The kids do not necessarily have AIDS, as in the case of these four, however their Mother died due to complications arising from the AIDS virus, and these four were found begging for
food at the fence of a neighbor’s farm, their ages were 4, 7, 10, and 12 at the time.
The Hoatson’s took them in for nine months (a time period that was quite lively as the kids had never lived in a house with electricity, nor seen a toilet) while a house was built and a couple was found to be the foster parents.
When I visited in January ’06, and shot these photo’s, the kids have been in school for 2 1/2 years, with the oldest already doing Third Grade school work.
Bruce & Ingrid Hoatson are known in the area for being generous, and started helping the local kids in S. Africa many years ago. This current project is the most ambitious as they so far have funded the building of the houses and church with their own money, labor, and land.
All this after raising six kids of their own to college age, and then adopting 5 more kids since 1999, who are now between the ages of 4 and 12…plus helping the kids you see here find new foster parents. If you would like to help, please e-mail- gil_williams@mac.com
