1 woman and Jesus change a nation
Posted: September 27, 20051:00 a.m. Eastern

Could you change a nation by yourself?

Heidi Baker is doing it – without political clout or decent funding.

When she arrived in bleak, war-ravaged Mozambique in 1995, this American missionary had a few resources, but God told her to give away everything she owned and go sit by the side of the road. (She doesn't "hear voices"; she just has sharp spiritual ears.)

So there she sat in the dirt, homeless, a 5'4" blonde with a Ph.D. in systematic theology from the University of London ... and little else beside the clothes on her back. "Great plan, Lord," she grumped to the Father. "Now what?"

It was a hazardous time, barely a year after the 20-year civil war. "They were still shooting at us and stuff," Heidi casually explains. Even Red Cross trucks would not brave the crossfire at that time.

But after a few hours at the dusty roadside there in Maputo, a white lady came striding by in a great hurry. Without even introducing herself, this total stranger plopped some keys into Heidi's hands and wheezed, "I've got to go to the north part of the country. Could you housesit for me? Eat all the food or the rats will get it. Bye." Heidi was stunned.

The rest-amazing!