The class suddenly fell silent, which could only mean one thing: the grammar teacher was about to enter the classroom. Within five seconds, that was confirmed as she walked past the windows along the front side of the class, then entered the door and began addressing us.
“Here are three options to choose from for your composition this week,” she said as she proceeded to write on the blackboard:
Write about “The Day I Visited Nairobi.”
Start your composition with: “I was woken up by the rays of sunlight through the cracks on my bedroom window…”
End your composition with: “It was the most enjoyable day of my life that I will never forget.”
We were given 40 minutes to write the essay and submit it for marking. The results would be announced the following week during the school parade.
The next 40 minutes would be spent raking our imaginations and letting the creative juices flow to come up with a fictional story. It was quite a stretch, but I really enjoyed it and often ended up writing one of the best compositions in the class.
That was my first introduction to creative writing.
Though I enjoyed stretching my imagination, the skill wasn’t nurtured much further. English and writing weren’t considered among the subjects that could lead to a good career or job in the future.
In the years that followed, my writing was limited to personal letters, note-taking, and technical documents like instruction manuals and user guides at work.
Fast forward to 2012, when I experienced a personal crisis of faith. I had been serving in the church with deep commitment for many years, but at that point, I felt completely exhausted—burned out.
What I was experiencing didn’t match the promise of the abundant life found in Christ. I began to question much of what I’d been taught over the years and started searching for the root of what I was feeling.
One of the key realizations was that, in my zeal to serve God—and due to the many denominational teachings I had received—I had drifted from the simplicity of the gospel. I needed to return to the basics. During this time, an old hymn became our family anthem: “On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand.” We sang it every evening during family devotions.
Through this crisis, God was reestablishing the centrality and supremacy of Christ in my faith.
To process everything going on in my heart and mind, I began jotting down thoughts in notebooks and journals.
I didn’t think my writing would be useful to anyone else—until a missionary friend encouraged me to share what I was discovering by writing online. That’s when I started blogging at lifebeyondthewalls.wordpress.com.
The blog name was inspired by how I felt at the time—that the denominational teachings I had received had become walls, limiting my experience of the fullness of life in God.
To my surprise and encouragement, people responded to my writing without any effort to promote it. I would write what was on my heart and mind—sometimes reading it later and wondering if I had really written it myself.
There’s one particular series I still revisit, and it continues to minister to me. I invite you to join me: grab a cup of coffee, relax, and enjoy “Map or Guide?”
👉 Read it here
Later, during a conversation with Patrick—Dr. Muthoni’s husband—he suggested that I compile my blog posts into a book. Being the reluctant public writer I was, I shelved the idea until 2022, when I reached out to Dr. Muthoni for guidance. She encouraged me to join a writing class.
It was in that class that I remembered a story I had been thinking about for years but had somehow forgotten. It was born out of stories I’d heard growing up about post-independence Kenya and what it was like during the fight for freedom from colonial rule.
Combining that interest with my passion for the development of the Christian faith, I connected various pieces of historical information. That process helped shape the story:
“Love Beyond for Country: Bearing the Testimony of Jesus at a Time of War.”
In the heart of colonial Kenya, as rebellion and fear spread across the land, three men face impossible choices that test their courage and faith. Nuhu, Macaria, and Njathani live simple lives—until a bold missionary arrives with a message of hope that shakes their world.
As war looms and loyalties are questioned, they must decide whether to follow tradition, protect their families, or embrace a faith that could cost them everything. Danger lurks in every shadow—raids, spies, and betrayal threaten their fragile community.
Their journey is one of discovery, commitment, and unshakable belief. Will they find the strength to stand firm in the face of fear, or will the pressure of war and tradition silence their testimony?
Love Beyond for Country is a thrilling story of faith, resilience, and hope in a time of chaos. It will keep you captivated from start to finish.
