Day 15 of #BOTY2019: Person You Met

We are on day 15 and I`m celebrating coming this far in the #BOTY2019 challenge by keeping it short.

I reconnected with Peace ,a friend from high school at a hospital where my mother was admitted. She is a nurse ,not at the hospital,but the nursing school of the hospital. I was looking for certain things my mum needed when we met. She offered to give them to me like it was nothing. I was elated and speechless at the same time. Peace went a step further to come and check on my mum. She will definitely make the best of nurses.

The other person is K. The humor and sarcasm K has is for the Commonwealth. lol. PS;K if you see this,ignore it and drink your coffee.

I`m excited to read in the comment section who made it to your best person you met in 2019 list.

 

 

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27 onto 28

So today, I turn a WHOLE 28 years old.I`m getting closer to the 3<sup>rd</sup> floor and I am as excited as I am scared. I want to share with you some lessons I`ve learned over the last few years. The lessons could be more but I chose 27 as I step into my 28^th season.

Here we go:

1. Have a belief system. As a Christian, my belief system is hinged on/in Christ. Everything I do has a background to the bible. My values are formed by this.
2. Find your calling and purpose and pursue them wholly. This answers the why, reason for your existence. Take it a notch higher and invest in your purpose.
3. Don`t be afraid to say NO! When I had just started saying NO, it felt strange on my tongue and left me wondering if the person I had said it to, still loved me, liked or even wanted to be my friend.
4. Don`t criticize what you aren`t and can`t do. This lesson has been my motto since 2018. Appreciate the fact that someone woke up and did their thing. Hope you are doing yours too.
5. Mind your own business. Chilleeee *in Sarah Jakes Roberts voice*

Stay calm; mind your own business; do your own job. You’ve heard all this from us before, but a reminder never hurts. – 1 Thessalonians 4:11, MSG

Image source: Sarah Jakes Roberts

6. Have a healthy support system. I emphasize healthy because the support needs to be balanced. These friends cheer on, celebrate you but also call you out when you are doing foolish things, rebuke you ,ask you the tough questions and you do the same for them.
7. Read extensively. Forget the notion that, if you want to hide something from an African, put it in a book. Reading keeps you alive and on top of your game. Reading gives you insight into a world beyond your physical environment.
8. Speak up-Know what you want and speak up. Speak up against things you don`t settle well with you like injustice, sexual harassment, corruption, foul play, et cetera. But also speak up for things you like and love.
9. Die to opinions of men. I know in Uganda we are raised with the, `What will people say?’ line. It`s crippling and you need to outgrow it.
10. Support your friends and their hustles. It doesn`t have to be monetary all the time, broadcast their businesses, share their posts on social media, advise them when things aren`t going well, etc. Help them build their empires and careers.
11. Mentors are gold, find one. Mentoring sets you on a path of discovery, adventure, helps you push your limits and achieve over and above what you expected. I encourage you to find a mentor. I have had a privilege of being mentored by amazing people.
12. Acknowledge good things and dwell, savor them. We easily acknowledge bad things.
13. Don`t settle for less. Always aim for more and the very best.
14. Make that money and don`t apologize for it.
15. Have boundaries and respect them, others will too. In return, respect other people`s boundaries.
16. Keeping time is a thing. Dear Ugandans, it’s not just for bazungu –white people.
17. Run your own race and avoid the comparison disease.
18. Celebrate small victories/wins. These make up the big wins.
19. Spend time with people you love.
20. Travel. It is therapy. Start with small tours of the places nearby and go on expanding your territory. Don`t let people`s Instagram posts get you broke. Travel grows your perspective on people, cultures, mannerisms and a wider view on life and the world.
21. Seasons are part of life. There will be summer, winter, autumn and spring. Grow through all the seasons. Embrace them.
22. Practice letting go. It is a painful process but one that has to happen. Sometimes we have to let go of longtime friends, clients, lovers, clothes and pieces we acquired over time.
23. Be generous with your resources.
24. Practice MDD. I said it. lol!! Listen to music, its therapeutic. Sway and dance to that beat. Welcome drama, not every drama is 100% dramatic. Some has lessons, fun, revelation and so much more. Live life to the fullest.
25. Don`t give up on love. Sometimes being in love hurts but pain has never stopped its beauty. Love wholeheartedly and unapologetically.
26. Self-awareness is bae. Know thyself well. What makes you happy? What do you believe? What makes you sad? Be honest with yourself on every level.
27. Enjoy being alone but not lonely. I have learned to be with myself and still be comfortable. Years ago, I had an itch to be with people all the time but I`ve learned to be alone, have quiet moments and still be comfortable. Try it.

Here is a bonus;

Don’t hinge your happiness on other people.

Share with me some lessons from your years of living.

Love Has Come-A concert

Today,I come bearing good tidings,“Love Has Come” You must be wondering,what love has come,from where,by who and where do you put it or what do you do with it?? Sit back and I give you all the 411.

Love Has Come is a concert organised by Worship Harvest Kibuye,one of the many locations under Worship Harvest Ministries.

It is happening on 13th December ,2018 at Muganzirwaza commercial building (the home of Worship Harvest Kibuye) from 7:00pm-9:00pm. Tickets go for 10,000/=

The concert is a way of giving thanks to God for all the great things He has done and continues to do at Worship Harvest Kibuye. What better way to celebrate than through music with the world.

The headlining artistes are Brian Lubega who has popular and loved songs like Nungamya, Wakitiibwa,Wegukubira -my personal favorite under his belt.Check him out of Facebookhttps://web.facebook.com/brianlubegamusic/

Walter Wa an artist,producer and the location pastor of WHKibuye will be ministering in some of his songs Kaneyagale, Njayaniragwe,Winner feauturing Levixone and so much more. Check out his music on soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/walter-wandera-adonia

Denis Beloved a versatile artist, with songs like Taking over,New Creation and Inyin Yesu(one of my favorite songs) and You do me well. Check out his music on soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/denisbelovedCheck him out on Facebookhttps://web.facebook.com/denisbeloved/

Secure your ticket now ,comment and I will deliver it to you.

See you there!!

Who is teaching you responsibility?

Dear boys 2 men,

Who is teaching you responsibility?

Who is teaching you how to treat the ladies in your lives?
Who is teaching you how to behave on dates? (I am not talking about opening car doors here.if you do it, awesome,if you don’t,it’s OK)
Who is teaching you how to disagree but not beat up that woman in your life?

Who is teaching you how to go about proposals?
Who is teaching you how to be a present friend, husband,father, grandfather?
who is teaching you the basics of manhood?
Who are you having your manhood conversations with?

Who are you vulnerable with?(I know in our society,you’ve been told to man up. “abasajja tebakaba,” but that’s not even scriptural, Jesus wept openly)
Who are you showing your nakedness?Who is walking the marriage journey with you?Who is teaching you responsibility?

Who is teaching you how to protect your “Chic,kyana” physically,mentally,emotionally, spiritually and financially?
Who is teaching you not to have premarital sex to prove your manhood?

Who is teaching you parenting?some of you get kids while at campus, after campus and there in between and have no idea where to start from hence ,choosing irresponsibility.perhaps if you knew better,you would do better.perhaps.

Who is sharpening you? ``As iron sharpens iron,So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” Proverbs 27:17 (NKJV)

Who is affirming you? Who is speaking wisdom to you?

Who is praying with and for you?

Who is rebuking you?

Tell me,Who is teaching you?

Who is holding your hand and showing you the way to go?

Who is teaching you how to lead and be led?

Who is teaching you responsibility in every form?

 

Follow Kuteesa Foundation on Facebook ,because they are teaching the boys 2 men in our generation responsibility.

Comment below with a man ,men or group of men who are teaching you responsibility.

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

 

 

 

Book review 13: I dared to call Him Father

Book: I Dared to call Him Father

Subtitle: The Miraculous story of a Muslim Woman`s Encounter with God

Pages:190

Genre:Biography

Authors: Bilquis Sheikh with Richard H.Schneider

I have to admit this is by far one of my best reads this year. I laughed, cried and got chills all over from reading Bilquis Sheikh`s encounter with God. I read this book in one day, it’s gripping and so beautiful.

The book opens with a frightening presence, Bilquis an aristocratic from a rich Muslim family feels and is aware of a presence while in her flower garden. The presence literally touches her and she runs for the safety of her house where the presence albeit can`t touch her. She is flustered and her servants wonder what is wrong with her. She asks her two servants, Nur-jan who is Muslim and Raisham -a Christian whether they believe in spiritual things. And they both avoided answering her question. Nur-jan insisted they invite the village mullah to cleanse the garden.

Bilquis deep down knew there was no evil spirit in her garden. She felt a deep seated desire to read the bible after a series of dreams. She was no dreamer but suddenly was having dream after dream with Jesus in them. She gets a bible but does n`t understand it and in the night visits a popular missionary couple-the Mitchells and her only question is, `Do you know anything about God?’’ Mrs. Mitchell’s reply is an interesting one, `I`m afraid I don`t know as much as my husband knows about God, but I do know Him.” Bilquis finds her answer odd and wonders how one can presume to know God intimately.

This visit cemented a long time relationship between the couple who introduced her to other great Christians in the village of Wah. Bilquis enjoyed her new found family who replaced her own blood relations. Upon hearing about her conversion, her family cut off any sort of communication with her because she had done the unforgiveable. Her own daughter pleaded with her not to do but her plea fell on deaf ears. She lost relatives but no one informed her so she could attend burial.

Bilquis got baptized in the holy spirit at 54 and everything about her changed and she grew in her knowledge of God as her father. She had adopted her daughter`s son-Mahmud who also grew into Christianity and enjoyed the bible stories.

Having experienced the tangibility of God from day one, she mentions how the presence of God left her a couple of times due to things she had done. On the other hand, I believe the presence of God can`t leave us. He promises in Hebrews13:5, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” However, we can loose awareness of His presence.

Bilquis  Sheikh is used by God to share her testimony at a conference that was being organized by Billy Graham in Singapore. This was the beginning of her new purpose.

I like the fact that Mrs.Mitchel gives her tale of the flower lady and ends the book on a great and personal note.

I highly recommend this amazing book for anyone who needs to be reminded what it means to be set apart for God.

I recommend this book for anyone who desires to see the power of God at work.

PS; Bilquis Sheikh died on 9th April,1997 aged 85.

Extraordinaire 8: Live Martha

1.Who is Martha?

Martha Ainomugisha Mugisa is a Leadership Development enthusiast who is passionate about empowering others. Her heart is sold out to youth, children and the vulnerable. She’s been married to Gideon for the last 8 years and is a mother to 2 precious girls, Hannah and Hadassah! She loves a good read,travelling and having a good hearty laugh!

2.Genesis of Livewire.

The first LiveWire forum was held sometime in 2012. Early 2012, I was visited by 3 young men who I had mentored years back. They were at a point in their lives when they were completing university and they felt we needed to meet, catch up and chat like old times and especially talk about issues of love and relationships that were a puzzle to them at that point in their lives. We agreed to meet over some nyama choma like old times. Two weeks to our meeting, a few other friends from the good old times showed interest in coming so we opened it up and decided to find a venue, and do logistics for a real meeting. I think we had over 30 young people in attendance. At that meeting, it was agreed that another meeting should happen. When I met with the initial 3 guys for an evaluation meeting, we agreed to tentatively call the meetings live wire and this is why: I had met these precious people during a time when I worked with Scripture Union Uganda. They used to volunteer during youth conferences during which one of the most popular parts of the program was a session we called live wire (intended to mean that things were discussed as openly and bluntly as could be). And your guess is as good as mine, the hottest topic during live wire at the conferences was relationships, love , sex and everything in that line. So, without really planning to, we started having regular meetings. The name has still stuck. It was only modified to The LiveWire Forum”. We have debated over the years on whether to change it but well, let’s see what the future holds. The Spark team(a group of volunteers who plan and execute the forum’s activities) was constituted and here we are. The rest, like they say, is history.

3.How do you juggle livewire and your day to day life of being a mother and managing other ventures?

From the very start, we appointed a team of volunteers to plan and execute the activities of the forum. This means that the burden does not lie squarely on my shoulders. So I have learnt to empower others to be part of the work so that the responsibility is not heavy. As earlier said, this team of volunteers at LiveWire is called the Spark Team! There is also a group of married people who are burdened about this ministry who have come on board over the years. We call them “Elders”. They are a great source of encouragement and support.

4. How often is LiveWire held?

We hold 4 forums a year usually around March, July, September and November. The November forum is custom made for those planning to walk down the aisle. It’s code-named “Planning To Say I Do”. This September our forum is happening on 30th,dubbed ,”lad_lady in Waiting.”

5.Achievements so far?

The testimonies of impact are so many. That is what has brought us this far and gives us the grace to keep going. We have interfaced with over 500 young people over the years. Seeing young people finding courage to face tough situations, make tough but life changing decisions, arise to pursue their dreams or deciding to live right is what we live for at LiveWire. Also, we have since defined our niche and focus and also gone on to expand our scope of reach. The LiveWire forum is now a program under a registered non-profit, IGNITE Initiatives (www.igniteinitatives.org), whose vision is to empower the next generation of influential leaders. We are excited about what the future holds!

6. Challenges faced.

Like earlier stated, the start of this forum was not planned. It really just happened. So, along the way when it became clear that we needed to keep going, my team and I had the challenge of deciding where we wanted it to go and how. We have had to go before God to give us direction and guidance. We have had to embark on Long term thinking and planning. This process is actually ongoing. I like what the future looks like. Our other burden and challenge has been follow up. In this kind of work, you must follow up on people and build support systems if you are to have long term and meaningful influence and impact. But because this is something we do part time and with a small team, it’s been a challenge. However, since we have decided to think long term, we are working on processes and systems to help us be more effective.

7.How does one join the forum?

LOL!!! you don’t have to recite any creed OR be a certain way. Are you a young person keen on making godly decisions on matters of love, relationships and marriage OR are you keen on discovering God’s purpose for your life and pursue it? Just attend one of the forums or join us on the WhatsApp group and you will officially be part of the family.

8.What advice do you give to youth who are struggling to find their purpose?

My first word would be breathe in and out and go easy on yourself. Every single person you see around you goes through that phase at some point in their life (especially those who seem to have it all together)! Now, you won’t believe it but your purpose is closer to you than you think. All you have to do is look around you and inside you. I believe and have come to appreciate that our purpose is woven intrinsically into every fibre of our lives by God our creator. Who you are; your personality, likes and dislikes and your experiences in life will quickly help you define your purpose if you take a close enough look. So a good place to begin is by asking the one who made you- God. In simple terms, pray about it.

9.Social media sites

Whatsapp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KHHqtln3GQt1sJ541y1n1T

Facebook:https://web.facebook.com/groups/244871502271995/

Twitter: @LiveWireForum

Join us!!!

©Racheal Kizza 2017

Book Review 10

Book : Coffee and Love Chats

Author: Lorraine Onyango

Pages: 123

ISBN:978 9966 1891 03

The author beautifully opens the love chats with her own love story detailing her own journey;the how she met her husband and her worries of a long distance relationship to the engagement. She further reveals the “why” for putting the book together-to change the conversation on marriage as portrayed in the media that marriages are doomed to fail.

She intricately weaves her web with a vast majority of couples who clearly show that marriage is not doomed to fail,it can work out with God at the center. Some couples reveal they got married immediately after university while others met in a matatu, bank hall and struck up conversations and one thing led to another. Each story is unique and the people are diverse and the constant in their stories is -God.

The common questions discussed include expectations about the spouse, parenting, finances,investment, children or the lack thereof, employment choices/career, health and involvement of family and friends. The couples answer the questions with an open vulnerability helping the reader to fully understand the gist of marriage and how our upbringing forms our perceptions on marriage. One of the couples reveals that,“ marriage is not for people who are unprepared..” It calls for a certain level of maturity and dying to self by God`s grace in order to be the spouse God desires you to be.

It is evident from the answers the couples give that, upbringing plays at vital role in marriage.One couple in particular,the lady(Turi Wamboye) shares how she was getting ready to prepare her husband tea in the same sufuria they had used to cook meat.He(Ernest Wamboye) stopped her and said where he was raised,each dish had its own sufuria.Imagine that!!! They had to purchase another sufuria.

Some questions begot answers that were left hanging or incomplete as you read the book .For example; One of the ladies says her husband stopped pursuing her. She didn’t`t further break it down for one to understand what pursuing meant to her since it is evident, we all view things differently based on our upbringing and many other factors.

Most of the couples revealed the importance of pre-marital counselling and its vitality during the whole dating/courting affair .

I recommend this book to the singles, those dating and are preparing to be married and also the marrieds. It gives a fresh christian perspective on the whole marriage affair.This can be used as a guide for asking hard but vital questions . The warmth as each page is opened is undeniable.

It’s a conversation starter.

Get your coffee and enjoy the love chats.

For enquiries,bookings or correspondence :

email :majestypublishing@gmail.com

Racheal Kizza © 2017

Soul Touch International

 “​​​​​​​​The local church is the hope of the world’-Bill Hybells. This simply means , the church is a solution to the problems the world`s experiencing.  Meet Soul Touch International whose priority is to be church to the vulnerable children in slums around Kampala.

1. Who is Soul Touch?

Soul Touch International is a registered Christian organisation that was initiated by a group of university students in 2011; under the leadership of Ronald Amanya to respond to God`s call to preach the gospel and help needy children in slums, believing that every sinner can turn into a saint and every slave can become a master given time and opportunity. We focus on gospel missions, student outreach and child care. Child care is handled under the  soul care project.

Founding team back in 2011 (Ronald Amanya ,seated between the two ladies on the grass)    Photo source: Soul Touch International

2. How do you get the kids under soul care project?

They are recommended by a school, church, police or organizations in the community. The soul care team follows up the child in order to get full recommendation from the local council of that community and then the family`s consent. Parents need to give us permission to take on their children .

We take on kids who are deemed to be needy, vulnerable or less advantaged from the slum communities of Katanga, Bwaise, Kasokoso, Kawala and Mulago. We register children between 5-9 years. The idea is to evolve with them upto university level.

 3. How many kids did you start with in 2011 and how many do you have currently?

We started with only 2 children (Paul and Denis) from Katanga who were not attending school at that time because their parents lacked school fees and other scholastic materials.

Paul & Denis, the pioneer children

We currently have 30 children  under our Soul care project .They are all enrolled into various Nursery and Primary schools for example Batvalley, Buganda road, St.Martin, Kawala Junior,and many others.

4.What more do you offer the children besides school fees and taking care of their school needs?

• Mentor-ship where we connect them with mentors who can inspire them to fulfill their dreams.
• Family empowerment involves helping the parents of the children start up their own small businesses so they are able to sustain their families. It also involves visiting with the families and praying with them to ten to their emotional and spiritual needs.

5.Challenges Soul Touch has  faced since it’s inception.

• Financial constraints since the budget expenses are always high especially when school begins.
• Fundraising is tedious since the term Ngos and money has over the years received a bad reputation.
• Rent since we have to maintain an official address.
• Soul Touch International  is a growing organisation with most of our staff being  volunteers who are not easy to depend on as their commitment and experience is not reliable.

6. What are your sustainability plans?

• In partnership with Makerere Palliative care unit,we started a piggery project in Wakiso which can partly support the organisation.
• We have started teaching our children to make crafts which we will in turn sell off .

7.How can people partner with Soul Touch International?

• Sponsor a child at only 70,000 or 20 USD.
• Be a mentor to a child
• Volunteer with us
• Donate any amount of money monthly or annually.

8.Where is Soul Touch International  located?

Location: Makerere Kikoni near canani land

Website: http://www.soultouchinternational.org

Email:info@soultouchinternational

Facebook:Soul Touch International or soul care project

Twitter: SoulTouch_UG

Tel: +256706535283/+256785853134

Red letter

Dear Beloved,

Hephzibah (My Delight)

Every promise I have made to you is TRUE, because I am not a son of man to lie,

Nor a son of man to change MY MIND.

While you were yet a sinner, I died for you.

Not because of your love for me; it had nothing to do with you but everything to do with ME.

You come from a royal lineage-priesthood, a peculiar nation.

You are royalty, bought not by silver or gold but the BLOOD OF JESUS.

The Blood that saves and never loses its power.

The blood that strings victory, hope, faith, love with each flow.

The blood that oozes eternity.

Love 3 in 1(God,Son&Holy spirit).

PS; Easter is a reminder of God`s red-letter to us. A letter that is worthy to be shared by all who have received it so they fall in love with the writer.

Racheal Kizza © 2017