Abstinence in midst of pressure is possible, African teens learn

MMAMETLHAKE, South Africa (BP) - A scream escapes from the front row of the auditorium as middle schoolers frantically knock over chairs and try to escape the man dressed in all black and a scary mask.

Mr. AIDS has arrived!

He's made his appearance in most of the children's lives already. They watch their brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, mothers and fathers suffer and die from AIDS. However, this is the first time they can actually ask Mr. AIDS questions.

One timid student asks if there's a cure for AIDS.

"No!" hisses Mr. AIDS. "Once I come into your life ... you die!"

Sue SprenkleInternational Mission Board

Hope in the cross - A survey published in March 2004 showed that South Africans spend more time at funerals than they do doing many daily chores. It found that more than twice as many people had been to a funeral in the past month than had been to a wedding. It is estimated that about 600 people in South Africa die of HIV-related illnesses each day.

The masked man is part of a True Love Waits presentation sponsored by the Mmametlhake Family Care-Centre in South Africa. The group of young adults presents skits, talks about HIV and answers questions as a way to promote awareness. In a country where condoms are the most common form of disease prevention, these volunteers preach abstinence.

Peter Letswalo says the volunteers present their abstinence message at middle schools, elementary schools, churches and community events. More than 5,788 have attended the TLW rallies. To date, more than 2,592 students and young adults have signed commitment cards. This team even sent 514 commitment cards for display at the Athens Olympics.

The volunteers are excited about how well the biblical message is being received in a variety of venues.

"There is such peer pressure to have sex - even as a middle schooler. Girls feel like they have to get pregnant out of wedlock just to prove to future husbands that they can have babies," Letswalo says. "If we can reach them before they get backed into this corner and let them know they have a choice, then the program has succeeded."