MWAURA NJOROGE G -09-0706

SURVEYING OUR CHRISTIAN FAITH

Sunday is the most relaxing day of my entire week because this is the time when I just take things easy, doing nothing. Last weekend I had planned to go to church after a long time because I felt like not going to church had become a routine for me. Like every other Sunday I woke up late and was unable to go, again. This got me feeling guilty and I took time to analyze my faith and commitment to God in regards to my personal relationship with Him. This question had me thinking for a long time. Have you ever wondered how the world would be if the aspect of faith was not there? People would just be living a life of ambitions without hope for tomorrow?

 Faith according to the oxford dictionary is, “the theological virtue defined as secure belief in God and a trusting acceptance of God's will.” It is a belief that one day we will meet our Maker through our Christian religion. In other words this is a feeling of hope and acceptance of what our deep feelings bring out from within our hearts. It is also a daily way of life. Faith is practiced by many every where you go in the world, the difference is brought out by our religious beliefs, geography and other situations.     

Daystar University is an institution with a difference. From it’s inauguration it has placed Christianity as the backbone of the university. Every student is expected to confess their faith in regards to their commitment to Christianity. Everyone is expected to uphold Christian values and violation of the university’s guideline would lead to punishment depending on the act of violation.

When I was admitted into the institution in January 2009 I was expected to write a testimony and include why I thought the institution would be able to sustain my Christian life and faith. At first I wrote the letter with the main aim of just joining the institution. I had always dreamt of joining a university and undertaking my undergraduate program. As I started the journey I didn’t think things like attending chapel mattered and I would sign the small paper and leave. As time went by education started getting harder and harder, this was the least of my expectation and I had no one I could particularly talk to. One day my roommate, Sam Kamau dragged me to the evening men’s worship meeting. Everyone there was welcoming. The sermon was about leaving you burdens unto the Lord.  The topic felt close to home as it seemed the discussion was directed to me. I was really touched and all along I could not imagine how my ignorance had led me to lose such an uplifting moment all along. This got me wondering various ways or mechanisms that enable students practice there faith.

Daystar Christian fellowship (DCF) is a Christian organization that is focused at familiarizing students with Christianity. The organization also oversees the spiritual issues that touch on faith among students.  It is a channel where every one is welcomed because it is a platform where by students with the same Christian faith meet to strengthen and encourage each other and people who need to be helped in terms of faith. “DCF provides opportunities for students to exercise their faith through various sub committees like the praise and worship team that are diverse depending on students gifts ” Vice secretary DCF Dorcas Koome .As they try to welcome others staying together as a family with one mutual reason helps them to not only strengthen their faith but keep them out of the danger of backsliding. “How pleasant is it when brethren dwell together,” Psalms 133.  I have been a testimony of this because I have lived with my roommate for a few months and he is in the DCF and most of the time he is always with his friends from the organization. After asking him why he does that he said that if you want to remain pure you must then interact with the pure to reduce the chance of being pulled in by the impure.

The institution has also put up a radio station that is mainly used by communication students. It is a Christian based radio station and through it, students are helped to keep motivated in their Christian commitment and faith. Many of those who work for Shine F.M. not only gain skills but also an opportunity to help and encourage other people and this in its self gives them satisfaction in their road to build on their Christian faith. Allan Anje Njoroge is a student and is a host of ‘The Switch show’ that runs from four to seven P.M. on Monday. It is a Hip-hop show that brings youths together .The theme of the show is to inform and educate youths by talking about issues that they face in their Christian life.” Students are able to exercise their faith as they tackle various topics from a Biblical perspective. Personally, it sharpens my knowledge of the word as every argument is backed by scripture” Allan says.

The chaplaincy together with the staff of the university has introduced small groups. These are smaller units among students that try to familiarize students with each other. Further more it assists students to open up to each other with the intention of encouraging students to help one another grow in faith. Each group has a patron that assists student comprehend the spiritual or contentious issues by giving interpretation. Most students do not like to open up about their spiritual life in crowded areas but in a small group they get the opportunity to express themselves.

 The participation in missions within and outside of the university by members of DCF gives the students an opportunity to interact with other believers from different places. They get a chance to exchange ideas and help one another appreciate whatever they have. Listening to other people’s testimonies makes one stronger because some of the obstacles you have are less challenging as compared to others hence giving one moral to handle bigger obstacles.

Every Tuesday and Thursday students gather together and have a church service session. Here evangelism is observed by students singing, worshiping and preaching of the sermon. The preacher of the day tries to talk on matters that affect students. Some of the students are helped to solve their problems at the end of the service.

After much thought   I asked myself what would be the reason for missing church consecutively? .This challenged me on my faith and i said to myself, A if am determined I can do anything. Don’t try and blame anyone if your faith is lost just rise up and take the bull by its horns and say out loud “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”

HEADACHE OF CARS by 09-0819

Have you ever thought of owning a car? I think about that a lot because I have friends who always talk about cars. Every other time I meet with Bob and Eddy, I never cease to get amazed by the information they have concerning cars. To think about owning a car is ok but have you ever thought how much work goes in maintaining one? I realized this during the recent public holiday; Mashujaa day.

On this day, we as a family had plans to go to my aunt’s place in RoySambu but the trip was cut short by heavy downpour. This however did not dampen our spirits. As we waited for the rain to subside, I turned on the television and was amazed to see the number of people who had turned up at Nyayo Stadium to hear from our leaders. Every other year Kenyans gather at different venues expectant to hear from our leaders. I wonder is it really worth it? This is because there is little or no change to the ordinary citizen. I think our leaders should be more realistic when they are addressing issues that directly affect the common citizen.

I was still deep in thought when a pat on the back brought me back to reality. I turned and standing beside the chair was my dad, telling my brother and I, “Its time to leave!” I picked my handbag and rushed outside. It was still drizzling and the ground was wet and muddy but we managed to get to the car. When my mum, dad, brother and cousin were in the car we started our journey, chatting all the way. It was not until we were about to reach, that my father discovered there was something wrong with the car. He pulled over to the side of the road and stepped out from the car to check out what the problem was. I also followed him to find out what was wrong. “Dad what is wrong with the car?” with a calm voice he told me that the radiator was heating up. Since we were a few meters to my aunt’s place, my brother and I decided to walk. We left my dad and my mum trying to cool down the radiator.

We had settled down for half an hour when we heard the sound of the engine. My dad and mum had arrived. After they had settled down for a while, we devoured on the delicacies that had been placed on the table. We ate as we chatted and argued on various issues. As we were making merry, my dad excused himself to go and continue fixing the car. He stayed outside for hours. I got concerned and went to see what was wrong. The fan had stopped working and so they had to go and find a mechanic.

Despite my dad’s brave face I knew the situation was really serious. As my dad was fixing the car, all the ladies were in the house chatting about the love men have for their cars that they would rather fix their car than enjoy a conversation.

The fan was fixed. It was now time for us to leave. We hoped that all would go well and that we would reach home safely. This thought did not hold for long. The radiator started boiling again and so we had to stop so as to let it cool down. We had not gone very far when it started boiling again but lucky for us there was a petrol station along the way. This is where we discovered that there was a hole in the radiator and this was the reason why it was getting hot quickly as water was getting lost through steam. This meant a stop at every petrol station along the way. The day turned out to be one of fixing my dad’s car which he managed to do. He is my hero.

How far would you go in maintaining your car? It is never an easy task. (688 words)

practice the faith

 08-0742

The practice of Christian Faith among Daystar University students

I attended a catholic girls’ high school. Like many of my time, we gave thanks at meals, had daily evening prayers and on Sunday, the teacher on duty made sure that everyone attended church. Missing church was a crime punishable by suspension. I especially loved the daily morning prayers, which I began attending to avoid the morning preps. Though attending these prayers was not compulsory, Father John was so good at delivering the sermon that once you attended one, you always found yourself addicted. I was content that I was a Christian. I was not surprised when Mark 16:15 ‘He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation, was our final send off word from Father John. We learnt and lived in a cocoon of suitability but deeper down, for personal reasons, I felt alone and lost.

For this reason, when I came to Daystar University in 2008, I was an earnest young woman with overwhelming desire to find my place in the world. This journey of self fulfillment has not been short and easy, on the contrary, I have been faced with more challenges than I anticipated when I joined Daystar in 2008 May, bringing to this multi-ethnic environment the combination of confidence and anxiety so common to freshmen. In principle, I believed that no challenge was too great for my capability and determination, or was there? Over the years, one of the areas of self discovery that has been top of the list is the religious. In this journey, I have met very interesting characters and to summarize them, I have been able to group the daystar faithful into three distinct categories.

The first is the diehard Christ-fans who, I am tempted to believe that given a chance, they can recite the Bible off head. These are the people never miss chapel even after signing was abolished. My friend Esther is one such person. She is from a fairly liberal family and her decision to faithfully attend church does not come from being forced by her parents. “I don’t have to attend church when I am at home, but I love doing so, and that’s the reason I go” she told me, when I asked why she so passionately goes to church. She is ever happy.  As you walk around the Daystar compound, you are bound to hear her quoting some verses from the scripture in such an interesting way, that you are temped to carry your Bible with you all the time. She is in several sub- committees of Daystar Christian Fellowship and a leader of the small groups.   Since I am her friend on facebook, I get to see her post and from what she writes, one can really tell that she is true to her faith

Daystar Students during small Christian Groups

The second is the watermelon group who can be swayed in any direction. For these, I believe their motto is ‘when in Rome, do as the Romans do’. Though you are likely to find them in church on Sunday, they also do not mind a few drinks and even a cigarette now and then. This is the biggest group in Daystar University. I could classify my roommate Rachael here. She does not mind going to church but does not understand why students are forced t5o attend chapel and the many bible classes despite the fact that she is in Daystar as a communication major. “I don’t mind taking a few religious courses but honestly, had I wanted to be a pastor, I would have enrolled for theology,” she tells me. On Sunday, you are more likely to find her in church but come Friday, she is a party girl. “I respect every part of growth and therefore I go to church to grow my spiritual, but I also have a social life. The bizarre part of this is that most of the people in this group are pastors’ children or as they are commonly called, PKs. These are people who literary grew up with the bible as their second name

Third is the liberal group. To them, going to church is like enduring the Chinese water torture (A kind of torture performed by dripping one drop of water at a time on someone's forehead. it induces boredom and eventually a lot of frustration). My comrade Sarah is in this category. The one thing she hated in daystar was the signing sheets. “I never once in my life thought that at 19, someone would be forcing Christianity down my throat” she often tells me. “I am a self declared liberal and don’t even try going all religious on me because that’s not my style. Don’t get me wrong, I am not against religion, but why does the church make Jesus look so desperate? I get a whole week of being stressed by class, assignments, inflation, water problems, the sun and even my boyfriend. The last thing I need on a Sunday is a pastor threatening me into salvation then blackmailing me into giving all my pocket money”.  Before the signing was abolished, more often than not she would come to chapel very late and sit at the Post Office then when it was time to leave, she would pretend to be one of those that did not get the signing sheet and pick it then leave for class. Since signing was abolished this semester, I have not seen here near the Amphi Theatre.

Seeking to understand this more, I spoke to the chaplain, Reverend Mutinda, who told me that though not all the students in Daystar fully embrace faith, many students find God in the University. He says that they have set up many activities through Daystar Christian Fellowship, which every Daystar student is a member, such as road shows, worship experiences, keshas,

Students during the Wednesday evening worship experience.

concerts, movie nights, debates, fellowships and bible study groups. “Students in daystar do not fully understand how as young people they are vulnerable out there. When they come out of here, they are like lambs being sent out to lions and we have to ensure that our lambs have enough armor lest they are swallowed whole.” He told me.

Remembering all these and more of my friends in Daystar makes me think of our upcoming graduation. The Chancellor will stand and grant us all the permission to go out into the world and do all that pertains to the degree, and being from a Christian university, we will be expected to be servant leaders. Everyone has done their best to instill Christian values, but as the common saying goes, “you can take a camel to the river but you can’t force it to drink the water”.

*The names used are not the characters real names.

1116 words

by Winfred Makena

Diversity of faith

Elizabeth Thuo

09-1019

DIVERSITY OF FAITH

 It’s Tuesday once again and I wake up feeling exhausted. I had slept late completing various assignments and the usual chit chat with my roommates. I carry my pink bucket and go to the bathroom hoping there is some water but as usual I have to walk across the hall downstairs. I curse in my heart as I slowly walk along the corridors of Patience West hostel and I pass by many students still half asleep pushing their buckets and mtungi’s on the floor. I smile. It seems like a busy morning already and it is only 6.00 am. The borehole tap is crowded and as I also get in the queue, Winnie a friend asks me if I was attending the chapel service. I look up, scratch my head, rub my half closed eyes and answers yes.

Daystar University has a tradition of having two chapel attendance days. These are on every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday service for those in school over the weekend. This is to ensure that students get a well rounded perspective on life spiritually. It is expected of any Christian University to offer such nourishment to the soul through various programmes if not, would that really be a Christian University? I guess not. Every student has their own perspective on the chapel attendance rule and is either a staunch Christian, surface Christian, rule follower or life sceptic.

 A staunch Christian

Faith without actions is dead, faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains. It’s all about faith. It is a strong belief in someone or something. A person without faith is like a dead man walking in the sense that life becomes pointless. After taking a heavy breakfast made up of four slices of bread, a mug of tea, a sausage and a small bowl of porridge am ready to start my day. The destination to head to is the amphi theatre. As I walk out of the dining hall, I run into Maryanne, a classmate who seems enthusiastic about the day. She keeps talking about how God will provide money for her to go shopping and that in the near future she will be the proud owner of a deluxe apartment room. I burst into laughter as I was expecting her to say her own car or home but well we all have different dreams.

The sound of musical instruments especially the drum, get louder and louder as we walk into the massive hall and I couldn’t help but mumble the words to the popular hit Tambira Jehovah. What a way to start a day, praising your creator in song, dance and prayer. How I wish I could do this every day. The beats and rhythm bring out the joy that only music can find. I am looking around and all I see are students immersed so deep in worship, others looking miserable and the rest are standing, clapping but no single word from their mouths. This might be a common scenario in almost all Churches or gatherings of spiritual nature.

Students in the Amphi theatre

During the service I observe those around me. I have not even looked beyond my neighbor and I am surprised .I whisper to her and ask her what her name is and her response is ‘I am Sara’. I can always understand those who deem it unnecessary to attend the chapel service and remain warm under their blankets but cannot tolerate someone who is chatting on social network sites like face book when the preacher is trying to drive the message home. Sara gives me a cold hearted stare I could feel like her eyes could see inside my soul. Now I understood the meaning of the phrase if looks could kill and better the devil you know than the Angel you don’t know. I put her case aside and focus on the word.

The word was so inspiring and to some extent was speaking to me like the message was directly applicable in my situation. These are the days where you are attending a sermon and you instantly remove any doubts in your mind about the existence of a supernatural being. I remember clearly the breakdowns and meltdowns I was experiencing back at home and in all the assignments and exams that have not been giving me even a simple ounce of sleep. The most memorable thing I capture is that adversity is not rare meaning it will always have a victim at all times with no necessary criteria or qualifications to choose who it will strike just like HIV. The sermon ends with a prayer and it’s now time to head to our morning classes luckily for me I only have an afternoon class.

I head straight to the library to borrow a textbook when I bump into my friend Ann Ngucie. There are only a few words I can use to explain her, simple, precise and focused. Those are her trademark qualities. As they say birds of a feather flock together, I wonder if those qualities could work in my life at some point and that they would rub off on me during my exams or in future while I will need the enthusiasm in job hunting. I simply ask her how the sermon was and why she had decided to attend chapel on that day and her answer could not be any more straight forward .She says , ‘ Ever since I got into Daystar we have always had to attend chapel and sign to indicate our presence and this has become like a routine to me.’ This is true and I do not even question her considering that I had once appeared on a defaulters list. I am no saint either.

It is said you can choose your friends but you cannot choose your family members. I consider myself lucky as my pool of friends is like a mixture of colored marbles in a jar, different. I decide to walk back to the hostels and do some reading as I prepare for my afternoon class. My mind seems refreshed by the thought of all faiths that exist in the world. The Hindus believe in a white cow and consider it holy .Many American celebrities declare themselves atheists meaning they do not believe in God while scientists believe in science. As a Christian one should look at this view from a Bible’s angle. Romans 2:3 say ‘If you a mere mortal can pass judgment on a fellow human being to such an extent imagine God’s judgment on you.’ We have no reason to force other religions or denominations that we are the best in the spiritual field after all no one has seen Jesus Christ and come to tell us.

As I enter Patience Hostel once again, I hear a soft voice calling my name along the corridors. I look behind me and see it is my friend Mercy Ngei still dressed in her night dress, with half opened eyes, she puts her half fetched bucket of water down and  she says ‘morning’. I respond. After a few minutes of chit chat, I now head to my room. I look back across the corridor at Mercy and imagine all that she has missed out on today. In today’s society with all the evils lurking around us if you don’t stand for anything, you will definitely fall for something. You got to have faith people.

 

practice of faith

The practice of Christian Faith among Daystar University students

I attended a catholic girls’ high school. Like many of my time, we gave thanks at meals, had daily evening prayers and on Sunday, the teacher on duty made sure that everyone attended church. Missing church was a crime punishable by suspension. I especially loved the daily morning prayers, which I began attending to avoid the morning preps. Though attending these prayers was not compulsory, Father John was so good at delivering the sermon that once you attended one, you always found yourself addicted. I was content that I was a Christian. I was not surprised when Mark 16:15 ‘He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation, was our final send off word from Father John. We learnt and lived in a cocoon of suitability but deeper down, for personal reasons, I felt alone and lost.

For this reason, when I came to Daystar University in 2008, I was an earnest young woman with overwhelming desire to find my place in the world. This journey of self fulfillment has not been short and easy, on the contrary, I have been faced with more challenges than I anticipated when I joined Daystar in 2008 May, bringing to this multi-ethnic environment the combination of confidence and anxiety so common to freshmen. In principle, I believed that no challenge was too great for my capability and determination, or was there? Over the years, one of the areas of self discovery that has been top of the list is the religious. In this journey, I have met very interesting characters and to summarize them, I have been able to group the daystar faithful into three distinct categories.

The first is the diehard Christ-fans who, I am tempted to believe that given a chance, they can recite the Bible off head. These are the people never miss chapel even after signing was abolished. My friend Esther is one such person. She is from a fairly liberal family and her decision to faithfully attend church does not come from being forced by her parents. “I don’t have to attend church when I am at home, but I love doing so, and that’s the reason I go” she told me, when I asked why she so passionately goes to church. She is ever happy.  As you walk around the Daystar compound, you are bound to hear her quoting some verses from the scripture in such an interesting way, that you are temped to carry your Bible with you all the time. She is in several sub- committees of Daystar Christian Fellowship and a leader of the small groups.   Since I am her friend on facebook, I get to see her post and from what she writes, one can really tell that she is true to her faith

.

Daystar Students during small Christian Groups

The second is the watermelon group who can be swayed in any direction. For these, I believe their motto is ‘when in Rome, do as the Romans do’. Though you are likely to find them in church on Sunday, they also do not mind a few drinks and even a cigarette now and then. This is the biggest group in Daystar University. I could classify my roommate Rachael here. She does not mind going to church but does not understand why students are forced t5o attend chapel and the many bible classes despite the fact that she is in Daystar as a communication major. “I don’t mind taking a few religious courses but honestly, had I wanted to be a pastor, I would have enrolled for theology,” she tells me. On Sunday, you are more likely to find her in church but come Friday, she is a party girl. “I respect every part of growth and therefore I go to church to grow my spiritual, but I also have a social life. The bizarre part of this is that most of the people in this group are pastors’ children or as they are commonly called, PKs. These are people who literary grew up with the bible as their second name

Third is the liberal group. To them, going to church is like enduring the Chinese water torture (A kind of torture performed by dripping one drop of water at a time on someone's forehead. it induces boredom and eventually a lot of frustration). My comrade Sarah is in this category. The one thing she hated in daystar was the signing sheets. “I never once in my life thought that at 19, someone would be forcing Christianity down my throat” she often tells me. “I am a self declared liberal and don’t even try going all religious on me because that’s not my style. Don’t get me wrong, I am not against religion, but why does the church make Jesus look so desperate? I get a whole week of being stressed by class, assignments, inflation, water problems, the sun and even my boyfriend. The last thing I need on a Sunday is a pastor threatening me into salvation then blackmailing me into giving all my pocket money”.  Before the signing was abolished, more often than not she would come to chapel very late and sit at the Post Office then when it was time to leave, she would pretend to be one of those that did not get the signing sheet and pick it then leave for class. Since signing was abolished this semester, I have not seen here near the Amphi Theatre.

Seeking to understand this more, I spoke to the chaplain, Reverend Mutinda, who told me that though not all the students in Daystar fully embrace faith, many students find God in the University. He says that they have set up many activities through Daystar Christian Fellowship, which every Daystar student is a member, such as road shows, worship experiences, keshas,

Students during the Wednesday evening worship experience.

concerts, movie nights, debates, fellowships and bible study groups. “Students in daystar do not fully understand how as young people they are vulnerable out there. When they come out of here, they are like lambs being sent out to lions and we have to ensure that our lambs have enough armor lest they are swallowed whole.” He told me.

Remembering all these and more of my friends in Daystar makes me think of our upcoming graduation. The Chancellor will stand and grant us all the permission to go out into the world and do all that pertains to the degree, and being from a Christian university, we will be expected to be servant leaders. Everyone has done their best to instill Christian values, but as the common saying goes, “you can take a camel to the river but you can’t force it to drink the water”.

*The names used are not the characters real names.

1116 words

FAITH, AN INVESTMENT ON HOPE by Gakuu D. Wanja (09-1360)

“I shall get my exam card on time and sit for exams this semester,” I heard a student say out loud. It seemed a gesture reassuring him that somehow, though the look on his face suggested that he didn’t know how, he would not miss the exams. He seemed shaken up, but his effort to composure was notable. He held on tightly to a crumpled paper on his palm. The draft for the exam time-table was out and had been circulated and pinned on some notice boards around the institution. We stood looking at it on one of the notice boards. It occurred to me that our motives for checking the timetable differed; I was checking if the courses I was taking were conflicting in terms of dates and time that I would sit for them whereas he was keen on when the exams were commencing. The odds that would keep him from getting an exam card would be unsettled arrears. Whether or not I had arrears in the finance department was in the least of my worries but it was different for him. He had faith that before the set day of beginning exams, his finance issues would be sorted out.


Faith it is. The gauge of our belief in things unknown, I think. Despite the many deadlines to meet, say as a student, believing alone that you will meet them is an act of faith. It is only limited to our thoughts. In that line of thought, I have faith that I’ll keep you hooked on to my writing till the end and not lose you. With regard to Daystar University students let’s look into their perspectives on faith.

Ezekiel Wambua, a fourth-year student taking a double Major in Accounting and Business Management, says: “Faith to me is something to believe in. If I say I have faith it means that I believe in something strongly and passionately that I can fight for it and actually fend for it. You know, having a base for all the decisions that we make in life.”

He says that faith is more than motivation that it can even make you do something that you wouldn’t even think of. In addition, Anitah Mashaka, a third year student who is taking a Major in Communication says, “Faith is the deepest desire that I have inside me to achieve something beyond me.”

Wambua says faith is more like life. “If you have faith you’re living, if you don’t you’re not,” he concludes.

I couldn’t agree more to his final remarks. If we view faith as an investment in what we hope for in life, lack of faith would mean living hopelessly. And one might as well be dead than have nothing to live for, true?

Eric Musyoka also a fourth- year student taking a Major in Logistics defines faith as something one believes and holds dearly and which is used to guide most of one’s actions. Conclusively, on the definition of faith, it is many things to different people but it all sums up to a belief system of some kind.

So, how do Daystar University students practice faith? Ms. Mashaka says that she does this by trusting in her herself and a destiny that she believes she was called and created for. We have ‘ladies of faith’ I must say. This still takes us back to Wambua’s view of faith giving meaning to life. There’s so much of the unknown especially about the future and when Ms.Mashaka puts trust in herself looking forward to a destiny she’s willing to reach to, it’s an act of faith.

When I joined Daystar three years ago, I had to attend Discipleship classes. When I asked around from other continuing students then, I was told that my testimony needed ‘revision’. My faith, religion, in that context was questionable. The problem was that failure to attend the classes I’d be discontinued. Though I finished the classes, it was ‘in partial fulfillment of continuing my studies in Daystar.’ One word, conditioned. I was also to attend Chapel every Tuesdays and Thursdays. Eventually, I embraced this and used it to practice my faith in God who is also unknown but whom some if not all believe in. This is the belief in a supernatural force that other people base their faith on too. Practice of this faith could be done through prayers, believing that prayers will be answered as God knows even the unknown. Yes, I know the Discipleship classes helped me a great deal.

Familiarly, Diana Amunga, a fourth year student taking a Major in Communication says: “ I practice my faith to the Almighty because I believe that He will deliver in everything that I ask from him considering the fact that I have not seen him. But I give my life to him. Also when I’m sick I pray for healing and also place my faith in the medicine that I am given.”

As I listen to Ms. Amunga talking, it gets me thinking about how faith broadens our capability that the power is in just believing in what we hope to achieve. You have to love this.

Musyoka says that he practices faith by going to church, that through it He goes to connect with God and for Spiritual growth. According to him, it’s one’s faith that makes you go to church otherwise; the church would just be a room with chairs with someone just talking. “That belief is what makes church a place of Spiritual nourishment,” he adds.

On the same note; Wambua says that he practices faith by actions, by believing in God, he tries to live up to what the Bible says because he believes in Jesus and where his faith lies.

However, Musyoka does not fully base his faith on spirituality but says that a belief in what is right and wrong guides people. “Doing what is right is practicing faith,” he adds.

Recently, in a Psychology class (Human Development) we were talking about young adults and the problems they face. There were three major problems that were highlighted one of them being drug abuse amongst dieting and violent deaths. According to a study done in connection to that, there was supposedly and increase in vulnerability to drugs at that developmental stage as a result of decline in matters of faith. I found myself grateful that I am exposed to surroundings that nurture faith. Be it Christian or just general faith.

From one of the great minds regarding faith Sidney Holland quotes: “Faith draws the poison from every grief and takes the sting from every loss, and quenches the fire of every pain; and only faith can do it.”

Ms. Amunga parting shot is, “I place my faith in myself because if I put myself to do something I have faith that the outcome will come out as expected.” The challenge to us all to have a little faith if not in anything or anyone else let it be in us.

FORTUNE KNOCKS ONCE ON EVERY MAN'S DOOR

                                                                  (Allan pictured centre)

Fortune knocks once on every man’s door, a phrase that Allan Kimathi, an off campus hotel owner and a student at Daystar University, says heartily. Allan is a fourth year student studying accounts. He was born and raised in Nairobi South. He had a normal childhood growing up not knowing that one day he’d grow up to be a businessman. Over a cup of tea he narrates the ordeal he went through to open up such a beautiful place. By the looks of him, life seems to be going well for him, from the Versace clothes he’s wearing to the latest IPhone 4 he has. The name of the place is ‘Spicy Inn’. It is located directly outside the Daystar University campus grounds.


Many would ask why Spicy Inn and he says that it’s because it’s a name that stands out from many hotels thus giving it a certain feel of tasty cuisine. Allan came across a substantial amount of cash from his parents and instead of spending it on things that won’t benefit him, he decided to invest. He does not disclose how much but it must have been quite a lot. Very few students would jump at the chance to invest. Some would buy clothes or treat themselves to trips to the coast. Allan motivates students to try doing something lucrative with the cash they receive from parents.

“I had already planned to go to coast but something got the best of me and I thought maybe I can try out business.” Allan narrates.

Allan started out by renting a shop then he bought small items such as a grill, a charcoal jiko, a fridge, a microwave and sufurias. He then hired some carpenters to spruce the place up to give it a hotel feeling. He got furniture for the hotel from a second hand dealer for a throw away price. After all was in place he made posters and menus, bought food stuffs and hired a staff of two local people namely Chalo and Stevo. Every time he gets a profit he re-invests it into the business.

Allan says, “Your business starts growing once you re-invest in it.”

Donald Trump - an American, real estate tycoon - has nothing on this guy, Allan talks as if he’s the sensei of business administration, if he had a business class to lecture most of you would be running helter skelter to register. If you could put yourself in Allan’s shoes, what kind of business would you have tried out?

Every time money comes into most people’s hands, it goes straight out within minutes. Some people would picture themselves opening up a nice hotel, and then the whole idea would later fade. Allan knows a lot about the hotel business and he enjoys what he does, he doesn’t see himself opening a movie shop, a boutique or even a normal kiosk.

For this he simply says, “I love cooking and I relish seeing people enjoying my food.”

Allan specializes in many types of cuisines, his favorite ones being the African dishes. He touches on many African culture dishes such as the Agikuyu’s githeri, The Luhya’s fried chicken, the Luo’s ugali and many more cuisines.

Allan states, “Owning a business has been a life long dream and this is my baby which I am very proud of.”

Spicy Inn caters for Daystar University students, staff, and the surrounding community at large. Students love this joint because of the cheap food and the different African cuisines it has. The University staff love this hotel because they get to try out something new from the food in the school cafeteria.

One student known as John Mungai says, “The food from inside the school is cooked in a hurry and they don’t add love as the secret ingredient.” He laughs and carries on, “If I want to place an order of anything I want, the guys at Spicy Inn march right up to the kitchen and whip me up what I want.”

As for one of the Daystar staff members, I ask a certain Mr. John Mutuku who jovially replies, “Allan has good and cheap food that guys like me can relate with, not too spicy like the school cafeteria food.”

Spicy Inn doesn’t receive praises only, some other customers differ with Spicy Inn. One customer, who asks to remain anonymous, says the place usually fills up during lunch time and the service gets slow so Allan needs to expand and hire more help to make the place easier to manage. As for the staff Allan has, he says that he has never heard any complaints about them.

Allan is proud of his idea and he tries to encourage young guys to engage in small businesses so as to help themselves and their parents, such activities help keep young people out of trouble. Another example is that of the honorable John Michuki, who used to be the minister of internal security. He dropped out of primary school and went to Nairobi city to do odd jobs so as to get money to help him through his primary education. If it wasn’t for his fast thinking of running to the city to look for money, he wouldn’t have made it this far.

Allan plans to expand his business all over campuses in Kenya and if he is lucky maybe outside Kenya like Uganda, Tanzania, Sudan and if peace comes to Somalia, Somalia. He wants to be as big as McDonalds (in the United States) or Kentucky Fried Chicken from Kentucky. Such optimism makes one start working hard to make sure their dreams come true.

Some people may say that Allan’s dreams are far stretched but from the histories of many big names in Kenya, they started out with less than what Allan had. People such as John Michuki started off with nothing but now they will leave a big name and wealth behind. Allan takes a sip of his tea, looks at his beloved Spicy Inn and says that if he had spent that money to go to Mombasa, he wouldn’t be where he is. Surely, Fortune knocks once on every man’s door.

GLOSSARY:

Charcoal jiko – Swahili for a small type of a charcoal grill.

Sufurias – Swahili Plural for aluminum cooking pots.

Githeri – A Kikuyu delicacy made by frying a mixture of boiled maize and beans.

Ugali – A Luo delicacy made from maize flour.


VICTOR RUTERE 08-0985