FROM GRASS TO GRACE

No one ever thought it would end this way. It indeed was not predicted or even foreseen. Everybody stood in amazement with their mouths open seeing Mlachake, a poor young man holding his very beautiful fiancee. It seemed like a dream or video and drama as some would put it.

Mlachake hailed from a very poor family. His parents were as poor as church mice. Everybody avoided them on grounds that they will borrow them food. They were so desperate that they lived in old deserted shanties in Maendeleo village. Children in their neighbourhood were taken to school to get education while Mlachake remained at home to help with house chores. Mlachake really sympathized with himself because of what he was going through.

Every evening he would sit outside the gate of the only school in the village and desperately watched other children come out of school. What made him even more sad is that the children were speaking in a language he didn't understand. One day the children requested him to follow them to the shops to buy him something but because he didn't understand the language, he didn't know what they meant.

Mlachake really wanted to know this language and kept on praying that one day he will learn that language. Despite being from a poor family, Mlachake knew God. He knew that he (God) is the one who gives everything.

Mlachake was a very industrious boy, he was very hard-working. He lived with a motto that his parents planted in him that one shall eat from his own sweat. At the age of 12, Mlachake would go out, work in other people's farms since they didn't have any land and get some food which helped in their family. The entire family lived from hand to mouth.

Mlachake was very hard-working, obedient and passionate of the future.

Mlachake and his father Masumbuko later came to appreciate their status and decided to enjoy themselves and be contented with what they had.

At various instances Masumbuko was heard saying that what they didn't have did not affect them. Mlachake's mother kept on encouraging his husband and son and never stopped dreaming of a good life that was awaiting them. She was very optimistic and this encouraged her husband and son.

One day as Mlachake was walking around in the village, he picked a piece of paper that had some English writings. Since he didn't understand, he requested a friend who goes to school to assist him. The words were, "My future is bright, because it is God who holds it" Mlachake struggled to imitate his friend as he read these words. He asked what it meant and he was told.

When he reached home, Mlachake was very happy and told his father that now he knew afew words of the language of the rich. His father told him not to bother about that language since they were poor.

Mlachake just continued learning the language and one day, he met his miracle. He was just sited at the gate to the school as usual but when a teacher came past the gate, he stood up and greeted him. "Good Morning sir?" The teacher was amazed. He even asked him to repeat the words again and he did it. The teacher invited him to his office and promised to seek for his sponsorship.

He went home and told his parents. They were all happy. They welcomed the idea. Eventually at 16 Mlachake made it to class one. He was a big boy, bigger than others in class. Others would laugh at him because he was very tall and could not understand as fast as his younger classmates.

Despite all the criticism, Mlachake did not give up. Seven years were just like a passing wind. Mlachake sat for his final examination and emerged the best in their class.

People were astonished. Mlachake went to other institutions of higher learning where he performed very well. It was then that he met a very beautiful daughter of a popular ruler and they agreed to exchange marriage vows.

It is at this moment that Mlachake reflected to his past and tears cascaded down his chubby cheeks. "Surely God can raise you from grass to grace." He said as he held his fiancee's hand.