My name is Joseph Kivaji I was born in Kenya (Africa). My uncle raised me in Nairobi, he took good care of me, sent me to school and ensured I had an education. I graduated from high school with very good grades. I was meant to go to University, however after school I started engaging in drugs (cigarettes and bhang) and alcohol, Within barely a year I found myself on the wrong side of the law due to assault and was placed into remand prison for one and a half years.
By God’s grace I was set free but I was a wounded man and my family did not receive me well. They told me to go look for a job like other men, instead I sold stolen goods in the major cities of Kenya. My family again came to my rescue and offered me a job which I did for close to three years. Eventually though my addictions returned resulting in me losing my job. My wife left me and we also lost our only child at only one week old.
All hope was gone and I found myself in the slum of Kawangware engaging in crime and doing drugs and alcohol due to all the tragedies I had faced. I used to sell stolen items in order to make ends meet but eventually the the law got me. God sent somebody who gave me good news about an organization which helps addicts and criminals. I quickly enrolled in the program and after close to three months I stopped engaging in crime and reduced my alcohol intake. I was fortunate because I lost many friends through mob justice and gun shots and some even some became mentally insane due to their addictions.
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A healthy Joseph today
I was accepted into a Christian rehabilitation center, after two months I received Christ as my personal savior and I had an encounter with the Lord.
Since then my life was transformed. I was delivered from crime, drugs and alcohol addiction and God gave me an opportunity to work with people who were in crime and also addicted to drugs. I worked in for close to four years at Uzima Christian rehabilitation center. At the same time I was given the opportunity to go to university and gain a bachelor’s degree in Information technology!
Not long after, I would learn that suffering creates perseverance, character and hope (Romans 5:4). I was struck down with a disc protrusion/bulge in my spine for close to eight months. I could barely walk and was unable to work. God again came to my rescue. I underwent a surgery to reverse the condition and after a month I was up on my feet again.
The Lord restored me by giving me another opportunity to work, this time with children at a children’s home. I can see him opening more doors for me to serve him in different ways. These have included music, church, schools, hospitals and prison ministries. I am now married with two children, we serve a faithful God, amen and be blessed. Philippians 4:13 “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength”. NIV.
