AIDS and a Little Girl

Here at the local AIDS clinic I wait to enroll 11 year old Joninia into their program. I just saw the test result, positive. Uncontrollable tears flowed freely. Joninia’s eyes were wet with deep sorrow. She understood some but I don’t think all of the ramifications were grasped.
Joninia came to our home 2 years ago as stubborn and rebellious as a rock. She has demons and a times the win the battle for her soul. I loved her freely, hugging her was like hugging a tree.
We have lost count of the times she has run away. Everytime she runs she steals things from the other girls. It is tiring for them but every time she returns they welcome her with understanding and love. This last time she was gone a long time. We did not go after her as we had the other times hoping she would choose on her own to come home. She came, covered with scabies and bleeding after a miscarriage.
Both of her parents were witch doctors; evil people do not show proper affection to children. She had never been hugged or shown any kind of tenderness – only strife and cruelty.
I held her; I told her that I would take care of her. God has a plan for her.
She stands next to me singing praise to God. When I look at her she smiles at me. She has hope.
On the other side of me is a young woman, frail with AIDS, no shoes, supporting what little weight she has with a stick. She can not smile. There is no hope in her eyes. What has happened to the plan God had for her life?
The girls back home have seen and now it will hit them hard that the world outside our home is harsh. We had another girl named Dominga. She too, tested positive. She kept running away. She came to visit some times but stayed away. The last time we saw her she was very sick. We have not seen her for a long time now and I suspect that she is dead. She was a precious lamb. I am sure she is with the Great Shepherd.