Category: Students and Youth Ministry

I sighted Sabina stumbling towards the finish line, where I was handing out the winning cards at the 2015 Yei Students’ Marathon last October in South Sudan and was pained when she eventually collapsed,  some 15-20 meters from the finish line.

Screams in various cords and calls of, “Get up! Get up!! Get up!!!” from sympathizing onlookers charged the Square as Sabina lay there, motionless.

Someone rushed to pick her up, but I protested; as we all watched with much concern.

She would have been the 8^th girl across the line had she managed to maintain her unsteady steps for just a few more seconds. By the time she recovered, lifted off the ground and stumbled across the line, she’d missed the last scholarship position. Ten slots were at stake for girls. She came in 14^th.

I didn’t know how strongly she contested for the laurel until I looked through the pictures; thanks to a masterful work of photography done by a dear disciple.

From the shots, I observed that Sabina led the girls for most of the race. But something began to go wrong about 500m to the finish line.

 

She’d blasted off the start line with others chasing…

Sabina was fast, she led early and far into the race. But the Race of Life, like this Marathon, is not about speed.

It’s worthy of mention that this other girl, seen here running beside Sabina, eventually won the first position. They tagged along for quite a bit.

At this stage, Sabina began to slow down. Something was wrong. The official seen in the photo was encouraging her… offered some water to cheer her but…

Sabina stumbled to a fall with the finish line just steps away. She lay there for a few seconds that seemed like hours… as other girls ran past her.

Sabina, gutted. Inconsolable. Medical attention couldn’t assuage the shame, nor stop the tears. It was over.

What happened to her? What kind of help did she need but didn’t get? What could she have done better?

Finishing strong has always been one of the key lessons from these marathons over the years. This one carried a heavy punch.

I went in search of Sabina in her school and found her. In the presence of her Headmaster, I asked what happened during the race.

“As I approached Freedom Square (where the race ends), my head began to ache very badly and I struggled so much to maintain my balance. Eventually, I fell and it became so hard to get up from there, but I managed to…”

This girl is definitely a talented athlete but needs coaching. I encouraged her, assured her of my support, invited her to the Winners’ Party and then, gave her the news she wasn’t expecting.

“I’m going to give you the scholarship you missed.”

 

She was beside herself with joy. Despite her obvious shyness, she couldn’t hide her excitement. I’ll not forget her jubilation and the many thankful remarks.

Grace will always provoke heartfelt worship. That’s what God desires and deserves.

Sabina got off the ground and claimed the 14th position that meant absolutely nothing to her. But she won my heart by just finishing.

Mambo Paul’s testimony of this same Race was different.

He came 6^th among the boys and told the story of his struggle and awesome determination to win something at this Marathon.

“As I was going to the Freedom Square to participate in the Marathon that morning, I hit my big toe on a stone and hurt it very badly. When I arrived at the Freedom Square, I immediately went to the medical team for treatment. I was very sad that I’d not even started the race and I’m already injured. But I determined to run, though I felt I might not make it because of the pain from the wounded toe.”

“Soon after the race began, at the Red Stage, I hit the same toe on a stone again and blood was flowing freely from it. I think because I was among the race leaders at that point, I felt encouraged to endure the pain till the end…”

“I was thinking of the scholarship as I ran. I don’t have anyone to pay my school fees, so I had to really struggle to make it…”

“If you were not among the front runners, would you have continued when you injured the same toe a second time?” I asked.

“I don’t think so sir.” 

Mambo’s toe was still in plasters as we celebrated at the Party one week after the Race. 

At the Winners’ Party, I used these two stories to underscore the reoccurring lessons of the Race of Life.

Like Sabina, we may tire-out, faint or fall; tripped-up by some internal or external injury, feel the shame of being grounded and seemingly left out or surpassed by others.

Nevertheless, like Mambo, we must determine to rise above our present setbacks or pains, and finish the race of life set before us.

Enduring till the end is far more important than the beginning and everything else in-between.

With our eyes always set at the end… the big picture, the Lord Jesus Himself as our Ultimate Prize, we can finish well. They got the message. 11 of 18 winners that attended the Party gave their life to Jesus that afternoon.

 

May their faith stand the test of time. May these tender steps make an eternal difference, beyond our wildest hopes and prayers.

Even so Lord!

The preparation for this year’s marathon was somewhat haphazard, on account of my late arrival to Yei. The errors of last year’s event were still haunting the organizers.

I missed the 2014 edition. Ebola kept me away.

On my arrival, I decided to reestablish the importance of prayer when I realized the team was struggling. With the right motive, prayer never fails. We spent time praying.

When one of the team members suggested we take a day to fast and some agreed, that was a special moment for me. The burden was lifted.

Then came the day of the race. 243 students had registered to participate from 10 schools. Sadly, five schools pulled out. The school administration of one felt undone from last year’s race and was still seething, while the others failed to motivate and mobilize their students.

Interestingly though, some schools hired top athletes from a particular primary school to represent them. Their desperation for the Trophy spoke volumes. This was no ordinary race. We promptly eased the mercenaries out of the line.

The trophy, a new one, donated by Rev. Yemi Ayodele from the USA was named The Mayor’s Trophy. It would go to the overall winning school, with a cash prize of 4000ssp ($215). The school in second position would get 1000ssp and the third 750ssp.

The usual prizes for the students: Medals- 1^st to 3^rd, Certificates- 1^st to 10^th, one year tuition scholarships- 1^st to 10^th (for 10 boys and 10 girls) and cash prizes- 1^st – 3^rd were ready to be won. Who would it be? Who are these 20 students God is sending our way for another year?

The presence of the Mayor of Yei Municipality, the new Honorable Commissioner of Yei River County, the Police Commissioner for Yei River County and other honorable guests added color and worth to this event.

The current economic difficulties in the nation made the 20 scholarships much more precious. Many students lamented when it was rumored that this year’s marathon would not hold. This was no ordinary race for most of them. They aimed for the prizes but they would be our prize.

As soon as the rules were read and all other formalities concluded, the girls set themselves in line to run first, before the boys. The tension was high. 

My concern was their safety, but each time it flashed across my mind, the Lord would assure me, with a peace that could only be from Him.

The boys ran off with a shout before the girls began to arrive.

To the surprise of many, the first girl at the finish line didn’t look anything like an athlete. Wait for her story in the coming updates. There’s a lesson she taught us.

Yei Girls Secondary School won the Trophy. Though they had only one girl within the first 10 positions among the girls, their strength was in their numbers, as they secured more points in the end. They came as a team, aimed for the trophy and took it.

Four of the 20 winners this year were winners last year. Their joy was a notch higher than the rest. We’ve marked them and will concentrate our discipleship efforts on them; praying that a sports coach with a Kingdom vision from somewhere will discover them.

Five of the 20 winners from last year who were not eligible to run this year because they are final year students, volunteered as organizers of this year’s Marathon. They identified fully with the vision of this race and made me really glad.

In the end, this Race of Life- edition 5 had rich lessons we’d be reflecting on for some time to come.

Since the first Marathon in 2011, we’ve connected with 79 winners, who received scholarships for a year. 55 of them are born again now. And growing in the Lord. Some are currently members of our local church here in Yei.

The Winners Party (a gathering of all previous and present winners) comes up tomorrow 8^th November. We’ll be casting the vision of this Marathon, teach on The Race of Life and certainly have a blast of raw fun.

Enjoy the photos.

Rev Yemi Ayodele presenting the new Trophy to the Mayor of Yei Municipality.

 

The Students preparing for the Marathon. This was no ordinary race.

Rev Yemi Ayodele inspecting and connecting with the students as they prepared. This was no ordinary race.

Uche, setting the prizes in order. This was not an ordinary race.

 

The girls waiting for the whistle. The tension was high.

 

As usual, they all took-off in high spirits and with a dash

 

As they ascended the first hill, the possible winners began to separate themselves from the crowd.

 

Some arrived the finish line with a broad smile. This was no ordinary race.

 

Just 10 meters from the finish line, she fainted and others passed by to win the prizes. This was certainly not an ordinary race.

 

It was grueling but the medical team was equal to the task. It was no ordinary race.

 

Some fell by the wayside and had to be carried 

 

They missed the prizes but were not left alone. This was no ordinary race.

 

While some were congratulated, others got much needed comfort from friends. This was no ordinary race.

She took the 1st position.

 

Their joy was our joy. It was not an ordinary race.

 

Yei Girls Secondary School won the Mayor’s Trophy.

 

Students of Yei Girls celebrating their well deserved victory.

 

Victory has many siblings, relatives and friends. Yei Girls and the crowd in joyous mood.

 

Yes!!! He won the 1st Position. It means so much. This was no ordinary race.

 

1st Position!! His friends would carry him home on their hands and heads… with JOY

 

Uche having a private moment with the 20 winners after the marathon

 

The County Education Director made a remarkable speech, motivating the winners and encouraging the others.

More photos with their stories later…

God honors obedient small steps of faith with little displays and increments of the anticipated future that propels us to tenaciously pursue the vision He’s graced us with.

Back in 2008, it was Mubarak. He was a secondary school student. His story is told here. Getting across the borders with the gospel in the Nuba Mountains, for his Muslim people was not negotiable. Even if it meant death.

Then there was Mahadi Kuku, whom I met when he was a student here in Yei. His story is told here. He’s also chasing his dream-  planting churches and reaching the lost among his vastly unreached Muslim peoples in the Nuba Mountains.

Now, here’s Santino Kenyi. Currently a student of Nehemiah Secondary School in Yei. This young man is undoubtedly gifted with the grace for long distance running. In his first attempt in 2012, he came 3^rd. He has come first twice in a row now.

Sharing his testimony last Sunday at the 2014 Mini-Marathon Winners’ Party, he said, “In 2012 when I ran this race for the first time, I didn’t believe the organizers were serious about paying school fees for the winners… but my friend in school Angelo convinced me to run. That year he came first and I came third… When they paid our school fees, I was so happy and surprised. I began to take this race serious…”

Sometime this year, Santino heard of a national sports event in Juba and traveled on his own to participate. Though he was poorly kitted and not prepared, he shocked himself and the crowd, winning the second position.

He said a sports official in Juba asked him, “How is it that you, coming from down there (referring to Yei, which compared to Juba is not as developed) took the second place?” He told them of the Mini-Marathon organized in Yei for students and how he discovered his talent from there.

A man he’d never met, who was moved by his success gave him money on the spot to get an International Passport and thereafter, a flight ticket to travel out for another sports event.

Fighting back tears of joy he said, “When the man gave me the ticket, immediately I remembered what Daddy (Rev Yemi Ayodele) prophesied during the Winners’ Party in 2012, that some of us will be given tickets to travel to many countries because of this marathon. I couldn’t believe it was coming to pass for me… This marathon has changed my life.”

That’s what we see. Transformed lives, discovering their purpose under God, chasing it, making Him known and changing the destinies of others through it.

Representing South Sudan and even winning laurels are not the most important things for Santino. He’s beginning to appreciate the blessing of knowing Jesus in a personal way and relishing the joy of telling others about Him, using the ultimate race, the Race of Life, as his guide.

We’ve helped Santino ignite the wick in his life but the most important ingredient is the oil and that, he must have in abundance if this light will glow and last.

Our responsibility to him and other youths like him, is discipleship. We cannot afford to release them into the world of sports without anchoring their souls in the truth the gospel presents . This is where we need help.

My time with him and others like him here in Yei is seasonal and limited. Anyhow, I’m making the most it.  God, in His mercy and wisdom, continues to gift us with little peeks of the anticipated future, of the ministry He has saddled us with.   

This land is awash with raw talents like Santino. See other stories here, here and here, from past Marathon events.

 If you are interested in discipling or coaching a few, for long-term or short-term,  let’s connect . The future is as bright as the promises of God.

I received the invitation to speak at the Inauguration Ceremony of the new Exco members of Yei Girl’s Secondary School Scripture Union last weekend with delight. I didn’t know what to expect.

Excitement was in the air when we arrived at the school. It was refreshing to learn that the Scripture Union members of this secondary school had planted a Junior Scripture Union fellowship in a neighboring primary school last term.

The elected leaders (the first) of that primary school were to be commissioned along with some of the secondary school fellowship leaders that led them to Jesus, at this Ceremony.

I observed with joy that some of the fellowship leaders in this secondary school were in the leadership of the primary school fellowship that sparked the fire I reported here exactly 3years ago.

This is what we work in the schools for. The message of fruitfulness we press these youngsters to embrace is yielding. Praise the Lord!!!

At the end of my exhortation, 12 girls stood up to make a decision to follow Jesus. I promptly asked them to pick their stuff and meet me outside immediately. I needed to hear of their struggles, encourage them and pray with them.

As we left the hall of meeting, some other girls seated behind, near the exit, giggled scornfully.

Under the shade, I praised the girls for taking this bold step and encouraged them with few more words to continue in the faith, stressing the essentials.

When I asked if anyone had a question or challenge we should pray about; everyone had something to say.

The first complained she didn’t know how to pray and always felt tired when she tried to. I asked if anyone had the same problem and all hands went up. We discussed that.

Next, one said she was ashamed and offended when her friends laughed at her as she stood up to receive Jesus. I asked if anyone else felt the same way. Yes, was every girl’s reply.

Truly, shaming is a cruel weapon in the armory of the enemy and more deadly when deployed by our friends or family.

I spoke to this too and encouraged them.

Then the bombshell.

The next girl said, “I’m a Muslim and I’m afraid that if I become a Christian today, my family will chase me out. But I want to follow Jesus. What do I do?”

I allowed the other girls some seconds to soak-in this girl’s concern with respect to their feelings of shame for the same reason.

“Which is easier, to be shamed for Jesus or to fear for your life, if you follow Him?” I asked.

No response.

I wasn’t expecting any.

Standing up to accept Jesus publicly was the greatest decision that girl will ever make. The consequences and price may be grave but the reward, unimaginably priceless. She had to know that!

As I acknowledged her faith and used her to challenge the other girls, I recalled these scriptures in Hebrews 10:32-34.

“Remember how it was with you in the past. In those days, after God’s light had shine on you, you suffered many things, yet were not defeated by the struggle. 

You were at times publicly insulted and mistreated, and at other times you were ready to join those who were being treated in this way.

You shared the sufferings of prisoners, and when all your belongings were seized, you endure your loss gladly…”

For some disciples today, their decision for Jesus meant the loss of all they ever owned, making nonsense of the thriving prosperity gospel of our day, that promises everything will be fine here and now, and you’d have “double-double“, once you accept Jesus. This is not globally true.

What’s your cross worth? 

What is your faith in Christ costing you?

Sri Lanka!

That’s one piece of wonder and joy that God gifted us last week
at the Yei Students’ Conference in South Sudan.

I met Caroline in February this year here in Yei and when I
asked where she’s from, her answer stunned me.

“I’m from Sri Lanka.”

Instinctively, I knew I had to connect. So I shared my little knowledge of  Sri Lanka, which was just about Monks and Buddhism and then calmly asked, “Are you Buddhist?”

“No, I’m a born again Christian.”

I restrained myself from hugging her that very minute. 

“I need to hear your testimony. It’s a great honor for me
to meet a Sri Lankan Christian in Yei, South Sudan of all places.”

I invited Caroline to the Yei Students’ Conference to share her
testimony so we could pray for her Country. Of the over 700 students gathered,
I didn’t see a hand up when I asked who knows where Sri Lanka is.

Her story tore through the gathering with such power as she
spoke. I restrained tears several times. She gave her life to Jesus while on
campus in Sri Lanka.

She shared of her great trials and persecutions; her rejection
from friends and family, narrating the unparalleled love of the Christian
brethren within her fellowship who sheltered her and finally, how she overcame.

The many deep sighs and expressions of pain turned to shouts of
joy and applause when she recounted how she was received back into her family
after many years, got a job and finally arrived here in Yei where she now works
at Yei Teacher Training College.

She shared some prayer needs for herself and her Country and we
prayed. 

The lessons from her testimony were many but these four stood out.

 1.           Genuine Christian faith will certainly attract pain, suffering,
ridicule and in some places, death. She later said there’s so much more to say but for time. 

2.         We need a tribe that thrives in love to steady, shelter and
shield us when trouble arrives.

3.         Love will always win at last.

4.         Our pains in Christ today will be someone’s gain tomorrow if we endure
till the end.

This year’s Students’ Prayer Conference was different. Aside the
testimony of Caroline, we had more time to pray for many pressing matters.

When Isaac, a student, cast the vision of the Conference. I knew I couldn’t have done it better. We’ve come of age with this and I believe they can sail without me now.

It was really a special moment when a call was made for
representatives of all 10 states in South Sudan to come out for prayers. We had
students from “North” Sudan come out too.

The sight of the representatives from the warring tribes in
South Sudan holding hands in agreement as we all cried out to God to heal our
land was awesome to behold.

In the end, 169 students gave their lives to Jesus. Many of whom
are still in primary schools within Yei.

It’s clear these Students are hearing God’s heart in the prayers
we led them to say.

We are certain our follow-up efforts will not be in vain.

We are confident God will send us help in form of long-term
Teams; on account of the huge discipleship needs these Conferences continue to
present.

We are persuaded that prayer and evangelism movements are
emerging from these thrusts, and news about this Land will change, with God’s
redemptive power on display.

We believe!!!

[We shall post more photos when the internet speed improves]

After her visit to Yei last September, my dear wife Sola has not been the same. Her encounters during this trip were incredibly profound.

She was greatly stirred by the diverse needs of many young girls there. She kept wondering how to help. Some of the girls are struggling to pay their way through school as they search for a loving arm to hold them and a listening ear to hear them.

The love and concern she showed some of these girls made a strong impression in their hearts and their response overwhelmed her. They met a friend, a counselor, an accessible leader and more importantly, that mother-figure they could trust but have missed these years.

She saw needs that her limited presence, presents and prayers alone cannot address.

When we celebrated Sola’s 40th birthday a month ago, she shared the vision of a pet project which was inspired by her encounters with some of the students during her last mission trip.

She said, “One of my primary desires as I mark this 40th birthday is to create awareness about the huge challenges faced by youths in South Sudan on account of poor or no education, and raise support to better the lot of a few.”

“I intend therefore to establish an Education Fund to provide school fees for 100 students in Yei, South Sudan, every year beginning 2013 academic session, for the next 10years.”

“It will be a wonderful adventure to connect with these students (and their families) who will be selected from least privileged backgrounds and offer to pay their school fees throughout their secondary education, thereby build life changing relationships with them.”

“Please fulfill my joy and make this project a bridge, connecting these students to sponsors like you. The destiny of someone, somewhere in South Sudan who you may never see, could be changed forever by your partnering with me here.”

“I call this 10-year project, Sons and Daughters of Deborah Education Fund. My first name is Deborah.”

The average fee for each student per school year is $120 (One Hundred and Twenty US Dollars). This can be given quarterly in $30 (Thirty US Dollars) installments or yearly, at the sponsor’s convenience.

Here are your options:

(i) One term, one-time only, $40

(ii) Full session, one-time only, $120

(iii) A full session every year, $120 yearly (for 2-10years)

You are free to sponsor more than one student. We strongly recommend that sponsors who’d want to commit to supporting a student for a full year and beyond, be connected with the recipient student(s).

This is the plan and the purpose. When we receive your support, we’ll tag you to the student or students (if you are sponsoring more than one). 

We’d then help you establish a long distance relationship with this student, so that you can help motivate, mentor and nurture him/her while their discipling process continues within our network in Yei. 

We’ll also send you periodic report on each student with copies of their school term result.

The Sons and Daughters of Deborah Fellowship will be birth from this project. This will serve as a forum for interaction and fun for these students.

If you’d love to partner with us to make a difference in the life of 100 secondary school students every year in Yei, South Sudan, please send an email to: sons.n.daughters.of.deborah@gmail.com or click [HERE] to make your tax deductible donation or just indicate your interest in the comments column below. Please tell us what you intend to do and how.

You are served here, with an opportunity to positively influence the destiny of one of the least of these students, to be in their life-story, unite with their family for a long time and help lead them out of poverty. Please grab this opportunity and let’s journey together.

When I read this Seth Barnes’ blog highlighting  Amie Gallegos’ blog where she shamelessly stripped, sharing her past and the brokenness from which God had lifted her, I was shocked.

Somehow, I knew this Amie’s excellent piece would serve a good purpose in my fellowship and discipleship sessions in South Sudan someday.

What I didn’t know was that it would come handy sooner than later. At the Students’ conference two months ago, this great article opened the flood gates to an incredible encounter and healing among the young ladies during the conference in Yei, South Sudan.

Like Seth said, “What Amie shares is shocking… But it also contains the seeds of connection. I believe young people like Amie are dying for connection and are willing to take great risks to get it.”

At that Conference, we had a Brother-to-brothers and Sister-to-sisters session; where I encouraged the senior Brothers and senior Sisters facilitating the sessions to share their own personal experiences, fears, failures and brokenness before reading Amie Gallegos’ blog for all to hear. They did and the connection happened.

“Champions do not become champions when they win the event, but in the hours, weeks, months and years they spend preparing for it. The victorious performance itself is merely the demonstration of their championship character.” T. Alan Armstrong

Few days before this marathon, a brother and I accidentally met Reida Keji training alone along a less traveled road outside town. She’d run over 2kms and had 8kms more to cover. She did this every morning before school and in the evening after school.

Two things thrilled me about her and I remarked to the brother with me, “…this girl will take the first prize again… she’s doing something unique.”

First, she was training alone.

I saw a self-motivated girl with determination written all over her. She seemed to be training for a stage greater than this Students’ Marathon. 

She was seeing her future and running towards it alone.

Second, she was doing it secretly. Though she had the option of running around town where she’d be seen by her admirers, after all she’s the current champion; instead she made her preparation private and personal by running along a lonely road, far from public view. That’s not common with young people.

When asked why she chose to train alone and in secret when others were training together in the fields and around town, the summary of her response was, “I challenge myself better when I’m alone and I don’t want attention. It is easy to be distracted when you know people are watching.” What profound perspectives from a young mind!

I wasn’t surprised when I gave her the first-place card at that finish line. You don’t win a marathon back-to-back if you are not gifted and well prepared. 

Her express desire for greater laurels and a stage beyond what this marathon offered was confirmed when she ran again the following day after winning the first prize, still on the same lonely road. Her passion and dream motivates her and we’ve taken notice.

But for now, her discipleship is our utmost concern and preoccupation. Spiritual formation is at the core of our drive. Creating a platform that attracts gifted athletes like Reida is our aim with this Marathon. We will not lose focus.

Will she qualify for the next Olympics and carry the flag of South Sudan in Rio come 2016?

We must be dreaming. 

Abba smiles.

                       [Reida relishes her victory after the marathon in this video clip below]

When the racers filed out to hit the wet roads that
morning, there’s no telling who’d win. Some of them had trained hard and long
for this one. But like in all races, there’d be few winners and many losers.

The consequence of losing this race weighed very
heavily on Dinah Tabu, a senior two student
of Excel Academy Secondary School in Yei.

She got the 3rd position in the 2011 marathon and is
currently relishing the rewards of victory, chief of which is the scholarship.

The barrage of domestic challenges she’s laboring
under made failure in this race unthinkable. So she prepared the much she could
and came for the race.

Dinah, among the first ten runners was less than a kilometer away from the finish line when she collapsed and was rushed to the hospital.

The hospital certified her okay but she’s brought back
to the race ground in a stretcher, totally exhausted and devastated.

Her expression of disappointment caught the attention
of many. It was somewhat comical but loaded with eternal instructions.

Dinah’s comments as she rolled on the floor and wailed
in sorrow that afternoon were, “Oh, I won’t go to school next year. Who
will help me? Who will pay my school fees now…??”

That cry, “Who will pay my school fees?” stuck
with me. I know the challenge of getting education here. Paying school fees is a huge challenge for many, but
what was her story? I went in search of Dinah to find out.

She confessed her preparation for this
marathon was faulty. She took it for granted that having won last year, this
one would be easier. She was wrong and therein was the first lesson.

When you strive for any prize, your planning, preparation,
practice, and performance counts for everything. Winning or losing is a
by-product, and aftereffect, of that effort.

Who we are today is a function of our self-discipline
from years gone by. It’s one thing to desire greatness but we must pay the right price. This is one core lesson we are teaching these students
with this sport.

The level of our preparation for
heaven sometimes ridicules the true worth of that promised eternal home and the Ultimate
Prize Himself. This was so true for Dinah as the depth of her disappointment revealed the value she’d placed on what was lost. This is the second lesson.

When disappointment involves shame
or loss, it can be devastating as we relive what we could have done right. But falling backward in despair or failing forward in hope are choices to
be made. Sometimes, we need people to help us pick the pieces and move on. I was there for Dinah.

A wonder and beauty we can’t fully
fathom is how God masterfully uses disappointments and other life’s challenges
with their accompanying frustrations to discipline us and ultimately glorify
Himself as we surrender all to Him.

We’ve promised to help Dinah
with her school fees in 2013. 

But every disappointment is not a
blessing in disguise. Rev
3:11 is instructive.

No one reading this piece
ever imagines the tragedy of missing heaven could be their portion. Such thoughts are abhorred but sadly, in the end, today’s cheap living will betray great hopes.

Let’s bear in mind that the resurrection into that glorious life belong only to those who rightly chose what and who to live or die for.

I was
at the Finish Line, handing out the winning cards to the runners as they
arrived. Things were happening so fast I didn’t notice when he picked the 5th
position card and ran across the line.

But later, when Martin Tabu, a Senior 3 student of
Millennium Secondary School, Yei, mounted the stage to receive his award, the
crowd roared with applause and great joy. To our shock, he was disabled.  His right hand from about 3inches above the
wrist was cut-off.

The
Honorable Commissioner was so moved he promised the young man more incentives
for his gallantry.

He became an instant lesson and an example, not just to
disabled folks like him but to all of us.

Who’d have imagined that a disabled Martin Tabu could outrun hundreds of
able-body young men of his age to win a scholarship and other prizes at this
Marathon? He’d never run a Marathon before, but by registering to participate,
he expressed his confidence and showcased his hope.

Having won, he’s made believers out of many, including me.
Now, we know what this boy has always believed- there’s more in me.

The disability we see, feel or imagine in life may just be
a distraction if we permit it.

God acknowledged the determination He weaved into the heart
of man when He testified, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then
nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.” Gen 11:6

It took a man among those wandering souls who believed in
himself well enough to move from saying- I can, to motivate and mobilize others
to say, we can. They began and could have-

Our disabilities or inadequacies may be obvious and
daunting, but nothing and no one can limit us more than ourselves through our fears. We must conquer our fears to enter and taste the fullness of our call.

Audre
Lorde said, “When I dare to be powerful- to
use my strength in the service of my vision then it becomes less and less
important whether I am afraid.” I agree with her.

You cannot be
greater or better than God’s dream for your life. That dream is within reach.
Seek and strive for it and like this good Adidas Ad below, your mantra may soon
be- Impossible is Nothing.