IT'S ALL ABOUT DONATION

The weekend has been productive for me. Yesterday, myself and some of my very good friends had a meeting in a restaurant that has become a favorite for me and my fiance. The subject of our discussion? A thought that has been on my thought and that actually influenced my last post.

We spent quality time talking about how we can become agents of change, how we can positively affect this nation, the continent and the world. We talked about how we can burst out hunger from this land (of course we met at Hungerbusters). Our position was upon the fact that we believe that the reason why GOD IS BLESSING US IS NOT BECAUSE OF US.

"Life is not about duration but donation"
JOHN MASON

We have made up our minds that even if it will take the last drop of our bloods, we will continully use all God's resources available at our disposal to make positive impacts.

HOW I INTEND TO USE CONSULTING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN NIGERIA

While growing up, I often heard that the” greatest problem in Nigeria and indeed all black Nations is that of leadership” and ever since I had resolved in my mind to choose a career path that will help in building the leadership capacity of my dear country. I discovered also that the opportunity to actualize my dreams can be found in consulting where you have the opportunity of being a leader’s leader.

I intend to make a difference in Nigeria via consulting by providing creative and innovative solutions for people and organisations, as they face unprecedented challenges, fierce intra-industry competition, overwhelming governmental policies and regulations, technological advancements, multicultural diversity in the workforce, customer expectations and retention, and micro and macro economic unpredictability; this I intend to do using a blend of coaching, workshops, Role Plays etc. By so doing I would have provided them with information and advice which leads to real and lasting solution of a problem.

I will constantly think, analyze, brainstorm, cajole and challenge good organizations to become even better by adopting new ideas. I also intend to tread the path of great consultants by being able to step into ambiguous, sometimes hostile situations and sense what changes need to be made, driven by ideas and a strong desire to have a positive impact on clients.

By doing all these I would have increased my bandwidth and shifted my paradigm, which would have made me a better person, I also believe that “Repetition is the mother of skills” as I do these repeatedly I become exceptionally good and skillful at my work.

INTERVIEW WITH SARAH MILLER

I have met so many people lately on Skype; one of such is Sarah Miller ( a young Missionary domiciled in Maringa, Brazil). I found her particularly interesting, she's been helpful in furnishing with details of some things I needed to know. She's also a prayer partner.
I decided to interview her and post on my blog, she generously accepted; below is the unedited interview with this beautiful Missionary.

OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE:

Good day Sarah, for the benefit of those visiting this blog, may I meet you?

Sarah Miller:

Yes. I'm Sarah Miller, an American currently working as a missionary with Youth With A Mission (www.ywam.org) in Maringa, Brazil.

OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE: 18:56:30

Can you tell me about growing up, I mean your early years?

OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE: 19:02:32

:)

Sarah Miller:

I grew up as a missionary kid, known to us as MK. When I was 7 my parents started by doing their Discipleship Training School (DTS) with YWAM in Montana of the United States. Their outreach was 2 months in Australia. From there we spent 3 years in the state of Texas, 1 year in Nicaragua, Central America...1 1/2 years on a ship called the Anastasias that traveled to Africa and Europe...then 3 more months in Texas. I was 14 when my family returned home from missions and stopped for the time being.

OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE:

Cool!

OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE:

Am taken aback that such a young, beautiful lady like you can be given over to missionary works, how has it been?

Sarah Miller:

I can't say it's difficult, Kamal....because to me it's not. Everything that I've prayed for in life, I currently have. I have lots of friends, also missionaries with me in YWAM here in Maringa, Brazil. I have a family (thousands of miles away) that loves and supports me emotionally in missions...I am healthy

OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE: 19:09:52

Sounds interesting

Sarah Miller: 19:09:54

I suffered from Tendonitis, a back injury, Tuberculosis, Lyme Disease, and other diseases that doctors were never able to discover...during years of my life...and God has healed me of all of it. I just thank God, really. I always wanted to be a missionary in another continent serving God. He answered those prayers and here I am. So for me, it's the most natural, easiest thing to do-. I might not be Brazilian by blood, but my heart doesn't know the difference.

OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE: 19:10:34

Apart from mission work, what else do you do or are you completely sold out to the work?

Sarah Miller: 19:13:33

Honestly, it's not work....it's a complete LIFE. There are office hours, sure, but it doesn't stop there. And all of us do everything--even our base director will clean toilets just to serve someone. I personally do everything from international contact, Mission Adventures (one of our ministries that deals with church groups) Representative, Portuguese/English translator, nurse....or I cook, mop the floor, and talk with people that God sends at will who need lifted up

Sarah Miller:

Usually I'll do all of that in a day....work day, weekend....I think of it like this: if we're not here to serve (in and out of work hours), then why are we here? I'm not interested in PAY. All YWAM volunteers pay to do what we do. We're here for lives--souls--and nothing less. And you know what? To us, it's fun. I actually enjoy washing dishes for God!

OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE:

You talked about YWAM; can you tell us more about YWAM?

Sarah Miller:

YWAM--stands for Youth With A Mission. It's an international, interdenominational Christian organization that has bases located in over 165 countries of the world

OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE:

Good

OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE:

What is your advice for youths willing to tow the path you have chosen?

Sarah Miller:

What the ministries offered differ base per base, as sometimes one base/country/location has more staff members and can therefore get more involved, others have different resources and talents...

Sarah Miller: 15:30:34

My advice for youth: always seek out, listen to, and then obey the Holy Spirit

OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE: 15:30:51

Good

Sarah Miller: 15:30:57

YWAM is a wonderful organization, Kamal, but it is only ONE of the millions of tools that God uses worldwide

OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE: 15:31:03

What are short term plans?

Sarah Miller: 15:31:21

Particular to YWAM, our base, or my life?

OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE: 15:32:15

generally, if you wouldn’t mind, this might encourage out there to get more serious with his/her life

Sarah Miller: 15:33:28

Well, with YWAM worldwide, there are always new things: every single day.

Sarah Miller: 15:33:52

www.ywam.org is the international website that might help someone looking for something in specific.

OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE: 15:34:03

Ok

Sarah Miller: 15:34:59

My dad was a car mechanic in Africa twice--as a YWAMer, there are people that blow fire out of their mouths as an evangelism technique, there are translators, soccer coaches, preachers, construction workers, cowboys and bull riders....you name it, there's a place for it!

OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE: 15:35:40

Interesting!

Sarah Miller: 15:36:58

Specific to Brazil, I would encourage someone to contact me as I am an international English-speaking contact-person with YWAM here on the base of Maringa, Brazil. I will help in any and every way possible. My email address is: newnurse8@yahoo.com and one of my websites with some information, as well as a link to do online-donation by credit/debit card is: http://www.myspace.com/sarahmiller

OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE: 15:37:39

Good

Sarah Miller: 15:37:41

And if anyone is interested also in pictures of our base and some of our projects, they are free to contact me and I will happily give them a link to some pictures.

OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE: 15:38:04

Thank you my dear friend

OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE: 15:39:20

With your tight schedule do you have time for recreation?

Sarah Miller: 15:41:54

Recreation, yes--I hang out with my friends, some Christians and some not...but I never leave my passion in the office when I leave: I always carry with me the desire to impact lives....on the bus going downtown, on the street, playing games, fishing....there's always someone asking God to send someone their way! :-)

OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE: 15:42:42

Sarah it’s been a pleasure talking to you, thank you for your time

Sarah Miller: 15:40:18

Kamal--it's been my pleasure talking to you and I would love to help you or anyone else in any way possible. May God continue to bless you!
A prazer foi meu e eu gustaria muito ajudar você ou qualquer otra pessoa precisando. Deuscontinua te abençoando! (Portuguese)