GOD PROVIDES MIRACULOUSLY
&
ABUNDANTLY ....
BY LEVY C .ODERA
ourteen years ago I would have never imagined that
today I would have a simple diploma from a community
college. At that time the idea that I would get a bachelor's
degree was like wishing to accidentally stumble across 1
million dollars. Today, by the grace and power of God, I have
attained far more education than a bachelor’s degree. This is a
story about God's abundance and overflowing provision for my
academic needs; it is about relentlessness, resilience, and
perseverance for education and most importantly, it is a story
about the miraculous works of God in my life.
Through the relentless commitment of my hardworking
parents, who earned very little to take care of all our household
needs, I was able to complete high school in Kenya in December 1995. While this was a major accomplishment, it was also
the beginning of a challenging pursuit for a college degree. I
always wanted to join a university right after high school and
given the lack of money in my family, the only way was to get
admission in a public university through the Joint Admissions
Board (JAB). But I failed to achieve the minimum
grade/points (B+) needed for admission. I scored a C+. My
parents were financially unable to pay my college tuition. They
had worked so hard to educate me and 4 of my siblings up to a
high school using debts, and were still educating two more
with the little money that they had. They also had many
household bills to take care of. I had hoped to help them by
getting a university degree and subsequently a well-paying job.
Without the path to a degree, I lowered my goals to pursuing a
community college diploma. But even then, I did not know
IDEA DIAPORA 11
where I would get the money for tuition. For 2 years I tried to
start a small business or find any job but I could not get the
capital to start a business. I decided to use my artistic skills to
paint pictures and sell to galleries. A famous gallery accepted
about 6 of my paintings. But after 1 year none of them had
been sold because there were so many paintings from other
artists ahead of mine. This was not going to be a viable option
either. I decided to try and join a professional soccer team
starting with the lowest division. For about one year I played
for one of the lowest division teams without pay with hopes of
being recruited by a top-paying team. After several loses,
numerous untreated injuries, and deceptions that led nowhere I
ruled out this option as a solution to my problems.
By the end of 1997, 2 years after high school, I was still trying
to secure Ksh.40, 000 ($500) as tuition so that I could pursue a
community college diploma. My self-created college fund did
not have even a shilling. I realized that it was time for me to
make a move, or else I would be stuck at the same spot. I made
a bold decision to go back to high school and repeat the senior
year (form 4), hopi