How it came about for me to be trapped in the bird cage - a testimony

Truly obedience is better than sacrifice. For I came to sit down, looking and rechecking my previous church attendance in the society to which I [in], and found I was only doing it out of sacrifice, out of law and not out of obedience or out of love. Obedience is a signal or a switch that lightens on one’s love. A railway track where one has to move to gain holiness. [It] is therefore a preventative measure that keeps one from going astray, that keeps out/avoids all kinds of evil from someone’s way in the journey of life. More specifically, on the profitable way we desire to walk. The very way that Father Abraham and the holy prophets did walk – from Eden to eternity.

I was arrested on 6th October 2005 after committing a crime of murder on 5th October 2005. This happened after my grandmother’s brother threatened to shoot me in front of the police officers because I pointed him to be a witcher concerning un[re]solved suspicious witchcraft issues in the family.

On that Wednesday I was supposed to go to school, Zambezi Vocational Training Centre, where I was doing level 2 of my 3 year diploma in financial business accounting through the British Pitman qualification. I ended up taking my uncles 9mm shotgun, which I eventually used to shoot him. And immediately after that evil act I felt guilt and said to myself, Haa! I have sinned. Everything around me appeared changed; the trees, the shadows, the birds, people. All appeared to be very far from me. I felt to have been cut off from all creation. Even though I was still around/among the free people, I would still feel to be alone. I would even feel nature saying, You have gone far wrong, very far from the truth.

I was baptized on the 23rd September 2000 while in Grade 11. This was after we watched a TV satellite of the crusade meeting that was happening in South Africa. But reading the Bible on my own was very difficult. So I only relied on what I heard from the church gatherings which I was attending only sometimes. At that time I did not know that the inbuilt spiritual man needed spiritual food both for growth and strength.

When I was brought into the cell of the police custody everything looked/was bad for me. I felt like a man born old in a very difficult place for anything, among difficult people for everything. As one who was already stepping up to the green pastures of life but ended up landing in prison (the bird cage). More and more questions were forming in my mind – to which I would answer some and to some long difficult questions. Only him above, our God, was becoming the answer.

In the same October that year, there came white evangelists from South Africa who gave us small Gideon New Testaments. That became my daily spiritual food and comfort. Even though some of the bosses of our cell would most of the time say I should not read the Bible every day or else I would run mad. But still I kept on exercising and searching. The more I saw the wrongs of my heart [so] the more I wanted to stay near to my God to learn more from him. I really felt peace and was encouraged to know the truth and live in the truth of the real value of the Bible. My father was bringing me traditional charms [intended to help with] court cases but this was unfavourable with my spirit so I was flushing in the toilet everything he would bring.

After staying a year in custody with no bail guaranteed I was then sent to Oluno prison with a seven year sentence. I felt it to have come from above, from the corner of favour and mercy, the Lord Almighty. For what I did was too much big compared to the punishment imposed upon me. At this time I started to feel/experience active spiritual support. In Oluno I found spiritual activities that became [an] added advantage to my Christian growth. I joined in fellowship with Christian brothers who welcomed me with warm hands and the love of our Master, Jesus Christ.

I continued to learn, search and dig the pure gold, which is the truth of God, until the eyes of my heart were opened. To tell you the truth, pastor, at this time, if I wrong someone, I feel much pain in my heart – uncomfortable, unless I can reconcile with that person. I feel good when I’m at peace with God, meaning when I keep his instruction and guidance.

Today I’m a happy Christian soldier, obedient to God out of love. I’m already in the combat uniform of Christ, so I feel it profitable enough and good to die, lay down my life in his territory, his precious Name, than to any other place of the enemy.

I really love the Christian life because it gives the full truth of the present life and the future blessed one to come. In this family, truly there is a promise for every problem.

In brief, pastor! This is how it came for me to be found/dumped behind bars.

May the Lord give you happiness, strength, courage and support.
May the Lord bless you and your family in all areas of your needs.

When I reach here I salute you to the Lord in Jesus’ Name.
May he continue blessing us all.
I thank you.

(The photos that follow are from a recent Children's Ministry workshop in Oshikango.)