Give a child love, laughter and peace, not AIDS.
-Nelson Mandela
I bet you didn’t know that I had a member of my family who died from AIDS related pneumonia.Well, nor did I until i was about 15. I was watching my great grandmother getting sicker and getting ready to be with Jesus, when she said something I will never forget. “I get to be with my Baby boys again, Ive missed them so much. I’ve missed them. A mother should never have to plan a funeral for her son.” My grandpa had died when i was 6 of a heart attack, My great Uncle Denny had taken his own life. and a baby Eddie that died too soon. But when it came to my Uncle Larry my mom always been told that he just had been really sick and that him and my papa didn’t get on for most of her life, until right before Larry passed. But It wasn’t until I asked her more detailed questions did I find out he was sick from.
HIV/AIDS had always been something that i thought was something that was an unfortunate thing that happened to people in Africa and it was an epidemic that swept through the gay community in the 80’s, and that Magic Johnson got it from sleeping with a bunch of women. That was really all I knew. I knew that It was still a big deal, but it didn’t have a face for me. I grew up loving Magic Johnson but thinking “well, how did he get it from women?” As open and honest as my mom has always been, This was something that would take the next few years to fully understand.
When My mom told me that my uncle Larry was gay and that he had died from AIDS related pneumonia, something in me felt so much compassion for him to know that not only had he been rejected by my grandpa (his brother) but that he suffered with the stigma of being a gay man with Aids in the 80’s. From that point on I felt so much love for those suffering from HIV/AIDS. From those in Africa or in Queens, New york. This disease Does NOT favor one life over another. ANY ONE and I mean ANYONE can get this Disease. So for those who believe that a loving and merciful God would do this to the very beings that He created in his image is mind-boggaling to me.
As a follower of Jesus I was given a commandment to “Love God and to Love others”(Matt 22:37-40) to take care of the poor and the needy… Jesus Said…
35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Matt 25:35-40)
As Christian it is not our job to say who gets saved and who doesn’t (cause Lets be real for a min… you and I both would not have been God’s first choice…BUT and a big But…I believe that he was thinking of me and you and all to come when he died.) who gets to enter into the kingdom and who doesn’t. thats Gods job.
“It is the Holy Spirit’s job to convict, God’s job to judge and my job to love.”
– Billy Graham
regardless of your faith or lack there of one thing that we can all learn to do better is Love. loving people with no strings. loving them for no reason other then to just love them with our whole hearts. I can have all the faith in the world and move mountains and preach the good news, but if I do all of this with out love… I have NOTHING.
I wish that I would have known my uncle Larry. I wish that I could tell him how much his love of others and all of the rejection he faced in life was forgotten. That the sort of person he was and the things he did or did not do did not define his salvation. But that God did, and he knew this. My Great Aunt told me about how much she loved him (when I went to visit her and my uncle Bo when I was in college). My Aunt loved Jesus more then any human I have ever known. Her spiritual life is one that I strive to even have half of. She also said with the utmost confidence that she WOULD see him again. I was again struck with love. It is our Job as Christ followers to show that love and to be kind for no reason at all.
as I learned about HIV/AIDS there is one common denominator…lack of education. most of the time in 3rd world countries they don’t have the hygiene or the health standards of those of us in 1st world countries. My heart is to surge those whom no one want to. those who have been marked by this killer. To be love and to be the only bible that people may ever read. Im not perfect, the only thing perfect about me is the love that I receive in God. This is where my heart is to stop the cycle to educate and to love.
AND FINALLY….Why Asia? Why not Asia? Human trafficking and Sex tourism is making the numbers of STD’s, HIV and AIDS rise. If you have a heart for Stopping Human Trafficking and Sex Tourism then your heart falls in line with the fight against HIV/AIDS.
On the next 11 months I have the opportunity to get involved and spread the love and care for those in need. As I humble myself and ask for you support know that my heart is in the most vulnerable places it can be right now. letting you into the past and my families privet life. One thing I learned from my time with my Aunt was that It matters who you love because it maybe the only love they get.
If you would like to help support me
If you would like to help me get my Gear
*Please remember that ALL donations are tax deductible*
Namaskar
-Austynsheree
