I found his website www.inspirationpeak.com many years ago when I first discovered this thing called the 'internet'. Since that time it has been for me and so many others a fountain of wisdom, truth and inspiration. In the last ten or so years inspiration peak has had over 5 million individual visitors and his newsletter reaches over 50 thousand subscribers every week.
Through the years I have been struck over and over again by Ron's deep humility, generosity and love for this wounded world.
Ron and I have had many discussions about the HIV pandemic and the emergent crises of extreme poverty, malnutrition and preventable disease facing the developing world.
His website even became a sponsor of the young heroes program and inspired many people to sponsor a AIDS orphan in Swaziland.
http://www.inspirationpeak.com/news/youngheroes.html
www.younheroes.org.sz
Before I returned to Swaziland this year, I asked Ron for his sponsor childs name so that I could see whether I could make contact with him while I was in Swaziland.
After months of searching the little communities around Siteki we found a little hut in Mahukhu where Zweli Madolo and his family of siblings lived.
Zweli is a quiet and well mannered teenager who loves playing soccer and dreams of one day becoming a soldier or policeman.
His parents both died several years ago from HIV and he and his beloved sister were taken in by their caring grandfather.
Zwelis family recieves money for schooling, food and clothing through Ron's young heroes sponsorship.
I talked to Zweli about why we had come and about Ron's commitment to him and his family.
For a moment he didnt understand what i was saying, but as I repeated the words, his face lit up and he said "Mister Ron!!" "Mister Ron!"
He ran inside his hut made of sticks and stones and brought out a envelope of documents. Inside, perfectly folded, were his birth certificate, his medical records... and a letter from 'Mister Ron'.
I felt all the hairs on my body stand on end as I read Ron's message to Zweli.
"Even though I am far away, you are in my thoughts and prayers. I wish you everything that is good and beautiful."
Sometimes people tell me that the little things we do, don't count. That they are lost to the winds, like little leaves in a storm.
With all my heart, I know they're wrong.
Its like my father has always said: "Humanity is a spiders web. Touch the web at any point and the whole web vibrates."
As I stood with Zweli in the ochre dust of Mahukhu, holding the letter of a friend whom I've never met, but has touched my life and the life of young Zweli Madolo in so many ways.
I could feel the web vibrating.
My love to you,
Maithri
25 Whispers of Hope:
Do you have any idea how powerful your words are!!!
I feel the vibrations too!
Sara xx
I can not help, but cry tears of joy. Ron sounds like a truly beautiful man just as you are.
Very powerful indeed..its true that the web vibrates and the vibrations rings in the hearts of those who kw what it is to be helped when u need it the most:)
The web would vibrate forever, coz there are people to extend their hand!May the world be touched with such goodness!
"Humanity is a spiders web. Touch the web at any point and the whole web vibrates."
YES!! thank u my friend for the love you and Mr Ron vibrate !
ah jeez, M
what a chorus of adoring fans you have
you must be doing something right.....
I was touched by the generosity and friendship of a gentleman like Mister Ron, when I was 13, and ever since I have tried to be like him. Every deed surely does have an influence, I am convinced of that. I have heard of an old lady of ninety who had kept all my letters, and when she was old and weak let her daughters read them to her over and over. How little time does it take to write a letter?
Just the words I needed today. I'm giving a talk to school kids about being called to do missionary work. What a beautiful example to share with them. Now if I can just find a big old hair spider and convince it to make a web in a few hours time, I'll be a hit for sure.
Bless you, Maithri. And Ron, and Zweli and grandmothers everywhere.
P.S. Great glory be to the master web maker in the sky who touches those who touch others.
very touching post, as are all of yours..
My dearest Maithri,
A beautiful and touching post as always and, as always, brought the tears to my eyes. This sad world is so blessed by people like you and Ron and Zweli and all those family members and others that reach out to touch the lives of so many in such a powerful and beautiful way.
My love to you as always,
Sylvia
My heart vibrates with love for this beautiful face. He has not lost hope yet, though the difficulties show in his eyes.
This is a powerful reminded how reaching out to other can touch them in ways you may never dream of. As always, Maithri you make me think. Sending all my love to you.
Your father was right, brother, and your life, is a testament to all that is good an beautiful in the human spirit :) I know I have said it before, but I am honored to be your friend. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Ya Haqq!
What you do (and Ron does) matters so, my darling friend. And you inspire us all to do the little (and big) things we can do... and they matter, too!! XOXO
I sent you an email on your gmail account ;)
Amazing grace and extraordinary love made ordinary and doable, realizable; we learn through your deeds dearest Maithri!
Wow. What a wonderful story. Thank you for sharing it with us!
Peace & Hugs!
T.
What a beautiful story Maithri.
I agree with you 100%. Everything in this world counts, every little thing.
Love to you dear heart.
Love Renee xoxoxo
What a wise father you have, Maithri. His words remind me of those of another wise man named Chief Seattle. Do you know of him? I have these words of his framed and sitting where I can see them: “Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect.”
How wonderful that you were able to find and visit this young man. What a lovely thing for you to do.
dear maithri,
i love the last photo. i love every bit of this story. it is true, the butterfly effect, i love the analogys to nature, the spider web image is great (even if they do scare the life out of me). everylittlebit we do matters. if we do it with love.
love to zweli, ron, you and everyone,
lori
maithri, finally i am able to access your blog again.
what if i wanted to work with you on your return next march? what if we could get tessa there too?
what if...?
love to you as always,
kj
Dear Maithri...
Thank you for reminding me that small things do indeed matter. There are no small gifts.
:) Pam
Such an inspiring story and I really like what your father said. Sometimes, we don't realize that the littlest things we do that we thought didn't matter, can actually touched other people's lives.
Thank you so much for sharing this inspiring story.
The way you tell the stories of the beautiful people you encounter touches that part of me that is also the web...and I resonate in a more profound way with all life. Thank you.
Dear Maithri,
You have send shivers through the spider's web with this beautiful blog. Your wise father must be very proud of you!
I am so touched to here about your finding Ron's child. What a beautiful young man Zweli is! Proof once more that One person can make a difference, eh?!
Peace and love always, L
Oh I must have missed this post when my browser was going haywire. What a very special delight to read it today. It is people like you, Maithri, and Mr. Ron who inspire and teach us and lead us to the realisation that there are people in this world who, although they never ask for help, deserve everything we are able to give to help them reach for the stars. Thank you, always and in all ways.
Wow! How wonderful it must be to meet the person on the other side of those letters and outreach!
Post a Comment