A Little Cloud - A Great Rain

If you have been reading any of my blog posts thus far you know that I am in a pressing situation at the moment trying to raise funds for my studies and living expenses in New York while studying at the New York Film Academy. In this post I want to tell you some great things that I have witnessed throughout this stressful time and also share some encouragement.

Well, at this stage of the year I was hoping that all my financial obligations for this NY journey would have been met, but alas they have not. Three weeks ago, when I realised that I'm cutting it pretty close, I had a choice to make: either sit down and wait for God to do a 'miracle' or actively use my brain and exhaust all the resources available in order to accomplish this mammoth financial task. The former is easy and assumes that you have faith while the latter is a lot more difficult and proves that you have faith in God.

"For as the human body apart from the spirit is lifeless, so faith apart from [its] works of obedience is also dead." - JAMES 2:26 (AMP)

So I took the difficult step and started Project 177 which I blogged about in my previous post. However, with little time left it hasn't all been a smooth emotional and mental journey to undertake. Until this past Sunday, that is. 

Early in the morning while sitting 'backstage'at our church I distinctly heard the spirit of God telling me that I need to get rid of my beggar's mentality. While our pastor was busy preaching on key life principles from Romans 8, God was dealing with me simultaneously on a very personal level. At first it seemed as though He was telling me that I shouldn't approach people for contributions to fund my study, but then as I sat there listening, it became more clear to me.

It is so easy for us as people to have an apologetic attitude when something good happens to us or when we are blessed with success. It's almost as though we don't know that we were actually created and destined for greatness so when it happens we don't know how to react. The first emotion that society teaches you to have is that of humility or, should I say, false humility! This is exactly what God was dealing with in me on Sunday morning.

There are two distinct things that got me during this little meeting on Sunday: 

1) "Stop apologising for my blessing!"

2) "If I didn't keep heaven's best from you when I sent Jesus, then what is money that I may keep it from you"

The second one is actually taken from scripture (paraphrased a little) and the first one was actually a direct reprimand to me. Where do we get off feeling sorry for ourselves when God blesses us with his favour and with good fortune and with success? Yes we might not deserve it, but hey we get it anyway. The cool thing is that we need to realise that because God has blessed us, other people around us are automatically also blessed. You are blessed to be a blessing so there is never an opportunity where you need to put on a beggar's mindset and feel you don't deserve the blessing. Receive God's blessing with boldness and joy because there is something that God wants to do through you with that blessing... It NEVER ends with you!

The thing I changed in my mind immediately was the notion that people are paying for my tuition or getting me educated. I am EXTREMELY grateful for everyone who has supported me financially and those that continue to do so, but I have realised that God is the source. Even if He uses people, He is still the source and that glory will NOT be shared with anybody. Thank, honour and respect people, but never think in your heart that it is people who get you where you need to be in life.

By now you might be bored or very intrigued. If it's the former then tough luck because that concludes only my introduction. What I really want to divulge since my previous post is the mighty hand of God that has been working in my financial situation. I am not where I need to be with my obligations as yet, but I have no doubt in my mind that all my needs will be met.

From the day that the very first person deposited money into my account, this scripture has been ringing in my 

heart 1 Kings 18:41-45 (NLT):

⁴¹ Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go get something to eat and drink, for I hear a mighty rainstorm coming!” ⁴² So Ahab went to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and bowed low to the ground and prayed with his face between his knees. ⁴³ Then he said to his servant, “Go and look out toward the sea.” The servant went and looked, then returned to Elijah and said, “I didn’t see anything.” Seven times Elijah told him to go and look. ⁴⁴ Finally the seventh time, his servant told him, “I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea.” Then Elijah shouted, “Hurry to Ahab and tell him, ‘Climb into your chariot and go back home. If you don’t hurry, the rain will stop you!’” ⁴⁵ And soon the sky was black with clouds. A heavy wind brought a terrific rainstorm, and Ahab left quickly for Jezreel.

Elijah saw a miniature cloud and told his servant, Ahab, to tell the leadership about the coming rain. In other people's mind's it might not seem enough to justify rain because everyone wants God to show them a HUGE sign, but Elijah saw a cloud as small as a man's hand. This cloud was by no means the miracle, but it was a 'sign and wonder'of the miracle that was to come i.e the terrific rainstorm. 

Similarly, i see the same daily, I wake up with a couple of deposits for R177 reflecting on my account and it doesn't seem like much, but this is just the cloud. Other clouds that I have witnessed is that, just yesterday, the New York Film Academy has decided to increase my scholarship from $4000 per year to $10 000 per year. No that was not a typo! Additionally, I was approached by a friend who freely offered to contribute $300 per month toward my living expenses. These are just signs and wonders that assure me that God has been in this from the very get go. It also excites me to see that I have grown so much in faith that I can trust God for these  great amounts of money.

There is about two weeks left for me to meet my targets and pay all outstanding fees in. I would like to ask you to continue to share Project 177 on Facebook (facebook.com/project177), Twitter (twitter.com/project177), Youtube (youtube.com/project177), and the latest addition IndieGoGo (indiegogo.com/project177). Project 177 has managed to raise $3000 so far. Thank you once again to all that have helped out so far and all that will still contribute in the future.

I think there is a lot of good news that can be taken from the stories I have told, but this testimony is not even complete. In two weeks time I'm going to have one of the coolest stories to share so check back in then.... or earlier... you never know!

Thanks peeps!

I'm Back

So after months of no postings I think I am back and that I am back for good. I won't even try make excuses for why I haven't been blogging because the honest truth is that most the time I have just been lazy. This time though I am a man on a mission and through this blog and my other social media sites I am hoping to accomplish a great feat.

In about 7 weeks'time I need to board a plane that is headed to New York City, but there are millions of things to do before I can do that. One of the major things that still need to be done is sourcing complete funding for my tuition, accommodation and living expenses. All together that is approximately US$60 000 for one year.

Enter Project 177. If you haven't heard of Project 177 you need to be more active on social media sites and look it up. The premise of this project is that if I can get 1000 people from across the world to contribute R177 toward my studies then that would cover my entire year's tuition. Another aspect, although wishful, is that if 1000 people could contribute R300 then that would cover both my tuition and accommodation for one year. So if you are reading this blog I ask (but more earnestly expect) that you share this through every social media network on which you are active. I have no doubt in my mind that somehow, somewhere, some way, 1000 people can join and rally together for this one cause. I mean who doesn't have R177 to donate?

As time draws closer for my departure to the Big Apple I will definitely be blogging more. I will especially be blogging a lot more when I'm actually in the Empire State because I think it will make for a much more interesting read. From my days in class to tours of the city... expect to read it all here!

In other news, I am so happy to actually mention that numbers 3,5, 6,7, and 8 are all either accomplished already six months into the year, or are ongoing successes.

Looking forward to many more interesting posts, especially from New York City.

Adios

PROJECT 177: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Project-177-1000-for-Arts-Education/106284699467386

A Lot of Little Victories...

So I haven't logged that many posts in this month, but to be absolutely honest there was nothing newsworthy to blog about and if I were to put something up it would have been a waste of your valuable time which you could never reclaim (me neither for that matter).

Today I have a little bit of an update and some encouragement for those that might need it. Well the vision I listed out in my previous post seems to be coming together pretty well, especially the financial aspects:

1) I am a week or so away from starting at my new job which I am ever so grateful for. Its a great retail store to work at and the salary is pretty good as well.
2) I just got word that I have been approved for a $8000 Merit-based scholarship at the New York Film Academy. How cool is that!? I still have a lot of fundraising to do but this is a MAJOR help which I am truly grateful for!

Life is very funny! The year is barely a month old and I am sure that nearly all of us have felt disappointment or some sort of minor depression after receiving bad news or not having achieved what you thought you should have by now, but you know what? Ease up on yourself! Set out everyday to accomplish certain tasks and get them done and rate your performance/achievement on your completion of necessary tasks. When other things are out of your control the only thing you can do is wait and, while you wait, pray and meditate on goodness. Stress does absolutely nothing positive for you and you will not gain a single thing from it. So, in actual fact, you are wasting your time if you are in constant stress! Remember that you attract things to you so if you wake up every morning with a smile on your face and a spring in your step, you're probably going to be greeted with the same on a constant basis!

Anyway, the first month of the year is almost done and you have kind of got the idea of what you're doing now so I suggest that you set out to make everyday this year better than the day before. Be more productive. More stress-free. More you. If I can do it then ANYBODY can, trust me!

Good luck!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

If my calculations are correct, the entire world population across all time zones should be in the year 2011 and thus this would be the perfect opportunity to wish you all a HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope this year will bring nothing but great joy and that all the dreams you have will be accomplished through the following twelve months.

As you already know, one of the biggest things happening for me this year is my relocation to the Big Apple and studying again. The reality that I am actually leaving my beautiful country struck this morning at 00:01 as soon as my speech changed from "I'm studying the New York Film Academy next year" to "I'm studying at the New York Film Academy this year". Amazing what a matter of minutes can do to ones perception of circumstances.

This year I have taken a bit of a breather from writing an extremely detailed goal and vision plan for the new year and have decided to keep it simple. I have written a list of a about nine things that I want to have accomplished at the end of the year and I think that they are challenging enough to keep me on my toes and yet not so outrageous as to make me feel like I'm running a treadmill the entire year - with no emergency stop button.

I was against the idea of putting this list up online, but you know what? What the heck!

1) Source complete funding for NYFA tuition and living expenses in NYC.
2) Maintain top top grades in the Musical Theatre and Film program.
3) Work out at least 4 times a week.
4) Join a tennis club.
5) Develop more as a worship leader.
6) Develop stronger keyboard skills: Improvisation, Sight reading, Ear Training, Strong left and right hand.
7) Build relationships and invest in all the homecell leaders' and members' lives in my leadership structure.
8) Find a temporary job/source of income between now and my departure for NYC.

The last one is the most challenging as that is what kept me busy the entire year of 2010 with little luck, but I believe I sowed the right seed last year and 2011 is time for me to reap. I know all these goals are achievable and I right them plain so they can encourage me daily and keep me driven.

Let's have a rocking 2011 and never give up even when we knocked down! There will be many challenges on the way, but we are more than conquerors! Someone wise once said the following:

"WHEN YOU FACE A SETBACK, DO NOT TAKE A STEP BACK BECAUSE GOD IS BUSY SETTING YOU UP FOR YOUR COMEBACK!"

Be that comeback kid!!

The Low Down

So I have spent about the entire year trying to figure out what I am meant to do with my life and I finally figured it out: I'm going to be an actor. It's been a year of highs and lows, but the biggest high was the day that I realized that acting was a step in the right direction. I researched performing arts schools around the world that could help me achieve this goal of mine and I finally stumbled upon the one I consider as one of the best - The New York Film Academy. I applied and auditioned and, behold, I have been accepted!

I will use this blog to share everything I have to still plan and complete between now and when I board that plane to New York City. There are still 8 months to go so there is bound to be a lot of interesting things to happen along the way. I will also chronicle all my adventures when i reach the Big Apple and throughout the duration of my two year program in Musical Theater and Film. After that, I hope to be very busy booking stage productions, TV shows and movies, but I hope to still have time for this blog.

One thing I also hope to achieve through this blog is a documented growth in my skills and talents between now and upon completion of my program.

The title of this blog is based on the national ethos of the United States commonly referred to as "Chasing the American Dream".

In the American Dream, first expressed by James Truslow Adams in 1931, "life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement" regardless of social class or circumstances of birth. 

It is with this notion that I am going to enter the US. I know many people have gone and failed, but I also know that many have gone and succeeded. I know that I will reap what I sow, and I plan to sow very sparingly throughout the program and my time in the US.

Hope you enjoy reading my blog :)