STAY IN THE CAMP!

It’s been so long since I last wrote, three weeks and 4 days to be precise. And for that you will get a double dose today… I have all these blog posts in my head but no time to put them down in writing. My brother once told me that I need to get myself one of those softwares where I can dictate my thoughts to my phone or laptop. Or do they have one that reads minds? That would be awesome as I do have lots of thoughts that need to be worked on.

Anyway, It’s been a busy and overwhelming, yet exciting 3 weeks; as I participated in a demanding radio presenting challenge as well as planned for my dowry negotiations’ ceremony with my fiancé-which was so overwhelming (story for another day). The ceremony was a successful miracle and I, by God’s grace, got the radio presenting job. Isn’t the Lord wonderful!!!!

From the first of December, y’all can tune in live on www.radio316.net from Monday to Friday, 10am-1pm Kenyan time. That’s GMT+ 3:00 Nairobi.

For those in Kenya it’s; 103.9 FM Nairobi,

                                                   102.1 FM Nakuru,

                                                   97.9 FM Mombasa and

                                                   96.9 FM Kisumu.

Moving on swiftly…..

A close relative spent the past two weeks in one of those initiation camps. Allow me to explain; in some cultures, boys are usually circumcised on the 8^th day just like in those ancient days mentioned in the bible. In the Kikuyu culture, boys are taken to have this procedure done, at the age of 13/14 after they’ve just cleared primary school. Some are privately taken to hospital by their parents to have it done, while others are enrolled at a church organized camp alongside other boys, where they go through counseling, then the procedure is done by a doctor as they’re called in one by one, and then they spend the rest of the days healing as the doctor checks up on them.

So my relative was picked up by his dad from one of those camps the other day, and I happened to have been at their house for a visit when they arrived. The curiosity his mum, sisters and I had about the camp was overwhelming for him. We wanted to know if he was okay, whether he was in pain, what the experience was like, but he only responded with one word answers. He looked overwhelmed and at one point he looked like he was going to breakdown, so we let him be. Our translation of that, was that the experience was somewhat traumatizing for him, so we decided to take some time and just pray over him. Much later he seemed more peaceful and simply happy to be home at last. He only spoke to his dad concerning the camp or what he was feeling for only he could relate with what he was talking about.

It got me thinking of the experiences I’ve had in my walk with God. The price I’ve had to pay to get where I am today. For starters, I had to resign from a well-paying job under God’s instruction, and that was in December 2010. If you’ve read my previous blogs, I’ve shared bits on the various things I’ve endured because of that decision. I’ve gone through seasons of depression, crying myself to sleep, and it’s been frustrating not being able to explain it to my family or fiancé in words they could understand since none could relate with the frustration I was experiencing. There came a point I stopped attempting to explain to them, and learnt to either sit quietly, or fall to my knees and break down in God’s presence, as I await to see exactly what He has in store for me, now that He’s allowed me to pass through all I’ve gone through.

Like with the boy’s procedure, there are some painful experiences that we all have to go through in life in order to graduate to the next level. As much as his parents felt sorry for him, neither could have had the procedure on his behalf. Plus the parents weren’t taking him to this camp to hurt him, or because they didn’t love him.

Don’t get me wrong, not all crappy things that happen to us are from God so we must discern carefully what’s of God and what is not. If you are going through such a season where everything is painful even to think about, and you know for sure that God has allowed it, remember that His plan is not to harm you, but to birth through you something beautiful. Even if the painful thing you’re going through was because of a stupid decision you made, remember God’s mercy is new every morning and if it’s an attack, He will deliver you. He will fulfill what He started in you, but you have to yield to His process.

 

Sometimes we get so weary of the process we want to give in- escape from the initiation camp; I know I’ve been there more than one time. But just at the right time, He makes everything beautiful. If you’ve read my previous blogs, you know I’ve gone through financial strain and have looked for a job since 2010. I’d go through interviews, pass, but when the day to begin came, something just happened to hinder. And now when I was done looking for one and had given myself to whatever God wanted to use me for, He led me to Family media where He’d set up a radio presenting job just for me.

He’s a faithful God, I can truly attest to that. He will do what He said He would do! He surely does give beauty for ashes, double for your trouble and His peace and joy for the pain and shame you’ve had to endure. In just a little while, He who promised will fulfill His promises towards you. Endure the process; don’t run away from the initiation camp, allow Him to initiate you to your next level of glory. It can only get better-from one level of glory to another. Stay in the camp!