Upper Hill School 1985 -1989

Upper Hill School, so much to say , such limited space. Arrived on a february morning after being selected by the schools board after the standard 8 exams. We had expected to wear trousers but to our dismay, we were made to wear shorts, kaptulas yani... God bless Mr igobwa, we petitioned him as rabbles and before first term was out we were allowed to wear trousers. Pity the guys whose parents didnt see the need to spend more money when the shorts were still acceptable. No need to prolong their pain.

My teachers came in all kinds and sorts, the ever hilarious chemistry teacher Mrs Barbara, who could just never give David Kiarie a break. Always picking on Deu.. Mr kiplagat, class teacher for a record four years, the guy was more than a teacher , he was a buddy. there was the hot art teacher Miss Maingey who chatted freely with form sixes and Mr Ngaruiyia but looked straight through us form ones. I remember one dude deliberately dropping his pencil in an art class and , bending to *pick it up*. The dude ended up getting a tongue lashing. The poor guy was so humiliated, I wonder what he had expected, a date???. Something tells me it was either Mbau or Olembo...

Dedication to our departed teachers who impacted us greatly, Mrs Akolo, Mr Muganda, Mr Monda... Shaped our lives the right way.....

I remember playing rugby with the likes of osimbo, in form 1 he could tackle all form sixes.. osimbo my boy... niva, olembo, ochonglo and ralph always going after muso chics but avoiding the ones from Muso of tao like plague.. of course some not so jisty form four and six guys had chics in muso of tao.. really cruelhow we dissed them...

Upper memories, being made a prefect, skiving with the cooks bicycle on a closing day from 10 am till 18 pm. the poor guys had wanted to go to shags... Kinyash humiliating Muturi and the chic from State house in interact. Philip Ondeng making it worse.
And of course my sons Mr Odero... Amuyunzu.. i think the guy wasnt serious as a teacher...
long live Upper.. lest you think otherwise there was studying also...

Juja Road primary - 1985

I went to school in Juja road primary school in the pangani section of Nairobi. Primary school holds some of my best memories. With the introduction of 8-4-4 and we being the guinea pigs, life was bound to be some sort of roller coaster. From something like 6 subjects in standard 6 we shot to 11 or 12 or 13 in standard seven complete with planting of cabbages, knitting dolly pyjamas and washing sufurias in the home science class. One of my best memory but rather an interesting one as well was that of our agriculture teacher Gatiba making off with our cabbages after awarding marks for the best and worst grown ones. Since the syllabus was still new and many areas still grey, interpretation was best left to the teacher. We didnt complain and neither did our parents.

I remember how we would play soccer barefeet because you didnt want your parents to skin you alive for messing your school shoes. There were always 6 teams at any one time during a soccer matches at break time and after lunch, complete with six different balls. Somehow we always knew which one was ours and goalies had to give way when it wasnt their ball being kicked towards the post.

Railway football ground across the school was used for more serious after school tournaments. It was also for settling scores. 'Nimekuwekea Wanted' was the generally accepted manly way to settle a squabble usually started off by mchongoano.... you never dishonoured a wanted else you would be the chicken of the school until the end of the term. I remember one guy being being chongolewad,
'Budako ni mchafu mpaka ana mtaro kwa kifua' That was railway (reru) straight away.. Good old days...
Closing day was picnic days and i remember turning up in suits of all kinds. one time I had on this army style suit.. like the ones worn by majors, things i wore sandaks with it, but did i care??

Gamalenga

I pick up my journey growing up in a village called Gamalenga in Nyangori location..... I have to trace my roots lest I present myself to my people one day wanting to be their councillor and they throwing me away for not knowing our village. my memories though are more of my grnadmother who dominated my life with her unconditional love and early life lessons. cant find any pic of gamalenga but in 1980, i was to relocate to live with my mother in the big city. Been back a few times.. Last time was to visit my granddad way back in 1997... should make a point of visiting more often....

Arrival of Esther Precious Junga 19th July 2006

19th July, my niece Esther Precious Junga arrived in this world born to my youngest sister Maureen Inziani. She is a fighter, having laboured her mother for a record 48 hours. Three months on and she shows just why she is special. Precious is not an attention seeker, she demands attention. She also chooses who to smile at and who not to, completely ignoring you if you dont not elicit the littlest interest in her. Needless to say I have been a victim of her mood swings quite a few times. But here is a lovely picture of her and my mother that I captured in one of her best moods.......

The Apple Cart - author unknown

A few years ago, a group of salesmen went to a regional sales convention in Chicago. The convention lasted all week, and all the salesmen had assured their wives that they would be home in plenty of time for Friday night's dinner.

As they hurried to the airport to catch their return flight, they rushed down the airport's corridor with their briefcases in hand. In their rush, one of these salesmen inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of apples.

Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all continued running so they would make their plane.

All but one.

He stopped after running a few more yards, took a deep breath, and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned.

He told his buddies to go on without him, waved goodbye, told one of them to call his wife when they arrived at their home destination and explain his taking a later flight. Then he returned to the terminal where the apples were all over the terminal floor.

He was glad he did.

The 16 year old girl running the apple cart was totally blind. She was softly crying, tears running down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about her, no one stopping and no one to care for her plight.

The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display.

As he did this, he noticed that many of the apples had become battered and bruised; these he set aside in another basket.

When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, "Here, please take this $40 for the damage we did. Are you okay?"

She nodded through her tears.

He continued on with, "I hope we didn't spoil your day too badly."

As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called out to him, "Mister....."

He paused and turned to look back into those blind eyes.

She continued, "Are you Jesus?"

He stopped in mid-stride, and he wondered. Then slowly he made his way to catch the later flight with that question burning and bouncing about in his soul: "Are you Jesus?"

Do people mistake you for Jesus?

That's our call, is it not? To be so much like Jesus that people cannot tell the difference as we live and interact with a world (shopping, working, reacting to others that are serving us) that is blind to His love, life and grace.

If we claim to know Him, we should live, walk and act as He would.

Knowing Him is more than simply quoting Scripture and going to church. It's actually living the Word as life unfolds day to day.

You are the apple of His eye even though we, too, have been bruised by a fall. He stopped what He was doing and picked you and me up on a hill called Calvary and paid in full for our damaged fruit.

Let us live like we are worth the price He paid.

Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

--Author Unknown

Memo from God!

Effective immediately, please be aware that there are changes YOU need to make in YOUR life. These changes need to be completed in order that I may fulfill My promises to you to grant you peace, joy and happiness in this life. I apologize for any inconvenience, but after all that I am doing, this seems very little to ask of you. Please, follow these 10 guidelines


1. QUIT WORRYING:

Life has dealt you a blow and all you do is sit and worry. Have you forgotten that I am here to take all your burdens and carry them for you? Or do you just enjoy fretting over every little thing that comes your way?


2. PUT IT ON THE LIST

Something needs done or taken care of. Put it on the list. No, not YOUR list. Put it on MY to-do-list. Let ME be the one to take care of the problem. I can't help you until you turn it over to Me. And although My to-do list is long, I am after all...God. I can take care of anything you put into My hands. In fact, if the truth were ever really known, I take care of a lot of things for you that you never even realize.


3. TRUST ME

Once you've given your burdens to Me, quit trying to take them back. Trust in Me. Have the faith that I will take care of all your needs, your problems and your trials. Problems with the kids? Put them on My list. Problem with finances? Put it on My list. Problems with your emotional roller coaster? For My sake, put it on My list. I want to help you. All you have to do is ask.


4. LEAVE IT ALONE

Don't wake up one morning and say, "Well, I'm feeling much stronger now, I think I can handle it from here." Why do you think you are feeling stronger now? It's simple. You gave Me your burdens and I'm taking care of them. I also renew your strength and cover you in my peace. Don't you know that if I give you these problems back, you will be right back where you started? Leave them with Me and forget about them. Just let Me do my job.


5. TALK TO ME

I want you to forget a lot of things. Forget what was making you crazy. Forget the worry and the fretting because you know I'm in control. But there's one thing I pray you never forget. Please, don't forget to talk to Me - OFTEN! I love YOU! I want to hear your voice. I want you to include Me in on the things going on in your life. I want to hear you talk about your friends and family.
Prayer is simply you having a conversation with Me. I want to be your dearest friend.


6. HAVE FAITH

I see a lot of things that you can't see from where you are. Have faith in Me that I know what I'm doing. Trust Me; you wouldn't want the view from My eyes. I will continue to care for you, watch over you, and meet your needs. You only have to trust Me. Although I have a much bigger task than you, it seems as if you have so much trouble just doing your simple part. How hard can trust be?


7. SHARE

You were taught to share when you were only two years old. When did you forget? That rule still applies. Share with those who are less fortunate than you. Share your joy with those who need encouragement. Share your laughter with those who haven't heard any in such a long time. Share your tears with those who have forgotten how to cry. Share your faith with those who have none.


8. BE PATIENT

I managed to fix it so in just one lifetime you could have so many diverse experiences. You grow from a child to an adult, have children, change jobs many times, learn many trades, travel to so many places, meet thousands of people, and experience so much. How can you be so impatient then when it takes Me a little longer than you expect to handle something on My to-do list? Trust in My timing, for My timing is perfect. Just because I created the entire universe in only six days, everyone thinks I should always rush, rush, rush.


9. BE KIND

Be kind to others, for I love them just as much as I love you. They may not dress like you, or talk like you, or live the same way you do, but I still love you all. Please try to get along, for My sake. I created each of you different in some way. It would be too boring if you were all identical.
Please, know I love each of your differences.


10. LOVE YOURSELF

As much as I love you, how can you not love yourself? You were created by me for one reason only -- to be loved, and to love in return. I am a God of Love. Love Me. Love your neighbors. But also love yourself. It makes My heart ache when I see you so angry with yourself when things go wrong. You are very precious to me. Don't ever forget.


--Author Unknown

When I say I am a christian:

By MAYA ANGELOU (as forwarded by Victor Komanyo)

When I say… “I am a Christian”

I’m not shouting “I’m clean livin’.”

I’m whispering “I was lost,

Now I’m found and forgiven.”

When I say… “I am a Christian”

I don’t speak of this with pride.

I’m confessing that I stumble

and need Christ to be my guide.


When I say… “I am a Christian”

I’m not trying to be strong.

I’m professing that I’m weak

And need His strength to carry on.

When I say… “I am a Christian”

I’m not bragging of success.

I’m admitting I have failed

And need God to clean my mess.


When I say… “I am a Christian”

I’m not claiming to be perfect,

My flaws are far too visible

But, God believes I am worth it.


When I say… “I am a Christian”

I still feel the sting of pain.

I have my share of heartaches

So I call upon His name.


When I say… “I am a Christian”

I’m not holier than thou,

I’m just a simple sinner

Who received God’s good grace, somehow!