Book Review 15: No Makeup On

Book title: No Makeup On

Subtitle:The Rebirth of Identity

Author: Hope Babigumira

Pages: 150

I got this book from a friend (Hey Prossy) and I promised her that I would be done within a week,little did I know that a week was too long for me to devour 150 pages. Hope Babigumira thank you for sharing your story with me. Here goes my review….

No makeup on is a transparent book with a grace-filled story.

Hope is born into a good family with father ,mother,siblings, a good house and good schools and so much more. Her parents care so much to give them a good education and therefore ensure they enroll them into the best schools in Kabale, because hey, the right foundation is important.

As with many Ugandan stories, death snatches their father away from them and the once well off family lands on a stranger-STRUGGLE. Her mother has to pick up what is left and fend for her babies along with other dependents ,who she had to eventually release because she was unable to help them any longer. As if the loss of their father wasn`t enough, death visited again and snatched away their little brother. It could have been Hope but as fate would have it, the brother sat in her place and boom,the wall hit him hard.

Hope on the other hand goes through her own struggles. She struggles to fit in, be cool, body consciousness and sensitivity, sexual abuse, drinking and partying, daddy issues, abortion.

Armed with a distorted self image, Hope ends up getting pregnant for the first man who treated her like a queen. Her perspective on love was what Mills and Boon had served her with, a handsome money with a body to die for, would meet you and you fall in love instantly ,have sex and live happily ever after. But this wasn`t the case, this handsome man got her pregnant and he wanted nothing to do with her. Stuck with a pregnancy in her Senior six, her friends advise her to abort and she goes through with it. This left her with a feeling of guilt only God can heal anyone from.

She  moves on to Makerere University, her cycle never ends, drinking, partying, and sex never stop. She graduates, starts the work journey but has no idea of saving or handling money better ,which is the case with many graduates and those still at the university. She is on a journey to financial freedom and writing a book is one of the chapters on this journey.

She meets her husband, they fall in love and move on to start a family. She comes back to her church roots (she was raised in a christian home with strong christian values) because she was tired of life as she knew it and needed to be better for her daughter.

A friend recommends her to a church-worship Harvest where she heard the gospel of grace. She could n`t believe that God wanted anything to do with her after her dark past, but indeed He wanted everything to do with her. God has dealt with her daddy issues, distorted identity, sexual abuse trauma, low self esteem and so much more. He has restored her to Himself and to her purpose.

It is evident through her journey that she has learned invaluable lessons, found her voice and her purpose. She is ready to live her life with purpose and impact the next generation of young ladies.

I recommend this book to every girl/woman out there, we all have issues we are dealing with similar to Hope`s.We need someone to tell a story we relate too/with and Hope does that in her book.You are guaranteed to have `AHA!!’ moments as you flip the pages.

To all the ladies out there, you are enough.You FATHER loves you deeply.He rejoices over you with singing. Be brave.Be you.

Get a copy of the book  at Aristoc -30,000 Ugx

 

 

 

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Fostering Growth

Our environments are crucial in our growth. “if we want to grow to reach our potential, we must be in the right environment.’’ I had a desire to emcee but had too much holding me back that I let each opportunity pass me by. We all need to dwell in environments that foster our growth, build our confidence and challenge us to desire growth daily.

In 2013, my name was suggested to moderate at BAY C which is a one week conference held annually by The DYF(Disciples Youth Fellowship ). I was dumbstruck, my entire being said NO! but the decision was made.I felt like i was in a court session that had ended so fast that I didn`t have time to object. “My Lord, I ……….”

The week happened so quickly that most of the time I felt myself murmuring things that didn`t make much sense however it is in that environment that my confidence was fostered and gift polished. I can moderate / MC any day, anytime and anywhere because of one environment that helped me grow.

Therefore if you desire growth in a particular area, find out whether it is your environment hindering your growth or yourself. For it is impossible to grow without changing. There ought to be a change in the friends you keep, work environment, reading patterns, sleeping patterns, the thoughts that you harbor etc.

I have learned to challenge myself in new environments because my capabilities are brought forth and  the already existing gifts, talents and capabilities are polished. There is an opportunity for growth in each environment we are in . Question is, are you  keen enough to draw it out?

Have you fostered growth in any area of your life this month? Share with me your experience.