Letter Received 20 October 2009
I have received your letter and I am very happy to have known you that much. Give my gratitude to all those who have sacrificed their money for my sake. In the same manner pass my greetings to your family members; your mother, Eric, Ryan, Autumn, Shawn, Joey, Cody, your sisters and all your friends who have heard of me.
At the moment I'm in the college. My first days in college have been challenging since I had never been to such a place and institution and even I have been introduced to new subjects which seem harder but in all I pray and too believe I'll make it. Cooping with people from other tribes has also been an issue in this college. I have also met new friends for example a 'Maasai' brother named Ken Paravian who comes southern part of Kenya. Most of time we find ourselves walking together sharing stores about their bribe and as well as my tribe.
It is surprising that I have not been celebrating my birthday, but anyway I was born 3rd May, 1988.
My Uncle has a family of four children and his wife. My Uncle's name is Saul Mmbaga. He is such a caring and loving man. Although is now old of about seventy . He has struggled to take me to school, as well as his wife who is about sixty. There first born is called Grace Mmbaga who is now married so most of the time she is busy with her family. Then the 2nd born is Steve who is also married and busy with his family. He sometimes shoed concern for me. The 3rd born is Felix is the one I love most among my cousins. He likes football and also a talented one. The last born is Timothy. He's a quiet man these two (Felix and Timothy are not married).
Here in college I have friends. I have decided to choose friends outside our tribe. Ken Paravian who is a Maasai he's a young gentle man of my age who is also sociable and loves God. 2nd I have Caro. She is a Luo. She's such a caring and loving lady. She wants to be with me the time she is free. She's a christian and single minded person.
I feel very happy when making friends and when I realize that people love and have concern for me. I feel happy when I hear people saying that we prayed for you. On contrary, I get sad when I actually sometimes don't make it in some examinations. I feel sad also when a person shouts at me because of the mistake I have done, instead of giving me the required advice.
I have been just a "christian" most of my life but in 2007 I started seriously reading the bible and memorizing scriptures. This was later improved in 2008 when I was helped to go for a discipleship school, where we studied fundamentals of bible and even taught about prayers and how to carry them out.
My peace is always got from the bible and trusted friends.
I am a social person thus I feel happy when I talk to a person and come out in jovial mood. I am also compassionate especially to those in problems. Hardworking is also one of my characters, since I have learned to carry out domestic work including home duties and farm work.
In addition I have also learned to be humble, that is I don't like considering myself to be first class people. I rather do humble duties found in the countryside.
When I am free I love making friends, traveling and reading the bible. I feel actual joy when I am with children of class 4, 5 and 6 as we hare stories. I am also a lover of football, in English Premier League my best team is Chelsea football Club, therefore when they are playing and win, I feel happy.
In my life I have dreamed of traveling to USA, Canada, or Brazil. My dream of going to Brazil is because of the love of football, I see how they focus themselves to football as a career. In Canada I admire the people how they express themselves linguistically and philosophically. In conclusion, I have also thought of being in Am erica, this because I see how my fellow Africans are doing well here. I also look at the Americans to be focused and determined people.
I choose to be a volunteer teacher at Shiswa because as I had said earlier, my time I like spending with children. At the school I have been helping in social studies, Swahili and also in extra-curricular activities outside class. I also helped teachers in marking pupils work and supervise manual work.
This is my little story about how I decided to choose drama. When I joined High School I happen to join football club of school in 2004. Football involved a lot of physical exercises early in the morning. I ran until I could remove my tongue like a thirsty dog. It was very involving I did not find joy in this exercises. As a result when I went home in the evening I could take the biggest share of food. Consequently I had to take another step. Here after, I gave up in football and later joined drama.
I successfully joined drama club in which there were various items e.g. choral verses, solo verses, narratives, plays and dramatized dance. The drama exercises were hard but I found joy in doing them. I found interest and ease in dramatic items. It's through drama that I have had the opportunity to travel to parts of our province although not across Kenya nor East Africa. I remember in 2007 I represented our school at provincial level where my school got a certificate. Drama has developed confidence to talk to you.
I truly thank God for having brought you up to Africa and have a chance to come to our school. Then luckily enough I was spotted. Praise be to God that whatever I thought to be a dream comes to reality.
Ben Mmbaga
P.O. Box
Bungoma
Kenya
