Partners in Missions
Vern and Belva Tisdalle

"Africa...Operation Whole"
Box 612, Randpark Ridge, 2156, RSA
Fax: 27-11-794-4639
lahoma@iafrica.com

June 1996 Update:

'Africa...Operation Whole' has just completed 47 public schools with 53,000 students (grades K-12) in AIDS Awareness/Prevention Education in Soweto. The response has just been outstanding. Let us give you an example.

In one High School of over 2000 students (grades 9-12) the principal was having difficulty with student violence, and felt there would be no control if we were to come. There had been some shooting incidences in the preceeding days with students experiencing difficulties in certain circles. However, the way was opened up whereby we finally were able to go to that school. In the first class of matric students (grade 12) the students came in edgy and appeared to be disinterested. Within about 5 minutes, silence broke into the room with over 500 crammed into a class, where students listened with exceptional attention for 1 1/2 hours to the fact that "each one of them are special; no one is without a definite purpose in life. To lose 1 student to a premature death from AIDS would be an immeasurable loss. No one has to die from AIDS...acquiring AIDS for the most part is a CHOICE...each student is empowered to make quality CHOICES about his/her lift style and habits that expose one to HIV infection." Following that presentation, over 100 students came forward wanting to talk further about AIDS and requested special prayer that they would make quality life choices to save themselves until marriage for their sexual expressions. It was a very moving response to say the least.

We now are strategically planning for the follow-up in these schools, before we proceed on to Soweto Stage II of AIDS Awareness. By request of the school principals, we will aim for 3 major follow-up areas:

  1. Training teachers, principals and guidance counselors. Workshops are being planned whereby we will demonstrate hands-on to teachers how to teach an ABSTINENCE-UNTIL-MARRIED based curriculum to the students, in age and culturally acceptable ways. This will necessitate writing curriculum. If any one has curriculum ideas or material from which we can glean, please mail it to:

    Rev. Vern Tisdalle
    Africa...Operation Whole
    Box 612 Randpark Ridge, 2156 RSA
    (please put on customs declaration: AIDS resource materials ONLY, NCV)

  2. Once the trainers are trained, conducting parent workshops on "How To Raise Moral Children in the 21st Century". Curriculum from "Growing Kids God's Way" by Gary Ezzo, will be our basic tool here along with our AIDS Awareness presentation materials.

  3. Student on-campus pre-testing counseling, student HIV testing, post-testing counseling and a Christian based weekly on-campus youth gospel rally with contemporary Christian music, gospel preaching and discipleship will be the plan.

We leave this week for a leadership AIDS Awareness training workshop in Zambia, in preparation for a major '97 thrust in Zambia's public school system with AIDS Awareness. We will then come back to Harare (Zimbabwe's capital city) for a 2 day, city-wide AIDS Awareness crusade in the largest hall. One of the Zambian pastors will co-preach with Vern in this major thrust. We expect a great response from the general public as well as many local churches in this outreach.

Thank you for praying for these endeavors. God certainly has a heart to save this generation from being wiped out from the devastating disease of AIDS. Thank you for your prayerful support in one of the greatest opportunities the Church has ever had....to be front-line MINISTERS in the midst of a human tragedy, that we can help to STOP!

God bless you.
Vern & Belva Tisdalle
Africa...Operation Whole

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