RTF: Happy Birthday!

It is another Friday. It is another day for random thoughts.

Yesterday was my birthday. My wife took me out to dinner and the waiters at Applebee’s threw me a party with “embarrassing” singing. I am bit private, so I really didn’t want everyone in the restaurant to know that it was my birthday.

I could have sensed the waiters were planning something, because I saw my wife whispering something to the waiter assigned to our table. Man, how did I miss that? She couldn’t have possibly been asking silently for extra salt. Duh!

I had a good time though.

And speaking of birthdays, I just couldn’t help but randomly think: If you were born on February 29, does that mean you only celebrate your birthday once every four years?

Just curious….

Enjoy your weekend.

“Had It Been..."

“Had it been somewhere else…”

Most of you have probably heard that when Bongolanders would be comparing what is happening in Bongoland to other places in the world, mostly in the developed countries. There are so many interpretations that could be derived from that, but from my perspective, the sentence sends a message of despair or giving up.

As always, it is not my intention to dedicate an entire blog post based on a single reader’s comments on any of my previous posts. Nonetheless, I feel it is necessary at times to override that rule of mine, just to educate all of us on my thought process and rationale for what I write.

I believe we are entitled to our opinions. As such, my writing shouldn’t be reflected as a jab to my esteemed readers, but rather an attempt to bring certain things to light. That is because I am sure there are folks who see the world the way some of my readers do. Honestly, what I am about to say is just coming from my recycling bin, for I have said this before. Just to get the ball rolling, here is the basis for my reflection today, and it is based on the following statement from some of my esteemed readers:

“…I think you suffer this myth of black inferiority, and the press/blogs like yours are constantly promulgates the worst of the African experiences…”

“…your solutions are…simplistic…”

“…"mindset/culture" solution is way too general...”

Just for the records. I believe in a positive Africa. I believe in the progressive Africa. Otherwise, why waste my time blogging? The difference, however, is that I have taken a rather “unorthodox” approach. I have deliberately taken myself outside the thinking mode that most “patriotic” Africans tend to hold. I know that my position is not popular in an African political context, but that’s the risk I am willing to take.

I don’t think that by having an “ unorthodox” approach to Africa’s problem I have become less of an African than the rest. Besides, what makes one a true African? Aren’t the supposedly “true” Africans elected to presidential posts looting the continent left and right? See, a spade is always a spade whether a foreigner or a brother next door calls it out. Honestly, I would like to be educated on how I have become a problem to Africa by calling out Africa’s core snags.

Unless you open your mind a little bit and step outside a typical we-are-the-victims-of-something African mentality box, you will never get the spirit of this blog.

Man, if you had known how proud I am of being African, you would not dare call me inferior. On the flip side, I think those that are afraid to be challenged by a fellow African are the ones who suffer from inferiority complex. Just read this previous post to gauge whether I believe Africans are inferior or not. I have chosen, however, not to depict my pride only by embracing the African rot.

Besides, there are plenty of Uhuru and Daily News, which are the mouthpieces of the government, drumming up the “positives”. I chose to depict the other side of the coin, and that should remain my prerogative.

Whether you are agree with me or not, I strongly believe that Africa’s problems are rooted in Africa’s own culture. And when I talk about culture, please take a broader view. If you narrow your understand of culture to traditional dances alone, you will neither get the solution I have proposed nor the message I am sending. Which is too bad. The issue is not lack of a “road map”, resources, or intelligent people in Africa.

Let me just cited an example of how culture is killing Africa. Recently, This Day published stories on how the former Tanzanian president, Mr. BWM, through his influence as the head of the state, managed to snatch a coal mine from the state and turn it into his private hands. From an ethical standpoint, that is wrong and presents a classic case of corruption.

The corruption watchdog guys, however, are balking from investigating or taking any legal actions against the former president. The reason for the inactivity from the Tanzanian corruption bureau is very simple. As a prominent lawyer and a former member of parliament, Mr. Mabere Marando has put it; the incumbent president cannot push for the investigation of the former president, because that would set a “dangerous” precedent.

The main issue in this whole saga is a culture that protects and hence promotes ineptitude and corruption. And that is a bigger problem, because corruption renders ineffective all wonderful development policies and strategies that a country like Tanzania can draw. And that is what I am trying to draw our attention to – CULTURE AND MINDSET.

What do you think would have been the impact of allowing for the investigation and possibly prosecution of the former president to Tanzania’s progress? In my estimation – huge. On the flip side, Mr. JMK’s decision to protect a culture that does not call for accountability will definitely have a negative impact on Tanzania’s progress for ions to come. Trust me on that one. Because the message send out is loud and clear – there are not penalties for the violation ethical codes as long as you are the president.

Given that Tanzanians are not monkeys but human beings, we can certainly learn from other cultures. Would this crap about Mr. BWM happen in other countries, let’s say United States of America? Absolutely not! The reason such a known unethical act would be dealt with severely in the United States is not because the United States has more money, Caucasians as a majority, or more intelligent people than Tanzania, but because the United States society values a culture which allows for a president to be impeached for violating the established code of ethics. Nothing magical, nothing more.

So as you sing along that wonderful tune “hii isingetokea kwenye nchi zingine”, just understand that the separating point between Tanzania and other countries is not intelligence, lack of resources or any other factors, but a culture that does not call for accountability and create an environment of rapid development to take place in Tanzania. As subtle as that is, it has been and it is a killing monster.

Sometimes, seemingly complicated problems require the simplest of the solutions.

I apologize in advance to those who still think even this article is full of generalities and simplistic solutions. My call is this: open your eyes.

RTF: Celebrities Can't Save Africa

It is another Friday. So I will rant on anything that crosses my mind. That could be about Tanzania or anything. That’s the beauty of having your own space. I promise though, that I will not bring you anything crazy.

Today I feel like reflecting a bit on this new trend of Western celebrities making Africa their playground. Just yesterday (August 23, 2007), I found this article on Yahoo. This article is really what prompted me to reflect on this issue.

I would really be mad if someone tells me how to spend my money or my time, especially if I have worked hard to earn tons of money. As such, I believe that celebrities are entitled to the way they want to spend their millions of dollars. Besides, what the Bonos and Jolies are doing is good. I would be stupid to question that.

The issue, from my perspective, is not about who is sending or mobilizing the infusion of financial aid to the African government coffers. The core issue for is whether Africans, through their political leaders, have the same outlook on financial aid as those that donate them. I honestly believe that most African leaders and bureaucrats regard financial aid from the West as a sweet channel of money straight to their own private banks accounts.

If anyone thinks I am crazy, can African continent show evidence that the financial aid that has flown through the continent in years past has really been a catalyst to development? And please don’t give me the typical rhetoric about the West control and the rest of African political junk.

I acknowledge the fact that there was a shift in aid delivery, from that of simply sending money to sending money plus “expatriates” to supervise the use of the money. This shift has probably contributed to the ineffective of financial aid to African, nonetheless, that was due to continent’s own doing. Donors initially sent money only to realize the money was always diverted from the intended use. So I will never blame donors for doing what was necessary.

The flow of celebrities to Africa could be just a fad or seriously a new way of “saving” Africa. Nonetheless, honestly, that is a waste of time.

I know I have just stirred a controversy right there, but the reality is that foreign solutions to the African situation will never work. As African myself, I can straight up tell you this: deliverance of African people will only be achieved when there is a paradigm shift within the African continent. The issues facing African are primarily not financial or lack of resources, it is more the issues of the wrong mindset. Africa’s problems are rooted in a culture that is not conducive for development, as that West knows it.

Unless there is a transformation within the African continent itself, the Clintons are just (unknowingly) finding a nice way to enjoy their retirement from official government posts. That is because financial aid has never transformed anyone and anything in Africa. Bill Clinton, Bono, George Clooney or Angelina Jolie could have the best intentions, but they are certainly stepping into a territory that they are certainly ignorant about.

Unless Africans truly take responsibility for their own destiny or hunger for change, we can always expect to see the next fad in trying to save the continent. Mark my words.
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Photo Credit: School of St. Jude

It Is 1636...

It is 1636. What do you think your great, great, great, great, great grandfather is doing in the remote parts of Usambara? I would just let you use your imagination.

While your great, great, great, great, great grandpa or grandma is doing whatever he or she is doing, just know that there are people in the other parts of the world attending formal classes and pursuing formal education. That is a fact. Just think about that.

According to Harvard’s website, this institution was established in 1636, 16 years after the arrival of Pilgrims in Plymouth. I have heard so much about Pilgrims, especially around Thanksgiving, so I had to dig a bit of the American history for my benefit and the benefits of my readers.

Also, my search on Wikipedia found that Pilgrims is the name commonly applied to early settlers of the Plymouth Colony in present-day Plymouth, Massachusetts. Their leadership came from a religious congregation who had fled a volatile political environment in the East Midlands of England for the relative calm of Holland in the Netherlands to preserve their religion. Concerned with losing their cultural identity, the group later arranged with English investors to establish a new colony in North America. The colonists faced a lengthy series of challenges, from bureaucracy, impatient investors and internal conflicts to sabotage, storms, disease,and uncertain relations with the indigenous people. The colony, established in 1620, became the second successful settlement in what was to become the United States of America, the first being Jamestown, Virginia which was founded in 1607. Their story has become a central theme in United States cultural identity.

What is my point? My point is this: as Tanzanians we have to acknowledge the fact that there have been other societies and cultures that were and are still ahead of us. These cultures and societies have set up an environment for full utilization of all the capabilities and potential that God has endowed to human beings.

My objective is not to make us feel inferior because of that historical fact, but to make us think a little bit. I am convinced that we (society as a whole) do certain things because we hardly stop to think about life beyond our immediate need for food and shelter. It is not that thinking about immediate needs is a bad thing, but remaining at that level is just too low for the mental capabilities that we have.

I have not come across any research that has proven that people of the Negroid nature are naturally stupid compared to their Caucasian or Asian counterparts. The problem, therefore, has to do with the environment. Given one’s setting influences their perception, understanding and interpretation of life situations, nothing can change unless one is equipped with a new way of looking at life. I am convinced that the majority of Africans, and Tanzanians in particular, are still stuck in the world of 1636.

The above sentence is not meant to be demeaning. It is meant to highlight the fact that most folks are still making decisions based on cultural references. I know of that fact because I have relatives who have not been blessed to have certain academic and general life experiences. As such, their decision-making process is always been based on some cultural references, and not based on critical thinking. As such, as the environment changes, these folks are still stuck in the same, old thinking mode.

I strongly believe that one of the best ways one can be equipped with a new way of looking at life is to be educated. It is true that getting educated can get a nice job, but the most important aspect is the mental transformation that one goes through. Certainly, there is a clear correlation between the number of educated people in a society and the developmental level of that society.


This is my contention: regardless of the number of policies and strategies that the Tanzanian government would come up with, it would be very difficult for an average Tanzanian to benefit from them, given that the thinking and understanding level of a common Tanzania has not been transformed. Besides, when a society is educated, the government would not need to hawk the entrepreneurial spirit. Innovation and ingenuity will spring and ooze of society as the mental faculties are stimulated.

You don’t have to go far to tell that the Tanzania society (generally speaking) is still at a very the low level intellectually. Just look at how the society has failed to contain cholera. So what makes us think we can fully comprehend complex global issues? We can’t go back and create our Harvard in 1636. Nonetheless, we need to catch up quickly.

Just do a quick census in Tanzania. What percentage of the population do you think hold a university degree, 2%, or 5%? Think about that for a minute. So let the CCM folks go ahead with their Vision 2025, but the Tanzanian society will only change when the minds of the people are transformed and enlightened.

It is 2007, but I wonder if much has changed for the entire Tanzanian society compared to 1636. Think I am kidding? Just read this old story from Tanzania Daima. Or just for fun, muse with me on this old post of mine.


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Photo credit: Mjengwa.

RTF: This Zimbabwe Thing

It is another Friday. So this my day of Random Thoughts Friday (RTF) and I will touch on Zimbabwe, just a little bit.

Why I am talking about Zimbabw while this blog should be dedicated to Tanzanian issues? I’m giving Zimbabwe a time of the day, because some Tanzanians regard the Zimbabwean situation as an African situation. Just read the This Day editorial comments to prove my point.

I can understand why one would consider the Zimbabwean ordeal as an African pain. For the most part, that fits well in a hypocritical African politics. It fits well in a “don’t ask, don’t tell” African political climate. It perfectly fit in African politics where accountability is hardly exercised. May be because almost all of the African leaders are corrupt. As such, no African president can rebuke a fellow African president on the same ills he or she does.

Don’t get me wrong. I do believe in solidarity and all that jazz that come with it. We have the European Union for the same reason. At times it is necessary to join hands in order to accomplish a whole lot. Nevertheless, I believe loving someone does not equate to patting them on the back alone. True love comes with being tough and communicating hard and difficult truths to the one you love. That is because the line between loving and spoiling could be vague at times. Mugabe needs to hear the hard truth from his African leadership fraternity.

Thus far, none from this fraternity has been bold enough to face him.

While SADC leaders are showing plenty of seemingly moral support to Mugabe, they are just killing ordinary Zimbabweans. Most the SADC countries have embarked on economic reforms and heading in the right direction, while Zimbabwe is heading south. Most of these countries have a good relationship with EU and other developing countries, while “helping” Zimbabwe to destroy her relationship with the same countries. Isn’t that hypocrisy? Isn’t that pathetic?

May the cost of “freedom” from those awful Westerners is to sacrifice a few poor Zimbabweans here and there. Seriously, when folks are starving, do you really think that Mugabe is going without? (I know that question could be thrown back at me, whether the EU and all others who have imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe have thought about that. But that is beside the point).

I acknowledge the fact that Zimbabwe has the right to embark on any policies they seem fit, including the land redistribution policy. Nonetheless, any right should come with the accompanying obligations. As such, Mugabe and the Zimbabwean folks, and not the entire African continent, should bear weight to the consequences of their land policy.

I think that is fair. You bear the weight of your own sins. If you shoot a gun and it backfires, you should be in the line of harm’s way. Don’t call your neighbors to die for you.

There have been views that the land redistribution was just a political tool that Mugabe utilized to gain more political clout. I would not even doubt that, because according to the article published by the Tanzanian Daily News, and I will quote just a section of it, “ The EU sanctions involve a travel ban against top officials and the freezing of their assets in European banks, as well as a ban on arms sales”

Key sentence there? Freezing of top officials’ assets in European banks. Yeah, that is right, assets in European banks. You didn’t think those assets are furniture and some old clothes inherited from their grandparents, did you?

If you still think the land redistribution was meant to help the poor Zimbabweans, please raise your hands.

Seriously, I think this Zimbabwean thing is a litmus paper that has depicted the true colors of African leaders, which is mainly irresponsibility and hypocrisy. But that is not surprising, because that has been the political culture in Africa as long as I can remember.

Sometimes, honestly, I am glad that I don’t have to bribe anyone just to renew my driver’s license in the United States of America. That allows me (as artificial as it is) to escape the reality, which many of my brothers and sisters are facing in the African continent.

Enjoy your weekend!
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Photo Credit: Don't recall the source

Constitution Overhaul: Leave The Rhetoric Aside

I am convinced politicians are all the same across the board. That is not to recognize the fact that a culture within which politicians operate limits what politicians can say or do. Nonetheless, all politicians are motivated by power. More the power, the merrier they get.

Don’t get me wrong; history has seen politicians who have been true leaders. But what I see in Tanzania is just a bunch of guys who have decided to invest in politics. That is, they just invest $10,000 in MPs election campaign (mainly for takrima expenses) and then in about five years, you are guaranteed of $20,000 in MPs’ pension. Why wouldn’t anyone go for 100% guaranteed return on investment? And that is not counting the possibility of being a minister, board appointments, plenty of sitting allowances, and all other bells and whistles that no ordinary Tanzanian can get access to.

Guess what? These guys get all that for snoozing during the Bunge sessions. That’s insane, isn’t it? Sadly, a regular mzawa in Igunga will never, never figure this game out.

Whatever the motive for getting into wananchi representation, all politicians have an ethical, moral and social obligation to abide by what the assumed position calls for. I know that is actually a wishful thinking on my part, because checks and balances in the Tanzanian context is a notion that is as foreign and far as Tasmania can be.

There have been numerous calls (mainly from the opposition camp) for the overhaul of the Constitution. I personally think there are plenty to be desired from the opposition camp, but it would be very myopic of me and the rest of us to assume that everything that comes from the opposition should be reduced to whining. There are valid points that come from the opposition camp. Similarly, there are valid points that come from the CCM camp.

With regards to the call for the overhaul, redraft, reformulation (or whatever word you want to use) of the Constitution, I am yet to hear a strong opposing arguments from the CCM folks. Simply because shortcomings identified in the Constitution have not led to a political upheaval in the country does not mean it couldn’t or shouldn't be enhanced. Besides, shouldn’t we, as a country, try to make everything better today than it was yesterday?

It appears that most political leaders in Tanzania have not read the Constitution. If they have, it is clear than they have not understood the tenets laid out in the Constitution. The squabble between the Tanzanian government and HakiElimu is a good example of how neither the government (specifically government official who make decisions) nor some our Members of the Parliament have a good understanding of the Constitution.

I am not a legal expert, as such my interpretation of some articles of the Constitution may not be correct. Nonetheless, isn’t it ridiculous when the CCM folks believe the Constitution is just fine, while some of the articles of the Constitution have no practical meaning in the current Tanzania? For instance, Part II, Section 9(j) of the Constitution is geared to ensure that:

“Economic activities are not conducted in a manner capable of resulting in the concentration of wealth or major means of production in the hands of a few individuals”

I mean, seriously, whom are we kidding?

Continuing to hold on to the idea that Tanzania is a socialist country is just an indication that some folks within the CCM camp are in denial. And that is a psychological problem. Given that Mirembe Hospital is just nearby, why don’t some of these people go for a psychiatric evaluation? Socialism as a policy (that is what the Constitution calls it) was thrown out of the window when the country embarked on a free market economy. So why don’t we just leave the rhetoric aside and reformulate our Constitution to reflect Tanzania’s current state of economic and political affairs?

Furthermore, if the Ujamaa policy was as operational as the CCM folks are trying to believe, how could their former president, Mr. BWM “steal” the coalmine from STAMICO, a state-owned company, and transfer it to a private ownership? Is that really what the Constitution says?

Besides, I don’t believe that the former Tanzanian Prime Minister, Mr. Warioba, is that stupid to call for a work on the Constitution. As a legal expert, seasoned politician, he knows what is talking about. Some things, seriously, just require an application of common sense. And I don’t think that is too much to ask for.

Whatever the politician’s motives for vying for a leadership position, I think throwing away common sense (and hence act stupidly) for the sake of power retention is just ridiculous.

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Photo credit: trekearth.com

RTF: Ujamaa v. Free Market

I am just trying to add some pizzazz to my reflection. So this is what I am going to do. I am coming up with what I call Random Thoughts Fridays (RTF). I plan to rant on anything that crosses my mind on Fridays.

I just want to point out stuff that could look meaningless, but with some degree of significance or curiousity.

My wife calls me crazy. According to her, what she meant is that I am not a lunatic, but rather I am ahead of most people she knows. Well, that was what she said…but could it be she meant something else now that I am thinking about it?

Anyways, let’s forget about her. She married me though (Honey, you are stuck with me whether I am a lunatic or not).

This is what crossed my mind today: do you know that the Ujamaa policy lasted shorter than free market economy in Tanzania? The policy was crafted in 1967 and officially came to an end in 1985 when Mwalimu Nyerere stepped down as the president of the United Republic of Tanzania.

That was only 18 years of experimentation. And the policy tanked. Nyerere ran out of Ikulu.

As I am blogging today in 2007, it has been a cool 22 years since Tanzania embraced economic reforms, specifically embarking on a free market economy. Yes, that is 22 years and counting. If we have to look at longevity as a sign of a policy’s viability, Ujamaa was not a viable idea. Period.

Thinking more of it, the policy wasn't only utopian, it created this culture of ineptitude that Tanzanians are still dearly paying for.

I couldn’t just help wonder some more, could it be that the late Kambona was genius than Nyerere for being against Ujamaa, now that we have the 20/20 vision looking back?

This is all random so don’t shoot me. As I said, this is RTF!

Enjoy your weekend.

Negroid and Tanzanian = Failure and Disrespect?

I’m back. I am still emotionally wobbling, but I am back. After “uguzaring” my son, seven nights of sleeping on a hard couch-cum-bed, hearing all sorts of hospital equipment sounds, I am relieved that I am getting my sanity back. The best part of all is that the little man is getting better.

I wanted to come out with a light reflection, something to cheer all of us up. But what else could possibly be happening (almost all the time) in Tanzania other than depressing news? As much as I hate that, it seems like there is no hope for Tanzanians. I know the situation will not stay the same forever, but man; the wait is killing me. This is seriously bugging me because, from my point of view, we have no strong reasons to be where we are.

It is seems our current President, Mr. JMK, has hope for Africa, Tanzania included. Well, I am not sure if the hope that Mr. JMK, has is based on his attempt to sound politically correct or whether he knows something that we don’t know, but the truth and the perception of the matter in Tanzania seems to point in the opposite direction.

If you think I am just full of crap, revisit what the MP for Musoma Rural constituency and a prominent lawyer, Mr. Nimrod Mkono, thinks of the fate of indigenous Tanzanians, unfortunately, in their own country. I would just like to quote what This Day published:

“ …if you are black, it is very difficult to succeed in this country. Sometimes you have to partner with light-skinned people just to get things done”.

I grew up in a poor family. Well, that was mainly due to the fact that my father died when I was three years old. The story goes, and I have seen memorabilia such as photographs to prove it, that my father was doing fine. Unfortunately, my mom was a housewife and when my father passed on, the roof started to crumble. So I grew up in the family’s “dry season”. Kind of the Swahili saying “Mla mla leo…” I didn’t see the feast on the dinner table.

Despite all that, I never felt inferior to anybody simply because my family was poor. I had always held my head up. It could be that God endowed with me intellectual capabilities that were admired by rich kids. Trust me, I have had rich kids “bribe” me to assist them with their homework. I guess those experiences, unknowingly, boosted my ego.

I have held the same attitude of equality, regardless of race, gender or color. It could have been easier for me to adjust my outlook once I landed on the USA soil, given the constant reminder of racial struggles, but I couldn’t find a good reason for making such an adjustment. May be because I recognize that life is full of obstacles. I don’t think simply because someone is white in the United States of America, then life is just a breeze. I have seen plenty of trailer parks full of white folks, while there are plenty of black millionaires in the same country!

Despite my positive outlook on race as a factor in individual progress, I would be so naïve to overlook the message that Nimrod Mkono is trying to send out. For one, I am assuming that Nimrod is an intelligent, educated Tanzanian. His resume speaks for itself. Secondly, I respect his experience, both as a businessperson, lawyer and a politician. Given Nimrod’s position, I am presuming that he knows what he is talking about when he speaks of a Negroid Tanzanian in terms of opportunities for socioeconomic progress.

We could discuss whether Nimrod took the right path, by choosing the “if you can’t beat them, join them” philosophy, given his position as a legislator and hence having a social and moral obligation to fight for the underprivileged. Nonetheless, that is a topic of its own.

I have come across depressing news from Tanzania many a time, but I believe that this is probably the worst. I don’t about you, but this really makes feel like choking someone. I mean, can I seriously call myself a free Tanzanian? I was convinced that Tanzania gained independence from the British so that every Tanzanian of Negroid, Caucasian, Asian and whatever origin could freely enjoy the opportunity to economically progress. I believed that. It is in the constitution. Nevertheless, I never envisioned a day that it could be perceived or factually true, that a Negroid Tanzanian can never succeed in their own land, unless they team up with a light-skinned individual.

That is insulting. Or may be there are realities that Tanzanians have to acknowledge, before any meaningful change can take place.

I am optimistic, but I am sure a day is coming when poor Tanzanians will break out of their stupidity and all hell will break out. I have been accused of being a Western sell out when I try to challenge my fellow Tanzanians to think better, if not think outside the box. I can I understand that, because for so many years ordinary Tanzanians have been and are continuing to be abused and used in their own land. They have come to the point of accepting the status quo, despite the fact that they could opt for the alternative. Yet those bold enough to question, probe and provide an alternative thinking are viewed as traitors.

I am fortunate enough to be educated and exposed to a different world. In the Tanzanian context, I am a millionaire (hey, in case you didn’t know, my little $1,000 saving is a little over TShs 1m/-), so I would have opted to not care. I could continue chasing my own dreams and ambitions in the USA and never take my time to think about my relatives and friends in Tanzania who are not as fortunate as I am. But selfish is not in my character.

As such, my heart goes out the poor folks in every corner of Tanzania. At the core of my heart, I can feel a sparkle of anger in me. I feel like choking the breath out of somebody. I mean, why? What’s wrong with us? Sooner than later, we have to declare salvation for the oppressed and real freedom for Tanzanians. What we currently have is just depressing me. I don’t know about you.

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Photo Credit: Mjengwa

BRB: An Update

Wandugu,

Thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers. The boy was discharged from Children's Hospital on Friday. He is doing much better and back to his heartwarming smiles. Obviously, those smiles have cheered both my wife and I up.

But above all, the glory, honor and praises go back to the LORD, for his covering and healing touch on the little man.

BRB

Folks,

Due to my son's sickness, I have not been able to post anything. The little guy is hospitalized at the Children's Hospital, here in Columbus, Ohio. He had some bacterial infection that went as far as affecting his muscles.

The doctors are doing a wonderful job (including minor surgery) and he is making a come back. So pray with my family that the boy will make a quick recovery and that daddy can continue sharing his thoughts with you.

But certainly, I will be right back.
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Photo Credit: Daddy's Phone Camera.