Memories of August 1, 1982 - Attempted but failed Coup in Nairobi

A friend today posted on Facebook, inviting to share what memories do people have of 1 August, 1982 of Nairobi, Kenya! And I did write but then felt, ah, this needs to be on my blog. So here are my memories of that unfortunate day of an attempted, and failed Coup in the capital of Kenya, Nairobi, the green city in the sun.

I shall not forget August 1, 1982 in Nairobi! Too many memories!

1. Early morning of August 1st, 1982, my parents, now no longer alive on earth, were in a car caught right in the middle of the mess. Dad was dropping Mom to her work place (Park Road Nursing Home) for an early morning shift. This ride was all the way from Dagoretti suburbs, nearly 17 miles distance. Our family was completely unaware of what was happening in Nairobi town that morning! Talk of Sunday morning church rush to get ready, no time to listen to radio back then nor did people have non stop news channel to watch TV.

2. My parents were stopped by the gun totting rebels and ordered to get out of their small Mini car. Dad's side door could not open so through the window guns were placed at my parents' heads. Then in that moment, in that unfortunate happening, the most amazing and eternal thing took place. My Dad prayed and accepted Christ while that gun was pointed at his forehead, near the museum hill roundabout. I still remember Dad's narrations of few sentences, "God, on one side is death and on the other side is life, I choose you, I want to go and worship you at Nairobi Baptist church, my daughters are waiting, help me, Lord Jesus, save! Today I accept you as my personal Savior and the Lord of my life!" (life changed for my dad, an otherwise a regular religious church goer, from then on he was on fire for God)

3. Then thanks be to God for HIS mercy, my parents were told to get out of their car and flee for their lives. (Phew!) As much as that was a relief, that must have been a walk and a half, walking among dead bodies, looters, killers-yes, aggressive personnel moving with guns, shooting at sight anyone they thought was not worth living! Thank God, Mom and Dad made it safe (an otherwise good 15-20 minutes walk but that day dreadful, fleeing, ducking, running, watching all sides, not knowing where the gun shot might come from, amidst gun-totting, fully armed terrorizing individuals moving about) to the home of Sheth family. Madhu and Deepak Sheth, our dear family friends who happened to live nearby happily housed them in for that day and for the night. They saw from being indoors, how much looting was going on outside and wondered where will the break in occur next! Nairobi downtown, Ngara Road, Park Road, Pangani, Eastleigh areas were in a real bad shape from looting to rape, to killing,  evil was on rampant. Later it was known they did not leave young girls or even 80 year old granny. One Indian lady later told us she boiled a huge pot of spicy hot red pepper powder with water ready to fight back, pouring on anyone if they invaded.

4. And, 17 miles away, in Waithaka town, Dagoretti suburbs, my sister and I were joyfully, singing and getting ready, waiting for Dad to come back and take us to Nairobi Baptist church for the 8:30 am service.

5. He did not come the whole day. We wondered. Then our landlords came telling us to be careful and informed us that there was a political disturbance in town.

6. So my sister and I prayed and then cooked Indian chevra (similar to sweet spicy chex mix), not really knowing what was going on in town! No telephones worked and the radio station was taken over, so no news to listen to.

7. Our very kind and gracious, christian, Kenyan, Kikuyu family (our landlords and neighbors) took my sister and me in their home for that night to sleep in, informing us that Nairobi was in a bad shape, and praying my parents would return safely next day! God bless them as they thought it was not safe for two young adult Indian girls to be on their for that night. They showed real Christian love to us as foreigners at that time.

8. It was comforting later in the evening, hearing the then President Daniel Arap Moi, with a shaken voice, addressing the nation. God was in control. (Years later, whenever we passed by Kenya's Langata Army Barracks we remembered how they helped save the country on August 1st, 1982; all of us would get flashbacks of that day!)

9. Next day, thank God, my parents made it back home safe and sound, narrating the entire episode of Nairobi town that they had personally seen and experienced! Many dead bodies in blood, with open empty wallets and purses, lipsticks and valuables were on the highway and the streets (an awful sight) yet God protected many. I had many reasons to rejoice as from that day on, Dad read his Bible every day without fail, grew closer to the Lord and lived to tell the story for two more years of how this impacted his life.

10. Oh, last thing; then on for few days, everyone headed for town had to carry Id cards from that morning. We looked at the bakery that was making my birthday cake, for 2 Aug, yes, that shop too was broken in, and stolen from as well; my cake was messed up along with many other cakes!! Well, thank God, I am still alive and I praise God that we all survived that disruption, particularly my sister and I, peacefully, away from ghostly scene of Nairobi town, in a safe heavenly place called Waithaka, with three huge fierce dogs marching in the compound, guarding!

Our God, our Help in ages past, our Hope for years to come, 
our Shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal Home.

To God be the glory! Under the shadow of HIS wings,

Kalpana Christian Sharma (Mrs.) All copyrights reserved

Benefits of Home schooling

Stuti Sharma's Graduation speech -

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151484710436481&set=vb.583311480&type=2&theater

or you can try this link: https://vimeo.com/70992289
or: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyuMBx6-oYQ

Everyone sees what works best for their family. For us, home schooling was the best option. Here is our girl testifying that she actually wanted to be home-schooled from day one and made sure that her dream came true! We were all blessed following God's lead through her in this area! 

To God be the glory! Thanking God and thanking our sweet little one, Stuti!!

Kalpana, Bharat, Narita and Stuti Sharma. © All copyrights reserved. No part of this video may be used without the prior permission from the authors. 

Mothering Sunday 2013 - thoughts of my dear aunt Shanta-mami

I have been thinking and praying about whom I want to honor on my blog for this Mothering Sunday.

I keep getting my maternal aunt Shanta-mami's name in my thoughts. (Mami is maternal auntie, the wife of mom's brother in Indian language). So, lets talk about Shanta mami. (Shanti means peace)

My mom had only one brother, Uncle John, and Shanta-mami was his wife. She was born in India, and she lived and died in India as well. All her sisters' names started with S. Shanta mami was the oldest of all and so more of a motherly figure. She is survived by 4 kids of her own. She was a very pretty, good looking and a gracious, kind woman. A Sister Nurse-in-charge by profession, dedicated to her work; she had a passion for cooking yummy-licious Indian food and loved her God, her work, her husband, her children, her family, her nieces and nephews; and people in general.

Shanta-mami was one of the best cooks, and her dishes were famous among the family and friends. Her mango pickles used to be the best. Back home in India, during my childhood, I remember every year in summer vacation she would come home and make mango pickles for us to last us a whole entire year. Her Christmas sweets were the best and her Chapatis - what can I say! She knew and taught me many kinds of Indian flat breads (Chapati) and their sub-divisions: What is Kori Rolti, Fulka, Bhakhri, Chopda, Paratha, Thepla, Puri, Dhebera, Vedhmi (sweet chapati) etc.. Despite her full-time job as a full-trained midwife, she would try every new recipe. She made scrumptious Handva (an Indian version of spicy corn bread), ice-cream, etc. I have fond memories of big feasts held in her home on Resurrection Day and Christmas Day celebrations, and then we would be taken out for a picnic or outings in general.

Together with my two older siblings, I was privileged to be housed by her for a couple of years when my parents were away in Nairobi, Kenya. Even though she had 4 kids of her own she took my sister, brother, and me in and looked after us, loved us, and trained us. I remember the good times we have shared with her in Pij. I was the youngest of all the kids, so she showered extra love on me. My Mom and Shanta-mami had a good understanding between them. Early in life, during her sickness, my mom breastfed one of her kids and during the time my parents were away, Shanta mami looked after us. My uncle and aunt would play games with us kids in the backyard after meals during summer's bright late evenings.

My special memory of her is when she used to occasionally take me with her on her public health visits to the people in the village. Everyone in Pij town knew Shanta mami  and respected her as "Bahen" the only Nurse back then who loved and cared for them, not only while they were sick, but otherwise, as she was a friendly person. She was called "Ben," endearing term meaning "Sister." And every one knew I was her youngest bhaani (niece). On those visits while passing through the market place, I would be pampered by these dear lovely people, the market place businessmen and women, i.e. the fruit sellers, the grocers, the vegetable vendors; they handed me seasonal goodies and candies! Mami was kind and sweet to me and taught me many good things.

I admired curly hair more as I have very straight hair, so after washing my hair, she would plait 7 chotlis (braids) for me and let it dry for sometime; when it was opened, it was all curly like Goldilocks. During the drying time of those braids,(ah! you know what waiting means to a kid)! So to keep me calm and forget about it for a while, she would let me to go and play with other kids on the slide and swings in the play plot near the bus station that was a stone-throw away from the hospital premise where we lived. In Biblical terminology, it would be almost like at the entrance of the city gate!

She introduced me to the little library that the hospital had and allowed me to read almost all the kids' books, the biographies of the Indian freedom fighters, and other famous diligent and good people. It helped build character in me. Mami would cover her head while praying, and, at night, reading the Bible and praying in my uncle and her household was a must - something I am thankful to God for helping me learn.

Regardless of what the elders in the extended families argued about or even as cousin brothers and sisters, we had our own games and arguments, my uncle and aunt did not treated us differently. They loved us and showered affection on all of us. During afternoon naps or sleeping at night, she would gently stroke my hair with her fingers. Yes, that was my dear aunt (Shanta-mami)

On this Mothering Sunday, I want to honor and remember that I am thankful to God for my Shanta mami and her sister youngest sister Sunanda. Sunanda masi (ma-si means ma-like) was like an elder sister to me in my early teen years, talking to me, listening to me, and helping me cope with teen age life. I am thankful for both of these dear ladies and their presence in my life when I needed it most.

A few years ago, Shanta-mami died due to illness; medical condition of fighting cancer in her body. On this mothering Sunday, I miss her, and I am sure her children and grandchildren miss her too. The world is a better place because there are godly aunties present who are truly mothers to all. They fulfill a high calling of the sacred role of motherhood.

She is resting in peace for now and I hope to see her on the Resurrection Day at the feet of Jesus and hear God say "Well done! my faithful servant" to her for looking after us, loving me and for doing His will for her life well. Here is Shanti-mami:

Copyright © Kalpana Christian Sharma (Mrs.)

Resurrection Sunday 2013

This year the Resurrection Sunday celebration came rather early even though it fell on March the 31st! March seemed packed with many things like Daylight Saving Time, Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and also Resurrection Sunday happened to be the last day of March.

This year I was reflecting on Resoluteness of Jesus from Palm Sunday right through to the Resurrection Sunday. Somethings that came to mind as I read the Scriptures: It was amazing to see "Jesus in full control of himself" as one pastor put it. No one forced him and he did not feel like a victim, He willingly gave his life and was obedient till death on a cross! ( a very shameful death) Only after Lord Jesus was crucified that Cross got a lot of reverence and holiness attached to it. Jesus takes what is shameful and makes it sacred. Do not be afraid to come to Jesus as you are. As you come, Jesus cleanses you and makes you holy.  

I also saw that there were different scenes of his anointing before death! One was 6 days before in the home of Martha, Mary and their brother Lazarus as per John 12:  "Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. ² Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. ³ Then Mary took about a pint^[a] of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume."

The second dinner was given 2 days before Passover in the home of Simon the Leper, and this is done by an unknown woman and what she had done will be told in her memory wherever the gospel will be preached. Both Mathew 26: and Mark 14th chapter narrate the story of the unknown woman! Mathew 26: ⁶ While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, ⁷ a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.⁸ When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. ⁹ “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”¹⁰ Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. ¹¹ The poor you will always have with you,^[a] but you will not always have me. ¹² When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. ¹³ Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

So many people make mistakes on these two anointing and also on the ladies who anointed. Let us read and be sure what we present. 

It was interesting to note that these two women gave their most expensive possessions, and how it is contrasted by John that Judas Iscariot took what was put into the bag. He took what was not his and he betrayed for mere 30 pieces of silver, while these women gave the best they could! 

Even when Judas Iscariot is mentioning the poor, he has misplaced humanistic values, he did not really care for the poor; and you can also see that his remorse too was not deep enough to go to Jesus and ask for forgiveness. His remorse was more of a self pity; it did not drive him to the foot of the cross, it led him to a rope to hang himself. The Bible says, Godly sorrows bring repentance; it brings life. Sadly Judas did not have that kind of remorse. 

I also noted that next day after the triumphant entry into Jerusalem, Jesus went to the temple and cleared it. And for few days he preached so empowering messages. We can ask the Lord to cleanse us as we are the living temples of the Holy God. Like Jesus told Peter, he who has had a bath does not need to shower again but only clean his hands and feet. Spiritually speaking we need to do daily cleansing as well. Many things compete with the number one position of our Lord and we must be the living sacrifices, not dead but living sacrifices as Apostle Paul reminds us. 

It is with deep concern that we note,next day he commanded the fig tree that did not give him fruit when he needed, to never bear fruit and it withered. We need to be ever ready for the Lord to use us when He needs us. We cannot only have the outward show and not real fruit!  

The feast of unleavened bread: The unleavened bread is supposed to be the pure, holy body of our Lord Jesus, a lamb without blemish that He sacrificed for us. The bitter herbs are the remembrance of the bondage of slavery in Egypt for Israelite people but also spiritually speaking, for us its a bondage of sin that Jesus gets us out of. The wine is his blood poured out for us. The fine wine is made out of crushed grapes. His life was 'a broken bread and a poured out wine'(as E Stanley Jones and Mrs C Cowman rightly puts it).  

I think in physical terms the Resurrection meals that would be great to remember these events would be more of a fish, lamb, unleavened bread, bitter herbs and wine, or to add to it, bean sprouts, (as Jesus said, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground, it cannot produce, but if it dies, it produces a harvest.) I do not see 'easter eggs, or easter bunnies. These do not seem to be Biblical and we must be careful what we associate Resurrection with.This day is not about easter - the goddess of fertility, nor about bunnies, nor about eggs,) it is about Lord Jesus rising from the dead and showing there is life and hope beyond earth!! Pascha is more fitting as a Passover. Jesus is our Passover lamb in spiritual terms. Fish in the meal is to remember Jesus saying about Jonah: as Jonah was in the belly of the fish for 3 days and 3 nights, the Son of man be too.

From Thursday morning through out the night when he was arrested, then trial after trial, mocked, beaten, insulted, abused, and then into the Friday morning without any rest:

Friday morning: Jesus was crucified at 9 A M in the morning, at 12 noon the darkness fell over all the earth and at 3 pm he gave up the spirit declaring "IT IS FINISHED". The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs were open (as Mathew reports). So we see even the sun refused to shine. Jesus hung on a cross for 6 hours and suffered shame and agony. After he died,  Joseph a righteous man and a member of the council and Nicodemus asked Pilate for Jesus' body and embalmed it and put it in a new tomb in which no one had been buried.  

Next day was the Sabbath. Things are quiet somehow in general but the Pharisees did not seem to be at peace though. Early in the morning they went to Pilate and asked for assistance to make the grave of Jesus secure. (Mathew 27:62) on a Sabbath!!! but on the flip side, I thought about the Genesis 1, the creation week; after completing his creation, God rested on the seventh day from all his work.

And then the Resurrection!!!!! Resurrection day changes the gloominess and gives us time to rejoice over the victory; Early morning on the day after Sabbath, when the women went to the tomb there was another earthquake.(Mathew 28) Jesus rose from dead. The empty tomb has no bones!!! Because He lives, we can too IF we believe in Him. He gives us a hope to look forward to.

And now on that hope - now and beyond now! I love the way Apostle Paul says that "as Christians if we have hope for only this life then we are to be pitied of all men." Thank God, Resurrection gives us hope beyond this life. 

So dear reader,  as I said it on my Facebook, I say it here, whoever you are, a nominal christian, Hindu, Muslim, atheist, Buddhist, Jain, agnostic, or Sikh, by definition of being a human being, you are a sinner under God's judgment and the only payment you can make to reconcile to GOD is the pure Blood of Jesus!!! take advantage of this offer in the grace period, admit that you are a sinner and need JESUS, believe in His death and sacrifice and be born again and HE will give you the power to live holy life. He took the gruesome, cruel, brutal punishment for you and me!!!! His back was shredded, so we can be healed, He was like a sheep before the shearers so we can be confident, His holy and pure blood pouring down like rain that we might be cleansed and He died so we might be born again and live eternally!!!

Because Jesus lives, 

©Kalpana Christian Sharma (Mrs. )- KC
Scripture references are taken from NIV. 

  

Called to be Holy on good days and bad days!

OK, Days are flying and i just see that its been over two months that i wrote on my blog. This is the year 2013, yes! Christmas came and went, so did the New Year's first day, the Valentine's Day and now we are anticipating other special days coming each month as we live each day, either busy, or not, good or bad.

In the daily routine of life it is good to take a break and see what does God have to say about our days. I am reminded what the Ecclesiastes 7:14 says "Enjoy prosperity while you can, but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God. Remember that nothing is certain in this life." (NLT)

i also remember someone shared with me few years ago that their favorite 'phrase' in the Bible is "And it came to pass..." many times when the days are long and nights are dreary, let us remember that they have come to pass and not to say...Some say, "If good days do not stay, neither will the bad ones" its just the duration. But we can sail thru with worshiping God, singing hymns, encouraging someone, spending time talking to and listening to GOD and others. It in itself is therapeutic, try it! Was it Jessie Dixon who sang "when we praise God, we get lifted up"?

We are studying and reading a book on Hole in our Holiness by Kevin DeYoung. I recommend it highly as he asks us a question, I throw it to you! So have you wondered, "Why is there a hole in our holiness?" good question!

The God of the Bible calls us to be holy for HE is holy. Holy = set apart, or separated to sum it. So what is it that pulls us into the crowd when we are to be set apart and be unique and holy? It is a privilege to be called by God to be holy.

I am also reminded in the Tuesday nights Bible Study we have engaged ourselves into this season. It is on Philippians and the verse that shouts at you from the 1st chapter is Phil 1:6 NIV "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

So we do have confidence and assurance that we do not have to do it alone, this journey is God ordained and God established, and Jesus also told us, that "One who loves me will obey my commands" So we are called to obedience. How would these verses encourage/change your thoughts for holy calling personally?

Well, regardless of good days or bad days that we face ahead, Have a Holy season, wont you?
By Kalpana C Sharma (Mrs.)