I
was getting off the plane, praising our God of all creation, just gazing at the
beauty of the flat green plain of the Gabarone, The trip began with Pastor Patrick Bossio, Sr. accompanying me to Capetown, S. Africa, where we met with Pastor Ian Murray, who then arranged for us to see the work of Pastor Simon Mulosa in Botswana. I thought our mission was to minister the Word of God and see Him work there; but God had a very different plan for me. As we boarded sister Gypsy Mulosa's van and left the airport, I sat in the rear, gazing out the window, very amazed that I was on the edge of the Kabahair desert, and only half listening to the conversation going on in the front seat. Suddenly my attention was captured when a cemetery with rows of fresh graves passed by my window. "How strange," I thought to see that many fresh graves; there's been no war, riot or famine ... why all these graves"? Then I recalled; this country is dealing with the AIDS epidemic. These graves must be the result of the AIDS plague. My heart was deeply saddened at the horror of this realization. Very soon, we arrived a the home of Ruth Kqoroba. Her husband is the minister of education and she offered to house us. Ruth wasn't home, but arrived shortly after we settled in. She began to explain her background; she was a nurse and was doing home care for the AIDS victims. My spirit quickened as I saw God's carefully constructed purpose begin to unfold! You see, I too, am a nurse and do home care, as well as minister the gospel. Now on the alert, I asked her to explain what was going on in the country. As she gave her account, I could see her heavy heart and asked her, "What can I do to help"? She replied, "Please send us Ensure." I thought her request strange, so I asked her to repeat it. She did and then explained that the value of Ensure, the nutritional supplement, actually strengthens the immune system of the individual. AIDS is the Acquired Immune Deficiency syndrome. When given Ensure, the AIDS patient is able to hold off the diseases' effects, and both quantity and quality of life is improved. I told her I would knock on doors when I got home and would certainly send some Ensure. Ruth then gave me her address and we took a picture to memorialize the moment. It most certainly was a DA (Divine Appointment). After arriving home, I went to talk to a newspaper reporter I knew from our local paper. She had done a story about me winning $10,000 in a McDonald's Smile Contest, and some other stories about my dual role as pastor and nurse. I told her my story and asked her to do an article about AIDS in Africa. She did the story and put it on the front page and our community began to rally. The local high school gave $1300 from the foreign club, another school district sent, 3500 fliers home with their elementary children and other donations were given. The miracle has continued for three years. Many people have been involved and someday, I will tell the full story. The total sent so far is 36,000 lbs. or 18 tons of liquid nutrition in nine shipments; four to S. Africa and five to Botswana. I have received letters and pictures from the churches that distribute the liquid nutrition. They tell me they have to ration it, and that people cry for their "treatment." Many of the AIDS victims go undiagnosed, and do not have access to medication. I am grateful to World Medical Relief here in Detroit. They collect surplus medical supplies and send them out internationally. They have agreed to give me the liquid nutrition they collect. This program has two goals; first, to help the AIDS victims of Africa; second, to educate America with motivation to action. I have spoken to groups and have been featured in newspaper articles and television shows. I am continuing to keep my promise to knock on doors. I hope you feel the gentle knocking on the door of your heart. Don't say, "it is a terrible problem, oh my" and just walk away. You can help make a difference. The appeal I am making is simple; knock on doors with me. Let people know about the problem and explain what we are doing. You can start a "can drive" at your church, school or group. You can help collect finances for shipping and to purchase product. Please pray for the sick and dying and for me to follow God's plan. I believe God wants us to help the Africans from Cape Town to Cairo. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to read about this tragic human suffering. Remember... YOU TOO CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! I look forward to hearing from you.
Pastor Frank Julian
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