featuring ROCK of Africa on the ROCK of Africa website.

www.ROCKofAfrica.org

"Sympathy is no substitute for action." - Dr. David Livingstone