Imagine arriving in an Evenki village in the Ural Mountains of Russia just days after 13 young people committed suicide.  This was the scene that missionary evangelist Tatiana encountered one cold, fall day.  She had been waiting for the road over the marsh to freeze over so that she could deliver supplies and bring good news to the families of these forgotten Evenki villages. The pain and the suffering that she encountered in this village impacted her so deeply that she determined to eradicate suicide from these remote villages.

According to the most recent available global data, almost 125,000 people commit suicide each year, with the highest percentage being the former Soviet states. Of these states, Tatiana’s area was one of the highest.  Why is this suicide rate across Tatiana’s region so incredibly high?  Hopelessness.  In a region reflective of much of rural Russia, hope of advancement, achievement and success is non-existent.  For many, even hope of survival is absent.

Well into her sixties, evangelist Tatiana from Buryatia, Russia, just north of Mongolia, determined to change this tragic statistic.  Today she is a hero in her region, and well known for her work in the 100 Tent Project.  It is documented that due in part to her tireless efforts among the children and families to bring humanitarian aid, children’s education and the Good News, mass suicide has been eliminated in these forgotten Evenki villages.

The phrase “Made by Edison, Installed by Barnes” was developed out of a relationship sought after by a young man named Edwin Barnes. With no money, no contacts and no natural reason to be offered a job, let alone a partnership, Barnes was so determined to meet Edison that although he had no money, he traveled on the freight train as “blind baggage.” Edison recounts how this young man showed up looking like a mere tramp. Yet in Barnes’ eyes Edison saw a certain insatiable desire to obtain his goal, so he hired him to sweep the floors. Though a long way from his sought after goal, Barnes swept those floors with intensity, unwilling to lose the chance not only to work for Edison, but to meet his influential friends.

Barnes literally thought himself into relationship with Edison. He was not willing to give up on his idea of partnership with this great inventor. His opportunity came two years later, and as is typical with opportunity, it slid in the back door disguised as defeat.  Edison had invented a new dictating machine, and not one of his current associates saw its potential. Except for Edwin Barnes. Barnes saw the potential of this machine to revolutionize the lifestyle of the business executive, and he set about developing his business plan. So thorough was his plan that Edison could not deny him the opportunity, and Barnes made millions on his first partnership deal.

His success can be attributed to these key habits that he consistently exhibited with great intensity:

• He knew what he wanted to accomplish;
• He used the power of imagination to circumvent poverty and other difficulties;
• He was willing to start at the “bottom” in order to gain know-how and exposure;
• He created and seized opportunity;
• He maintained a dogged determination to bring his goal to reality;
• He worked long hours with concentrated focus for many years to get exactly what he wanted;
• He talked relatively little and produced big;
• He was not deterred by ridicule, criticism, setback, or obstacles.

How do you build your dream team? Before considering a new team member, here are a few of the questions I ask:

• Does the person I am considering for my team believe in my ability to succeed?
• Does this potential team member respect me, the vision, and the existing team?
• Do their skills complement mine?
• Is this person emotionally responsible for their intents and their actions?
• Do they have initiative?
• Do they positively energize me and the team?
• Do we have fun together when we dream together?

I want to encourage you to get out your Live Your Dream booklet and take some time to begin working through the questions. Meditate and reflect, and you will see good things begin to happen in your life!  If you don’t have your copy yet, go to my website and download your free “LIVE YOUR DREAM” worksheets! http://bit.ly/1KOOCxR

Ask yourself these questions. Is my dream audacious? Large enough to cast shade for others? Does it challenge me and challenge others to get involved? Is it measurable? Can individuals who are interested find a place to join me on the route to my destination?

Success is for those who go it alone, but we find true significance as we include others in our dream. Remember, you are cutting a pathway through the forest, a highway in the desert for others to follow. You are created to promote possibility, pursue with excellence and synchronize strategies for the hope of humanity!

What questions should you ask as you craft your vision statement? Let’s think about this for a moment. Your ability to attract the talent required to complete your strengths is key in initiating your vision! Why? Your vision statement is where you invite people to participate and associate. A big dream is exciting and provides harbor for like-minded individuals. It is not, however, enough to attract people.  A big dream requires clarity to both convince people of your potential, and initiate confidence that you can be trusted. Not only must your dream make room for others, it must provide clarity! Your vision statement will identify the problem you wish to address, challenge the status quo, and illuminate a direction!

Ask yourself this question: Is my dream clear? Clearly stated goals with well thought out strategic steps will provide clarity and refine your dream for your audience.  A clear strategy requires identifying not only the strengths, but also the possible weaknesses you will face. When others perceive your dream they can realize it with you!  If you can see it you can seize it!

With a dream of 100 tents you would think our friends and associates would have been excited! But in reality, no one on our team in Russia believed. Initially, many Russians thought we were crazy and wondered, who were those crazy Americans?

But we had a vision in our hearts! We did our research and found the facts, we communicated our dream and made plans for the possible delays we might face as we raised the funds for this new undertaking.

By breaking down our dream into logical steps we were able to sustain ourselves in the difficult times. Clarity in your vision statement and in your plans will allow you to move forward when others are still questioning the value of your dream.

Have you ever had an idea that family and friends seemed to think did not fit your future? Get that dream out today, dust it off, refine it and begin dreaming again! Remember, dreams are created a size too big for us to grow into—but with careful planning and execution you will succeed!

I recall when my husband and I wanted to purchase a tent for Eurasia. We were excited because our mentor, Dr. TL Osborn, had been telling the people of the former Soviet countries to purchase tents to help the churches begin new churches.

WOW! It looked like we had an idea from God. But when we met with our mentor his response to us was, “Well, that’s not God.” Then he asked, “How many republics, nations, and regions are there in the ex-Soviet territories?”  We knew the answer to that question was a little over 100, so our response to his question was easy: “We need 100 tents!”

Immediately our mentor responded, “Now THAT’S an idea big enough for God to get involved with!” 

We thought we had a big dream with one tent that cost $25,000, but what we soon discovered was that 100 tents made room for many organizations and people from around the globe to dream along with us! Now, over 15 years later, we have 70 tents in that region and two small factories producing tents! If your dream is big enough, you can make room for others to join you in your dream!

Click here to see our vision now!  http://bit.ly/1U6SI8A

Is your dream transferable? Who else will benefit from the majestic view of your dream? Is it motivational? Do you get excited about your dream? If you get excited others will also!

The following questions will help you clarify your dream by crafting a vision statement that identifies your destination, your purpose and your values. Remember these words: Transferable, Memorable and Motivational.

1. Does your vision statement identify your destination? Where are you going?
2. Does your vision statement define your purpose? Why do you exist? What greater good will your vision serve
3. Does your vision statement convey your values? What principles guide your decisions or actions on your journey?
4. Can your vision be easily captured by your audience?
5. Is your vision memorable? Use action words and succinct sayings to convey your thoughts. Avoid clichés or overly used statements.
6. And remember this. Is your vision motivational? Ask that question. It should be inspiring. If no one is excited about your vision you may not be effectively communicating.

Three things to remember as you continue moving forward with your dream:

Be Tenacious—toward your goal, tenacity is a firm grip on the future you have seen with the eye of your faith and in the heart of your imagination.

Be Gracious—not everyone is with your on your journey! Certainly many won’t believe and some will even question your motivation! Be gracious. You will win them over in the long run, and even if you don’t, the fruit of your actions will prove the wisdom of your decisions. With your actions, remember never to sweat the small stuff that goes wrong or the small distractions from the faithless around you. Stay with God; stay on principle; stay focused; be gracious. Today you can decide: I will be gracious to those who stand in the way of my dream! I will not allow the voice of negativity to halt my dreams!

And last: Be Spacious—make room for others. Include those you want to take along with you on the journey. No one likes going it alone! Dream big enough to include others in your dream. When others realize there is room for them they will join the team. Ask yourself, Who can I include? Are you living in a desert or near the vast ocean of abundant possibility? You may be in a desert, but can you see the Oasis?

Go to my website and download your free “LIVE YOUR DREAM” worksheets!  http://bit.ly/1KOOCxR

For the next two days we will learn the importance of instilling vision in others. I want to look briefly at three words: Magnetic, Magnanimous and Majestic.

Is your vision MAGNETIC? Is it attracting interest from others? Is it drawing resources to you?

Regardless of your socio-economic status, the world around you has extra resources looking to be employed, and your vision will provide a roadmap for those resources and people to travel along.

Ask yourself, What am I attracting to my vision? Is it what I want? Is it what I am expecting?

Your second word: MAGNANIMOUS.  Are you generous of spirit? It will take quite a bit of generosity of spirit, time, and talent to get you to your destination. The word magnanimous means to be royal in nature, noble in character, and capable of gracious behavior. Are you forgiving, charitable? Learn to think like nobility. You will need these characteristics when friends, family, and those you have trusted fail you on the pathway to your dream.

The result of being magnanimous is that you won’t sweat the small stuff…that’s what happens when you know who you are and when you know where you are headed. And you are made for royalty! You are made for DESTINY!

The third word: MAJESTIC. Is your dream memorable? This word asks, “What value will my dream add to others and to society?”

IS your dream quantifiable? What great results do you anticipate? How many people will you help? How much income will it generate? What great issue in society are you addressing?

Personally, I have a goal to feed and educate 12,000 children daily to improve the lifestyle of one billion people through education and training. I want you to think about your goals and then quantify them—be specific!

Go to my website and download your free “LIVE YOUR DREAM” worksheets!  http://bit.ly/1KOOCxR

During our first few months of living in Russia we saw three drunks fall out of buses onto the curb. One day as we were headed to a church to speak, we stumbled upon a man comatose and bleeding in the snow. The sense of hopelessness was overwhelming as we searched for help! Finally, someone agreed to notify the police. How could we head to a church to help people if we were indifferent to the hurting humanity around us?

Martin Luther King Jr. said, “In the end we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

Nothing is more deafening than silence when people turn an apathetic eye towards humanity. But you and I can make a difference in our world. Your actions count!  Today let’s make a decision to help someone we know, someone trapped by tragedy, poverty, or hopelessness without life.

In one of our large events in Africa, we were told by the organizers not to expect to start on time. “Here in Africa the opening night is just a test run where we work out our problems.”

Can you imagine? There are 75,000 people preparing to gather. People are already standing on the field hours before the meetings are to begin! Yet, the expectation of a group of adult men was, ‘don’t worry if we don’t start on time, well, we never do…’ So, in other words, failure is acceptable!

Ask yourself a simple question: Where have I set the standard for my life? Is failure my expectation, or is overcoming the impossible where I set my goal in life?

How would you handle a situation like this, if in just a matter of an hour you were to address this crowd and you had no lights and no sound?

Action was required, so we fired the 30 organizers and asked for 40, 14-year-old male volunteers. Why? They had not yet experienced failure! They would climb where no one else would climb, lifting lights and scaling poles! Are you willing to scale insurmountable odds?

If those 40 boys had not stepped to the line, what would have happened that night? Those 75,000 people who came looking for hope, searching for a miracle, and expecting good news would have left disappointed! http://bit.ly/1ITmciq