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Now it's her turn to have her dream fulfilled

After years of helping others live a dream, she'll live her own in Africa caring for orphans.

By WAVENEY ANN MOORE
Published May 22, 2005

ST. PETERSBURG - For two decades, Cynthia Lake has helped fulfill the dreams of children in America with life-threatening illnesses.

In under two weeks, she'll embark on a new mission. For three months, she will live in Uganda and care for African children orphaned by AIDS.

"I feel that this is something that God has led me to do. This is not some noble thing that I am doing," said Lake, 54, who describes herself as a born-again Christian.

"I've been burdened for these children in Africa for a couple of years and just one day, about a year ago, I thought maybe I could go instead of just give (money)."

Lake is the executive director of the Children's Dream Fund, a local charity that fulfills dreams for children ages 3 to 18 who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. She is taking a three-month leave of absence from her job. Originally, said Lake, she planned to cobble together vacation days and unpaid leave to fulfill her mission. However, the Children's Dream Fund board of directors had a different idea.

"We make dreams come true every day. We felt that the best way to thank Cynthia for her 20 years of service is to make her dream come true," chairperson Debra Faulk said.

"It really comes from the bottom of our hearts. To say that she is a valued employee, I think doesn't express it adequately."

Lake will travel to Africa under the auspices of the Rafiki Foundation, whose mission, according to its Web site, is "to turn helpless children in Africa into godly contributors in their countries."

The foundation was begun in 1985, when two doctors and their wives, assisted by several churches, went to Tanzania to work in the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center and to teach the Bible. The nonprofit organization is based in San Antonio, Texas.

Rafiki Villages, similar to the one where Lake will work, have been established in African countries including Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya. One was just set up in Malawi, while others are being organized in Zambia, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Liberia. A spokeswoman said the villages are considered model training centers that can be duplicated across the countries.

In Uganda, Lake's volunteer work will be with children in the Rafiki Village orphanage and in its day school for teenage girls. She recently completed a weekend of training at the Rafiki headquarters in Texas.

For a number of reasons, the time seemed right for her mission, said Lake, a single parent of three children, two of whom are in college.

"I'm an empty nester and it seemed like a good thing to do when your nest is empty is to go hang out with some kids," she said.

"I think the person who is having the hardest time with this is my mother. She didn't quite get why I was doing this."

That was, until she saw a Diane Sawyer interview during which Oprah Winfrey talked about her trip to Africa.

"That really touched her heart," Lake said.

Lake is responsible for her expenses. Since announcing her plans, she has received plenty of financial support, getting four times as much money as she needs. Her church, Northeast Presbyterian, has been particularly supportive, she said. Her Sunday school class held a car wash as a fundraiser.

"People were very generous," she said. "I needed $4,000 for airfare and my visa and my time over there."

Everything over the amount she needs will go to the Rafiki Foundation to help the children, Lake said.

Thursday she took time off from her job to prepare for her mission. Her list of required items included sunscreen, mosquito repellent - with DEET - malaria pills and enough coffee to last for three months.

"My coffee is essential," she said. "I've already figured out that a pound of coffee lasts me two weeks."

She also is shopping for appropriate clothing, buying the advised dresses that cover the knees and forgoing pants.

She is anxious to get to Uganda.

"I heard the other day that every 60 seconds four more children become orphans in Africa and by 2010, they expect to have 30-million orphans in Africa. Can you imagine? My heart breaks. For three months, I would just like to help in any way I can."

[Last modified May 22, 2005, 01:07:21]