I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do. Helen Keller

Fast forward to November 2010 at a Women’s Aglow meeting in Kelowna where I was asked to share about a children’s book I had written called ‘The Story of Henrietta Caterpillar’. After the meeting, a woman came up to me at the book table. She wanted to buy a book for her granddaughter. As she looked at the books, she looked at me and said, “These books would fit nicely in a suitcase to go to Africa.” “Africa?” I said. This lady had caught my attention.

The lady introduced herself. Her name was Karen Barkman and her ministry was Provision of Hope based in Kelowna. Karen explained that “Provision of Hope” is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the poor in Liberia, West Africa. We share the love of God by reaching out with His compassion for the least of these.” “Our mission is to respond to the cries of the ORPHAN, the WIDOW and the REFUGEE by providing food, shelter, clothing, medicine and education for those left hopeless because of war.”

Was this the time? I asked Karen how much it would cost to go. When she told me, I said that I had that amount because a friend had prayed for me a few years ago and said that I should start a bank account because I would be going to Africa one day. And this friend knew nothing about the dream that been hidden in my heart for so long . . .

Karen and I agreed to meet for lunch and discuss this in more detail.