My name is Christopher Columbus. I joined the In Heaven’s Eyes Center (IHE) when I was in third
grade. After completing eighth grade, I spent four years in high school. During this time, I was still
under the care and protection of IHE. During my primary years, I gave my life to Jesus Christ,
following the Bible teachings I received from different people who took care of us. I was one of the
first boys to reside at IHE. Initially, Benson would come and preach to us in the streets. He would
bring us tea and since some of us enjoyed it so much, we began to follow him wherever he was
ministering the WORD of GOD. After some time passed, I began to realize how important it was to
listen to Benson. At first, I was hanging around him for the tea that he would buy us after he was done
ministering. This made us realize and believe that the WORD is being written in the experience of our
lives even today, i.e., that we/our lives are the 67th Book of the Bible and that we are the living
Epistles.
I believe we are the only Bible some people will ever see. Furthermore, I feel that GOD was writing
through the situations of our lives. After considering all that I have been through in my life, I can
proudly say that sometime my testimony is not about what I say, but about my story of survival. GOD
allowed me to survive what someone else would not have been able to. By this, I know that the LORD
was with me even in my worst moments. Depending upon how the preached words ministered to, and
changed us, caused us to visit the Center. It got to the point where we started visiting the Center in the
morning. We were allowed to shower and have a meal while being trained on the word of GOD. We
would leave and go back to the streets where they initially found us. This continued for a good while.
Once Benson noticed that there was a need to retain us at the Center, instead of just changing our lives
and releasing us back to the streets to continue doing what we always did, I asked if I could stay. That
is when I began to live at the Center. Life at the Center was not easy. We had a totally different lifestyle
in the streets as some of us were striving to fight different addictions. Today I see my life at the Center
as obscurity. Believe you me, there is a reason GOD develops us in obscurity. I was given the chance
to develop and overcome many obstacles. I had to get my priorities in alignment. Sometime, GOD will
hide you to prepare you. Oftentimes, we confuse this with punishment.
Having completed my High School education in 2012, I left IHE, without receiving a passing grade. I
did not receive my diploma. I have always maintained the promise that despite what I may be going
through, it is not my final form. There is something coming out of me that is greater than what is
hurting me, and what is coming out of me, will be unstoppable.
I did not get the passing mark, though I will. Due to frustrations, I somehow cut my communications
with my mother, Apostle Carolyn Vessel, and the rest of the team. I went to the City for further studies
and started working for different people. Thereafter, I enrolled in Zetech University seeking a diploma
in Community Development and Social Services. This was a three-year program; however, I was only
able to complete two years as I was unable to finance my final year. After a while, I re-enrolled in
school to study Nursing. Thereafter, I selected a shorter course of study in the field of Midwifery. I
started working in this field which included breastfeeding, Birth Doula and Bereavement Doula. I still
work in this capacity.
Later on, I went back to school to become a plant operator. I wanted to work both in nursing and
construction. GOD placed me in an organization that supports underserved Mums from the time they
are pregnant, during labor, and breastfeeding. I, now, have the privilege of being the first to hold
newborn babies and say a prayer to God on their behalf. Despite all the difficulties, I can proudly say
that when the time is right, when one is strong enough to withstand the elements to which they will be
exposed, the real you will be revealed. I am a living witness that GOD hears. HE gives us the grace to
look back and say, our sovereign GOD was at work. Even in all the problems, HE will always be there.
Last year, following Donald Trump’s cancelation of the USAID funding, it affected our organization
and made me start thinking about something else. I shared this with my Mum, Carolyn Vessel, who
gave me a gift of 60000ks (Kenya Shillings) following my son’s birth. I decided to buy a pregnant pig
and a goat. They later gave birth, and I am still waiting upon GOD to give me more funding to expand
my livestock keeping as I wait for something else.
With all this, I can say that it pleases GOD to bruise us because HE knows that the end result will put
us in a state where we can no longer ferment, where we will be able to handle setbacks and
disappointments and be able to say that HE is still GOD.
I say a big thank you to the Co-Labourers With Christ Ministry under the leadership of Apostle Dr.
Carolyn Vessel. You saw something in me that I was unable to realize myself. Thank you again and I
know that one day I will make you proud. I am now a married man with a handsome baby boy. Thank
you again for all of your support.
