For when mom dies – a Legacy Book
44% of the adults who are left alive in Swaziland have HIV. What do you do with their children when they go? What do you do to console them, to let them know they’re still loved, that they’re special?Morgan Mckeown was one of the first AIM people into Nsoko, Swaziland. The children of Nsoko continue to haunt her dreams – she has taken them into her heart. Morgan continues to ask God, “What do we do for them?” And the good news is, he’s given her some great ideas.
The video below shows you one of the best ones I’ve seen – a ministry called Legacy Books. The idea is that when a mom or a dad learns that they have AIDS, we help them compile a book of memories to leave with their children after they die. It’s such a simple thing, but it can mean the world to a child who’s left to wonder, “what was mom really like?”
When Morgan’s team presented the books, the women receiving them were beaming as they read their story and saw their picture in a book. Many of them don’t have any pictures at home – they laughed as they looked at themselves.
Their stories are heartbreaking. Like Nomsa Gina who lost both of her parents when she was very young and had to live with her grandmother. Her brother was the only one taking care of her and he committed suicide when she was 15. Her grandmother then passed away a year later and by the ago of 16 she was left completely alone. She had her first child three years later and when he was one year old, his father took him and she has not seen him since.
Many of them didn’t know where they were born, their parents had died at a young age, had at least one child who had died, and they felt like they didn’t have hope. Their life dreams were simple, to live to see their grandchildren, and for their kids to go to school.
But now, they are starting a legacy.
A Legacy Book costs about $30 to compile. If you’d like to help a mom or dad give one to their children, click here and add a note “Legacy Books.” And check out the following video.
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This is a brilliant idea. I have been writing one of these on and off all through my son’s life in case he was still young when I died. Special days, ordinary days, just here and there – highlights of our life. Something to tell him I loved him if I can’t tell him myself. So very important in the heartbreaking circumstances you describe and a treasure for those children in the future. Great initiative. May God bless it.
that was absolute an most amazing video. Thank you for the work you are doing. Swaziland will turn into a first world country where every household needs are met, where children will grow up in a warm, caring and loving family and we’ll do away with the label that this is Africa and will struggle against poverty forever.
Thank you once again. It sounds a strange thing to ask but the music was fantastic. Who was that, who played it?
Stay Blessed
Leo Baan. In response to the question about the music we used to create the film:
The band is called “This Will Destroy You”(the name is extremely misleading).
Title of the song is titled ” The Mighty Rio Grande”
Well worth looking into.
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Jeremiah Young
Bloom Projects Intl, Inc (A Non-Profit Company)
Bloom Clothing Intl
http://www.bloomclothing-intl.com