by George Makaye, YES Speaker and Contributor
When I emigrated from Kenya in 1998, all I wanted to do was make a ton of money - it was my mission. Here I was in America, the land of opportunity. This was my chance to succeed in life and I wasn’t looking back.
I worked hard and within two years I was a senior IT consultant. I met and married my beautiful wife, Alicia and was having my share of the American dream. Little did I know that my entire world-view was about to shift.
In 2004, my missions pastor approached me to join him on a reconnaissance mission to Kenya. This was my first trip back, flying on a fully paid for mission trip by my Church!
Flying over, all I could think about was catching up with friends and family. But I got it all wrong.
The trip to Kenya became a turning point for my life that introduced me to my true mission. During our 2-week trip, we travelled to places I had lived when I was young. I saw the extreme poverty that I had been exposed to during my childhood with a totally different perspective. It’s funny how life works like that.
Flying back, I reflected on how blessed I have been to emigrate to the US and do well. I realized I had a moral obligation to give back and make a difference with the remaining time I have on this earth. My mission had changed.
Alicia and I decided to quit our jobs and start our own business. We needed to be masters of our time, have the financial freedom to take mission trips as necessary, and support causes that empower those less fortunate.
We have built computer centers, support water well-projects, organize street children camps, sponsor children's homes, support local food distribution networks and organize community cleanups. It fills me with joy to know that we have made the lives of others better.
My favorite project has been the computer labs we built in Kenya, Texas, and Nigeria. As an IT business owner, this was very special to me. Seeing the kids´ reactions to using the computers our clients and our company donated reminded me of me when I first touched a computer during my 2nd year in college. I will never forget the delight. This feeling, this soul-burning desire to see those faces again is why I decided to become a philanthropist.
Read George's full article here.
When I emigrated from Kenya in 1998, all I wanted to do was make a ton of money - it was my mission. Here I was in America, the land of opportunity. This was my chance to succeed in life and I wasn’t looking back.
I worked hard and within two years I was a senior IT consultant. I met and married my beautiful wife, Alicia and was having my share of the American dream. Little did I know that my entire world-view was about to shift.
In 2004, my missions pastor approached me to join him on a reconnaissance mission to Kenya. This was my first trip back, flying on a fully paid for mission trip by my Church!
Flying over, all I could think about was catching up with friends and family. But I got it all wrong.
The trip to Kenya became a turning point for my life that introduced me to my true mission. During our 2-week trip, we travelled to places I had lived when I was young. I saw the extreme poverty that I had been exposed to during my childhood with a totally different perspective. It’s funny how life works like that.
Flying back, I reflected on how blessed I have been to emigrate to the US and do well. I realized I had a moral obligation to give back and make a difference with the remaining time I have on this earth. My mission had changed.
Alicia and I decided to quit our jobs and start our own business. We needed to be masters of our time, have the financial freedom to take mission trips as necessary, and support causes that empower those less fortunate.
We have built computer centers, support water well-projects, organize street children camps, sponsor children's homes, support local food distribution networks and organize community cleanups. It fills me with joy to know that we have made the lives of others better.
My favorite project has been the computer labs we built in Kenya, Texas, and Nigeria. As an IT business owner, this was very special to me. Seeing the kids´ reactions to using the computers our clients and our company donated reminded me of me when I first touched a computer during my 2nd year in college. I will never forget the delight. This feeling, this soul-burning desire to see those faces again is why I decided to become a philanthropist.
Read George's full article here.
RSS Feed