Its
quiet few words that Cling in my mind and stack
in my heart out of which were told to me by my
Grandmother. My names are Joseph Kiyimba, a Ugandan
by nationality, A Muganda by tribe, born in 1979
from a family of three boys me beeing the last,
in a village called Bandwe in Kinaawa , and grew
up deep in the Village called Buwanda where my
Grand mother natured me from 3 months. My Grandmother
loved me somuch more that other brothers because
I was like a son to her since my parents left
me when am breast feeding. When I was 3 years
she chose a name for me Joseph saying I want this
one to be my dearest since am called Mary and
I have no grandson called Joseph. As in a Baganda
Custom a grandson can be treated as a 'husband'
of a grandmother.
It
was after a certain serious sickness which almost
took my life that happened to me that I came to
realise my real status as an orphan at a tender
age of 7 years when my grandmother also gave up
hope and told the people to take me to the burrial
ground so that when I die they will not be disturbed
by transport in the bus.
Where
is my Daddy? I inquired
With eyes deep red filled with tears, she narrates:
You an orphan, you dont have a Daddy even a mother,It
was in 1979 during the reign of President Obote,
whwn you were still in your mother's womb, soldiers
came in the middle of the night kidnapped your
daddy left your mother in the house and took him,
after 2 week herds men came over a dead body wrapped
in a polythen bag and thrown in Mayanja swamp
,we went to check after the LC 1 announcements
we found that it was your Father".
Then
why are we here instead of Bandwe?
"It was after the burrial and funeral that
we had to sit down and ask who is to take care
of the orphans, un fortunately every one refused
and rejected you because of your appearance which
predicted death in you and no one wanted to take
you because they feared that you may die soon
in their hands.so I picked the three of you and
your mother who was a perfect drunkard and planless
and brought you here while saying "this is
my blood which I can't let die".
After
one month, your monther threw you in my hands
and said am going to bring sugar and disappeared
till now.
So
how did I grow up to this age?
"your growth was God's mercies" she
narrates" you grew up on local brewed juiceand
nicknamed Kasejjere (meaning an anti hill so short
and ever despised by people) I had no cow even
enough money to buy milk, so I used to squeeze
yellow bananas to make juice and I gave you though
sometimes you used to vomit it due to much sugars
for such a baby you were. Due to poor feeding
you suffered severe diseases every week and one
time you got sick and I gave up on you and I hard
to take you to the burrial ground of your ancestors
bearing in mind that when you die, I will have
no problems of transporting the dead body.So I
know that your glowing was only God who helps
you.
Tears
flowing allover my chics, I came to realise that
the world is before me to be tear me apart with
all the forces within it having no sence o fdirection
for my future since was an orphan who lost both
parents staying with my grandmother, who is very
old and helpless, she could not afford to give
most of the necessary requirements.I began to
face the reality of a man at the 7 th year by
rearing pigs,Rabits,hens,growing cassava, sugar
canes,cutting spear grass for peoples'houses,
digging people gardens and the little money I
got i used it for buying mu personal necessary
requirements like pens, books ,shirts etc. Meanwhile
i have been working for schools as a school dependant
which have been paying my school fees.
How
to meet Christ
I met christ in 1998 in S.5 after a friend of
mine who had a small piano who wanted me to train
him, he was a born again, though I had hated them
calling them false prophets. This false prophet
told me what I was, and told me its only God the
Father of Fatherless and we become his children
only when we accept his son Jesus Christ and become
saved. so I decided to accept to embrace this
love to bridge the gap of fatherly love that was
missing in to have a father.
Since
that time my life changed, I began feeling accepted,
loved, and living in a whole new world, of love,
peace, Joy and guilty free,feeling forgiven and
all the past vanished and now everything has become
new.I began to sence the new love, from the everlasting
God, who revealed his heart to me as a different
kind of father, who loves, who provides, who teaches,
who guides, who forgives,who heals, who knows
me, who natured me, who paid my school fees, who
is kind and patient and his patience is our salvation.
And after three years God revealed to me the job
I have to do for him and is still taking through
various training to fullfill the great commission
for the service of his people and to the Glory
of his name.
Glory
be to the Lord God of Restoration whose mercies
endures forever and let the whole earth be filled
with his Glory. Amen and Amen
To
share more of this testmony with Pastor Joseph,
please contact him
or email:joseph@liferestorer.org |
