Operation World is a book that takes the reader—rather, the pray-er—to different countries in the world throughout the year.  It’s a very helpful text, filled with information which gives the pray-er lots of things to pray for in each of the various countries.

            Today and tomorrow, the book takes us to South Africa.  I was stunned when I read some of the HIV/AIDS stats.  They’re a bit dated, so I went online for more recent figures.  Here they are:

The most current estimate is that 5.5 million people are living with HIV, which represents about 12 percent of the population.

One in four people age 15 to 49 years is infected with HIV.

Over 1,700 AIDS related deaths each day.

Currently it is estimated that there are 600,000 orphaned children as a result of AIDS.

A survey done in 2004 reported that South African citizens spend more time at funerals than weddings, haircuts, or grocery shopping.

That's not all.  In the 1990's, there were 200,000 murders.

Perhaps you could join me today and tomorrow in praying for the people of South Africa.