“The attackers burnt the house so as to attract as many villagers as possible and then lay in wait for them and butchered them,” he said.
Eighteen of the people were killed at Gathaithi village while the other seven were abducted and hacked to death with machetes and axes at Kiaruhiu trading centre both in Nyeri East district.
Residents say tens of youths armed with pangas, axes and rungus raided Gathaithi and Kiaruhiu trading centres about one kilometre apart and butchered the victims using pangas and axes."
..............REALLY?? how can this happen. this is utterly unacceptable and inhumane. yet, this happens all around the world.
what is justice? what does it look like to fight for justice? something needs to be done. my God, my God....
"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.
And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising."
Isaiah 60:1-2
it's comforting to know that we are not fighting alone. He is fighting with us. "the battle is not yours, it's Mine."
the days will get darker and darker, but it only means the light will shine brighter and brighter.
The sun rises and sun sets everyday --a glorious happening that is easy to ignore.
There’s night, and in that night, there is darkness that asks questions whether the sun will rise again.In that darkness, there is a grappling and toiling of the incomprehensible, the restless fight of confusion & fear, and the plight of misguided direction.
But as the sun rises and sun sets everyday at the same time and same direction everyday, he is so faithful- his promises are sure, his love is undeniably constant.
I don’t want to take these whispers and evidences for granted. He is singing over me with a sweet, sweet song every moment. And he gives us rest, and wakes us up to a new day full of all kinds of events and people to allow us to discover what’s within.The challenges, the failures, the simple acts of kindness all reflect what is deep and calls us to rise—to seek him in all kinds of circumstances.
There is an outpour of thanksgiving – for all that has happened, good and bad, regrets&failures, the people who entered and exited the door, and for the everyday beauties that holds true power of hope and joy.
Oh, beautiful one.
...And I've looked over, and I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land. So I'm happy tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man."
Yesterday, I received a phone call from Bob.George passed away Friday night.
I’m so glad I visited him Friday.That was my last day in Berkeley before coming home for the break.I took the 1 bus down Telegraph and stopped in front of his apartment.I rung the bell of his apartment, then Bob’s.I continued many times, but no one would answer… So I left for about an hour, but I thought if I don’t know see him now, it might be never.. let’s give it one more try.Bob was there to open the door for me. Thank, God.
It’s been a semester since I’ve known him.Quite a few people often asked if George was my boyfriend.Maybe he was.I mean, I think I spent more time with him than any other guy this semester.And George shared with everyone that I was his girlfriend, his girl.
Because of him, I was able to endure through this semester.I had a tough one, I must say.With a lot of past issues coming up and smacking me in the face, wallowing in darkness without a resolution, my grandmother passing away, and experiencing things that were not under my control, I hoped for nothing, sadly and truthfully speaking.Hope was the only thing I held onto, and I allowed it to escape so many times.
I met George through UCB’s ECP (Elderly Companion Program).I asked the Lord and told him I really wanted to volunteer- work with old people, people outside of Berkeley.And Angie Oh, one of my closest and cherished friends here in Berkeley was actually the coordinator of this program.She asked if I was interested; I responded with a ‘yes’ quite excitedly.
I was a bit scared at first.I mean, with my issues from the past, I still had a fear of older men.I didn’t know how to hug him in the beginning, and I honestly sometimes just felt uncomfortable.But, God knew what He was doing.Getting to know George brought a lot of healing.George became my new best friend, someone who just accepted me as I was and wanted to always make myself feel at home with him.
In the beginning of the semester, I remember visiting him at Alta Bates in the critical care unit.His lungs were filled with water, and he was caught with a case of pneumonia.I began to tear up as I looked for him and found him barely breathing, attached to the oxygen tank.He was so sick, but still so full of character.I realized through our conversations that he went through a lot… Korean War, Vietnam War, World War I, World War II... He then asked me to read scripture to Him—Psalm 51 was his favorite.
He said he wished he knew earlier that LOVE was the answer to so many things.He wished he lived a life more pleasing to the Lord. Then, he told me that he wanted his last words to be “Thank You”… and that his life was enough.He asked me to look outside of the hospital window and said, “Look outside, if you look for them, you can find so many things to be thankful for.Look at those trees, even they’re bowing down to the most high God…” I left later, and hoped my ‘get well soon!’ balloon will cheer him up.
That was only the beginning. I struggled through all different kinds of issues this past semester.It was the hardest thing to just hold on to God and realize I’m loved by Him, but God would so something to my heart every time I visited George.I would just chill, watch TV, laugh, have a few conversations here and there when I was with George, but he always told me I had to read Scripture to him before I left.That was our weekly bible study. Sometimes, I didn’t want to go because my cold heart knew that God was going to melt it when I saw George… and it happened every time. Haha. I would be reading Scripture and literally just cry reading it ‘cause those words were water to my soul… and George, with his insight that comes with age, would say exactly what I needed to hear.
His words would consist of “Hold onto God… no matter how much people can do for you, nothing will penetrate you like the love of the Lord. Hold onto God, and never, never let Him go.”
He also told me, “I can see you fighting for people.For their rights, for justice.” I replied, “But, I almost don’t even have the confidence to do that. I want to be there for people, but I don’t know.” Then he would say, “That’s good. You will work with people one at a time, then work for people in groups.And you’ll know it was God who did it through you.”
And the last time he told me will always ring in my heart.“Find your calling, the calling God has for you.”
“What’s my calling?”
“To be a teacher, a teacher of the Word of God.”
“Oh, like ministry…? Missions?”
“A missionary…”
And there, my prayer was confirmed.
I don’t really cook too much, but I started doing so because of George. I made my first mi yuk gook (Korean seaweed soup).I brought over a poinsettia for the holidays, a gingerbread man, some arm warmers, and his favorite, strawberry ice cream. I knew they were waiting for George to pass.The hospital took him off of dialysis, and he was just waiting for the day he was taken to heaven.This man was still full of character and humor.He was so happy to be going to heaven, a place of no darkness, no sin, no incest, but a heavenly, joyful place with the Lord.
He had one last wish though.He wanted to gain the strength to be a doorkeeper, a watchman at his church’s door.He wanted to welcome and greet people into the house of God. He wasn’t able to do that before he left, but I know he’ll be doing that and so much more in heaven. Oh, and he promised he’ll be at my wedding.And he’ll raise his hand when asked if anyone objects.Haha, what a funny man. Although he won’t be at my wedding, his spirit will be there with me.
The last day before I came, Friday, I left seeing George peacefully sleeping.I read scripture to him and sang worship songs as he fell asleep.That night, he passed away.I know he’s in a better place, and I’m quite jealous that he’s there.Hehe. But I know I’ll meet him one day up there and celebrate much.
December 19, 2008
Rest in Peace
You’ll always have a big place in my heart… Thank you. I'll miss you and cherish you.
Keep reading if you want to know the deepest desires and secrets of my heart….
1. I have this burning desire to sing. Not JUST sing, but be one of those passionate lead singers of a band.I don’t know why. I never had professional training or any vocal lessons.It’s not like I’m naturally crazy talented in it.When I see people up on stage or when I’m at concerts, I feel like there’s this trapped little girl inside of me who is just dying to get out. It just gets me. Music just finds my heart. Don’t tell anyone, but I pretend like I’m a diva and sing pretty loudly as I walk home from class.If I see someone in close proximity, I immediately shut up and hope they didn’t hear me. Then, I continue to walk home with a big ol' grin. ; )
2. I have another burning desire to be part of a really cool and hip dance group. Haha, my heart secretly looooves to dance, and I really see myself on stage just feeling the music to my awesome dance moves! Haha, maybe not so awesome.Maybe I’m destined to be a professional dancer. Or a back-up dancer to those wonderful WONDERGIRLS…………. Oh, God, no. hahahaha xD I think they’re cute.
3. I love people. You just look at different people and discover the beautiful similarities and unique differences that make them who they are.It’s so fascinating because God created each and every one in His image, and there’s just this divine compartment in everyone : ) I’m excited to learn out of every relationship—to make mistakes, grow in our quarreling, learn, and just bless one another through these friendships.
4. My childhood dream was to become an artist.But I wonder if that will ever happen. There’s this creativity inside of me that aches to show itself, but it hasn’t been quite sparked……. yet. Hopefully. I go to art museums, look at graffiti, doodles and scribbles and become so fascinated by them.I love the feeling of stroking paint unto canvas.But all this is neatly packed-away in a Ziploc and Tupperware inside of me.It only comes out when it’s safe. Because it gets scared….
5. I love freedom. In that freedom, I see trees and flowers dancing.I can really be myself in this freedom.It’s a place where I do not fear anything. It’s just between me and Him. And out of that place of no condemnation, shame, fear, or guilt, I can be freeeeee. I can just relax, make mistakes, have fuuuuuun, be light hearted, and just be the real, silly, happy, plain ol' me. : )
“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.” Proverbs 25:2
I really don’t know why they’re there. But He has placed them there for some reason, so Lord, bring them alive in Your timing. If it is Your will, I hope these desires become dreams that can come true. : )
