Gearing up for Malawi

I'm headed to Malawi in about six weeks. I got all my shots and I'm good to go. I've been reading a lot about the AIDS pandemic there, and have learned that one in six people in the country has HIV/AIDS. And those without the virus are still affected by it from the death of friends or family members; more than likely, several of both. I can't imagine living in those conditions. But there is hope.

We must do more than just feel pity for these innocent victims. We need to make a concerted effort to provide food, clean water and life-sustaining medicine. These children did not ask to be born with the virus. Many of the women there are faced with two choices: 1) go without work, money, and food for their children, or 2) prostitute themselves, running the risk of contracting HIV, to get money for food. Not much of a choice is it?