Thursday 19th May 2022

Apart from daily experience and movements from within that has led me to write blogs, reading has been one of the tools that has inspired me to write. It comes so freely sometime I cannot control it. Procrastination is a ‘thing’ as we all know and sometime I want to ignore the thought of sitting down to write whats is in my head. Some thoughts pours out forcefully while others come and go. But there are those that stick around like an African mother on Saturday morning when there is no school (she will stay around until you wake up 6am to clean the yard and dishes when you want to sleep alittle longer).

Since Sunday I have been thinking how to define THANK YOU and how to express it. I even went to Mr. Google to see if he has a better definition. The one I got defined thank you as “a noun…. A polite expression of one’s gratitude….”, that wasn’t what I really wanted. I wanted a better definition that will knock at you my readers heart and mind. Thus truly allowing you to understand how I want to thank you in a profund way.

In East Africa they would say “ASANTE” and maybe if they are really moved they would say “ASANTE SANA”. ASANTE SANA means, thank you very much. Asante in Swahili means THANK YOU, in other words it is an expression of gratitude.
When I was on mission in Uganda, ‘Thank You” was not just a phrase people altered, but they had an action to show how greatful they were. To say “Wibale Nyo” meant thank you, and is usually followed by persons kneeling before you. The first time I experienced that I almost collapsed.

There have been many occasions in our life when we finally achieve what we wanted. The moments of victory and triumph where every ounce of effort seemed to worth it. This couldn’t be done without the help of others. Someone must have chipped in to make it possible to be where you are at the moment. This person is special …. As ordinary and simple as they may seem they are special. Considered them to be special if you never thought of it.

Last Sunday I saw millions of these special people all in one place. They all played different roles in my life. They are from different corners of the world. Many were in this beautiful Island and they all came together not so much to celebrate me, but to say “THANK YOU” with me. The Mass we celebrated is the highest form of prayer that leads us to say thank you and we did it in a style.

I am seated here just to write to say “THANK YOU”. I want to find another word that can really convey my ‘thank you”, but not even Mr. Google has it. I would want to say it in

• Kamba ….. Nimuvea
• Swahili ….. Asanteni sana
• Lughanda …..Mwivale Nyo
• Spanish … Gratcia or even
• Tagalo … Salamathpoh
  … but maybe you’ll not understand just as I don’t …… I actually googled some of these words because they sounded nice to me, just to say thank you……but don’t ask me to pronounce some of them…… that’s sounds funny I know.

Please allow me to say THANK YOU in capital letters, maybe that will say how much I rate you … I would have said it a loud in a microphone but even that … I doubt if it will say it all.

One thing I am certain of, a whisper of prayer on your behalf will mean everything. Do not hesitate to let me know when you need help to fight on knees. I think we are better warriors in prayers than in swords and guns.
May you feel truly appreciated, an apreciation that comes from the very core of my heart. You have played a big part in my life and I am greatfull.
I will ask one favor though, now that I have taken this step and I am off the ‘chains of that man’ please do not leave my side. I may not want you here physically, but your continuous support from a distance is something I will cherish dearly.

NUFF LOVE

‘THANK YOU’