Terry Wafula, a Kenyan Christian educator and learning center supervisor in Nairobi, makes her authorial debut with Free Bird Rising: A Memoir of Adversity and Triumph. Told with raw honesty, her memoir lays bare the pain of growing up in a dysfunctional, polygamous family marked by abuse, neglect, and deep poverty. At just 13, she faced her worst nightmare — a betrayal that shook her faith, scarred her soul, and left her questioning her worth and God’s purpose for her life.
Yet, amid the darkness, Terry embarked on a long, painful journey of healing. Her story is one of grace, resilience, and the slow rebuilding of body, mind, soul, and spirit. It is a testament to the courage it takes to face deep wounds and rise above them — a reminder to every reader that their past does not define their future.
Terry’s desire to write began in childhood, inspired by the faith stories of others. But poor grades in English and life’s relentless storms convinced her to abandon the dream. She imagined she could only inspire others through a “perfect” life — the perfect job, perfect family, perfect ministry. Instead, life unraveled further: defilement by a pastor, rejection within her family, and a decade-long avoidance of church. These trials pushed her to the brink, where even prayer felt futile.
Seven years ago, a friend urged her to document her journey, assuring her that “God never wastes experiences.” One desperate night, she poured her story onto Facebook. The response was overwhelming — readers resonated deeply, media outlets sought her out, and the call to write a book grew louder. With her best friend’s encouragement, Terry began the difficult process of shaping her testimony into Free Bird Rising.
After seven years of wrestling with painful memories, she now offers her story to the world — not as a tale of perfection, but as a living proof that even the most broken bird can rise and soar again.
