THE MAN WITH THE SLING - Lulu Mwakuwona

Extract (1 Samuel 17)

There are times in life when, no matter what profession you are in you get to feel like you have a routine. I bet even the president, occasionally feels trapped. Dealing with the same thing repeatedly can be wearisome. During these low days you might get an invite from one of your peers and they take turns around the coffee table heralding the highlights of their lives. It is in good faith. You asked how they are faring after all.

This got me thinking of David and his brothers. His brothers were soldiers and him well, ‘just a shepherd.’ You can only imagine if they had one of those family get together gatherings and someone asked how their day was. He had to be first; otherwise, he would not be able to live up to the adventurous episodes of his brothers.

Maybe one time he joined in later, when his brothers had already started narrating their intriguing rendezvous. “Were the Philistines sloppy this time or is it just me who sensed it?” they could have nodded in unison. “Especially that one time when Eliab threw a spear and it distracted 10 of their soldiers. That was an amazing victory guys”

Noticing how quiet David was, probably Jesse would point the question directly to him. I imagine him saying something like, “well, I just had to lead one sheep and the rest followed, you know how sheep are.” Or maybe “One sheep I call Billy got trapped in the bush and I had to get him out. I rubbed my hand on the shrubs and got an allergic reaction. I came home early today.” On very ‘good’ days, he would kill a lion but I guess with the kind of demeanor his brothers radiated, the story was just as mundane as my days in the house doing a mani and pedi.

His day came, on this very day his father sends him to check on his brothers in the battlefield as he takes food to them. Something less that his normal job but it would break the monotony, get a walk through nature: beautiful flowers, smell of grass and trees while humming to a song he was listening to(Okay that is me not David) and he would get to watch the battle as well (at least that is what Eliab thought.)

It turned out to be his best day. The battle field had this giant called Goliath that no one dared to face except him. I can imagine the thoughts in his head, “with all that training they can’t beat this guy?” It took a lot of convincing to get a chance to face Goliath. On second thought though they had nothing to lose, everyone was afraid so they might as well just get the party (oh, I mean fight) started. Those lions and bears he killed turned out to be exercise and built his confidence.  When he stood before Goliath, Goliath thought it was a joke and couldn’t stop laughing (picture the grim laugh) but seconds later he did not know what hit him, quite literally.  David just picked up his sling and killed him with one shot and the bully Goliath was no more. A sling! (Feya -  if you grew up in my hood)

So, when you are in a group of friends and you are probably fueling stories about them hoping they do not ask anything about your life because at the time you cannot keep up and the green monster is slowly invading your soul just the same spot where Love and genuine happiness for other people should be, take a deep breath and talk to the heart. “What’s up bruh? What are you aching for? Don’t you know you are the man with the sling? Keep calm! Enjoy the walk towards Goliath, smell those flowers as you guard the sheep because once you hit Goliath, Billy will need a new shepherd.”

 

Jesus said to her, "Did i not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" - John 11: 40

THE RAIN SPOILED MY BROTH - Brenda Gamonde

 When coming down to the physical world makes you uneasy, just relax and enjoy your moments here on earth - Jenda Lovelylady Poet

“Mum, it is Meru,” I told my mum very excited about the email I received from G-United. All night long I dreamed of the new life and experience I was going to live. A new culture, new environment and strange people I would call family for the rest of the year.

I was more excited than fearful of what awaited me in Meru County.

“You are fearless, you are going to make it,” my brother’s words kept ringing in my head as my new family welcomed me to their home.

Like in my family back at home, I was the first born to my new family, with five brothers and two sisters, all looking at me yearning to hear the words I’d say to them.

We talked through the night as the rain poured mercilessly. It felt like home.

Just then, dinner time arrived. As a good guest I waited to be served though I was dying inside to serve them, I mean, it is always the responsibility for the first kid in the house to ensure others are served and okay.

The culture that blew me off about Meru people is their ways of preparing food. I was stunned on how they were able to mix kales, beans with maize flour.

“It is called Mokinde,” my little brother, Muthuma told me when I asked what it was.

In two weeks I hadn’t gathered the courage to cook because I feared my style of cooking might be met with different reactions.

After a couple of days I finally gathered strength I had and told my new mom that I would help her cook.

The smile on her face motivated me even more to cook for my big family.

Dark clouds outside had gathered spreading the reign of darkness yet it was not night.

Quickly I gathered what I considered enough firewood to cook for the family, both dinner and dessert.

My little sisters were also excited and after school they came straight to the kitchen. We talked, laughed as I got busy with preparing Githeri meal for the family.

No sooner had I placed the cooking pot on the fire than, the rain started to pour as it did on almost all daily basis.

This night though the rain poured more and more as time went by. The meal was on its final preparation when the worst happened.

Suddenly, I noticed rain water entering the kitchen. I thought to myself, maybe the water will stop entering the kitchen. But no, water started getting into the kitchen from every corner.

My worst fear was confirmed when the water was looking for its way into my cooking fire. I watched helplessly as the raging water made its way to my fire with my broth sitting majestically on the three cooking stones.

Yes, the water did put out my fire; my meal was not fully prepared as I hoped it would be.

Defeated by the water, I removed my firewood and placed them aside. The rain had not shown any signs to stop, it kept pouring through out.

I couldn’t bring myself to face my host mom of the rain spoiling my broth. I sat in the dark listening to the rain tune on the roof.

My thoughts raced, it was not my fault, I knew but somehow I felt guilty. I was determined to blow everyone’s mind with my cooking skills. Yes, I am a good cook, I have been told more than enough.

Meekly, I made my way to the main house and narrated my ordeal to my mom with the help of my two sisters who were laughing at the incident; at least it was funny to someone else.

“Oh Brenda, pole, I will ask dad to dig trenches around the kitchen so that water does not spoil your mood again,” she replied lovingly with concern written all over her face.

I sighed, served the meal to the family as we listened to the heavy down pour. My eyes were hovering around my family members face to see their reaction as they ate the half cooked meal.

When my little brothers took the first bite and whispered to each other I knew something was up. My sister exclaimed out loud, “Mum, Brenda should be cooking more. Hii food ni tamu,” she said.

My siblings chipped in praising my not fully cooked meal.

“Brenda, unapika vizuri, nani alikufunza?” my mother asked.

I could feel my lips smiling uncontorobly, my soul was jumping up and down dancing at its own music.

My heart was beating very fast, and my ears were touching the tips of the smiling lips.

“Its my mother back at home,” I replied shyly.

Just then, my new dad came in soaking from the rain. He explained that the rain was not going to stop and decided to come home.

“The food smells good,” he commented when the aroma from the meal hit his nose.

“Brenda has cooked for us today,” Muthuma told him.

“And the rain water put out the fire before she could finish cooking,” added my mum.

We all laughed about it, and it felt so good.

The rain had spoiled the fire place and we had to eat dinner without dessert, which is tea.

As soon as we had finished the evening meal, the rain decreased and stopped after a few minutes.

As I cleaned up after the family I noticed all plates were ‘clean’ and no food remained in the pot, which is odd than usual.

I went to bed angry at the rain but my heart and mind were smiling.

“Too much rain, too much love,” I whispered to myself before sleeping.

 Brenda Gamonde.

NEW TOWNS - Lulu Mwakuwona

“I’m youth, I’m joy, I’m a little bird that has broken out of the egg” – James Matthew Barrie

New Towns!

I haven’t written in a long time. Most of my new friends don’t even know of this as one of my hobbies. I had prepared an introductory paragraph of the reasons why but suddenly I feel I should skip it. Long story short, once in a while, I will appear as a guest writer probably writing about anything and everything under the sun and I am so excited about the new found balance. Hope the boat doesn’t rock!

So I moved to a new town recently. Its temporary but the lessons are ingrained in me for a lifetime. It is one of those bitter- sweet feelings, spasms of loneliness yet a deep sense of freedom. Introverts like myself would call it a moment of reflection and soul searching because most times, you are alone. Honestly, I got to listen to my thoughts, understood what I let out to the world and how my words have affected people over the years. I feel ready now, more prepared for a life of less ‘me time’ and lifelong commitments.

It was beautiful to know humanity is not lost. People out here are genuinely nice, some at least. I got a house in a day and settled in week. Apart from the teething problems, language barrier and homesick, the people here made it so easy to adjust and I couldn’t be more grateful. I am more conscious of people in new towns now. I think it’s even far more personal than I could explain in words. Just be kind. Be the oasis in their dessert or the cherry on top depending on the circumstances.

I have many ‘stranger-friends’ I call them that because probability of ever meeting them again is close to zero. One of them in a matatu heading to school told me I didn’t look like the town I live in. ‘You should be in the city,” he said. I told him to finish school, have a year out and revisit his views.  I have come to learn, depending on what you do the place you live is mostly dependent on your purpose. If you are passionate about community work like myself, you will spend more fulfilling days in upcountry than in a city or town. It helps though to be close to an airport, railway route or short distance from town just to have a breath of civilization or meet up with loved ones. Suffice to say, small towns aren’t so bad, break the mundane for at least a year and get the fresh scent of the rural side.

The world is a beautiful space, especially if you free your mind to  wonder, release yourself from the comfort zone and live a  little, live differently and take each moment as it is, a moment that will never be identical to any!

Lulu Mwakuwona.