I'm a firm believer in what goes around comes around. People ask why I have my art out on the Internet for free. Well, for the moment, I enjoy helping people and hearing from them. This free service has provided some neat opportunities for me. I've had my cartoons on a television commercial, used with PowerPoint presentations in multiple languages, on book covers, published in a series of educational DVD's, and then there was the email from Margaret.

I don't often get email from Africa. Margaret worked in Namibia and searched online for some artwork to use at a daycare center for Aids orphans in the Windhoek area. She stopped when she found my site. All she needed was my permission because she found all the art she needed. Of course, I instantly said yes. Absolutely use my art at the center!

Then, I thought about it for five minutes and sent another email message.

I told Margaret that I not only wanted them to use my art but I wanted them to use me. I volunteered to go to Namibia and help with the painting if they were interested. When she recovered from the initial shock, she invited me to Africa. I wrote to my friends that it was a once in a life time experience that couldn't be missed. One of them wrote back and said that it was just another in a series of Phillip Martin experiences that nobody else seemed to get. He wasn't surprised at all about Africa. I was.

It never occurred to me to paint murals for kids. I don't think that idea ever would have come to me. When Margaret suggested murals to me, it sounded like such a perfect fit. Namibia was the first mural. But, I knew it wouldn't be the last. I'd be back to the wall again and again. It was just the beginning.