A Salut to Our Brother's Keepers.

Hallo Hallo great people! Hi five yourself and anyone looking in need of a little more sunshine than they seem to be getting. Today's post is dedicated to a special group of people- Brother's/Sister's Keepers.

Today (by the time you read this it will be yesterday + days) witnessed something that was quite eye opening yet at the same time heart-warming. I was walking into the Kenya Re Plaza, opposite Hilton, this lady who carrying her child on back collapses in a heap. Like seriously, plop! Face flat and unconscious. Child on the other hand absolutely oblivious of what’s going on.

A small crowd formed and guess what they did.

Watch. Wait.

For what? I have no idea. 

A handful snapped out of the weird watch-waiting trance that the crowd was in. The group included a lady security guard, two other ladies and three gentlemen, and quickly swung into action. Meet the Brother/Sister Keepers (BroSisKeeps). 

Someone untied the child from the mother's back and one of the gentlemen held her, distracting her from the scene that just happened. Fortunately, the little girl was not injured. Next, the group turned the lady around and put her in a better position. Watching from afar, also motivated to help, I consulted the remaining male guard as to whether there was a clinic or hospital nearby. He informed me there was a chemist, so I quickly dashed to seek some medical assistance for the lady (I’ll refer to her as Lady X for the rest of the story.) Figured if they are licensed to dispense medicine they probably should have some basic first aid training.

Dash to the clinic to seek assistance and I'm told that the person who is capable of helping is not around but should be coming back soon. Before I could get back to the scene, Team BroSisKeeps came into the chemist carrying the lady X. This was quite an effort because when one is unconscious the body is like dead weight, and the distance wasn't as short as it seemed,

At first she was put on the ground and people tried to establish communication with her to find inquiring how she was feeling. She could only manage a weak whisper requesting to lie down for a bit. The faithful Team BrosSisKeep assisted and kept trying to get first aid assistance from the chemist.

All this while, all the pharmacists were unperturbed, conducting business as usual. The biggest challenge herein is that out of the Team BroSisKeep, none knew any first aid so it was quite challenging. Yet, and I say this very carefully because I am not aware of the training of the chemists, the people we expected/anticipated had medical knowledge to assist were not even helping. I must admit we got a bit flustered because we did not know if it was a life threatening situation and the severity of lady X’s condition. Still the team forged on.

The only response received was a casual-"She's (the lady who was supposed to help) is coming."

Have you ever felt so vexed? I kept wondering and I figure something we should consider when we find our fellow citizens/humans in trouble is was what if it was me or my loved ones in same situation...how would I want to be treated? How would I want people to react? With what urgency? What if this was a life and death situation? Would Lady X have passed away or suffered a severe health effect due to complacency? And what would have been the effect on her family, her child? Why aren’t people willing to help? What has happened to our hearts?

A good almost 10 minutes or more passed and the much awaited lady waltzed in and went straight to the front desk as if absolutely unaware of the situation. This is despite the fact that she had been called and requested to come urgently because of Lady X. Another five minutes pass. 

"What's happening?" she asked.

Those are the moments one takes a big breath, pauses, inhales and exhales to prevent the bluntest responses that are sharper than a butcher's knife.

Team BroSisKeeps explained the situation and guess what, the much awaited medic turns out unable to do first aid.

By this time, I think everyone was tired and shocked. Somehow, by God’s grace another staffer and her, were doused with compassion left their desks to come help. The team tried to restart communication with the lady X to find out who she was, if she has any relatives nearby and their contacts so that they be contacted. Again, by God’s grace she was now able to feebly but audibly utter some numbers and names.

After which she repeated she was tired, feeling very weak, “Tafadhali nipe maji (Please give me water)," she whispers weakly to which she is given at no charge. Compassion levels rising at the chemist. Clap.

She is sat up, given the drink. We later find out that there is a clinic within the Kenya Re building.Yay! Unfortunately no medic can come check on her. Instead we have to assist this lady up the stairs should we hope that she can be looked at. As in, what? Start slow anger release counts.

 Fortunately the water seemed to have done the trick and she slowly regained her strength. She was then given soda by the kind gentleman (Team BroSisKeeps) who was taking care of her daughter, and she regained more strength. Double yay! Upon observation it was supposed that her episode had been caused by severe hunger and true enough that was the case. She had been walking looking for work and had not eaten for two whole days.

Quickly the Team BroSisKeeps who had been left took her to a cafe for her to get a meal and waited to see if she would be okay. Fortunately, she was.

I must a big big-up to the gentleman who took care of the lady X's daughter. I tell you, there are super men among us. Men worthy to be called men, who protect, care, are kind, loving and big hearted, God bless you and all other men who are like you. I believe and know you exist.

This guy, from the onset, held on to and watched over the little girl-who was anywhere between 3-4years of age. He played with her, bought her drinks to quench her thirst, a snack to relieve her hunger and a meal for her and her mother, plus he let the mum keep the change. By the time the two were eating- a span of almost an hour the little girl was calling him Uncle and saying she wants to go with him. It was precious. Out of calamity she just made a new friend. 

From this ordeal a couple of things stood out for me and are worth considering.

One. Our attitude towards our brothers/sisters/countrymen and others when they are need/trouble. Perhaps we have become so enthralled in reality TV when reality strikes we do what we know best. Watch, wait. We honestly need to shift from the passive watchers and waiters to the active and caring helpers. What we do in a second can edify or assist in destroying a life. Become your brother/sister’s keeper.

Two. There is a need to have more first aid stations in town, office buildings and even outdoor related jobs to assist in dealing with such eventualities. Bigger still first aid should be a mandatory lesson taught in school and work places to all because with this training more people are equipped to save lives.

Three, life is short. Live like it’s your last day, help where you can and be grateful for where you are and what you have. Even if it is not as much as you, want at least you have something. Be grateful.

Finally, big up to a great team of Brothers/Sisters Keepers- our doctors, nurses, ambulances, pharmacists-everyone in the medical sector. Thank you for the work you do. It’s not easy and can be traumatizing for any human but you brave it.

 I must admit, many of us take for granted the fine job you do on a day-to-day basis: saving lives, restoring hope, acting swiftly and staying on your feet all day and night, sacrificing time spent with your families and holidays just to treat us. 

Thank you for making our emergencies your priorities. We hope that soon if not soonest our thanks will be fully expressed in how we treat you as a country, government, citizens and friends.

Till the next time, 

MiMaTheng'e: Signing out!

Sunny Days After the Storm

It's a Monday, probably the worst day of the week because the weekend has just ended, and the daunting reality of another working day is staring us straight in the eye. Well they say, every cloud has a silver lining-so I believe this week will have one too.

I'm at the final lap of university life and my oh my how time flies. I remember at one point not knowing what I really wanted to do and, the discussions and arguments leading to the course I finally ended up pursuing. Finishing was inevitable; I knew it but couldn't see it. However, as the days grow closer I see my silver lining more clearly.

It seems like just the other day when I was complaining at the lack of courses available, and then the challenges got a bit tougher. Clashing classes, other people we started with graduated, and then anxieties of completing my units on time plus getting internship kicked in. Pressure! Soon it was time for me to tighten my laces, put my very best, everything that I was saving up and run like I had never run before.

 Last semester I was busy stressing as to whether I will get internship or not, or if I will get the remaining courses to graduate, the pressure was looming. At first, I was hopeless then thanks to significant figures in my life plus remembering who I serve and belong to I found some ray of hope and faith.

 For starters, my name appeared on the list of those who will be graduating come 2013. Big grin, heart-heart-skip a beat and happy floating feeling on the inside. What followed was managing to get the course I needed to be offered this semester and last but not least-guess where I am now…in an office. Yes, you read right. I got internship!!!I was taken in as an intern in a PR firm and I'm thanking God. Loud screams, and shouts of the joy as the crowd, which consists of me, myself and I, cheer out loud.

 2013 seems to hold much promise. Before you start telling me that that is what everyone says at the beginning of the year, I can honestly say this time I see things differently, besides-it is our year of Jubilee. I for see the clearing of many storms, and as the clouds begin to clear the silver linings will reveal and the coming of many bright sunny days.

Till the next time,
Theng'e: Signing Out

WHAT’S THE POINT?

Sometimes I think relationships are such a hoax. Big fat hoaxes which start with a fairytale illusion that at some point in this twisted life, we will get the one our hearts desire; our prince charming or lady love! Lies I say, lies that we have been fed since childhood in cartoons, movies, soap operas you name it. The boy gets the hot girl and the girl gets the man of her dreams. It doesn’t always (if ever) happen this way, and yet we keep the dream alive.Irony!

Girls dream and fantasize over their desired prince, hoping that this knight in armour will come in all his splendour, and swoop them off their feet…  Be the hunky stud who will be the rock and haven in their lives, the love of their lives who will shower them with tender loving care ; treat them well as if they were the most precious and important thing to him and possibly live a happily ever after.

Boys dream as well. That at the end of it all they will get the woman of their dreams. Attractive both on the inside and outside (but more of the outside-I stand to be corrected), loving , caring, soft, gentle, dainty, someone who can be a home maker and can walk with them through the ups and downs of their lives and so on.

Growing up, brimming with all this expectations the girl and boy await breathlessly for when they can actualize their relationship dreams and fantasies. Some start young, others a bit older. It starts with the honey moon phase where everyone is all lovey-dovey and starry-eyed; attraction is the name of the game.  If one is lucky they will stay in this happy place for at least a month.

As fast as it starts, all the butterflies, flittering-floating feelings of love, so does it fade, and fast. The dredging reality that all is not well sinks in and sucks the life out of the relationship. The bed of roses suddenly has thorns.  What they thought were star qualities suddenly become the most appalling qualities. Soon, it becomes a story of “You’ve changed, you’re not the person I said yes to,” or “I’m bored, I’m not happy I want out” then the ultimate shift in direction. Those who are in want out and woe to those who are out because they desperately want to get in. Problem is they don’t know what lies in store for them.

The cycle goes on for a large number, especially those who start young: a case of kissing too many frogs for one’s lifetime while a few fortunate souls find the one who was made for them and continue to their ‘Happily ever after’. Worse still are those who get into marriages that start out all blissfully and eventually turn out to be depressing, daunting, draining, unsatisfactory and irreversible, especially where children are involved. So at the end of the day I ask myself this one question, what’s the point?

By Miriam S N Mathenge

*Disclaimer: I do believe in true love and relationships working out for the best. I just question some of them at times.

LONG TIME

Sup people. This out to all my (faithful) readers. I am sorry for not writing as frequently as I should be and for leaving you hanging. I've been experiencing a bit of a block and also been re-thinking strategies for my writing. So far I believe I have reached somewhere in terms of a decision;and I am torn between starting another blog, renaming this blog or keeping this one running and having another one running concurrently Anyway, I will let you know on the decision I arrive at.

Quick update on what happened since the last read-well, I ended up doing the assignment and it was a hassle. Learnt a lot from it though-writing is a continuous process of editing,editing and more editing before landing at a perfect story. It can be frustrating but nothing good comes easy. Oh, and for that class, I ended up doing a writing assignment as the exam:quite a challenge, but I did it. Waiting for the results and hoping for the best.

 Life has been quite a journey for these past few months. There was a time I felt so lonely, like I had no one to turn to and it was devastating. The worst bit was when life's stresses finally got to me: I broke and of course, as we all do at 'that' point in time, remembered that I had someone who had been there all the while-GOD. I turned to him and began to get my life in check and set it straight (in accordance to his terms). I won't lie that there were no difficulties, but those are what produce the greatest TESTimonies.

During this time of getting my relationship with God back to where it should have been, I happened to read two books in the Bible that I felt, resonated with where I was in life. The books of Jonah and Ruth.

Ruth, a story of a faithful and loyal woman who remained true to her promise till the end. She sacrificed returning to her family to stay with her mother in law vowing that only death should separate them, absolutely radical. Choosing to adapt and live with strangers, accept their ways and their God for the rest of her life?Makes me think, what if we had such loyalty to God? So, this lady eventually gets blessed for her virtuous act and we see how God always has a plan for his people. Ruth gets married to Boaz (a relative from her husband's side who takes care of her) and she becomes part of Christ's lineage (She was the mother to Obed who was the father of Jesse who was the father of King David) and  aliens/ Gentiles (we who are not Israelites) are shown that God had and has a plan for us, one of salvation and a lasting relationship with him.

As for Jonah, here is the summary. A man of God(Jonah) refused to do what God told Him to do and even ran away from Him.God told him to declare destruction on Nineveh but he refused because he knew that God would eventually change His mind, show compassion and not destroy them. To understand where Jonah was coming from, these people Israel's worst enemies and were very brutal. God eventually gets to Jonah (the whole fish swallowing him up-you cannot run away from God) who then repents and goes and does what God had instructed him to do. Just as he had predicted, God went 'mellow' and forgave the people so Jonah got angry and left the city of Nineveh to watch from a far what would happen to it.

Now, the bit that really did it for me-chapter four. Here Jonah, a person who was God's servant showed how ridiculously real we can get with God. (Please read it :-) ) First he complains pulling a 'I told you so'- he knew that God would still forgive the people. He states God's character showing that he had an intimate relationship with Him. He not only served Him but he knew Him to the point he knew who He was. A loving, merciful God who is always patient, kind and always read to change His mind and not punish. This is what annoyed Jonah. He then threw a tantrum saying he'd rather have died than be alive. Who does this in this day and age calls out to God telling Him  they would rather be dead than alive? And what if He just goes ahead and kills you? And he did this more than once!In my opinion, that is a true show of being real with God, almost a little too real and even daring.

Back to Jonah, he calls out God and to me it is as if he is hoping his tantrum will cause God to act in his favour but God instead tolerates it. Here I see a God who is so loving in that, instead of punishing Jonah or giving him what he asked for, reasons with him and gives him the final verdict- If Jonah can pity a plant, how much more pity should he have on the city-there were more than 120,000 innocent children as well as animals! God even cared for the animals, so who am I (not to be cared for by the Almighty!

So that's what's-up. Have yourselves a lovely week and I will do my best to write more frequently.

Till the next time: Theng'e Signing Out!

ALL OUT

Today has been a strange day but good day. Strange in that, in our busy city of Nairobi people have forgotten how to walk on the streets!!!It was a really frustrating experience considering the fact that I was in a hurry (I'm sure we can all know how it feels). First I bumped into a lot who were just sauntering around town, crab walking and blocking the way. Then met another category who were walking in groups and filling the whole road-I mean, where are we supposed to walk?!NKT! As if that was not enough the last category was most annoying: those who were moving like they knew where they were going then suddenly realized that they going nowhere!! As in ReallY?!!I felt like knocking them and putting up a new law for pedestrians-how to walk on pathways and knowing where you are going. In fact I even felt like going all out on writing a book on street etiquette and the importance of knowing where YOU are going.

Good in that it ended up nicely.Finished a project on time. Okay, sort of. I finished but when I was about to print it out a lecturer came into the room demanding people get out of the class and he switched of the printer. :-( Eventually persuaded him to let me print it and I handed it on time-yay! Met up with a buddy of mine and caught up as we downed 'smokie pasua' ( best darn smokies this side of the Sahara) and had a good walk-out. That was nice and eventually had a big beautiful ice cream cone with mother dearest. Lovely.


On the downside, I have an assignment due Saturday :-( I'm supposed to write a story not less than 1500 words-sadly I've not got the burst or inspiration I was hoping for. For the piece we need to study, do research and for me,that's taking out the fun out of writing feel. Additionally, I feel tired&burn out. I know I have to do it, but it's hard. I've been psyching myself up the whole night but nothing doing. I thought that by the time I was done writing this I'd feel pumped but clearly that has not happened. Bummer!I'm giving myself 10 more min, if nothing changes I'll just go to bed and get started tomorrow. Risky, I know-you don't have to repeat it.


Today's piece had no definite direction, it was just a pull out of different experiences.Hope you enjoyed the read.

Till the next time,
Theng'e: Signing Out!

WORLD IN NEED OF LOVE-JESUS LOVE!

Sup people!Hope you had an awesome day and week. I've had a pretty tough one with a few ups and downs.I feel absolutely drained!!!...but it's all good.On to the story of the day, enjoy and feel free to comment:

 Today, I went shopping with a good friend of mine and on the way saw a lady squatting on the road. Yeah, sounds like a casual incidence but there was more to it than revealed. Let me try re-describe the scenario. On the roadside was a woman squatting; huddled in some way. She had partly covered her face with an dirty old headscarf as if to cover something that was meant to stay hidden. If one looked close enough they would see that she had a serious eye wound because on it, she had a bloodied eye patch. She was clothed in an old dress that seemed to have seen a few to many days for its lifetime, but I guessed that was all she had. 

At first glance, I thought that she was one of those beggars; waiting and timing people on the road so as to ask for 'a little' something. However, I quickly dismissed it because I felt that there was something strange and almost scary about her. Then again, I thought she was one of those women who pose as troubled people and attack when helped, but I wasn't sure. My guards were high and I got a bit apprehensive, actually that's an understatement: a lot apprehensive.

"What if she's a thug and has accomplices nearby? What if she is the thug? Avoid! Avoid! Don't even make eye contact!" I told myself quietly as we got closer.

As we got closer I noticed that she did not look normal. I don't mean ghost-like or  like a freak of nature, no. She looked sick physically, perhaps even mentally. It was as if she had been through so much suffering that words could not begin describe her story. 

There was a demeanor about her that could not go unnoticed. She had an air of strength, defiance, rebellion, some sort of roughness probably acquired from what she had experienced in her life. Yet at the same time some level of fear and introvert tendencies. Being the person I am, seeing the indication of such a bad wound left me feeling queasy and coupled my fears. I hate seeing blood or evidence of a really bad wound, and that one there seemed to be one ghastly one. 

I started to cross the road to the other side, doing my best not to look at her and my oh my didn't I get the fright of my life when she rose to her feet. She started approaching us as if coming to either ask as for something but I walked as fast as I could gesturing that she shouldn't come towards us and that we couldn't help her; may be some other time.  

It sounds mean but you can't blame me for that. I was scared off my socks and was not sure what to expect. With the current state of affairs in our country, the number one rule is to trust no one, especially not strangers because it can land you in trouble. No matter how sweet, innocent or troubled one looks- walk away because it can be a trap to endanger you. With this in mind you can empathize with my school of thought.

As soon as we had crossed I breathed a breath of relief, perhaps even one of "Thank God, we're safe!".  I began chatting with my friend and apologized for having seemed mean. She casually said it was okay but later explained that according to her, the woman was not coming to beg. Instead she was shooing us away; from the look of things may be what she had was contagious so she was warning us to stay away.  Her speculation was that the lady might have had leprosy or something along those lines.

On hearing that I felt a pang of guilt. "How could I be so unfeeling?" I asked myself. The saddest thing about the whole ordeal was that even if we wanted to help after that how could we? We asked ourselves if there were any hospitals or medical offices nearby that we could call and direct their personnel to her but there were none. The question that began to gnaw at the back of my head was "What if it was me or my family member? How would I feel?"

We then began to discuss the need to show such people love. My friend had been talking about how people who are really sick need care, affection and affirmation. The reasoning behind this is that they can be made to feel like outcasts because of situations that are beyond their control such as their bodies giving up and becoming prone to diseases that no man can heal but only God can heal.

 Come to think of it now, I'm led to think of the lady in the Bible (Mark 5:24-34) who bled for 12 years. If the lady we saw was anything to go by then that lady really suffered. She was an outcast because of her illness and no one understood. She sought treatment, with the hope of being healed but all was in vain. She was all alone, in her pit of problems, that was until she heard about Jesus. She heard that the healer was nearby and she dared to believe. A belief so great it was almost silly-if we try to reason logically. Her reasoning was if she just touched the hem, not the whole cloak, not Jesus, but if she touched ONLY the HEM of HIS garment then she WOULD BE HEALED. And so it was, her faith made her well. One encounter with Jesus, followed by the confession that it was she who touched him and her explanation as to why, not only saw her set free but totally and fully healed. 

So what am I saying at the end of it all? Despite the hardened society and the degree of depravity of morals let not our hearts be hardened. May God open our eyes that we may be able to discern those that are in need from the deceitful who are out to endanger others. Let us not forget to be mindful and help where we can; in action through prayer-in whichever way. It is a tough call, I know-with the current times, why bother? 'There is no good in this world' we say, but we need to be the good, the light on the lamp stand, the salt of the earth. For you never know, one day it might be you or someone you love...What if everyone ignored you or them? How would you feel?

Till the next time,
Theng'e: Signing out!

OUT OF ORDER!

If anyone has been in Kenya, then you know for a fact that our transport system is something out of this world: and by transport I mean the public service vehicles, especially matatus. (For those who do not know, matatus are the Nissan 14-seater p.s.v  vans and also include a smaller version of Isuzu buses.) Ridiculous if not ridonkulous you ask me-yes, it even makes me come up with  new vocabulary to try and describe it. This one time I got on one and had quite an experience that I even wrote about it on my phone. Enjoy the read:

Matatu's are like deviant little children on sugar highs, who are absolutely out of  order. For some funny reason they think and act as if they own the world and their word/ actions is law. Today I got in one at  Madaraka in bid to get to town soonest but lo! What lay ahead was a twist of the unexpected.

My dad had been so sweet; dropped me half way (T-mall)  and I quickly walked to the stage thinking that it had  all been a miracle because I was there by 3.30pm or so. My agenda was to run to hospital quickly get some tests done, dash to River Road to buy some materials and make it just on time for class. I stood waiting for a while at the stage before finally getting in one Rongai matatu. (I have to emphasize this because they among the most notorious p.s.v's.). I was elated when we approached the Uhuru Highway roundabout and thought that the rest of the jam would clear soon. However, after approaching the roundabout the driver went and joined the road to Industrial Area. To me, this was totally off route- I was going to town, what were we doing in Industrial Area?

I started trying to console myself that it was okay, everything would be alright. It was just a short cut and that we would eventually get to town. After a while I began to doubt it because first I had no clue where we were. Secondly the next thing I saw was South C/B(I still get confused about this areas to date) matatus and that we were near the Oilibya near Bellevue. That did not make sense.

 "May be we'll get out on the Mombasa Road highway? But that doesn't make sense, it's like going backwards!" I told myself. I finally asked the conductor who re-assured me that the endpoint would be town. Phew! Breath of relief!

Now that I was sure that we were headed to town I became a bit more relaxed. Funny thing though, despite the fact that the driver was trying to avoid jam, he put us in 'thicker' jam. It was massive. Wait until all the matatus decided to break all the traffic rules. It was as if they were all waiting for a sign from the sky to announce that they could all go berserk. All matatus got off the roads and drove on pathways causing havoc for pedestrians and raising a lot of dust. The roads at this point looked as if circus animals had been let loose and were running wild on rampage. I was silently praying that the vehicle I was in would not follow suit but that did not happen. All those that had dozed off were abruptly woken up and were now clinging to the seats in front of them for dear life. It was kind of funny, but the not-so-funny joke was that after all that we did not really  get anywhere. The driver's effort to steer clear of looming traffic ended us in worse jam; had he stuck to the original route, we would have probably already reached town.

After a whole lot of waiting, cars started moving and by the look of things we had somehow wound up at Jogoo Road. Too funny( half laughing, more of disbelief) How now? A Rongai van ending up in Jogoo when the target was town? That's like going East and ending West or South. It felt like one of those moments you feel like slapping the driver for being too adventurous at the cost of delaying you.

We soon ended up in Muthurwa Market and I began thinking of the bus that I had seen pass by while I was with my dad. Had I got into it I would have been in town an hour ago and finished my errands plus headed to class. Wishful thinking.

"Breathe, Relax. It's all good, we are now in town," I told myself but what the driver did was totally out of order! I scurried off the matatu and made a dash for it but what was evident was that I would be late for my class. As Mojo-Jojo would say- 'Curses'!!!....(you driver!!Nktutho)


Till the next time,
Theng'e: Signing Out!