Hello Florence,
It might perhaps take you a second to recall me with passage of time … might be 30 years have passed by. If this does reach you know that my thought are with you and the Simbiri clan ….. I heard with much sorrow of the departure of your beloved Dad. Sereti passed that message to me. I understand that it has been several months since his home-going. Your Dad and Mom were parents to me at Scott beyond being friends to my family. I naïve, and so very young when I went to Scott. I was exactly 16 years old. I liked soccer so much and often trekked down to the field below your home. From the living room, your mom would see passing by and she would come and stand at the porch and ask me how I was doing and ask me if I had problems. This is the fun part --- She would tell me not to stay at “that field” too long. Your Dad was just as loving and many times he would call me into the house and share his tea with me. I felt quite at home with them and they raised me up. My regrets are that I didn’t maintain contact.
Another of my many fond memories I’ve of your family is the day your Dad arrived to our home in Narok one late afternoon. That was 1980 -- To his surprise it was the day before I departed for the US. There was merry and laughter – a huge crowd and he was puzzled as he said, “I was not coming to this farewell party. I’ve been calling your office at NCCK all week.” He went on to say, as he pointed at a nice leather document portfolio under his arm, “I’d something for you, but it is too late to share it now that you’re leaving.”
When I insisted to know what is that he had in the briefcase, your Dad went on with his kindness to tell me not to succumb to things along the way that might possibly de-track me from life-time opportunities. I will not forget his illustration where compared life to a journey. He said when your are on a safari you will see a lot of things, some you will really like and others that you would not. For those that you like, he went on to say – you don’t abandon our safari just because those things look good – that is what he told me.
Your Dad also went on to let me know that he will be in the US in a few weeks and he look for me. And, he will share with me this mysterious thing he had in his briefcase. Just as he had promised, he gave me a call upon his arrival to New Jersey, maybe it was New York. He passed greeting to me from my family and from my mom -Mrs. Simbiri. We talked about logistics on getting to see me. He kept his word and when he was closer to where I was, he came down to see me.
He shared words of wisdom and counsel; with his hand on my shoulders (which he did several times that afternoon, because I was his son) he prayed for me. Before he left, he pulled a huge Khaki envelop from the very same leather document case he had in Narok. He read shared with me a set of documents. My eyes lit up. In there was a position and training contract that he helped secure for me with from a regional NGO –very attractive indeed! The contract had my name on it. There were also various correspondence in this huge envelop. They were a collection of letters, etc, that he had made or received to secure the contract. I had not asked him to find me to look out for me. He knew I had a wonderful position, but he went on to look for a better one. He really wanted all this for me and just because of sensitive dates on it, he physically came to Narok! Wow! I had not words to says, I just looked at him ……….. He put away the envelop and advised me to seek an education. He said, what is in that envelop was is really not the job portion of it but the education and I now I getting it.
Florence, I just have to share these memories, with you, about your very loving Dad. Reverend was my Dad too. Please take comfort in the Lord.
How is your mom (my mom), please say hello to her and also to your siblings.
Blessings,
Jtakona
