IDEA MAGAZINE September-November 2015 | Page 12

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