All the way to Twenty Seven

 I know there are  so many stories out there, stories about success, about love, about escape, about everything you can imagine. But this is my story. The story of village boy who became so much and is still becoming. I am turning 27 today and I can't even understand how fast I got here. Then I looked at my graduation photo hanged in our house and it all came rushing and I couldn't hold the tears. If it were not for God, let Andrew say. If it were not for God!

I was born in a small village called Kizingo in Dida, Ganze sub-county. Being born fourth but the first son is great but not so great! I grew up mostly with my three sisters and mum - you know this story already if you read my blog. I don't wanna talk about that today. Growing up, there was no exposure whatsoever. The furthest I went was my father's place in Bombolulu - Mombasa. Nothing much there apart from playing in that house with kina Tatu and Mariam and sometimes go to the highway to watch vehicles pass and especially those busses that carried white people. Vehicles fascinated me somehow and white people too. Who knew I would have them as friends and business partners now. God! Those days I would borrow sweets from them as they passed in those busses. As if they heard me - or maybe they did hear me. What! Sorry, I just got shocked that it was me doing that!  Don't ask me a thing. 😅

Well, it wasn't just that there was no exposure. There were no examples too. There was no one around me who had gone to school beyond high school. And you know even in my dreaming I was so confused. I wanted to be a doctor and then a teacher, then a pilot, then so much else. Don't ask how I ended up where I am. You have heard of the grander plan story and divine plan? That is your answer. Oh and I even haven't mentioned the mysterious things like witchcraft and all that...I know you don't believe in these things. You should live in my village for some time. And for real growing up and excelling in my studies was a literal risk. The times they had set up a death trap somewhere and a trap to make sure I get mad or something, are countless. Oh, modern man! You wanna ask how I knew that? Get me on call or over some green tea ( I don't like coffee) or buy me some chicken choma for lunch and I will tell you all about it.😏

In 2016, we had a mission in Bamba with my campus Christian Union (I miss LKCCU), we did some great damage with a few friends. Some damage to the ungodly kingdom. Adelaide and Reuben will tell you all about this story. Jeez, it was crazy. It was some God experience we had never had before and some incredible deliverance of my family. My dad got born again on this day by the way. A story for another day. What I needed to point out in all this 2016 thing is, the damage was so great that some people called on my head. Most unfortunately, close relatives. Imagine that! This story is too sensitive, we will tell it some other day. My point is, God still kept me, He still protected me. 

And even most interestingly, this son of a peasant farmer ( remember your HELB application?😀) still made it here. Poor as my family was (people in the neighbourhood believed we were rich by the way...our house had iron sheets), having had to be sponsored through high school and struggle through campus, here I am. This isn't a story of "nothing to something" yet, God's still doing some work in me but I am grateful.

So, twenty-seven years on this earth, it's not been easy. And you know I only touched on the outside threats. How about those from within? The many times I wanted to give up. The times I wanted to stop and do nothing. The times I wanted to die or kill myself (Yes, I have had such times and so many times). And yet, here I am today. I have learnt that it doesn't get any easier. No. It gets harder and harder but I get better and better every day. I get tougher and braver. I get more resilient and more courageous. Bolder. 

In all of this, God has been faithful. I turn twenty-seven today and more is coming and I have no idea what it is. But as much as it will come, I have confidence in this one Man that holds my tomorrow and He knows it too.