All You Need To Do Is Start
These faces remind me why small beginnings matter.
Three months ago, I made a decision that would quietly change how I viewed giving and how I viewed money. When I started Cloud and Ember back in June, before even launching in August, my heart for this website was not only to speak about faith but to live it. When you read Our Heart for Impact page, you will see what sparked this post today.
The Work Begins
For years my relationship with money has been complicated, particularly when it comes to giving. I often found myself operating from a place of scarcity, as if there would never be enough. Even when I wanted to give, I hesitated, overthinking, analyzing, and worrying if I could really afford to. Growing up in Kenya, I became very aware of the deep disparities around me, the gap between those who had more than enough and those who struggled daily. It shaped how I viewed money and giving, often leaving me unsure of what it meant to make a real difference. Deep down it was a struggle, but I wanted to trust God more with my perspective and finances.
So I made a simple, bold commitment: to dedicate 10 percent of all my discretionary income to an account marked “for ministry.” That first month, I transferred $360 into it. I didn’t know exactly what I’d do with the money. Maybe it would be something for my faith-based site, or maybe something else entirely; however, I felt like I was finally putting my faith in action.
And then… I forgot about it.
A Gentle Nudge
Weeks later, while praying at church, I felt a strong prompting: Do something from a giving perspective. It was as if God whispered, “Remember that money? ” I had to laugh because I had forgotten. The Spirit reminded me in that quiet, unmistakable way that only He can. Suddenly my mind filled with big dreams: community projects, empowerment programs, and even a structure I imagined building one day in Kenya to feed and support families. However, every time I dreamed, I also froze. The ideas all felt too big. I wanted it to be sustainable, registered, and life-changing, yet all that thinking just paralyzed me. Additionally, what kind of difference would $360 really make? I remember standing in the ocean one day with my husband, overwhelmed, and saying, “Why is this so hard? I just want to be a woman with a shack.” A simple image came to mind: a small space where people in need could come for food and care, but even that idea started to spiral into logistics and strategy in my head until I finally heard that quiet, loving correction again: start small.
The Step of Obedience
I decided to do something simple. I reached out to a pastor friend back home in Kenya who had shared stories of local orphans and struggling families coming to the church with little or nothing to eat. We agreed that I’d send $120 per month for three months. It would be a pilot of sorts to see what impact it could make. I told myself this was a time to learn how to give, not just plan to give. What a joy it turned out to be. When the first distribution happened, my pastor sent me a video of people receiving bags of food: maize, rice, and wheat flour, all staples in Kenyan households. I remember watching with tears in my eyes, realizing that what seemed like so little here in the U.S. went so far in Kenya. The money had stretched to feed so many. I felt the Spirit whisper again: See what happens when you just start?
Food distribution occuring after church service
A Changed Heart
That first act of obedience changed something in me. It was the first time I was close to the giving, seeing it, feeling it, and knowing the faces behind it. Each month since I’ve continued, and each time I send that money, my heart grows softer and more trusting. God has been rewiring my perspective on provision. Instead of asking, “Do I have enough?” I find myself saying, “How can I be a blessing?” I’ve realized that generosity isn’t just about money. It’s about alignment with God’s heart, with His compassion, and with His abundance. When we give, especially when we think it’s too small to matter, we step into the truth that nothing offered in faith is ever small.
The Lesson: Just Start
I used to think I needed everything figured out. That I needed the perfect plan, a registered foundation, a structure, a logo, and a strategy. However, God didn’t need any of that from me. He only needed my willingness. That first $360 was never about the money. It was about surrender and learning to trust that if God can multiply fish and loaves, He can multiply my small obedience.
I may not be that woman with a shack yet, but I am a woman with a purpose.
A purpose after God’s own heart brought to life by serving others.
And this is just the beginning.
Worship and dancing occuring after church service and food distribution
Image by Annie Spratt via Unsplash
