Love

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One Plane Ride Changed it All

One of my business partners, Mike Melia, happened to be on a business trip for LegalShield when he saw an interesting bracelet, called a pulsaras, on a flight attendant's arm.  Out of sheer curiosity, Mike asked the man if the bracelet had any meaning.  No one knew how this simple question would change our lives and the lives of many children halfway around the world.

The flight attendant, Julian Roberts, explained to Mike that these bracelets are made to raise money for an orphanage in Guatemala that is home to about 50-60 boys.  The flight attendant had been volunteering there for some time.

Mike was so inspired by the story that he gave $1,000 to the man to send to the orphanage.  Within a few weeks, Mike was blown away when he got a personalized letter with pictures showing all the things that the money went to buy those boys, who depend on getting help from people like Mike all around the world.

The three of us had been searching for an organization to support but hadn't yet found the right one.   We unanimously felt great about this one.  So Steve and I, along with my niece, Dani Melia, and my nephew, Matt Dunphy, went to physically see the orphanage and check things out first hand.   After much due diligence and research we decided to begin raising money to not only support the current boys' orphanage, but a girls’ orphanage as well.  We found out that they needed to build another orphanage for girls and we jumped at the opportunity to head up that project.

Since then we have started our own non-profit organization, Work Play Love, LLC.  We have been blessed to have raised close to $200,000 over the past 4 years.  We have purchased a new van for the orphans, helped pay bills and repairs for the existing boys orphanage but our biggest accomplishment is building, from the ground up, furnishing, paying for teachers and everything a brand new girls' orphanage.

Beyond any imagination, the Work Play Love project has brought me the most joy.

kim melia 1

Ultimately

When I don't want to go, is when I really need to go! And I go...
When I don't want to do that, is when I need to do that. And I do that...
When I really don't want to read, I need to read. And I read...
When I really don't want to get up, is when I need to jump up! And I jump...
When I really don't want to listen, I need to hear. So I listen...
When I really don’t want to let go, I have to let go. So I let go… So I let go...
When I really don't want a challenge, I need a challenge. I take the challenge.
When I don't want to love, I need love. So I love...
When I don't want to feel pain, is when I need to feel the pain. Then I let it go...
You see what you don't want is ultimately is what you want. So want more, to be more, to see more, to live more, and to LOVE more...

Kim Melia