Yesterday, I shared with you all about how the UU family rallied and surprised me with about $300 worth of crypto - that went directly to help fund our young man's dreem!

I posted about this on our platform - and it spurred more people on to share.
This doesn't always happen. You know? And I don't take any offense to that. Because there are times when I read, and smile, and leave the work to others. We simply cannot be a part of every project, every story, every cause. We are human and we are limited, and sometimes we just have to focus our attention on where it serves best.

So, when I shared that initially - it was with the intent of sharing the goodness that had happened, and if anyone felt led to be a part - for sure, they could!

Here is what happened next.

We raised a total of $645 for him.

And as I told you before, his first fish sales went amazingly. He was able to start building his second pond, get a "raise" in his salary, buy some more equipment, fix some old equipment - and his smile was beaming from ear to ear.

You know the feeling when you are able to see the fruition of your hard work? And you are able to start TRULY envisioning the DREEM COMING TRUE. It's quite an addictive feeling - let me tell you! hahaha Well, that bug bit him, and he was just spurred on all the more to taking his dreem to new heights.

Interestingly, during that first season, he had seen some children playing around the pond.

I say interestingly, because isn't it just like God to bring the ones you are trying to help... to bring some kind of trial first! LOL Sure enough, they played, and they tore the tarp of the pool.
To show you what kind of pond he built, I'll share this fun, recent video of his fish at feeding frenzy time! hehehehe He was certainly a Proud Papa of these fish, and I remember the joy he had watching this daily!

You can see his brother helping with the feeding on the second pool in the video above.
But - back to our mischievous little friends hehehe.

They did tear the tarp, and in order to save on funds, he decided to fix the tarp rather than purchase a new one. He thought it would be best in the long run. A very kind woman who had been training him how to raise fish - had a natural pool, dug right into the ground. This looked like something that he should consider for the future when he had a more permanent place for his fish. But for now, not only was temporary pool more cost- efficient, but he would be able to move it and take it to another location later. So, the decision was made to fix it, life went on, and he had happy fish.

LAST WEEKEND

I got a text in the middle of the night (he is in Nigeria, I am in California) that he had sad news. He had been awakened by some neighbors letting him know that fish had been seen in the nearby canal. It was Saturday, and he had planned on selling at least 60 kg of fish that day. He refused to believe it - it couldn't be his fish.

Anyone who has gotten that kind of alert - knows the exact heart-clutching denial that grips you. I knew the feeling, since I had my recent tragedy so fresh in my mind. You SEE or HEAR the evidence, but your mind simply refuses to believe it - until it is absolutely undeniable.

He went to the farm only to see that yes, indeed, it was his fish.

Gone.

"It felt like my world was crashing..."

That was the actual text to me.

Some strange things had been happening in the neighborhood. Some jealousies rising up. Even though his business would be set to help the community AND ALREADY HAD... were there some people with the "Crab in a Bucket" menatlity?

Could it have been some children again, playing too rough - then running away in guilt?

I noticed that the tarp had ripped right along the metal at both sides. Though it certainly could have been some jealous competitor with a knife... the pressure of the fish and water could have also torn it cleanly along the metal, right?

Of course, we can't overlook standard thievery.

But the thing that weighed on my mind - if it was a competitor - or thieves - why kill the golden goose? Why not just take what you can steal? Why kill them all?

BUT WHAT DOES THIS MATTER, IN THE END?

At some point, the tears stop. The devastation passes, and you are left with the question:

WHAT DO I DO NEXT?

Bills must be paid, life must go on, and the fish are gone. I thank God that it was only the one pond. He still had the one pond - THANKFULLY, due to previous success, he had built the second pond and he had not lost everything!

He had been concerned that it was becoming time to move the pond from that area, and find a more secure location. But he had waited, since it was harvest time. Now, some people (I can say this with all compassion in my heart, because I WAS ONE of them!) need an abrupt PUSH into the unknown. The fear and doubt can keep us locked up inside a situation where we comfortably ignore warning signs that become alarm bells. And still we hesitate. I'm not saying that's what he did - I'm only saying that regardless of what happened - he was definitely getting that PUSH into a new world.

My life, despite some very awful things, has been a testimony to God's silver linings. Some people choose to focus on "why would God allow such awful things??" I choose to focus on "I wonder how God is going to take this evil and turn it into my good."

I don't say that with any pride in my own ability to look at the bright side. I say that as a true testimony to tragedy turned into triumph, over and over again. This has not only changed who I am, but it's allowed me to be an instrument for that same story in other people's lives as well.

This dreem started with lots of prayer and purity and perseverance. I know I'm not going to stop helping him pursue this massive dreem. I can't wait to share the future silver lining with you. But you'll have to wait on that! Because now we have recapped the last 14 months - and now we are current. So... I'll share more successes (and possibly more sadness) as his story unfolds.

Thanks for following along so far! It's been fun reliving all of this - and reminding myself of all the love, joy, and peace in this last horrible season for the world.