Dear friends,

Days run so fast and here again I am writing this month’s newsletter! I hope that you took my advice in my last newsletter well and that you are now better preparing yourself in different areas in your life.

HELP is a theme that I had a lot to do with in this month. Life did prove to me that in this world we are dealing with giving and receiving. When we bless others, we are also blessed in return in one area or another. Early this month, I found myself in a bank sending financial support to a Christian based Organization in Tanzania (FOTA) dealing with prevention and awareness programs on HIV/AIDS. This was done after prayers and consideration on where the monies that others have entrusted me with should be spent. In other words, each year after budgeting the donations given to Tausi Aids Fund, we have to send that support to those in need. This is a result of hard work and sacrifices on my part and also on others who saw the need to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate.

A lot of times we do ask ourselves or we are being asked “Why help?” or “What are you getting out of it?" People often associate an act of giving with a profit to oneself and when they see others helping, their first thought is that there has to be a way that you are making a profit or giving the help to accumulate power and influence. My answer to such a question is always, there is a satisfaction in life when you know that someone else’s life has been changed because you choose to make the effort. It is such an awesome feeling knowing that your life has much more meaning to it for it is not only for yourself and your own well being but you are also there for others. As a Christian, God is expecting that from me. Your life is simply much richer by focusing on more lives other than your own.

Sadly, one can have power, money and influence yet choose not to reach others or one can choose to reach others only to accumulate more wealth. For these reasons, people have become skeptic on where to spend their resources but this should never be an excuse to quit seeking the causes that you believe in that need your support.

In the same way you help others, someday you will find yourself in the blessings of other people. After sending that financial help to FOTA, I felt richer inside and when I received their feedback with gratitude, my heart rejoiced. But that was not all. I had been in dire need in another area in my life and received a much bigger help from a friend who had mentored me and helped in a way that I could hardly have imagined! Also I have been blessed to have another family that cares for me as one of their own.

There is no reason why you cannot reach someone else and HELP. Others do give an excuse that they don’t have the resources. Help can mean just to be there for some one and let them know that you care or share your expertise and knowledge with a specific challenge they might need assistance with or just need prayers. I have seen life being changed just because someone else did volunteer their time. Giving Tausi Aids Fund as an example, some people did volunteer their time when I organized a program and because they made time, we were able to accumulate some funds. HELP does not always have to be monetary or material things.

Of course help should never be taken for granted or never meant for one to just sit expecting others to help. Efforts and self help where you can are important even when in need. Appreciation to the person helping you is keen, even if the help was so small to your measurements. When we are helping, we should do it with excellence and commitment with a priority attitude.

Here are few ways how you can help others:

1. Seek an organization with a vision you believe in, and then invest your time or resources by volunteering time or making financial donation. This can be;
   
   -making time/donation to a school
   
   -making time/donation to a community based Organization
   
   
2. Learn about different issues and challenges surrounding your community or the globe, then see if you can use your talent or expertise to offer some sort of services. This can be;
   
   -drafting proposals
   
   -making phone calls
   
   -using some accounting / marketing / managing / teaching / administrative or other skills
   
   
3. Readiness in state of emergency. You can also help in the immediate time of need. This can be;
   
   -volunteering your time in state of emergencies caused by Mother Nature as flood and others catastrophes.
   
   -Appearance in blood and food/material drives
   
   -Responding to those in need of immediate attention
   
   

If we all choose to HELP, the world will be a much better place.

Till next month, be motivated and reach out to someone.

Special thanks to all who supported TAF in 2006. To those who participated in the gala in Okinawa, Japan, to individuals who made wire donations and to Cornerstone bible study group in Louisville, USA and to my friends in Germany that made time to support me in any area, I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.