To those of you out there that read along these lines, to simply the internet space out there, to the energy of the world.. After so long of not keeping up with this page, I want to take just a moment to share how Peace Tree Africa is doing. This is me, this is my focus, this is what I have been called to do. And so here you are, a witness to the roots that I spend most of my free time nourishing.
It’s such a time-consuming, learning, fulfilling, lovable process. There is always something to do, but as Will Smith says it, “It takes an obsession about what you’re working for to really bring you to success” (by the way, I just discovered a beautiful video that sheds light on his philosophy, and I encourage you to look up Will’s Wisdom whenever you return to youtube). We are at the Business Plan phase. In other words, if you thought that form 1023 would break down every aspect of the business, this document demands details broken down from those aspects, and you’re asked to consider everything that a potential donor might consider. Milestones and goals. The vision! We have a Vision!
“We envision a sustainable Africa, free of hunger and poverty.”
Isn’t this wonderful, the fact that I get to put it all out there, the idea that one may find unrealistic, but what we are ultimately striving for?! I feel like a beauty queen behind the scenes, writing out things like that! Yes, behind the scenes, on the ground, getting my hands dirty, with ink for now, LOL… behind chapters that are about to unfold, because I know so-and so do several Cameroonian villages, my parents, the Small Business Development Advisor of Dallas, and Will Smith!
I’m inspired. So often I work my ten hour shifts, miserably, and in between calls I complete a task or two, or I go home at the end of the night and I ask Google to tell me what this business jargon means, and then my mind twists and turns until I figure it out. All this feels good, but when it’s validated, and you’re sitting there with your 22 page baby, in front of a knowledgeable expert in the field that gives you some hot tips and tells you you’re on your way, you feel phenomenal. Like, Okay, I’m getting somewhere!
And you know how the universe sometimes will conspire with you to get what you want? That is happening too, in more ways than one. Some really great fundraiser ideas have been thrown into my lap, which will bring us to the NEXT phase- Funding that tour to Cameroon.
And how I miss it!! I am so emotionally tied to this business, it’s ridiculous. The motivational speaker who spoke this morning mentioned the things we hear before we start work every morning. Well, I hear Ernest telling me that this will work because it is God’s will, I hear the teachers of CEBEC telling me that they will always pray for me in life, I see Franck’s smiling face, I hear gospel music from Sintia’s church, and I feel the love and gratitude of the Badzuidjong people, for carrying out the water well project; and I feel a huge responsability to keep on loving this family I’ve been so lucky to have, and to help them in a huge way.
Ernest e-mailed to let me know that Franck is advancing into the next grade (4ieme) with what’s an equivalent to a high “B” !! Proud mother here!!! And I called my good, dear friend Bakari last week. He’s saving money for college again this year, working back in Manjo. This makes me a bit sad, as he’s such an intelligent kid, who would contrbute so much back to this world if he were only given the opportunity. When I return for business, he is going to be one of my key coordinators to get the shipment together.
When I asked about everyone in my village of Bare, he ofcourse told me that most of them are mad at me, because I haven’t called them or returned yet. This is what Cameroonians do, and I love them for it. What’s better is, they are very quick to let go of grudges. I know that once I return, with a few gifts ofcourse, everyone in my Cameroonian family will open their arms to me. For now, I work obsessively toward that very vision.
