Wanna see a miracle???

My friend Melissa Irwin constantly amazes me.  She is in the middle of a BIG leap of faith, that I am SOOOO excited to be a small part of!   You see, Melissa is getting out of her comfort zone and making a miracle happen.   Here's the story in a nutshell:

Melissa has traveled to Zimbabwe twice to help out a wonderful lady, Mrs. Fatima Maruta, who is in charge of 4 orphanages there.   3 days ago I got a letter from Melissa that just broke my heart and after reading it, I just KNEW I had to help somehow!!   Here's the situation in Melissa's own words:

"When I met Mrs. Fatima Maruta this first time in December of 2008, I was
immediately impressed with her organization, the structure, the
teachings,
the love, and the health of all of her orphans.  She has 4 orphanages and
is
working to establish a 5th.  In the past year, she has even opened a
school...a legitimate one that is serving to properly educate all of her
orphans, as well as other local rural kids.  They are very smart and
proper
in uniforms.  I recall during that first visit that Mrs. Maruta mentioned
they were in desperate need of a truck for a variety of very serious
reasons.  She did not ask me for a truck, she just mentioned that they
were
praying for one.  I enjoyed her homes.  I was blessed by her beautiful
orphaned children.  And then I left.  I carried the children in my hearts
with me, but not Mrs. Maruta.  Not her needs.

When I returned in November of 2009, as most of you know already, I was
blessed a million ways in all of the time that I got to spend with them
again.  But this time, during one of our prayers, Mrs. Maruta prayed for
a
truck again.  Something pinched my heart right in that moment.  An entire
year had passed and they are still praying for a truck.  Not because they
want one, but because they need one.  They need one because the only car
they currently have is broken down and has over 250 kilometers on it.
They
have to deliver food to all 4 orphanages which are spread out all over
the
city of Harare.  They have to take dozens of kids to the clinics weekly
for
the HIV antiviral medications.  Due to a nearly 1 year drought, the food
prices have skyrocketed, so Mrs. Maruta needs to travel longer distances
to
purchase foods at fairer prices.  The list of the whys could really
continue
to go on and on.  Instead of buying a truck, Mrs. Maruta started a
school.
Instead of buying a truck, Mrs. Maruta made sure the kids had clothes,
uniforms, school supplies, food for 3 meals, and she pays for all of
their
educational testing (way more expensive that what we spend in the U.S.)
And, instead of buying a truck, Mrs. Maruta is founding another orphange
for
babies of women who get pregnant and give birth while they are
incarcerated.
My point is, clearly she has put herself last. 

I have formed a beautiful friendship with Fatima.  I wish I could share
it
all with you, but I don't know how.  When I returned home I was thinking
about that darn needed truck, over and over.  If you could have heard me
resisting God, you would have heard, "there is no way God...I'm not
asking
for more money".  "No God, really.....i can't do it.  A truck costs too
much
money."  "Please God, don't ask this of me....I need an easier task". It
embarrasses me that I have waited 86 days.....but here it goes.  Guess
what?
Mrs. Maruta needs a truck.  Wanna help?"

YES!!  I wanna help!!   I don't know about YOU, but I think that CLEARLY this woman deserves her TRUCK!!!  Let's all bond together and DO something about it!!  Yes, truck's are expensive.  I believe the total we need to raise is somewhere between $10,000 - $15,000. But Melissa has taken the first and very important step.... she has started this miracle and WE can all make it HAPPEN!!   If you can give monetarily, even just $20 will help.  It will all add up...  OR, if you can simply just help spread the word, and PRAY!  Pray for Melissa as she so humbly and faithfully follows God's nudging to help this wonderful woman.  Pray for this little miracle to happen sooner rather than later.  Pray for Mrs. Maruta and all those orphaned children that depend on her for basic life needs.  

For up to date info on this, please check out Melissa's blog:  http://www.untilthejasperwalls.blogspot.com/

I for one am so honored to be a small part of this.  How COOL will it be when we receive the word from Melissa that because we all chose to jump in and help, Mrs. Maruta and all her "children" will be helped in a way that none of us can ever imagine!! 

Wanna see a miracle???  I do.... Let's do it!!!