Three Rooms. One Conversation.
In eight days, I spoke in a living room in Kayole, a welfare AGM with former colleagues in Gigiri, and a hotel conference room in Nyahururu.
Different audiences. Different stories. Different generations. Yet everyone seemed to be wrestling with the same question:
How do I remain hopeful, faithful and resilient when life stops going according to plan?
What followed were some of the most honest conversations I’ve had on marriage, career transitions, finances, faith and resilience
And a glimpse into the future of Growth Communities.
Over the last week of May 2026, Mercy and I stumbled upon…
A married couple trying to prepare for the future. A former colleague navigating a career transition. A retiree wondering what comes next.
A young graduate figuring out adulthood. A pastor carrying the burdens of a congregation.
At first glance, these sound like very different people. And somehow, the same conversation kept showing up.
People aren’t looking for perfect answers. They’re looking for honest conversations.
Stop One: Five Couples, One Living Room, Many Realities
Our journey began in a couples group. Hosted by our friends, John and Meg Mutuma.
The setting was intimate. Five couples gathered in a home. One husband joined virtually from Canada.
The original invitation was simple:
“Come share whatever is on your heart about marriage, family, finances and fruitful living.”
Mercy and I chose to speak about something very close to home:
Navigating Transitions/Crisis in Marriage.
We shared stories from our 17 years of marriage.
The joys.
The mistakes.
The near misses.
The seasons when things worked.
And the seasons when they didn’t.
Mercy spoke candidly about our 2015 experience. We both had lost our jobs while raising a newborn baby girl.
At one point, our house was nearly auctioned.
A God-sent consultancy assignment in Somalia arrived just in time to settle the bank arrears.
The room became very quiet.
Not because our story was unique. But because many people had their own versions of it.
The biggest takeaway?
Participants pulled out calculators. And calculated what a six-month emergency fund would look like for their families.
Many admitted they didn’t have one.
Most resolved to start building one.
Stop Two: Itara Welfare AGM — Still Standing
A few days later, I found myself in a very different room.
This time, it was former colleagues and friends from Itara Welfare.
People I’d worked with during my USAID years (2017-2021).
The invitation came through Jane Mwangi, a former colleague. She had followed my blogs and webinars on Still Standing: Thriving Through Transitions.
She believed the story would resonate with the group. She was right.
The conversation shifted from marriage to career transitions.
- Identity.
- Purpose.
- Job losses.
- Reinvention.
- Starting over.
What struck me most was how many people privately approached me afterward.
Not to discuss strategy.
Not to discuss career planning.
But to say:
“I thought I was the only one going through this.”
Sometimes the greatest gift we can offer another person is helping them realize they are not alone.
Stop Three: Nyahururu Couples Gala
Then came Nyahururu.
My younger brother, John and his wife, Maurine Mwaura had convinced their church that Mercy and I had something worth sharing.
Initially, the event was planned as a couples gala.
Then they opened it up to singles and young adults.
By the time we arrived, nearly 70 people had gathered.
- Married for 6 months.
- Married for 34 years.
- Fresh out of college.
- Entrepreneurs.
- Teachers.
- Pastors.
- Retired.
Four generations in one room.
The topic evolved into: Navigating Transitions & Crisis in Life.
And that’s when things got interesting.
The Egg That Refused To Break
One of the most memorable moments involved raw eggs. 🥚
We placed eggs on six tables. Then challenged participants to figure out how to protect them from breaking, when dropped.
The solutions were brilliant:
- Shoes.
- Shawls.
- Serviettes.
- Plastic cups.
- Camera bags.
When the eggs survived the drop, the room erupted.
Then came the question:
“If we can cushion an egg, why don’t we cushion our families?”
That simple exercise became a powerful metaphor for:
- Multiple income streams
- Emergency funds
- Planning ahead
- Family unity
- Faith
In other words: Crisis cushions.
What Crisis Reveals
Across all three conversations, one theme kept resurfacing.
People don’t always control what happens to them. But they can control how prepared they are.
I shared lessons from losing my USAID-funded position, in January 2025.
The shift from boardrooms and project reports to kitchen gardens and school runs.
Photos from my former office life compared to photos of me watering vegetables at home drew laughter.
One participant genuinely thought the images had been enhanced by AI.
I took that as a compliment.
We talked about what crisis revealed:
- Faith
- Priorities
- Marriage
- Relationships
- Spending habits
And what is helping us survive:
- Family unity
- Passive income
- God’s faithfulness
- An emergency fund
- Honest conversations
The Idea That Wouldn’t Leave The Room
One concept generated more discussion than anything else:
- Year 1: Live on 70% of your income
- Year 2: Live on 60%
- Year 3: Live on 50%
Not because deprivation is holy.
But because margin creates resilience.
The idea challenged assumptions.
Inspired action. And started conversations.
The Quote I’ll Remember Most
Many insightful comments emerged throughout the month.
But one idea has stayed with me:
“I am not only a father who provides. I am a father who prepares.”
That statement changed something in me.
Preparation is not fear. Preparation is stewardship.
What May 2026 Taught Me About Growth Communities
Looking back, something became clear.
People are not primarily asking for financial literacy.
Or marriage seminars. Or motivational talks.
They’re asking for something deeper.
They’re asking: How do I navigate uncertainty?
That realization is helping shape the next chapter of Growth Communities.
The emerging focus appears to be: Faith. Finances. Resilience.
Helping people navigate transitions before, during and after crisis.
What’s Next?
In addition to speaking engagements, Mercy and I are exploring a practical mentorship journey.
Working with individuals, couples and small groups who want to strengthen their faith, finances and resilience.
If you’re feeling stuck in a current transition, or simply want to prepare wisely for the next one, we’d love to have a conversation.
Financial Stewardship & Resilience topics may include:
- Family Unity During Crisis
- Multiple Income Streams
- Building Your Crisis Cushion
- Understanding Your Current Reality
- Faith, Stewardship & Long-Term Resilience
- Emergency Funds & Financial Preparedness
The goal isn’t financial perfection.
The goal is preparedness.
Grateful For The Relationships
None of these opportunities came from marketing campaigns.
They came from relationships.
John and Meg opened their couples group.
Jane advocated for the Itara Welfare invitation.
John and Maurine, believed that Deliverance Church Int., Nyahururu would benefit from the conversation.
- Three invitations.
- Three relationships.
- Three conversations.
One message.
Full Circle
Remember the question we started with?
How do I remain hopeful, faithful and resilient when life stops going according to plan?
After three conversations, dozens of stories and hundreds of interactions, my answer remains surprisingly simple:
You may not predict every storm. But you can prepare your home.
And sometimes, that preparation begins with a conversation.
One honest conversation. One courageous conversation. One conversation that reminds you that you’re still standing.
And perhaps, just perhaps, stronger than you think.
Connect
Joseph Ngaara
Storytelling • Faith • Finances • Resilience
Mercy Ngaara
Counselling Psychology • Emotional Wellness • Family Resilience
Interested in hosting a conversation for your church, organization, welfare group, leadership team or family network?
We’d love to connect.
Comment Prompt
What transition has stretched, shaped or surprised you the most?
I’d love to hear your story in the comments. What lesson did that season teach you?
#GrowthCommunities #Resilience #FinancialStewardship #FaithAndWork #MarriageAndFamily #Leadership #PersonalGrowth #EmergencyFund #ThrivingInLeanTimes #StillStanding
I write because people’s stories matter. If yours is ready to be shared. Triumph, tragedy, or something in between, my inbox is open. 📩 j.mungai@hotmail.co.uk
Curious to go deeper? Visit the Home Page explore Growth Communities, or join the conversation on YouTube.
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