One Friday morning, fully prepared and I am out of
the house to my usual routine (travelling from Mulolongo to Cabanas).
Everything seemed normal, and I had no thoughts of something abnormal happening
that day. When I arrived at the stage, it was the normal routine, makangas
helping you to choose the car to travel in and I had no problem with that as I
was so uptight and I had learned how to handle them without much struggle. I
was lucky that day, and I boarded a matatu that never took too long and off we
were on our way to town. I alighted at Cabanas, used the footbridge and was now
heading to Embakasi.
While walking, something unexpected happened. If you
know this place, opposite kobil petrol station, the TSA officials are always
there monitoring the ones who are not using the footbridges. I was used to this
and I had committed to always use the footbridge every time. So this day, out
of the blues, I passed a policeman who I thought was manning those who had been
caught not using the footbridge. He picked up a conversation with me.
Policeman: hey si unisaidie na hizo vitabu (Translates to "hello can you help me
with those books" and by that, he was referring to the bag that was
usually on my shoulders and if it contains books am the only person who knows.
So I had to engage him)
Me: hapana, wacha nifike shule kwanza juu vitabu ni
za shule. (No let me go to school first
because that is where the books belong) on that point I paused, turned back and
shook his hand after all he seemed harmless)
Policeman: saa umekataa kunipa vitabu, na unaenda
shule wapi? (Now you have denied me the
books, which school do you belong)
Me: (I had to
lie because I was going to any school and neither was I carrying any books and
furthermore he was a stranger) naenda VIPS (I belong to VIPS Vision Institute of Professionals)
Policeman: na wewe ni mkamba wa wapi? (And you are a kamba from where?)
Me: (shocked
because how did he knew that I was a kamba and I had not even said who my name
was). Mimi natoka ______ county place inaitwa ____ na naitwa _____ ______ (am from county ____ a place called ___ and
my name is _____)
Policeman: ukambani najua place kadha wa kadha
namimi naitwa ____ kutoka sides za bungoma (I
know some places in ukambani and my name is ------ and I come from Bungoma)
So the conversation continued and after realizing he
was cool than I had thought before, I even said that I knew Bungoma. On saying
that, he got me again and asked why I was then going to school. I had to find a
lie as quick as I could and managed to say I was now taking professional
courses. We talked a little bit more, and it was time to part. Surprisingly,
the guy asked for my phone number, and I didn't hesitate. Furthermore, he is a
policeman and one day I might need him so I quickly gave him my phone number,
called to confirm and said he will halla later.
That seems normal and very simple, and I had no
reason to worry. I continued with my journey and reached my destination safely.
Everything picked up well and normality maintained. At around four, my friend
and I decided to take a walk. My phone was in vibration mode and because we
were so much occupied, I never bothered to check whether someone tried calling.
After some time, I realized I had to call someone, so I picked my phone.
Surprisingly, I found three missed calls from the guy we had met earlier and
exchanged contacts. I called back immediately to inquire what he wanted.
The guy picked up the call and his first question
was "where are you" and this time round I didn't lie, I first asked
him where he was and after saying he was in town, I told him that I was at
Embakasi. After talking for some time, the guy asked me when was I visiting
him, and I was like dude, I just met you today, and I know very little about
you, why should I visit you? Though I didn't say that directly I assured him I would
pay him a visit. As that wasn't enough, he further asked and what will you
bring during the visit.
Now that was unexpected, and if I choose to visit
you, two things can happen I can bring something or nothing at all. Now this is
a guy who wants me to visit, and expects something that I never knew. I easily
told him that I will bring something along hoping that was enough for him but
little did I know that he was driving to something. He was so persisted, and I
had to give him an answer that he never bought. I then told him I had to go
since I was running out of credit, but he said he was calling back.
Few minutes later, he called and the conversation
changed drastically. He asked again what I was to take along during the visit and
this question was now becoming a nuisance. I immediately counteracted and
requested him to be precise on what he wanted. Of all the people I have ever conversed
with, this one caught me off-guard. I was so shocked to hear what the guy had
to say. Another conversation picked and this is how it evolved
Me: what do you expect from me?
Policeman: something good
Me: what do you mean? (The guy disconnected the call, and I thought that was it. To my
amazement, that was but just the beginning because he texted back immediately)
Soldier: I want to feel good
To cut the long story short, the guy was gay, and
that was the reason he wanted me to pay him a visit. He constantly texted even
when I didn't reply and at around nine in the evening, I had to call it off
though in a rude way. I replied with this text.
…"shetani ashindwe, are you out of your
mind? When you saw me is that what you imagined? You need Jesus more than
anything else. Remember Christ loves you and choose to live right with him.
Please do not call or text me concerning such nonsense."
That is how the conversation ended and it helped
because since then we never conversed again. However, that got me thinking. Was
that the best way to handle such a situation? Did I do the right thing? Was
there a better way to approach the whole issue and maybe lead the guy to
Christ? How many have fallen into the same trap and ended up entangled? How
many have fallen into that guys trap? So many questions, very few answers. The
fact that he is a policeman can make one give in so easily because of fear, and
that is one of the reasons I had to write this up.
That incidence got me thinking. As Christians are we
living as though such persons do not exist? Are we aware that these people are
increasing in number in our current society? It is true that we can get over it
so easily without being entangled but what of our kids, what of those who are
weak in their faith? A time has come when we have to rise above the world standard
and make our calling pure. Paul says in the book of 2nd Timothy 1:7 "For
God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of
self-discipline." There are so many guys out there preying on young men
same as beautiful ladies preying on our young women. These things happen but
they aren't reported so often, and we might live in denial that our generation
is pure and free from any pollution only later to realize we have raised a
doomed generation.
In your place of work, how many times do you
compromise due to the worldly standards? How many times do you have to do
something just because the boss has requested and despite the fact that you
know it`s not right you end up giving in? I call that slavery and a time has
come to make truth remain as such and no more relative. You need to stand up
for what you believe in with confidence and without fear. Jesus saw it coming
when he told his disciples that they were to be persecuted, tortured and even
killed because of him.
Nowadays Christians fear death more than anything
else and if you threaten them with death, am sure a large percentage would deny
even the god they serve. Then I ask this question, how far can you go when it
comes to defending your faith? Don't say it here but think about it. Can you
accept a lifetime imprisonment when there is a cheap way to escape that will
compromise your faith? Logically speaking, many will give in to the norm that,
my pastor will understand, my friends will understand, my bishop will
understand and so on and so forth. What of God, will he too understand? If we
are moved by the little challenges the world brings our way, could the church
still be there if we existed before Peter, Paul and the apostles? Could we have
had the courage to stand as they did without entertaining any nonsense in
ministry?
Take up your cross and follow me. God will take our
heavy burdens and feed us with light ones we can bear, but you have to be
prepared. Christianity is not a zone of comfort but rather a battleground. The
enemy is fighting to win your soul, and you have to be skillful enough so as to
know all his tactics. You have to know that following Christ is very costly. We
have to put on the full armour as Christians and be ready to wage war against
the enemy. Ephesians 6:13 Therefore, put on the whole armour of God so that
when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground and after you
have done everything, to stand. Hope on reading this you will have a change of
heart and look at things with a different perspective.
God bless you and thank you for taking your time to
read this.
