BARAKA MEANS BLESSING
A report from Michael and Jean Burke with Simon, David and Matthew in Tanzania
May 20, 2001

Dear friends,

Many Greetings!

I was sitting on a bench outside the social worker's office at the local government hospital waiting to see my colleague. A group started to move through the corridor, quietly and purposively. In the middle I saw a stretcher, so I started to think this patient had a lot of caring relatives. Then I saw that the person on the stretcher was completely covered in a sheet. Now the group's size was explained - they were carrying the body of their relative or friend. The group was mainly women, wearing the traditional Khangas (versatile colourfully decorated square pieces of cloth which can be skirt, top, baby sling, wrap and head-covering). Their heads were covered, as is appropriate for mourners. In Tanzania, death is a common, visible public event with clear guidelines for mourning.

The killers:

Malaria is the number one disease in Tanzania, killing the most people. This recent season has been particularly bad. It rained almost solidly for 2 months, which flooded many crops, and the drought-resistant ones planted were destroyed by a plague of grasshoppers. So harvests will be inadequate. The mosquitoes thrived and increased the spread of malaria. In some areas bed-net programmes have been very successful. The social marketing strategy advertises the bednet as the same price as a hospital admission to treat malaria and chemicals to treat the net as the price of a soda drink. Resistance to drugs is increasing. Chloroquine is not being sold in Kenya any more as it's only 50% effective. In Tanzania chloroquine continues to be sold while stocks last.

Being the stench of death

A friend shook my hand as he went out of the church and said "Thanks for the aromatic sermon". I had just preached on 2 Corinthians 2: 15-16 "We are like a sweet-smelling incense offered by Christ to God, which spreads among those who are being lost. For those who are being lost, it is a deadly stench that kills; but for those who are being saved, it is a fragrance that brings life. Who then is capable for the task?" One man, one message, one smell, the aroma of Christ; but two reactions - for some the beautiful fragrance of life, to others the stench of death. True Christian ministry will not please all the people all of the time. If a person hears the good news of the gospel from you and comes to know Jesus, they have smelt in you the fragrance of eternal life. But if they reject Jesus they have smelt you as the stench of death. A ministry that tries to be a beautiful aroma but is not prepared to bear the cost of being the stench of death will be weak, worthless and will affect no one.

But who wants to be the stench of death to others? It is very unpleasant having to give people bad news. A few weeks ago I was rung by the relative of a friend whose husband had died suddenly in Dumila (near Berega). This man's family live in Dodoma and I know where they live. There was no one else to go and tell them. It had to be me. I asked "You want me to tell the mother that her son has died?" The relative said "Tell the brother first and then he can tell the mother", which was marginally better. It was horrible visiting them. They suspected something was wrong. But I had to wait for the brother to come. Then he told his mother and sisters. But I think for them now I have that stench of death about me. I also had to tell them their beloved relative was already buried - he had died so quickly the government clinic suspected cholera. I told them out of love. If I hadn't done it, it would have been another day or two until they would have known. Personally I would like to avoid being the stench of death. It is only the power of love that can push me to be that.

AIDS invites other diseases in

I was determined to try to write this prayer letter without mentioning AIDS just in case you were tired of hearing about it. I have failed. I managed last time but even education is affected by the increasing losses of teachers due to AIDS. When we ask youth whom they know or suspect has HIV or AIDS, they all have mentioned teachers they knew. Any topic we pick: women, youth, the church, education, children is touched by HIV and AIDS. This disease and issues related to it permeates Tanzania and silently affects every other area. In fact no one officially dies of AIDS, but they die of TB, pneumonia, malaria, diarrhoea, dehydration. The HIV virus lowers immunity and allows these other diseases to enter and kill. We are now starting to lose count of the people we have known, who have died of an HIV-related illness. Infant mortality has risen significantly due to AIDS.

It has been great to hear the news that generic Antiretroviral drugs are now able to be bought and produced in South Africa and brand name drugs will be sold at reduced prices. In Tanzania, unfortunately this is only good news for a few. For others it is as out of reach as being told "Let them eat cake" when they are starving for bread. Too many of the people we know living with HIV do not have enough to eat, or do not have a balanced diet. Often they are widows or are abandoned. If they had a job, they usually lost it when their employers found out they were HIV+. They struggle to find money to treat their malaria or fungal infections. They struggle to get money for school fees for their children. One said recently it's very upsetting when we get medicine for free and we are told to take it 3 times a day with meals, and it just reminds us we don't have enough food to eat 3 times a day. A more feasible and cheaper alternative than using antiretrovirals, which extend life, is to use an antibiotic as a prophylaxis (Septrin), which prevents opportunistic infections. This has made a large contribution in other countries.

The link between HIV and death seems obvious, yet as we educate we must be careful to differentiate between HIV virus and AIDS. People living with HIV may live more than 10 years after first infection. Some, on first hearing they are infected despair and wait for death. Others, with support of their families learn to live with hope, to take care of their immunity and emotional health. One colleague, George Ikongo, who has HIV, has been tireless in educating others about HIV and AIDS and giving his testimony of God's plan and love for all. As he has become sicker he has requested we take videos of his speeches so that his testimony can continue to be heard. It is incredible what one man can do! God has empowered him for this work. We hope others will follow his example in breaking the silence.

PRAY! PLEASE! PRAISE!

Pray for the conference to be held in July for all Anglican pastors in Tanzania. Peter Dawson will be a guest speaker. It is hoped conference resolutions will address key social issues such as access to education. One of the days will address AIDS issues.

Pray for funding and suitable appointments to the Provincial office for workers in the areas of Gender, HIV and Health Advocacy. This would greatly help with Michael's workload and travel commitments.

Pray for the initiatives Michael is involved in: a Health Consumers Association, and Interfaith Alliance on HIV and AIDS, roadshows on HIV for youth collaborating with Africa Alive!

Pray for Jean's work with the AIDS Control Programme. We thank God for help we have received to be able to continue to give free treatment to People Living with AIDS.

We appreciate and depend on all your support and prayers, Jean, Michael, Simon, David and Matthew

Please support our work with the Anglican Church of Tanzania by supporting CMS prayerfully and financially. There is a tax-deductible overseas aid fund. Contact John Menear for offers of service. You can ring 9267 3711 to become a member or email nsw@cms.org.au for more information.

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