I cannot possibly express the joy and sense of pride I feel at this moment. After more than 4 years of hard work and many prayers, Duncan Wanje Ziro graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from Daystar Christian University.
Although we moved home a little over a month ago now (more on that another time), one of our dear friends in Lubbock blessed me with a round-trip ticket to Kenya in order to be with Duncan during this momentous event. (Thank you!) Duncan’s parents and several good friends were also on hand to support him on graduation day. In fact, this was his mother’s first trip to Nairobi ever! She had never traveled far from her small village on the coast. And what an incredible trip this must have been for her, filled with pride at her son’s accomplishments!
As for me, I could go on and on about this good friend from a small rural village. How far he has come indeed! I am proud of him. Not only did he finish and finish with very good grades, but the desire of his heart is to return to the coast and to his people to share Jesus with others, using his education to bless those around him. God is good!
On more than one occasion, my eyes swelled with tears as I recounted all the good times – and struggles – we have endured together to reach this point. Yet as the Guest of Honor spoke, I too was challenged with his words, “It isn’t how far you have come, but how far you will go.”
I am proud of what Duncan has done, but it is true, how far will he go now? What will he do for the kingdom in the future? I cannot wait to see and to hear of the victories!
Some may wonder why it is we went to all this effort or why we were so concerned with helping Duncan get his degree. The simple answer is quite best: because it was always our intention to “work ourselves out of a job”, teaching and training our African brothers and sisters to take our place, blessing them with the same tools we had access to in order to more effectively take the good news of Jesus to a lost world.
Please pray for us and for the next phase of our mission. As we settle into a new life in the US, it is our earnest hope and prayer that God will bless INTERCEDE as we strive to partner with young men like Duncan.
Duncan is one of two young men we currently sponsor to continue our mission of carrying the Good News to those who do not yet know our Savior. Will you continue to help us? Please pray and continue to send your financial support for Duncan and others.
How far will
you go?
