28/05/2025
UNFOLDING THE PAST - ONE STORY AT A TIME.
[ONE STORY AT A TIME - 1]
Go back with me, and it is 2004, I am in high school, 1st year, barely three months, January to April, the 1st term is done, my parents (My mom, and her co-wife) work so hard to pay my fees, but the second term, they had no idea if they will manage it, as always the doubts I had about being able to finishing school was looming over my head and over the two women who wanted so bad for me to just be called a high school kid or student. I was the first in three generations to step into high school, so it was a big deal for my entire family for me to be in a high school attire, it was an achievement, but that dream was getting torched by the elements of poverty, lack and scarcity of resources in every way you can imagine.
Fast forward the 2nd term of 2004 my 1st year of high school begins, and it is the month of June, I get to be sent away from school for lack of school fees, I knew this was coming, I though was young, hopeful, but I also sceptical too, what shall become of my dream to finish high school. Hence this picture here comes in handy.
This woman praying for me here is the pastor who buried my father in 2015 Isaac, when he passed on suddenly by heart attack, and she is still the pastor of my mother, she is Bishop Phoebe Onyango, she has some real powerful stories about God that will amaze you if you ever could come close to her, have had the privileged of seating under her leadership and teachings and I am forever thankful to God, He got me when I was young near this woman of God. (Her preaching in Luo is deep, really the word of God comes to life)
So many year back, not that long, 2001, in grade 6, I was introduced to Bishop Phoebe, as one of the students in the school she had started called Salem primary school, and I knew her as someone helping the needy, and poor people by helping them with school fees or taking them to her school, I had been discipled under her ministry from 2000 to 2003 until I finished and went to high school in 2004.
But in the second term when I lacked school fees I remember that I know someone who truly cares about kids just like me, who come from poor backgrounds and might get opportunity to be educated if there is money and a chance, that day in the evening I went to the church after school, and went to find her, but Gods on opportunity and connection, I found her seated at the pulpit chatting with someone of the school students from Salem orphanage by then, I greeted them, and introduced myself, to which she told me that she knew me so well, that I did not need more introduction.
Fast forward, I asked her for school fees for that term, and without hesitation she ask me, how much is the fees? and after I told her, she grabbed her kibeti (Handbag) and gave the whole term fees, 4500 kenya shillings ($37) and she said told go pay it and be at peace, I could not believe my eyes, and mind, but thats how God provided for my 2nd term of 1st year of high school in 2004, just before Ndoto: For Africa's Future would come in and help take me through the whole high school and university, It is how God works.
I wrote this story for one simple lesson in life, do forget the people who helped you at the time when you were nobody, and had nothing, when you knew nothing, and that the moment you have became a 'thing' and think now you are some kind of person in this life, do not look down on them, or forget how God used them to help bridge a gap, and connect you to where you are now, we are because of what God has done through others to bring you or me where we are today.
It is 21 years now since Bishop Phoebe helped me, yet every time I meet her, I remind her, of what she taught me, and how God used her to help me keep going on with my education, something that my own parents could not have done, (Even my own parents did not know where my school fees came from that term) But God used Bishop Phoebe Onyango to keep me going when I could not, and when my own parents could not, and I never forgot.
Lastly, last Sunday I took my mom, and brothers to go and seek blesings from someone who taught me God's word when I was in my youths, and in my teenage years, she invested spiritually in me, and God put it in my heart to also honor her, something which I had to do before I made I huge life move away from my home kind of for long-time, the bible says, In Hebrew 13:7 "Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith."
Allison Schlack Dave OwangoDavid Waine OnyangoJanabi Isaya Mzee Calvin OtienoClinton Okoth Phenny Gloria Hadassah Chogoo Rooted GENE Pst Moses Zeddrick Zeddy Calvin Otieno Sammy Zain Joshua Adenga John Seale
