212012

Happy New Year! It’s 212012 for me. I’ve just turned 21 and it’s almost 2012 and I’ve been toying with the idea of writing two posts, one inspired by my friend Brenda and the other by my 21st birthday, and since I’ve not gotten to writing any of them yet, I have decided to combine both posts into one reflective post about the coming year and turning 21. So here’s my 212012.

Turning 21 really shouldn’t be a big deal, but since it’s a life-altering moment where I school, I might as well make a big deal about it. It’s my birthday, I’m turning 21 years old, though most people claim that I’m more mature than my years, and I get asked a lot these days about where I work, how it feels almost being 30 etc. (I’ve now resolved to laugh very loudly at this or take it as a complement, though I’m not sure my family thinks I am that mature, but that’s not the story here…)

So I’m turning 21, and it’s turning 2012. It’s my 212012. What do I hope for? I’m not one to make New Year’s resolutions. I make so many that I either never keep or always forget, and I hence end up making resolutions throughout the whole year. But since ni mwaka mpya, mwamko mpya, mambo mapya, umri mpya, I might as well get on with it.

1. Here’s to continue being my BEST.

Last week, my friend Brenda mentioned how her children would be lucky because she was going to be the BEST mother. I couldn’t agree more. Brenda’s children are going to be one lucky bunch! Incidentally, Brenda reminded me what it means to be one’s best. Like her, I have always believed in being my best at all times, but mostly just in school. Brenda has challenged me to aspire to be my best, the BEST in all other aspects of my life. So here’s to working on being the best sister, daughter, friend, student, Sunday school teacher, colleague, employee, child of God. Here’s to being the BEST Miriam.

2. Here’s to submitting my WRITING to get published.

The first person to encourage me to write was my father…then my professors…then my younger sister…and now my friends. I started this blog to try and make some baby steps into the world of writing, and now, I hope to start crawling in 212012!

3. Here’s to ENJOYING EACH DAY. No more postponing fun!

Mr. Ayiro told me this past holiday to enjoy each day and not to postpone my fun. So here’s to not mourning my childhood or dreaming up my future too much. Here’s to not complaining about my current stage in life. Here’s to living each day, enjoying each day, and rocking my life!

4. Here’s to learning how to WAIT.

Thank you my amazing friends and family who continually keep up with the super impatient crazy me, answer my late night phone and skype calls and give me not very good advice, sometimes…hehe. But you’ll be happy to learn that I am now new and improved like the Harpic Suzanne Owiyo is advertising…LOL…yes, email or call for more details. :)

5. Finally, here’s to faithfully RUNNING MY RACE.

Rant alert! I get this a lot from society, that since I was good at high school, I should be studying something novel, like computational physics I suppose. I’m studying anthropology society, because I want to understand social problems and I want to come up with my own God-inspired innovative ways of tackling them. I’m NOT sorry if you think I’m not putting my brain to good use (maybe I just want to sleep), or not doing something useful for Africa. (God knows many of your doctors, engineers, and economists are holed up in this diaspora). Anyway, I got good grades in those ‘hard’ sciency subjects only because I ALWAYS put in my BEST effort, and my best just turned out to be one of the best. I don’t enjoy, still don’t, maths, physics and chemistry. But I’m being my best every day, and I’m doing it for God, sorry not you, it’s all about my Maker. I’m running the race He’s set out for ME. This time 212012, and for all time, I’m working not to compare myself, I’m not looking out to see who’s in the next lane, who’s doing A or B or C. Some run fast, some run slow…but we all get to our OWN prize at the end, and I personally just want God to be my great reward, not some earthly legacy that moths can destroy. Raundi hii, I’m running my race. And that’s it.

As usual, the overall resolution of my life and motto of this blog, thanks to Peter Ayiro, remains kwa hii life, usikawai panic!

Have a Happy New Year everyone and may God richly bless you!

Walking in a dark world…

Walking into Heathrow Airport, I was faced once again with one of my least favorite developments in airport security: the seemingly numerous full body security checks. This now normal routine, a result of the increased terrorist activities in this world, also reflected the current happenings back home in Kenya—the now normal security checks before getting into malls, buildings, and now even churches. After getting myself checked and while walking into the transit area, one thought came to my mind to reassure me.

Even as the days of this world grow darker, His grace grows even stronger, His light ever more guiding. 

Just as David must have felt writing the 23rd psalm, echoing how his Lord walked with him in the shadow of the valley of the dead, I experienced the same calm assurance; the same unwavering conviction. In that short walk, I knew that even as before, I never walk alone. I have a wandering heart, and often, the feet of my heart yearn to walk. Even then, I am hidden under the shadow of God’s wings, enveloped in the arms of Christ, and guided by His Holy Spirit. Resting in Him, even as the days of this earth grow ever darker, I know I will walk with Him even to the end of the age. But in the mean time, I will face whatever the world throws at me, using each opportunity to cause God’s name to be glorified, be it through co-operating, smiling at the security officers, saying ‘how do you do?’, you name it. Let your light shine before men, even and especially, when walking in a dark world.

When I Leave

When I leave
To enter a new dimension with my Lord
Do not raise up an epitaph in my memory
Do not sing an ode to my praise
Do not uplift my life
And hold a communion for me each year
Forget me forever
Let the sands of time replace my memory
Let the wind blow my ashes away
And time cause my bones to decay
Forget me for the rest of your days
Let me be a happy memory of your past
A past that you must forget  
If you must remember
Then remember that once in this life
Lived an unnamed woman who loved fiercely and lived faithfully
For a man they called Jesus

We are just human

I love reading different blogs just to see what other people find interesting. One thing that I have observed is the theme of friendship. What entails a good friend, what kind of friend you are etc. Also interesting is the idea being peddled around, that some people can’t be our friends because for some reason, they were never meant to be in our lives. I consider this explanation a new age invention created to boost our self-esteem, and make us forget our own weaknesses by placing us on an imaginary pedestal above others.

You may consider someone to have hurt you, to be a terrible friend, to have forgotten to keep in contact with you. Well, before you throw the first stone, think about your own life. I know I am a best friend to some, an acquaintance to others and a terrrible friend to others. That’s why I hesitate to judge, to spitefully claim that God didn’t want some people to be in my life, that they are some sort of baggage that God didn’t intend me to carry. Although this may somewhat be true, it has the connotation that God doesn’t care about these other people, that I am so special that God would pointedly mark some people as not part of Miriam’s life. God loves those other people too, you know. Maybe He didn’t want YOU in their lives.

Consider another scenario: You lose contact someone. You were the one who never replied the text message, or never answered the email. It may be that someone somewhere has done the same thing to you—left you hanging. Hence, you are caught up in the human chain of imperfection. We can’t always be there for each other, we can’t always have a 100 friends of whom we keep constant touch with. I know I can’t. And I’m sorry for it, but I’m not beating myself about it. I’m just human, and so are you. If you are claiming now that your friends have abandoned you, chances are that you have also abandoned some unknown friend somewhere. So relax, don't panic, enjoy your life.

I’ll wait for you? Or not...

I quickly rub my palms against my shirt in a bid to dry my sweating hands, a testimony to the anxiety that had broiled within me from the beginning of the day. The feeling intensifies as I hurriedly walk into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport’s international arrival terminus. Having failed to curse the adrenalin rush within me, I opt for those fake breathing exercises that never work for me. After I confirm that they would be of no use, again, I begin looking for any distraction to bide away time as I wait for her plane to arrive.

The crowd is your usual airport bustle: an older man in a stripped black suit and red tie, probably waiting to be reunited with his now grown up-child; a group of women adorned in the customary blue “Woman’s Guild” PCEA turbans, loudly practising Kikuyu worship songs with my favourite Ngai wakwa ne munene ringing from their throats; and of course, taxi men as I like to call them, lined up in all corners of the terminus while holding various shields with hotel names, surnames, and names of tour companies. And of course, I could easily single out those who fit my stereotypical descripton—thirty-six year old single Kenyan male, fast receding hairline, seeking companionship in a stable woman aged 18-30 leading to marriage.

“Ndege aina ya KQ 778 kutoka Heathrow London imewasili…Flight KQ…” The mechanical female voice tears into my thoughts, bringing me back to the altar of anxiety on which I relented in my self-sacrifice. It’s 9.12pm. Finally, this is it.

***********

I tried writing this story to give to my friend Dush to critic before submitting to Story Moja, but for various reasons, I never finished writing it. However, I read a German book this past month that had the most wonderful quote about waiting, and I would like to share that. The name of the book, authored by Bertolt Brecht, is Der Kaukasische Kreidekreis or The Chalk Circle in English. Here it is:

Ich werde warten auf dich unter der grünen Ulme
Ich werde warten auf dich unter der kalen Ulme
Ich werde warten, bis der Letzte zurückgekehrt ist
Und danach.

In English:

I will wait for you under the green elms
I will wait for you under the bare elms
I will wait until the last one has come back
And thereafter.

So whether you are waiting on the Lord, on someone, on hope, on love, on peace, on the beautification of all things, hold on. Wait. But only wait if God wills it. Otherwise, move on.

True Love gives Glory to God

Dear d,

I’m hardly the best person to be dishing out love advice, but I think I’ve learnt a thing or two. I’ve read your blogs, stalked you on facebook, held you when you cried, and basically heard you rant about the XY species.

My letter isn’t long, but it’s something I’ve been praying about, and something I hope you will learn. I pray that you know that true love gives glory to God. I pray that you meet a man who will love God more that he will ever love you. I pray that you know a man who will pray with you, always. I pray that you love a man who will challenge you to grow in your relationship with God, because he knows that you and God is more important than you and him.

It’s that simple and it’s not that simple. But it can be done. My dear friend Tai did it. She always reminded me that if God wills it, then it will come to pass. At the end of the day, He should reign supreme. Tai taught me so much; she had the clearest understanding of what it means to have a relationship that brings glory to God.

That said, you know that I also have my weaknesses. But I won’t, and I hope that you won’t, settle for less. Let him remind you of Christ. That is all.

And please watch this again!

Love,
m.

Come Thou Fount: Reflections on my last day in Berlin

What an adventure it's been in this country! I could write loads about it, but that's not the point here. #

Whenever I leave a place, arrive at a place, I sing and reflect on my favorite hymn Come Thou Fount. I absolutely love this hymn, and when I was chapel captain at Alliance Girls, I would try as much as possible (without being considered redundant) to ensure that we sang it on the Sundays I was leading chapel. When I listen to this hymn, I reflect on the far that the Good Lord has brought me, to Alliance Girls, to Dartmouth College, to Germany, to His Kingdom. I love this hymn like no other. Every word speaks to my life. So today, on my last day in Berlin, I sing this hymn. Thank you Lord, for the far that You have brought me. Du bist einfach großartig!

Here are the words of the hymn in the English version I prefer (by E. Margaret Clarkson), and a video of me singing the hymn version in German.

Come thou fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing thy grace
Streams of mercy never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise His Name I'm fixed upon it
Name of God's redeeming love.

Hither to thy love has blessed me
Thou has brought me to this place
And I know thy hand will bring me
Safely home by thy good grace
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Bought me with His precious blood.

O to grace how great a debtor  
Daily I'm constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee:
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here's my heart, O take and seal it;
Seal it for Thy courts above.

Tim und Struppi a.k.a The Adventures of Tintin...A Childhood

one of the tintin comics

A few days ago, I watched the Steven Spielberg directed movie Tim und Struppi, known in the English speaking world as The Adventures of Tintin. Because animations don't rank high up in my movie wish list, I was a bit reluctant about going to watch this on the big screen, but since I wasn't paying for my ticket, I decided to tag along. And meyn am I happy I did. Watching this movie almost made me teary-eyed. It took me right back to my childhood...oh nostalgia.

I've read all of the Tintin comics. I honestly don't know if other Kenyan kids did too. Unlike the Hardy Boys and Famous Five--also detective like children's books--Tintin had a special place in my heart. You see, my mother read Tintin to us. To this day, I still remember how she would change her voice, expressing shock, anxiety, suspense and the best part...her Indian accent. I would curl up at the crook of her feet, earnestly listening to Tintin and Snowy nab the bad guy...it was truly epic...

About three years ago, my siblings and I bought the entire collection of Tintin books. Over the years, we had kept losing our comics, and when we got the chance to replace all of our comics, we didn't hesitate. But still, it's not the same. I can't curl up at my mother's feet, I can't go back to being truly enthralled by Tintin through my mother. I miss those days, the Tintin days, the childhood days...

On the other hand, watch the movie if you haven't yet.

Lord Let Me. A Prayer.

Like Miriam, let me sing your praises every day of my life

Like David, let me be a woman after your own heart

Like Caleb, let me yield great fruit and a good report

Like Esther, let me find favor before the rulers of this world

Like Ruth, let me leave everything I know and follow you

Like Daniel, let me stand by you in this broken and dying world

Like my Mother, let me learn to listen to your voice

Like my Father, let me know that you always provide

Like Teacher, let me never panic in this life

Like Tai, let me serve you all the days that I live

And like Jesus, let me do the will for which you sent me to this earth, and to finish it. 

13 Steps to Boost Your Self-Esteem

Nope, these steps don't come from a self-help book. They are from the Sage of Kikuyu, my favorite teacher of all time, a great friend and my mentor, Peter Ayiro! I took these notes on self-esteem in August...I hope you can incorporate them in your life as I endeavor to do in mine.

1.  Hang out with Mr. Ayiro or other person like him? :)
2.  No one can boost or lower your self-esteem until you allow them to
3. Appreciate everybody around you; get used to seeing what’s in other people
4. Genuinely do things for other people
5. Set out to be a blessing to at least one person, everyday
6. Ask yourself what you feed your mind with, because a lot of it goes into your subconscious mind. Take care of what you watch, listen to, read etc.
7. Draw your satisfaction from your own line e.g. I'm a writer, not a painter
8. Make it a habit to genuinely boost the self-esteem of others, although at the end of the day, only they will choose to allow you to do so.
9. Accept that there are things about yourself that you can’t change. Only then can you allow yourself to be vulnerable to people. You can’t be self-sufficient. We all need each other.
10. You’re not that important in this life. You’re just as important as the next person, and even maybe the person next to you is more important than you. When you accept that about yourself, very few things will even bother you.
11. Reach the point where you are at ease even if someone doesn’t say thank you to you, so that whatever else they say shouldn’t matter to you. Essentially, you are not important to them. What they can or can't do shouldn’t matter, because you frame your own world. You wake up everyday and you decide on purpose to have a nice day. Even if you hurt your toe, you still purpose to have a nice day. You wake up in the morning and wear your clothes, and say that the clothes will look good because you are wearing them!
12. Don’t base your life on another person's assessment of you.
13. Let your life be defined by God not by others. Although there are others who can define your life on the basis of the word of God, take care that it’s the people who have the right to do so.

Book of Matthew reloaded

I recently read the Gospel of Matthew in the Message version. It's an awesome translation, and I just want to share some of the amazing words that I highlighted, underlined, and reflected upon. Hope you will do the same as you read them, and also grab yourself a copy of the Message Bible if you can!

chapter 4: 
It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth.

chapter 5: 
You’re blessed when you feel that you’ve lost what’s most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves.

In a word, what I’m saying is Grow Up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God created identity. Live generously and graciously towards others, the way God lives toward you.

chapter 6:
Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. yep, usikawai panic!

chapter 7:
Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them.

chapter 8:
Your cleansed and grateful life, not your words, will bear witness to what I have done.

chapter 10:
Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life—body and soul—in his hands.

If your first concern is to look after yourself, you’ll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you’ll find both yourself and me.

chapter 11:
Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you the real rest. Walk with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn how to live freely and lightly.

chapter 17:
Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am.

chapter 20:
No chance at all if you think you can pull it off yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it.

chapter 26:
But please, not what I want. You, what do You want?

The Best Things I've Enjoyed....So Far :)

Best Tea: Oriental Chai Latte

Best Milkshake: Oreo Vanilla Milkshake

Best Meal: Shrimp Goulash and Naan

Best Iced Tea: Thai Iced Tea

Best Hotel Room: Enashipae, Naivasha

Best Hotel Room: Enashipae, Naivasha

BEST HOTEL Room! Enashipae, Naivasha....

Zum Gedächtnis Der Geliebte

Gib mir Dein Schulter Herr
Lass mich Deinem Thron nähern
Verhüll mich mit Deinem Flügel
Ich weine mich bei Dir aus

Obwohl sie bei Dir ist
Ist sie noch in meinem Herzen
In meinem Gedächtnis
Von Sonnenaufgang bis Sonnenuntergang
Von Ewigkeit bis Ewigkeit

So viele sind bei Dir Schöpfer
Viele die noch nicht die Welt schmeckten
Mein Herz trauert
Meine Augen röten sich

So gib mir Dein Schulter Herr
Lass mich Deinem Thron nähern
Verhüll mich mit Deinem Flügel
Ich weine mich bei Dir aus

Diese Stadt ist soo seltsam...3 Photos von Prague

Thai Massages

Cannabis

Seltsame alkoholische Getränke...ja, drin sind Würmer (worms)

Du (_______)

Du,
Als ich geboren wurde,
Warst Du da.
Als die Luft mir zum ersten Mal hineinging,
Zeugtest Du alles
Papa war nicht bei mir
Aber du warst nah
Du schautest mich in den Augen an,
Bestätigtest dass ich gesund war.
Doch war mein Geburt hart und anstrengend,
Als ob es meine Zukunft voraussagte.
Aber für die eitlen Stunden,
Als die Welt mich empfing,
warst Du da!

Du erzählte mir von Gott
Dein Leben einen Beweis seiner Liebe
Nie vergass ich,
Wie Gott mich liebt.
Du gingest dann weg
Dich um deine eigene Familie zu kümmern
Nur ab und zu sah ich Dich
Aber zwanzig Jahre später,
Erinnerte ich mich noch an Deine Worten
Deine Ratschläge
Deine Liebe für Gott
Ich armte Dich jeder Tag nach
Ja, Du warst noch da!


Die Krankheit kam behindig und unerwartet,
Und plötzlich wurde ich zum Himmel berufen.
An meinem letzten Tag auf der Erde,
Wäschtest Du mein müdes Körper
Als ich eiskalt auf meinem letzten Bett lag,
Kleidetest Du mich ein Hochzeitskleid.
Als Zeichen eines glücklichen Tages,
Die ich nie mehr hätte besitzen können
Zwanzig Jahre später warst Du noch da
Während meiner Uraufführung in der Welt
Während meines Abschieds von dem Leben
Doch, _______, Du warst immer da.

Kultur: Dein größter Einfluss

Vorher hatte ich vor, dieses Post auf Englisch zu schreiben. Aber dann habe ich mich entschieden, dass es kein Sinn macht, mein Englisch anstatt mein Deutsch zu üben. Ich möchte die deutsche Sprache beherrschen. Deswegen soll ich bereit sein, mich völlig zu bemühen.

Ich interessiere mich für Anthropologie, und wie unsere Kulturen uns anders beinflussen. Um meine Meinung gut auszudrücken, möchte ich meine eigene Erfahrungen verwenden: Meine Kleidung.

Wenn ich im Ausland bin, bin ich nie schick gekleidet. Ich trage nur Jeans, ein T-shirt und meine Turnschuhe. Für mich ist Bequemlichkeit wichtiger als ein gutes Aussehen. Aber wenn ich in Kenia bin, habe ich immer Probleme bei der Wahl eines Kleids. Ich kann nicht leicht auswählen, was ich trage. Ich will immer schick gekleidet sein...du weißt nicht, wer dich anguckt. Vielleicht gibt es ein Junge, der an dir interessiert ist. Die Gründe sind riesig. Ich kann nicht gut verstehen, warum ich mir immer Gedanken über mein Aussehen mache. Aber ich vermute, dass die Antwort in der Kultur liegt.

Jede Person hat eine Kultur, in der sie erzogen wurde. Jeder will die Ideale seiner Kultur erreichen. Dieser Prozess ist immer unbewusst. Wir können ihn nicht erkennen. Deshalb bin ich nicht gespannt, dass ich im Ausland nicht schick gekleidet bin. Auch strebe ich danach nicht, Aufmerksamkeit im Ausland zu erfassen. Meine Heimat ist Kenia. Nur in dieser Heimat kann ich fühlen, dass ich etwas falsches gemacht habe, dass ich mein Potenzial nicht ausgeschöpft habe.

Ich weiß nicht, ob meine Theorie für alle gilt. Vielleicht bin ich die Einzige, die auf die Erwartungen anderer Kulturen nicht achte. Allerdings ist es wichtig, unsere kulturelle Erwartungen wahrzunehmen. Daher können wir unsere eigene Entschiedungen ohne aüßere Einflusse treffen. Wir können uns befreien, wenn wir andere Kulturen betrachten, um die versteckte Erwartungen auszugraben. Ich kann meine Träume verfolgen, ohne die "wichtige Karriere" auszuüben. Darum kann ich mich erinnern, dass die Ansicht Gottes am Ende meines Lebens die höchste Priorität erhält!

Wie mein Schreiben irgendwie mit Gott verbunden ist!

Deutscher Fußball!

Vor der Stadion

Heute habe ich ein Fußballspiel gesehen, aber das Spiel war ein bisschen langweilig und die Spieler waren nicht so gut. Allerdings habe ich mich vergnügt, besonders als wir gesungen haben. Ich habe auch einen Bratwurst gegessen und Kakao getrunken, und heute Abend gehe ich zur Russendisko! Ich freue ich mich darauf und darüber. Seitdem ich mich entschieden habe, meine Erfahrung hier zu genießen, habe ich im Eifer und Frieden gelebt. Und gestern, dank meiner Schwester, weiß einen Jungen, dass ich ihn mag! Ahhh...die Welt hat nie so gut ausgesehen....♥

Forgetting God...

Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God. (Proverbs 30:8-9)

'' So what's your name again?''

''Miriam.''

''Miriam..Miriam....that's a Bible name, right?''

''Yes,''

''So, you Christian?''

''Yes''

''Protestant?''

''Yes''

''What church you go to?'' 

''Umm...you don't have it here in Europe..Pentecostal'' (hard to explain my non-denominationality in Germany)

''Ahh, I know it,'' (smile) ''I'm Seventh-Day, do you know them? They have many of them in Africa, right?''

''Yes. Seventh-Day Adventists are quite a number in Kenya.''

''In the US too, but not so many here. My husband is a pastor''

''Wow, that's wonderful!''

''Yes, I work here until Thursday, then I go back home to Poland and I'm in church by Saturday.''

''That's a hectic life...''

''Yes, it is. But I have to earn money. My son is in school, in (mentions town in Poland). Do you know the town?''

''No, sorry.''

''It's near the border to Germany. A big town.''

''So school is not free like here in Germany?''

''No...'' (with bewildered face) ''Very expensive. You include the rent, the food...everything becomes very expensive. In fact, from now I'll start working here every week, not every other week''

''Coming to Germany every week, instead of every two weeks?''

''Yes. I have to support my family.''

Silence

''You know life is very hard in Poland. The people here (Germany) have a lot of money, and then they forget God. I don't want a lot of money. I need my God.''

Why Jesus is the Answer

The question of identity and acceptance torments many people. In my class this fall, I am learning about the Turkish community in Germany, and the general problems that immigrants face while trying to intergrate into the host community. Their challenges mirror the hardships that second-generation African-Americans and second-generation Asians experience when they emigrate to America. It’s the same dilemma that President Obama faced, leading him to author his now famous memoir Dreams from My Father.

In learning about these immigrant issues, I vowed that I would not allow my children to grow up in a foreign country. Since God has given me Kenya, then they must grow up in Kenya, speak Kenyan, ultimately forge a Kenyan identity. I did not see this any other way around. The last thing I wanted was to have my kids growing up unaccepted in a foreign community. But then, something happened.

I attend this amazing little church in Berlin called Christliche Glaubensgemeinde, Berlin (CGG-Berlin). The congregation is international, representing all continents in one small crowd. I love this little place, not just for the Word of God that I receive, but also for the kind of community they have forged. Yes, they have their different cultures, different ideas, but they all share and celebrate one thing—Jesus Christ. And the pastor was very vocal about it, saying how the church loves and celebrates its diversity. And indeed, I have honestly never seen anything as beautiful as the spirit of love and acceptance that flourishes in this church.

I am truly thankful to God for having been at this church at such a time like this. My experience there has reminded me why Jesus must be the answer to the question of identity. When we come together in the Christian faith, we embrace our identities as sons of God. We are co-heirs with Christ, we are part of the Kingdom. It doesn’t matter who we are, or where we come from. Our identities fade in the light of the ultimate identity—that of being seekers of the kingdom, of being men and women after God’s own heart.

When we embrace this identity, we can be more patient with those struggling to understand themselves in a foreign land. If we are struggling with identity, then we will know where to turn to. So ultimately, it won't really matter who we are or where we come from. What matters is that Jesus lives in our hearts. And that is the identity that will really matter at the end of our lives.

Ich liebe dieses Foto!!!!

Afrikanische Königin!

How I didn’t learn how to ice skate.

I’m really not supposed to write anything in English, but I can’t really express myself as well in the language I’m supposed to be using, plus it will take a lot of time, sweat, energy, and I don’t have enough time for even homework…sigh…

Okay, so ice-skating…

I have never gone to Panari Sky Center to ice-skate, I have never roller-bladed. I don’t know how to move my body in the unnatural way so many people can. But today, miles away from home, I went to ice-skate. And…

I didn’t learn how to ice-skate. I fell on the ice three times. Thank God for my padding because otherwise…but I ended up hurting my elbow and I’m in pain right now :/ I relied on the poor girls who had to drag me along the ice and ‘show’ me how it’s done…but in between the language barrier and the different directions, I never learnt anything.

So why am I even bothering to write?

Because I didn’t get an epiphany about not giving up. Quite the contrary. Today, I learnt that when you get hurt, it’s probably time to take a break, to BREATH, to re-strategize, and then to get back on the ice. I’m gonna let my elbow heal up, I’m gonna relax and let go, and then I’m gonna take a ice-skating class when I get back on campus. Yes, one day, I will learn how to ice-skate. I know, sounds like a don't give up speech, but I just wanted to emphasize on the time factor. It takes time, you don't have to do it all at once, or achieve it all today or even tomorrow. Enjoy the journey...BREATH!

CGG Berlin

Ich habe eine neue Kirche heute besucht. Ich habe jetzt den Mut bekommen, diese Stadt zu entdecken. Hoffentlich werde ich vieles nächste Woche machen. Ich widme alles zum Gott.

eine internationale Kirche

die Kanzel

der Saal

der Saal

eine Plakatte und .....ummhh***

12 Grad

Mir war sehr kalt heute. Das Wetter ist schlecht geworden und es hat auch geregnet. Ich habe viel Zeit in meinem Bett verbracht..für persönliche Grunden und ich habe meine Hausaufgabe noch nicht gemacht. Wie gestern habe ich vergessen, meine Zeitung zu kaufen. Glücklicherweise sind wir spazierengegangen und ich habe dann die Gelegenheit ergreifen, die zu kaufen. Später sind wir ins Kino gegangen, um die anonyme Romatiker zu schauen. Dieser französische Film war sehr witzig. Eigentlich der süßeste Romantik Film, den ich gesehen habe. Ich würde allem empfehlen, den Film zu schauen. 

ein Kanal im Tiergarten

der Tiergarten

An der Berlinschleuse

bei Sonnenuntergang

Der Film

Auf dem Markt, Bücher, Altes Museum...Watu Weusi...usw!

Heute war ich auf dem Markt, in einer Buchhandlung und einem Museum. Alles war sehr toll. Ich habe ein typisch deutsches Essen gegessen-Currywurst mit Pommes. Noch habe ich Angst vor einem Selbstabenteur, um diese Stadt kennenzulernen. Aber ich hoffe darauf, dass ich Mut bekommen werde. Wie gewöhnlich habe ich die heutige Fotos. Schau mal und viel Spaß dabei!

Statuen wie diese sind überall Berlin

Blumen auf dem Markt

Hosen...Ich habe an meine Schwester gedacht!

Mein Mittagsgericht: Currywurst mit Pommes. Mayo passt zu Pommes!!!

die größte Buchhandlung, die ich gesehen habe!

Der bettende Knabe, Altes Museum

Die Griechen mögen nackte Körper

Eine Frau, die als eine Gottin dargestellt ist

eine Sphinx

die Graburne, in denen die Etrusker bestattet wurden

Ein Sarkophag

die Nacktheit

Griechische Liebe

ein trauriger Knabe

Watu Weusi: Kwa mara ya kwanza leo, niliona watu weusi wengi sana, mpaka nikasema singesema hakuna watu weusi huku. Kumbe kunao...hehe...

Gott in Berlin-Der Berliner Dom

Der Berliner Dom. Heute habe ich die Chance erhalten, dieses schöne alte Gebäude zu besuchen. Es ist mehr als fünfhundert Jahre alt, und wird jetzt eine Touristenattraktion geworden. Mir fällt die Bibelverse auf, die ich überall in dem Dom gesehen habe.

Der Berliner Dom draußen

Look, I am with you always until the end of time!

The word of the Lord endures forever.

der Altar des Domes

die Gold überzogene Decke

Ich habe eine Kerze angezündet

Der Dom drinnen

Die Decke wieder

God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth

Man shall not live by bread alone

Come and eat

I am going to my Father and your Father; to my God and your God

Ach so! Gott bleibt bei mir bis am Ende meines Lebens!!