This is an incredible, inspiring true story of a young man's dream and stubborn courage. Nicholas Isika left Kenya as a teenager and arrived in the United States with only forty-five dollars in his pocket, but he earned an education at Augustana Academy in Canton, South Dakota. Even then, it was never a given that he would build a career in finance and a successful international business. Much of his success can be traced back to the wisdom instilled in him by his parents, who always told him, "The mind that won't quit through hard times and refuses to sit and wait, but applies action instead, is the mind that will succeed" You'll be inspired by Nick's journey from farming in Kenya to playing an important role in high-stakes business in his adopted country. His perseverance, family values, and intelligence allowed him to learn tremendous lessons while traveling down Rivers of Courage and Doubt.
Rivers of Courage and Doubt
By Nicholas IsikaiUniverse LLC
Copyright © 2014 Nicholas Isika
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4917-3358-5Contents
Introduction, vii,
1. From Kenya to the United States as a Teenager, 1,
What I Learned from My Mom, 1,
Starting School, 8,
Looking After Livestock, 17,
How People Survived in the Village, 22,
Children at Play, 24,
Men and Women, 26,
Mighty Young Kids Working, 30,
The Power of One, 33,
Examination after Four Years, 35,
2. Line Up for Your Dream Job, 41,
Kenya Railways, 41,
Railway Training School, 43,
Thinking of Coming to the United States, 47,
Augustana Academy, 50,
Being in the United States, 56,
Dream Work, 61,
Wanting Something Badly Enough,
Brings No Surrender, 63,
Courage to Come to the United States, 67,
3. Dream and Be Obsessed, 69,
From Nairobi to Manhattan 6, 9,
On A Greyhound Bus, 74,
Who Am I?, 78,
Free Enterprise, 81,
Shining as Parents and Grandparents, 82,
Gathering Family for Final Celebration, 88,
Urgency of Going to See Mom, 93,
Flying Back to the United States, 99,
First Family Visit to Kenya, 103,
Traveling in Kenya, 110,
4. Financial Freedom, 114,
Inspiration, 114,
Opportunity Footprints, 115,
Finding Acres of Diamonds, 116,
Meeting the Corey Family, 122,
The Sighting of a Dream, 125,
CHAPTER 1
From Kenya to the United States as a Teenager
What I Learned from My Mom
I vividly remember growing up in a hut thatched with grass and pieces of wood. My two sisters and I lived there with our parents, and it did not occur to us that there might be anything better. It was a way of life. We played hide and seek every day, even though there was no place to hide. We were hungry to play, so we created our own fun with excitement. Sometimes we got hurt by the poles around the hut, especially me, as my sisters and I played.
My parents and grandparents had a strong work ethic and respect for elders, and they instilled in us kids a respect for our playmates. The most we wanted was to be at peace with our parents and grandparents, because obedience was very important in those days.
The amazing thing, as I look back, was that we all slept on the floor of the hut, except my dad and mom. They made their own bed with sticks that had strings tied across them. In that hut, we also had calves, goats, sheep, chickens, dogs, and cats. When all the animals urinated on the dirt at night, we slept on that. We didn't know anything better, but I wanted more because I hated that kind of lifestyle. I don't know whether my sisters thought beyond where we were.
One thing I recall was that respect for parents and all people was so important, more than anything else I can remember. We were taught in the villages that if you cannot listen to the teaching and be willing to learn it from your elders, you will be worthless in life. Yes, a few kids deviated from the coaching, and they were cast out by the family. Their lives had no direction.
I had two grandmas. Grandma Mary Kamene was on my dad's side. She was so gracious to all the grandkids, and she always wanted me to pray with her. She was a Salvation Army church member but devoted to salvation for her family. Grandma Miriam Munyiva was on my mom's side. Grandma Miriam was different because whatever she said, she did precisely. She always said I was the most loving grandson, more than all the other grandkids. She and I preached early in the morning on the mountains and prayed together. She was a member of the African Inland Church (AIC). Both grandmas, my mom and dad, and the villagers encouraged me to do the best in life and help others who had a dream or a vision in their lives.
Now I understand the simple teaching I received from my parents, grandparents, and the villagers when they said, "Rain beats a leopard's skin, but it does not wash out the spots." Life can challenge us in so many ways, but it doesn't have to destroy our dreams, our teachings, or our beliefs.
Yes, I have gone through many trials and errors. As I have experienced my life, sometimes it feels as if I have tried everything except leprosy. It is enough to appreciate life and learn more so I can pass it on to others.
The more people we are willing to touch in life, the better off we are in our own lives and the better off we are financially. Life is lived only once. The more we live it with love, the better life gets. We are always finding new friends. I have learned how to expand my friendships instead of criticizing others. Do not judge people; no one who is alive is perfect.
For many years, I tried to find out how poor we were in my family. Sometimes we went without food for as long as four days. From day one, we were taught that "family affairs were not talked about in public squares." In other words, family affairs should not be talked about with just anyone, but only with the people you trust, who are your mentors and who are willing to help you or recommend you to someone else who can help. In the twenty-first century, there is no privacy; we let it out to the public square. Eventually, I came to realize we were so poor that "we spelt poor with five O's." That's very poor. My family never talked about how poor we were but instead lived with hope. The hope was in their children that one day they would grow up and make a difference in their lives and in the lives of others.
Even though we were poor, we kids could tell that our Dad, Mom, and our grandparents on both sides loved us and that nothing could separate us. I also had two grandfathers. My grandpa Mbinda, on my mom's side, was a businessman selling refined African tobacco. I used to go with him to the market fifteen miles away to sell tobacco. My grandpa Tumbo was a storyteller.
Grandpa Tumbo was an amazing man. He got the family together from time to time and spoke his philosophy to the all of us. When Grandpa talked, you could hear a pin drop. There were no interruptions. Grandpa Tumbo was a loving and very hardworking man. He loved his entire family, and the tribe liked him because when the conversation got boring, he made it exciting.
Here is one meaning of the word proverb: a proverb is the horse of conversation; when the conversation lags, a proverb will revive it. That was Grandpa Tumbo. He had so much wisdom, more than anyone else I have met. One thing Grandpa Tumbo taught me was to never quit on anything you start as long as it affects people or changes people's lives. Grandpa Tumbo was a man of courage and patience, but he could not stand cowards who surrendered when faced with challenges.
Other grandkids were older than I was and had more advanced reading skills than I had, but every time Grandpa talked I wrote down everything he said. Grandpa Tumbo taught us so much; that is why I am writing this book—to share his wisdom. Grandpa Tumbo taught all his grandkids this: "A roaring lion kills no game." If you have no dreams or passion, or you are not willing to go after your dreams with passion, it is all just talk.
Grandpa's belief was that no matter what we were going through, we should always be learning. Why did I pay attention to Grandpa? Was I an amazing grandkid? Indeed, I was not, but I think I had a vision to serve others, and I did not care about the cost. Here is something Grandpa Tumbo said over and over, and I will never forget it: "One cannot both feast and become rich." We have to be committed to...
