Earth in Other Places

One Earth

One Sky

One Love

We only get one chance to live in this - One Life

(lyric from song: Conviction of the Heart - Kenny Loggins)

roots

stacked stones (meaning of the word Zimbabwe)

raw granite

massive tree

african cattle

broken down african farm equipment

african storm brewing - much needed rain - just in time

withered african sunflower

1Kings 8:22 & 23

"Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven. He said, "O LORD, the God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing lovingkindness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart... "

Sisterly

click here to read about these siters

Coming up for BFGO

I haven't been a great blogger this year. Our year end for BFGO was so incredibly intense that it zapped 4 months worth of my energy, evidently. I suppose you could say that this first quarter has been a period of resting my mouth (and thus my fingertips). Not that we haven't needed more support, because we do. And I presume that we always will because our goal will always be to reach more children for Christ. When we do finally achieve a comfortable financial goal for our Zim partner, we will find another and another and another until God tells us to settle down.

Next week I am returning to our Zim partner orphanages. Simply understated, I cannot wait. The joy is rising up inside of me and it feels like I could spread my arms and fly there without the needs of a modern aircraft.

This is the first time since the launch of our child sponsorship program that I'll be with our kiddos. For the first time, I get to take letters, photos and small gifts to the kids there who have sponsors. I cannot wait to share new loves with them - for the children to hear the voices of their sponsors through written words. It is going to be beautiful.  Out of the 50+ children there in the orphanages, only about 12 of them have a sponsor. It hurts me to have to leave the rest of them out of these festivities, but they are all hopeful that by the next time I visit they will be able to celebrate collectively and in joy for one another.  May the Lord of lords make it so that every child will be sponsored within the next few months.

Here are just a few of our unsponsored kiddos. Is their a pair of eyes here that you can see into? Anyone who pulls you?

Arkinia

Pamela

Sarah

Pretty

Tadiwa (boy)

Farai

Misheck

Godknows

You may locate these children and several others through our website by clicking onto the "sponsor a child" link. 

Otherwise, you may set up a monthly donation at any financial level you desire by simply following the donation link. You may choose a specific fund for your donation to benefit or you may simply choose "Greatest Need". Donations are tax-deductible. And we are SINCERELY grateful for $5, $10, $12 per month. Every dollar matters!  We also gladly accept one time donations of any amount. 

Please follow along for the next couple of weeks as I report from Zimbabwe.  You may sign up to receive automatic updates through email by subscribing at the top of the page.

Thank you so much!

  ~  melissa irwin

      founder / executive director

Now Available

I'm excited but mostly humbled to be able to share here that my first book is available through Amazon. While this book is not directly about the organization, I was inspired to write so that I might have more opportunities to share about the humanitarian work with orphans that God has led me to. My hope is that the opportunities I have to write and speak will help in raising awareness & resources.  

Well-Watered is my interpretation of God's love for those broken in spirit, His eagerness to save us, increase us and transform us into reflections of Christ to be agents of His love.  

thank you,

melissa irwin

Steppin' Out

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.

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!

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