LIGHT TO DARKNESS MOMENT By Minister ELIZABETH MUKINYO

ELIZABETH WITH HER HUSBAND

My grand daughter

My learning and stay in Rhema taught me faith and I saw God divinely provide for me 4 key things
1: peace in the midst of storms
2: means of transportation
3:Fees
4:lunch.
✓Transportation
I started Rhema the second week of the first module on a Tuesday having known about them 2 days earlier. I joined class the the third lesson just before lunch break and I sat behind , after the lunch break I shifted to the front where I sat till the end of my stay at Rhema.
Boaz welcomed me with a big smile,  and really engaged me ,she introduced me during break to Jane Kariuki,
In the evening she asked me how am going home ,I told him by ma3 , she told me she will ask for a lift for me from a sister they go home together,then she introduced me to Jane Kariuki. so they gave me lift that evening and asked me to be at the same place next day in the morning. Jane kariuki  who later became my covenant sister gave be lifts since  day one to end of the year, daily morning and evening,  so my morning and evening for entire  first year was miraculously catered for.
second year,Jane kariuki had her mom unwell in her house so she didn't do 2 nd year with me, God connected me with  Catherine Njoroge who came in for me  she would give me lift daily in the evening, she would go out of her way to drop me just near ,but when she was with the driver,she would ask the driver to drop me home , and my last two weeks in Rhema, courtesy of Catherine Njoroge,he driver would pick me in the morning and drop me in the evening outside our gate. I became a little mheshimiwa. we even choose same days to be cleaning the class so that we may go home together with Catherine.
all my travel schedules were catered for unless when I had to pass town for Personal commitments.
✓ Fees
When I joined Rhema the first day because I had come to enquire, Dottie allowed me in without even paid the admission fees which I paid much later in the module but for the fees for reasons unknown Dottie allowed me in to  study  for entire first semester without having paid anything and I paid my fist module fees with my second module fees,,  something that had never happened earlier,am forever indebted to Dottie.
was to drop for 2 year but had faith ,so the the night before the opening day for second year I managed to pay 7 k and when were to be sent home for unpaid Fees  Catherine Njoroge paid for me the balance and the whole amount for my second modules.
✓Lunch.   Jane Kariuki and Boaz introduced me to their pastor PST G and we just connected,after lunch she would invite for lunch and I had a different location with few others,, where we would go for lunch ,many times I carried my lunch from home ,this one I have loved and done it many times in life. home made food is cheaper and better.
pst G kept inviting me and one day I gave in,and that became the norm ,she would pull me by force we go for lunch and she would always pay even when I  would will to pay she would tell me Liz next time. so many times I would dodge her so that we don't go together and she would look for me until she would go . Pastor G would pay lunch for 5 or more people so often until I felt it's too much and she would say
" We are blessed to be a blessing"
pastor G,the Lord bless you and your family and Ministry. I learned a lot form you.
pastor G bought me lunch many many times I can't even count,  until I would dodge her,.She has a mother's heart, abig heart and a generous giver.  Loves you so much Pastor G.

This my DARKENESS to LIGHT story.
I joined Rhema at my lowest moments Emotionally, mentally and financially.
I shared this in class let me share it again.
At the time I joined Rhema I had my mother in love very  sick in my house she had suffered stroke at 80 + years. she was in diapers, we needed 8 k  and some times more for diapers alone, each month , we had a permanent nursing care worker who was getting a big pay  per month, and I had a young window I had taken in with two young  children( 7 months and 6 years old) after the husband ( my nephew) died in an accident. she couldn't raise her rent and she needed healing.
last but not list my teenage daughter  (Carol)in form 4 waiting to do exams was pregnant.she needed care ,love and emotions help as well.
Due to her state my husband went into depression and for 5 months we didn't talk. or rather he could talk to me and the daughter may be a word after along time.
So Rhema became my "nursing home"  to nurse my pains,  shame ,and disappointments. Mornings devotions became my medicinal doses.they lifted me up and I forget the Challenges in my house. Thanks so much for those who became customers for my son Ground nuts,  and daily buyers: Kaunya, Gatende, Esther, Helen, Hilda and Ocholi ,by you buying Njugu my son  got his upkeeps and fare to college.and add me cash to buy diapers for grandma.
Pastor George you touched me in abig way you can't even know you  became a daily customer and would even buy for others ,and tell me to keep change.

One day I felt like life was becoming  unbearable  and I shared with Pastor G and she asked me to go see Ann Davina. I opened up to Ann and she shared her similar story with me .
Ann became my crying spot she gave me her shoulders to cry  on through out when down and during Carol  pregnancy, having herself gone through the similar situation with her daughter.She understood me very well,
Esther, Helen Hilda walked with me Emotionally and gave me mental Strength to press on, praying daily with me and  Esther would pray we hold the baby until we finish the module and God honored our prayers. My mom I love passed away a day before Carol started her exams

After we closed Rhema  on Friday,2 days later Sunday early morning 4 Am my teenage daughter delivered, she was 18 years then. Carol did her exams and now in 2 year at KCA University doing journalism. My hubby healed from depression after going through counseling sessions,. Thank you so much all those who carried my burdens and became of great help to me ,

My daughter  Carol with her daughter

10 lessons learned:
✓ 1:When DARKNESS REIGNS God is still on the throne and He is good to you no matter what you are going through.
✓2: Tough times never last but tough people do. problems come to everyone the rich and the poor the Godly and ungodly so you are not the only one .
✓3:Never judge people by their present conditions or circumstances,you have no ideas what they are going through. Their problems are not permanent they will get through them and emerge Victorious.
4:✓Some people comes into your life as a comma,others as a full stop,others as a statement,or a paragraph,others as a full chapter but few as entire book and these ones come to your life to stick and they leave a permanent mark ,
all these people come into your life to accomplish something and when they fulfill their assignment God meant them to do in your life ,they go as fast as they came, those who goes, don't mourn them ,those who Stick don't celebrate them, just honor Him (God,) for using them to minister to you in your hour of need, they were just messengers who were faithful to their master,

We are all God's masterpiece to fulfill a certain assignment for his creation.
✓5: Whatever you do ,do it as unto the Lord ,not for showoff,or fame.
✓6: Never ignore a hurting heart,
✓7: Never take advantage of anyone, however well or able they are  and never take it as your right from those God send your way to help you.
✓ 8: Never exaggerate your problems to receive sympathy from people, everybody has got their own problems.
✓9: Appreciate those who give you help and ALWAYS lift them before God in prayer for that is the best gift to give them.
10:✓ Life is a journey, not a destination and every journey has Challenges and setbacks But those setbacks are setups for a come back.

PASTOR GATENDE THE BIBLE SCHOOL SPIRITUAL DAD

It is my first day in class. I am meeting for the first time people who knew each other well as they had met in an earlier module that I missed. I am slightly late to enter the class and the thing I do when I enter is to look for the only available empty seat. He stands up when I point at a seat between him and another Student. He greets me with strong English. "Hello Brother My name is Pastor Stephen Gatende, welcome!" His smile is contagious. The other two brethren are engrossed in a conversation and they don't even notice my presence.

I have a friend I say. Though looking at his stature, well groomed, healthy and shiny and those a round, the way they are speaking, they look people who matter in the city of Nairobi and its environs. I am wondering if his friendship is genuine. The environment has just shocked me. I joined a college I had no any Idea of but I thank God for being among  such people.

Pastor Gatende Keeps on looking at me and smiles, maybe to ease my tension that was evident all over my face. I was right I had a friend, during short breaks, Pastor Gatende engages me in conversation. The first person to seem concerned. He introduces me Later to Pastor Kamau.

Pastor Gatende turns our to be the first person I am able to peep through his notes when I miss a word during the dictation in class. He is very keen to ensure I am comfortable.

This man will eventually turn out to be like "my father" during all my stay at the bible school. Because of his caring attitude, I felt free to share with him many of my stories.

I remember this particular period when I was totally broke. I could sit in class and at times on forced fasting because I did not have money for lunch. I was late on payment of my rent. I thank God because of Pst. Gatende. He was concerned and asked why he goes for lunch leaves me seated there and comes back still finds me there. I shared my story. The following day he took me to his car in the basement, read to me all the best verses I had ever heard in the bible a bout abundance. While seated in His car we held hands and prayed. God came through in the same week and was able to pay all my bills.

I am now totally convinced in my spirit this is a good man. God has sent him my way to make my stay in this strange environment comfortable, so that I can finish my preparation time at the college.

This man bought me lunch. Yes, so many times that at times I could dodge him and go sit on my motorbike on ground floor to avoid his "... twende lunch pastor". I was afraid what if he reaches there and I am to pay for myself You know he could take me to places where he could spend like four times of what I could spend the days I had some money for lunch. My lunch base was in those wayward vendors who sell food to the construction workers in the suburbs of Westlands. This meant that in case anything happened and I was to pay, then I would be forced to "chonga viazi". But God is good, he always paid. He would tell me eat anything you want, when am busy looking for a cheaper food on the menu. God bless you pastor Gatende.

The Holy spirit class came and I said this is my time. I must speak in other language too. I have really marveled as others pray in tongues during morning devotions. By  Thursday Holy spirit Class is about to end and I am worried I will  miss out. During one of our lunches out. He tells me that he will help me understand something before we go home. After classes in the evening he took me by hand to the basement in his car. He opened my eyes to see the words... "they spoke, were heard speaking" from the verses in the book of acts. Just like no time he lays hands on me and poop!! There I was  speaking strange things. He had to stop me for I was enjoying it. After being in salvation for over 18 years I have experienced the power of God for the first time. My live changed for good. My bible reading and study  changed to better, my understanding of lass lessons changed to sparkish. I was now like others. So this thing was hurting me, how can I be here and I cant speak in tongues.It made at time doubt even my salvation.

During Nguni mission, he bought me water when I depleted the the ration we were given. He worked so hard in arrangement of crusade instruments and I learned a lot by watching him do it as I supported a little.

You may know or you dont know pastor Gatende. But your consistent, help and encouragement helped me keep going. There are days I left home without even taking breakfast, your lunches helped me concentrate in class. Your encouragements, especially in Holy spirit class changed me forever. Maybe I would have not completed the the college if I could not have been filled. For by infilling of the Holy Ghost my life perspective totally changed.

So what can I say? other than to pray that the good Lord who sent you my way, to bless you as you listened to the prompts of the spirit. Today I am here helping others too to receive the Holy spirit. Because of you I was able to adapt in my new environment, the class, and here I am today impacting people's lives positively. May the good Lord bless you. You saw me, you welcomed me, you endured my inferiority complex. You made me feel home. Thank you!!