Friday, October 12, 2012
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
special letters ~ meet Yvonne
When I was in Zimbabwe last month I asked every one of the children to write a letter to their future sponsor, of course with the hope and prayers that each one of them will indeed have sponsors. Below is one of those letters... it is actually only page 1 of 2 pages but I am having trouble with my computer today and cannot manage to save page 2 as a jpg file. Just wanted you to see a sample of a heart and soul living in an orphanage in Zim...this represents a child waiting for you to journey alongside him or her.
Yvonne and all of the others will need 3 sponsors each to cover their needs for school fees, food, housing and other basic essentials.
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Yvonne is an amazing, outgoing, joyful girl! I love this cute little smirk on her face!
Our sponsorship program will be live soon and available through our website, but if you are interested in signing up to sponsor a child now you may contact me at melissa@beautifulfeetgo.org. Each child needs 3 sponsors at $25, $30 & $35 per month. You are welcome to combine 2 amounts or cover all three. We have divided it up into these amounts to make it easier for more people to participate.
God bless!
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Look Who's Giddy
I returned back to the States from my 6th trip to Zimbabwe 20 days ago. As you may recall, one of the BFGO Board Members went with me this time. Together, with all of the children, we had an amazing experience. Many of you generously contributed to a fund that made it possible for us to take the kids on a 3 day retreat. Those three days were packed with ministry, high-energy playtime and 3 big beautiful meals per day. Our ministry teachings were focused on the life of Joseph, although we also explored prosperity from a biblical perspective. It was such a beautiful retreat and we are so thankful to each and every one of you who made it possible through prayer and giving.
It's difficult not to just completely gush over these beautiful smiles. Joy amidst their trials doesn't make sense. I've had people state to me before that the children "look like" they are great and don't need anything. I'll be honest... that bugs me. Joy isn't an indicator that "life" is good. Joy is an indicator that Jesus is good. These children are filled with the hope of Christ.... more than any other children I have ever met. They sleep because they believe that they rest in the palm of His hands. They hope for tomorrow because He has promised to not forsake them. They love with abandon because they are able to rejoice that Christ sets the captives free. Oh yes, they have joy!
Michelle (BFGO Board Member) and I were able to have a wonderful, long and thorough meeting with the orphanage director and many of her staff to go over their monthly and annual budgets. Their very bare bones budget (barely scraping by) would be $10,000 per month. A better and more realistic budget is $12,000 per month... and even that doesn't take emergencies like truck repairs into account. As of right now, together with all funds coming in from various sources, they are trying to survive on $6,000 per month. Basically they rotate what they pay for because they cannot pay for everything. They are always behind on something...whether it is rents, school fees, utilities, salaries, etc. We want to be able to make up that shortfall.
The children are giddy! We shared the vision for the sponsorship program with them during the retreat. Each one of them has already written a letter to their future sponsors and they are so eager to be chosen... not just for the financial support but primarily for the relationships that can be formed via letters/photos over time. While I was there in Zim I received emails from two different people who had pledged so sponsor specific children. When we shared the news with them, those two children were celebrated in monumental ways. Their were roars and shouts and laughter and praises!!!!! It was overwhelming and so beautiful.
Beginning next week I will share some of those letters online. Please consider impacting the life of a child through sponsorship! Zimbabwe, financially, is the most depleted country on the entire continent of Africa. There is a 93% unemployment rate. 93%! This children need help, period. And it looks like we are the only ones trying. Help us make this dream a reality for them.
God Bless!
www.beautifulfeetgo.org
Thursday, August 23, 2012
connecting the dots
The latest blog post update can be read at www.bfgomelissa.com
Thank you!
~ melissa irwin
executive director
Thank you!
~ melissa irwin
executive director
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Retreat
Glory to you, O Lord. You are here.
We are now in our second day of the retreat that many of you helped us pay for. I knew beforehand that God would surprise us with His presence, but I never could have imagined to what degree. It feels like we showed up into His personal living room, welcomed with cups of tea, bowls of sugar and buckets of grace. It doesn't hurt that there is a flower blooming here that smells like it may have been transplanted from Heaven. Aroma. Joy in my nose.
Michelle has been made an official auntie. This took me 3 trips.. it took her 3 days. I love her anyway... what a blessing she is in this place, not only to the children but to me. We have been sharing in the leading and teachings. We've been studying the life of Joseph with the children. There may be nothing sweeter than to be reminded that at times in life we find ourselves in circumstances we never deserved, and yet, like Joseph, God is always with us. He can favor us in prisons or in palaces. He can have great plans for us in low rungs. Our destination is Heaven either way! Yes, Lord! And in my best Zim impersonation, I'm saying "praise Jesus, hey".
Last night we encountered a spider. And ants. Good times.
A sweet one came to me after a talk today and confessed that he/she doesn't feel any reason to live. The family situation has left a deep wound. Abandonment hurts. While we continue to pray for BFGO to be able to do good works among orphanages, can we please remember to pray for the tender hearts of the wounded?
We are beginning the work of collecting data for the Child Sponsorship Program. The children are eagerly writing letters for the sponsors they hope to have some day. I'm no longer praying and hoping for God to bring our sponsors for the children. I am thanking Him for what He has already prepared and planned. You guys... whoever you are... you are so lucky to have these children in your lives. If God would send me a windfall.... I'd sponsor them all and not share. But alas....
Thank you for catching up on our time here in Zim. It is so much more than I could ever write.
In His Love,
~ melissa irwin
executive director
We are now in our second day of the retreat that many of you helped us pay for. I knew beforehand that God would surprise us with His presence, but I never could have imagined to what degree. It feels like we showed up into His personal living room, welcomed with cups of tea, bowls of sugar and buckets of grace. It doesn't hurt that there is a flower blooming here that smells like it may have been transplanted from Heaven. Aroma. Joy in my nose.
Michelle has been made an official auntie. This took me 3 trips.. it took her 3 days. I love her anyway... what a blessing she is in this place, not only to the children but to me. We have been sharing in the leading and teachings. We've been studying the life of Joseph with the children. There may be nothing sweeter than to be reminded that at times in life we find ourselves in circumstances we never deserved, and yet, like Joseph, God is always with us. He can favor us in prisons or in palaces. He can have great plans for us in low rungs. Our destination is Heaven either way! Yes, Lord! And in my best Zim impersonation, I'm saying "praise Jesus, hey".
Last night we encountered a spider. And ants. Good times.
A sweet one came to me after a talk today and confessed that he/she doesn't feel any reason to live. The family situation has left a deep wound. Abandonment hurts. While we continue to pray for BFGO to be able to do good works among orphanages, can we please remember to pray for the tender hearts of the wounded?
We are beginning the work of collecting data for the Child Sponsorship Program. The children are eagerly writing letters for the sponsors they hope to have some day. I'm no longer praying and hoping for God to bring our sponsors for the children. I am thanking Him for what He has already prepared and planned. You guys... whoever you are... you are so lucky to have these children in your lives. If God would send me a windfall.... I'd sponsor them all and not share. But alas....
Thank you for catching up on our time here in Zim. It is so much more than I could ever write.
In His Love,
~ melissa irwin
executive director
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Zim Baby - part VI
You win some. You lose some. This time, we won.
The biggest challenge Michelle and I faced coming to Zim this time was with our luggage. We packed valuable and large items (office equipment) to gift to the orphanage organization to help with its management, organization and efficiency. Technically we carried too much. There is always a concern when flying the particular route that we flew (intentionally vague)... that items may be stolen when transferred from one plane to the next. For that reason, we had to carry our valuable items on our person. With that we were concerned about security and questioning. Bringing such things into the country can be frowned upon... and if authorities want to they can either confiscate or impose a hefty tax. We had prayed much in advance for all of these possible negative outcomes to be avoided. We did have 2 very close calls and I feel certain I made one enemy in transit...however, God graced us with amazing favor. For some reason, once we landed here, our bags were not checked AT ALL. Everything made it through. Glory! Your prayers for traveling mercies have been a gift.. please continue to pray. We are winning.
Having Michelle (a new Board Member) here with me this time is an immeasurable gift... and I may never be able to put fully adequate words to the meaning. She is at home here in more ways than one and I thank God for her. The kids have instantly taken to her and it has been so nice to divide spotlights, to feel that none of the children is being overlooked and untended to. If there is anything better than one visitor, it is 2. Thank you, Jesus, for Michelle. (And if there is anything better than 2, it is 3. Hint Hint.)
The orphanages are way behind in their expenses. This is hard to see and hard to know, but hard drives results. I have never been more determined than now to use the place that God has given me to serve and the voice he has asked me to broadcast to work hard. Due to finances there is a food shortage here. The kids have been eating bread for breakfast and porridge for lunch without any meat, vegetables, fruits or dairy. As you can imagine, they are hungry. They do not dwell on hunger or complain about it. Michelle and I purchased a ton of fruit and vegetables and last night we treated the older children (we stay with) to delicious meat pie. It was such a joy to observe their delight in eating a simple meal.
During the day yesterday we played with the younger children. They did some dances for us and were treated to some pecans that had blown over onto the property from a neighboring property with pecan trees. I asked Momma Fatima where the pecans came from and she responded "It is truly a miracle. God has blessed us with a wind that blows pecans to us." My friends, if that isn't manna then I don't know what is. I had some pecans too. Teeth are nutcrackers... did you know?
The girls have been cleaning the carpets with brushes and hot soapy water. I swear, if I had to clean my carpets that way... well, I'd throw temper tantrums.
The hugs are even tighter in this Part VI. It is amazing to observe how love swells and continues to grow. Nothing about this place is foreign to me anymore. When I arrived, they said... "welcome home". Home is right where Jesus places you; He calls us to locations to love. To each of us He has granted a territory and to each He has appointed a position and a task. Michelle and I are studying the life of Joseph while we are here because we'll be teaching in a few days. Something impressed on my heart today is that Joseph, by accepting God's will and keeping his posture toward the Lord even in desperate circumstances, was eventually appointed to a position of power. However, in this power Joseph remained enslaved for quite some time. In power, he was a prisoner. Eventually Joseph was appointed to be 2nd in command over all of Egypt.. but his position was not royal. Joseph didn't cease to be a servant and even when it appeared that Joseph had much as in influence and access, he had been entrusted with a hugely significant amount of responsibility. He didn't have a relaxed, laid-back, easy going life on any level. Obedience and walking in God's will doesn't promise us ease... if anything, it appoints for us great responsibility. We can never be more than 2nd in command... always in service to our great King.
Today we are going to church to worship corporately but everyday we are singing His praises.
The biggest challenge Michelle and I faced coming to Zim this time was with our luggage. We packed valuable and large items (office equipment) to gift to the orphanage organization to help with its management, organization and efficiency. Technically we carried too much. There is always a concern when flying the particular route that we flew (intentionally vague)... that items may be stolen when transferred from one plane to the next. For that reason, we had to carry our valuable items on our person. With that we were concerned about security and questioning. Bringing such things into the country can be frowned upon... and if authorities want to they can either confiscate or impose a hefty tax. We had prayed much in advance for all of these possible negative outcomes to be avoided. We did have 2 very close calls and I feel certain I made one enemy in transit...however, God graced us with amazing favor. For some reason, once we landed here, our bags were not checked AT ALL. Everything made it through. Glory! Your prayers for traveling mercies have been a gift.. please continue to pray. We are winning.
Having Michelle (a new Board Member) here with me this time is an immeasurable gift... and I may never be able to put fully adequate words to the meaning. She is at home here in more ways than one and I thank God for her. The kids have instantly taken to her and it has been so nice to divide spotlights, to feel that none of the children is being overlooked and untended to. If there is anything better than one visitor, it is 2. Thank you, Jesus, for Michelle. (And if there is anything better than 2, it is 3. Hint Hint.)
The orphanages are way behind in their expenses. This is hard to see and hard to know, but hard drives results. I have never been more determined than now to use the place that God has given me to serve and the voice he has asked me to broadcast to work hard. Due to finances there is a food shortage here. The kids have been eating bread for breakfast and porridge for lunch without any meat, vegetables, fruits or dairy. As you can imagine, they are hungry. They do not dwell on hunger or complain about it. Michelle and I purchased a ton of fruit and vegetables and last night we treated the older children (we stay with) to delicious meat pie. It was such a joy to observe their delight in eating a simple meal.
During the day yesterday we played with the younger children. They did some dances for us and were treated to some pecans that had blown over onto the property from a neighboring property with pecan trees. I asked Momma Fatima where the pecans came from and she responded "It is truly a miracle. God has blessed us with a wind that blows pecans to us." My friends, if that isn't manna then I don't know what is. I had some pecans too. Teeth are nutcrackers... did you know?
The girls have been cleaning the carpets with brushes and hot soapy water. I swear, if I had to clean my carpets that way... well, I'd throw temper tantrums.
The hugs are even tighter in this Part VI. It is amazing to observe how love swells and continues to grow. Nothing about this place is foreign to me anymore. When I arrived, they said... "welcome home". Home is right where Jesus places you; He calls us to locations to love. To each of us He has granted a territory and to each He has appointed a position and a task. Michelle and I are studying the life of Joseph while we are here because we'll be teaching in a few days. Something impressed on my heart today is that Joseph, by accepting God's will and keeping his posture toward the Lord even in desperate circumstances, was eventually appointed to a position of power. However, in this power Joseph remained enslaved for quite some time. In power, he was a prisoner. Eventually Joseph was appointed to be 2nd in command over all of Egypt.. but his position was not royal. Joseph didn't cease to be a servant and even when it appeared that Joseph had much as in influence and access, he had been entrusted with a hugely significant amount of responsibility. He didn't have a relaxed, laid-back, easy going life on any level. Obedience and walking in God's will doesn't promise us ease... if anything, it appoints for us great responsibility. We can never be more than 2nd in command... always in service to our great King.
Today we are going to church to worship corporately but everyday we are singing His praises.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Introducing ~ David M.
His eyes and smile say more about him than I ever could. He will be 8 in December.
David was abandoned at a museum in Zimbabwe when he was a little more than 1 year old. Someone found him and dropped him off at a hospital where he was determined to be very malnourished, and quite probably near death. In fact, he was so unhealthy that he had to remain in the hospital for 6 months. About 1 month before his 2nd birthday, David was placed in the orphanage and has been there ever since. I am grateful that he was too young to remember the trial he went through. If he was so malnourished, I wonder about his momma... maybe she was dying too. Maybe abandoning him was the only way she knew to possibly preserve his life, in this situation. Who knows? But God had a plan for David's life, for David to have this beaming smile and sparkling eyes.
David needs 3 sponsors to cover his monthly needs, including food, education school fees, the cost of housing at the orphanage and other essentials. Please consider sponsoring him at one of these levels, $25, $30 or $35 per month, and if you can help round up 2 other sponsors for him... well, that is joy. Our child sponsorship program is going to be launched officially at the beginning of October, but you are welcome to "claim" him now. Just contact me at melissa @ beautifulfeetgo (dot) com.
**Myself and one of our board members are flying to Zim tomorrow and will be spending time with the kids at the orphanages for 2 weeks. Please keep us in your prayers as we provide love and ministry to these tender kiddos. Please pray that we honor God with our service to Him and in His name.
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