My husband and I dream about changing lives in Africa through ideas, enterprise and meeting needs.
One month ago and in an interview with David Sparks (for first time time since moving to America), I shared about this dream in public
You can read the full interview here.
Talking about our dream made me realize just how apprehensive and scared I had been all along.
Why was I afraid of sharing our dream in public?
That picture right there.
I was scared of being labelled and dismissed as “yet another African with a begging bowl”
Crazy, I know.
Indulge me for a moment though.
I find it’s easier to talk about my dreams when chances of being understood, accepted, even supported are high.
Opening up about the same dreams and hopes in an unfamiliar environment – new country and culture – is a big challenge.
Further confession
Also and for a long time I’ve known that I don’t like talking about the scarred side of Africa.
I feel like there’s so much ignorance and half truths about Africa already.
Talking about the scars and brokenness of my continent (and asking others to partner with us to help us repair the broken walls) feels like perpetuating the myths and ignorance.
Yes, I struggle with pride; I dislike being at the “bottom” of the stairs, leave alone asking for help while there.
Why it’s important to talk about your dream
Still, I am learning that no matter where you are or what you presume to be true, one day you must get over yourself, step out and share your dream with somebody.
Powerful dreams always involve others.
The reason you share you dream is not so that others can hear it. That’s not the main reason anyway.
You speak it out so that you can hear it.
Speaking is a manifestation of your faith.
By speaking out your dream, you acknowledge that it’s bigger than your dignity, your ego, your reputation, your fears (both real and imagined).
Spoken faith sets you free from your own fears.
It puts a demand on your faith. It nudges you to start walking out (in public) what you confess in private.
Walking out what we confess
Right now my husband and I would like to help build a new kitchen for a children orphanage in Kenya.
Keumbu Children Orphanage has a lot of needs. But their biggest right now is new Kitchen.
The current kitchen is an old rundown tin-structure.
This is where Pastor Abel and his wife (the orphanage directors) prepare meals for their 20 resident children and 35 others in the orphanage feeding program.
From what you can see, the kitchen looks bad already.
But it get’s worse when it rains (and it rains a lot because the home is located in a rainy hilly part of rural Kenya)
Torrents of muddy waters make rivers across the kitchen floor. The boys will often try to redirect the waters by digging trenches on the earthen floor.
But they don’t always succeed and the cooking fire is often snuffed out in the middle of cooking. Starting a fresh fire, in the middle of cooking, on wet ground, is beyond challenging.
The cost
The cost of building a new kitchen for Keumbu Orphanage is 100,000.00 Kenya shillings. (One hundred thousand Kenyan Shillings).
That is $1,200.00 (One thousand two hundred dollars)
In the past, we’ve done what most people do; given from our pocket. Still, since our move to America two years ago, we haven’t even been regular in our giving due to the financial instability occasioned by the move.
But inspite of our seeming lack and apprehensions, we believe God is nudging our hearts towards this project. And in the same way, He’s able to nudge others towards it.
What you can do.
Please consider
- Praying.
- Sharing fund-raising ideas.
- Giving financially.
I have a some fund raising ideas, mostly online tools and resources.
But I want to hear your thoughts.
If you are not on my email list and are reading this on my website, please email me ngina(at)intentionaltoday(dot)com and share your thoughts. You can also share in Comments section below.
Otherwise, please hit “reply” on the email and let me know what you think.
Get involved immediately.
If you would like to give towards this project immediately, please email me at ngina(at)intentionaltoday(dot)com.
I’ll be posting more on this project in the coming days.
Questions: Why else do you think it’s important to talk about our dreams? Do you have any fundraising ideas? I’d love to hear them in Comments below.
Update: This fundraiser is now closed. Read my follow up posts Miracles happen when you share your dream and Pictures and updates for the new kitchen
Leave a message…I suggest that you put up an international structure; NGO in order to communicate your dreams clearly. May God’s favor be with you.
Thank you Fred. Indeed, that’s the line we want to pursue.
Ngina, I think part of my fear of sharing my dreams is a fear of rejection, a fear of asking for help, a fear of articulating something that may make others uncomfortable, a fear of simply ‘talking’ about something, a fear of being held accountable to what I share as a dream, and a host of others!
The dream you described is awesome, and encouraging.
Make it easy to give, share personal stories, create a tax-exempt organization, don’t be afraid to use video and photo’s, use visuals to communicate where you are, and where you want to be, be honest/open about how the $ is spent, have an impact speech that you can deliver at any time, anywhere.
Thanks for going public!
David, we walk the same road : ) So glad that God is able to use, direct and help me overcome these fears and apprehensions and actually be useful to Him. It amazes me.
Thanks so much for these tips. On “make it easy to give”, that has been one of the biggest challenges even on this project. We are learning as we go along 🙂 Thanks for the other tips, definitely needed as we move along and work on bigger things.
We should discuss these in more detail in the future.
We should, we need all the help : )
Ngina, thanks for sharing your dream. When you share a dream it is always infectious, so keep sharing and keep pursuing the direction God is leading you. I will say a prayer today for Pastor Abel, his wife and the children!
Thanks Caleb, yes am learning the importance of sharing what impresses and pursuing the things He’s putting in our hearts. Thank you for the prayers, they are deeply appreciated. God bless you
Hi Ngina! Hope you guys are well? Thanks for sharing this… a very good cause you and Tom are engaging in. May the good Lord see every plan a success. And since am here in Kenya, I would really love to visit Keumbu Children Orphanage. It would be such a privilege to go see for myself than just seeing photos online. Kindly give me details on directions on email. I believe you have mine? I will be contributing through prayer as well.
Shalom!
hey Jess! So good to see you here, as always!
God is so good, He goes beyond what we ask for or think about. yes, I’ll get in touch with your asap with the details. Thanks for the kind words and encouragement gal, i appreciate you and the prayers.
I think it’s great that you’re posting this need, Ngina. I think most of us have a hard time asking for things, even if it’s for someone else. So we may be sensitive because we’re the one asking the “favor” but everyone else doesn’t think a thing of it. I’ve never met anyone that wasn’t happy to give to Africa. We have so much here. It’s a privilege to be able to give. I would like to help you with this project and will e-mail you.
What you said about others not thinking much about it, is so true. I am learning that through this process. I believe that’s one of the reasons God is always asking us to act on faith, not fears.
Thank you so much for coming on board. God bless you richly.
I think when we talk and move toward our dreams we will find like minded people to join our journey. Great post and thoughts as always!
That’s true Dan, I call them God-connections 🙂
Great and worthy project Ngina, praying!
Thanks Kimanzi, we appreciate!
I’m behind you and with you, Ngina. If God’s putting it on our hearts, being silent is not an option…
Floyd, you bless my heart. Thank you so much. I love these words “If God’s putting it on our hearts, being silent is not an option.” They are a big encouragement to me this morning 🙂