RACHAEL NKAMWESIGYE’S TESTIMONY PART 1

00:23 Our dear viewers, I once again welcome you to your favourite program here on Rite TV. 00:36 I am Nuwamanya Godfrey and I welcome you to this program of testimonies, Shield of Faith. 00:43 On this program, we share testimonies with each other as brethren, which testimonies help in inspiring and encouraging one other. 00:55 In a few minutes, I will be introducing to you our guest for today but before I do that, one writer said that “repenting is not about saying things Infront of people while crying but it is when you receive salvation and change.” 01:20 That is why we host people who share with us their life experience before and after they accepted Christ and changed, which helps in guiding us during our journey with Christ. 01:35 Without further ado, I have hosted an important guest, sister Rachael Nkamwesiga. 01:43 A few years back, she was a young adult; now she works as a manager of North Ankole Platinum SACCO and a leader with Mothers’ Union. 02:00 Allow me to welcome her on the program. 02:06 We welcome you sister Rachael on this very precious program, Shield of Faith. 02:12 I am glad to meet you, brother Rev. 02:15 I have been watching you and I am honoured to be seated here with you today as you do God’s work. 02:24 I am Rachael Nkamwesiga. I was born and grew up in Buremba in the village of Bugusyo. 02:37 Both my parents are still alive; my father Sam Makuru and his wife Loyce. 02:48 I am a married woman; we made our vows in Shozi church in Singa Archdeaconry – Ankole diocese. 03:03 All my life, I have lived in North Ankole because that is where I was born, schooled and it is where I work. 03:17 And by the grace of God, I am now the manager of the diocesan SACCO. 03:21 Briefly, that is about me; but most importantly, I am a born-again Christian. Praise God. 03:25 I would like to thank Rite TV for the good job you are doing because we don’t come here for anything else but to share the goodness of Christ. Praise God. 03:46 We are glad to have you here sister Rachael; it is such a blessing to host people like you. 03:57 Many people would like to have such an opportunity of being hosted on this program because of its uniqueness and being a special one since it doesn’t host just anyone but only those who are born again and are ready to testify about Jesus Christ our Lord. 04:10 We are so glad to have you here, tell us about your Primary education. 04:30 Thank you so much. 04:33 I am 29 years old and I studied in my village Bugusyo. 05:00 I was blessed because my mother was a teacher by profession and she used to teach at the school. We used to sit under trees while studying and we wrote on banana leaves. 05:17 Sometimes we would write on banana leaves, on other occasions we would write on dusty floors but Christ saw us through it all. 05:33 From Primary 1 to 7, I studied at Buremba Parents’ school. 05:46 The PLE pioneer class contained of us: 4 girls and 9 boys. 05:54 I was the only one at the time who never wore school shoes and had a hard time in paying school fees. 06:09 In Primary 7, I joined the boarding section and I had to take the only suitcase that my mother and father had in the home and in it, I packed 2 dresses only, a plate, a cup and went to school barefoot. 06:24 You mean the only suitcase that you had as a family? Yes. 06:30 When I reached school, pupils laughed at me because my suitcase was practically empty and I didn’t have shoes on my feet. 06:42 But such was life. You were joining Secondary school? No, I was going to Primary 7. 06:47 I was from a humble home with not so to our name but by God’s grace I attained education. 06:57 I then joined Buremba Secondary school from Senior 1 to 6. 07:05 I had no idea about life in the city because I had all my education in the rural area. You never even came as far as Lyantonde before Masaka? No not at all! It is only recently that I have been able to go to Mbarara and Kampala city; otherwise, all my life I have lived in the rural areas. 07:23 I know nothing about schooling in the cities. 07:30 One thing I remember about my school time is Christ making it possible where it seemed impossible. 07:40 My colleagues came from families with many cows while we hardly had any cows; they were from families of born-again parents while in my case, it was only my mother who was born again. 07:52 Before going to school, I would first fetch water and also go to the gardens since we did not have any cows. I used to wake up at 5:00am and do chores; then go to school at 7:00am. You had to make sure everything was in order. Yes, and in the evening, I would come back from school to the same routine. 08:15 There seemed to be no hope for me. But Christ! He guided and sustained my siblings and I and we were able to complete our education. 08:22 Mine was a family of 5 children and I am the first born. 08:30 The second born now works as an IT officer in North Ankole platinum SACCO, my other sister is studying nursing and our last born is still in Primary. 08:41 That is my education’s journey, Primary 1 to Secondary where school fees was always a challenge. Nevertheless, by God’s grace, I made it. 08:56 When I completed Senior 6, I got an opportunity to come to the city and I was blessed to walk on tarmacked roads. 09:11 Which town did you first go to? 09:14 I travelled from Ibanda to Mbarara and to me I thought I had reached the end of the world. 09:20 I then joined University and by the grace, I must add that I have always been in leadership roles. 09:30 Right from class monitor in Primary, to information prefect in Secondary. At the University I not only was the Speaker for Kiruhura students but also chief Freshess, Speaker for Human Rights, Chairperson for the debating club and I was elected the president of all the 26 University Associations. 10:00 I was heading a very big board of Chairpersons and Speakers and it was all because of the foundation I got from my mother who was a born again Christian and a teacher. 10:12 She gave me a very good foundation even before I became born again which helped me to make it during the challenging times of poverty at home. 10:43 How were you able to win such big leadership positions yet you were poor, were you always nominated unopposed? 10:58 Leadership comes from God because students would use money during campaigns but the Lord’s favour was upon me. 11:26 It was all by God’s grace. 11:29 That was my education journey, but one strong message I would like to come through to young people: you don’t have to be rich to excel at your studies. 11:51 It doesn’t matter what financial challenges you face, for as long as you and your parents are committed to getting to the top of the educational ladder, you will make it. 12:26 I thank God for that. 12:30 I am so grateful to my parents who had very little but were ready to make all the sacrifice to educate me. 12:39 Thanks for telling us about your education journey. 14:21 When I completed my course at the University, I got a temporary teaching job at a college school. 14:25 I used to be busy even when I was still a student at the University, in addition to my part time job, my roommate and I set up a small business, actually a restaurant. 15:00 We used to do that so that we could raise some money and be at the same level with other University students who were from rich families. 15:10 Allow me to interrupt you a bit; were you doing all this because of the fact that you were from a poor background or because you didn’t want to receive money from boys? 15:38 My roommate was born again but I was not. There was so much pressure from boys to date us for money and cars thrown in for good measure. And that was the trend. 16:02 They had TV sets and other nice things in their rooms. As for me and my roommate, we had only basics like a mattress, bed, saucepan and a cooking stove. 16:13 So you wanted to make money and be like other students? 16:15 My roommate advised me that we should start up a small business and earn money from it as opposed to sleeping around with men for money. We prayed about it. 16:32 I loved the idea and the fact that I was from a background where we were encouraged to always work hard. 16:43 We started a small restaurant and our business grew steadily. We used to earn at least shs150,000 a month. 16:54 We would then be able to buy ourselves nice shoes and clothes and we felt proud of our income because it was not received from men. 17:08 There were some colleagues of ours who had plots of land behind the University so we came up with a plan of paying them so that we could cultivate the land. 17:22 I was allowed to cultivate the land for free. Really? 17:33 Yes and I was able to earn money from it which I used during the University leadership campaigns. 17:42 What were you growing? 17:46 Beans and potatoes, we used to sell them in supermarkets. 18:03 If I may ask, being a University girl, what ran in your mind as you used to do the cultivation? 18:16 Many students used to think that I was from a well to do family since I used to speak good English. Anyway, I would put on my gumboots and go to the gardens very early in the morning before other students woke up. 18:32 Were you not afraid of being seen by boys as you did such manual work? 18:37 I did not care what other people thought about me for as long as I knew that whatever I was doing was righteous in the eyes of God and it would improve my wellbeing. 18:54 God had blessed me with wisdom and strength to do farming and business at the University, wasn’t that a great deal better than trading my body for money. 19:07 Dear brethren, we are still with Rachael Nkamwesiga who as we speak, is the manager of North Ankole Platinum SACCO. 19:16 I believe she is not in that position by accident. You have listened to that story; she was from such a humble background. 19:28 So what happened next when you completed your course at the University? 19:33 I was not yet born again by the time I completed my studies at the University. 19:46 During my final semester, there was a boy who said he wanted to marry me. 19:55 But my mother had taught me to always pray. She had told me that if I asked God if a particular guy was the right partner, God would reveal it to me. 20:04 I had so much faith so I prayed about it and the Lord revealed to me that he was not the right man for me. 20:11 So in my final semester, the Lord’s voice spoke to me to let go of that boy, he wasn’t the right man for me. 20:19 I then became born again while I was completing my undergraduate studies at the University. 20:22 That was my question I was going to ask you. Do you recall the exact date when you became born again? 20:32 I became born again on 19th March 2016 and it was a Sunday. 20:42 A team from North Ankole had come to the University and the preacher for that day was Reverend Robert Nabasa but I don’t recall how I got to the pulpit crying. 20:56 Many people saw me as a holy girl who used to read the scriptures as well as preaching yet down in my heart, I had never confessed Jesus as my personal saviour. 21:14 The preacher’s sermon was about God’s grace towards a sinner. 21:21 That is when I realized that the Lord’s Grace was upon me so I confessed salvation and became born again. Praise God. Praise Him. 21:32 That is how I became born again. So, you achieved two things at the University! You achieved both a bachelors and salvation. Yes, I got a bachelors, I had a job but most importantly, I was born again. 22:00 So when you completed, did you continue working? 22:04 I continued teaching at the college then a time came and I got another job at Rushere. 22:13 Reverend Dan who I was not even related to by blood offered me an opportunity to do internship at the diocese’s SACCO until they advertised the job. 22:30 I went for the interview and I was already married at the time so by God’s grace, I passed the interview and became the manager. 22:44 When I completed my studies, I got a job. Then God blessed me with a good man and I got married while I was already born again. Praise God. 22:52 We thank the Lord for what you have been able to share with us so far and in my opinion, you are one of those few ladies who do not lie about their age. 23:06 Another surprising thing about you, is that you were not ashamed of tilling land for money while at university. 23:15 My mother used to caution us about being lazy. She told us that since none of us knew what the future held, we could not sit around and do nothing. 23:27 She repeatedly warned us about expecting things on a silver plate. 23:35 So I was not bothered about people’s opinions because I was given a firm foundation as I grew up. 23:42 You said that by the time you became a manager of the Platinum SACCO, you were already married. Tell us, how did you meet your husband? 23:58 Jesus Christ blessed me with a very wonderful, handsome young man. 24:12 There is a colleague of mine whom I studied with in Secondary school who had invited us to attend her graduation party. She was at Mbarara university while I was at Bishop Stuart university. 24:35 While at the function, I realized that there was no one prepared to give a speech on behalf of her friends so I requested that we organize to have one and she agreed to it. 24:55 After about 4 different speeches, we were called upon and I spoke on behalf of all our friends. Apparently, my husband to be was also at the function though I didn’t see him. However, both his parents and him had seen me. 25:08 His parents liked me; so, they asked for my contact and we kept in touch. 25:23 At first, his parents and I were just friends; I didn’t know what their intentions were. 25:32 After some time, their son asked for my hand in marriage. 25:43 I told him that I did not know who he was and he replied that he knew who I was and his parents also knew me. 25:50 So I told him that I was going to pray about it. We did not date for long. But I prayed and fasted for 7 days imploring Christ who alone knew the right man for me. 26:16 The Lord gave us a green light and within 6 months, we had an official introduction ceremony and in December 2017, we wedded. Praise God. 26:38 Your testimony is important indeed because I am still reflecting on the words you have just said. 26:47 A young girl at your age and doing the things you were doing is so amazing. 27:02 No wonder you are the manager of a Platinum SACCO. 27:10 I am so happy for you indeed. 27:13 How do you find work? 27:16 Most especially working for a financial institution and for the diocese. 27:25 Christ does wonders because like I told you earlier, I was born when my mother was already a born again Christian and she influenced me for the better in so many ways. 27:38 She always taught us how to pray even when she was facing a lot of marital challenges. 27:57 Despite all those challenges, she persevered. 28:02 Sometimes she would be beaten in her marriage and made to sleep outside until morning but she persevered and remained strong in faith. 28:11 That taught me perseverance because it is only through perseverance that you are able to achieve your goals. 28:26 So the life of being a manager and financial controller is quite challenging because I am exposed to a lot of money which is actually not my money yet often I personally I am hard up financially. 28:48 There is also a temptation of wanting to be like the Jones: who wear expensive clothes and drive classy cars but then I remember that I have to be patient in order to achieve all that. I have to be trustworthy and I have to do all that under God’s guidance. 29:05 Life at work is made easy if you are born again, because you have to forego many things. 29:15 You may be standing in a room full of money with no one watching but then you realize that Christ is watching, so you don’t touch the money. 29:33 It is because I am a born-again Christian that I have been able to do a really good job for the last 4 years. 29:44 It is by the grace that I have been able to handle well people’s money: Because in order to be trustworthy it is not a question of being very trained or professional but if one has accepted Jesus Christ, then He can keep one to perform one’s duties perfectly. 30:03 My colleagues and I work as a team; no backstabbing or fighting each other. If there is any challenge or problem, we sit and solve it amicably. Everything is done in the open. 30:17 We repent to one another and apologize for mistakes made and it doesn’t matter whether one is senior or junior. We are one. 30:20 You repent to your juniors? 30:31 Why not? They are also human beings just like me; being their senior doesn’t make me superhuman. 30:39 In the eyes of God, we are all equal. True indeed. 30:47 When I wrong the ones below me, I say sorry because I have to lead by example; that way, they will also be able to ask for forgiveness when they are in the wrong. 31:02 What challenges do you face at work as a born-again Christian? 31:11 The devil tries on many occasions to tempt me, to use funds from the SACCO to pay my personal debts since I am in charge. Then at times, colleagues at work lay traps for me by asking me to lend them company money to do their personal businesses promising to give me a tip. So, I need close guidance by the Holy Spirit so that I don’t fall in the trap of dishing out money that is not mine. 31:52 All those are temptations that can easily come your way. 31:55 At other times I get overwhelmed by work and responsibilities, even there I seek God’s guidance and wisdom. 32:03 And as each day passes by, I realize that whatever I thought was impossible can be actually possible. 32:09 Before we leave this point about money management, you are a born-again servant of God in the money market, what advice do you give those who are in a similar position? 32:17 All Christians managing funds: first should be faithful in small things and God will bless them with more. Secondly, there is need to be contented and trust God to meet your needs. 32:34 You have to be patient, trustworthy but most important, you must have Christ in your life. Those 3 things put together can make you successful in whatever you do. 32:46 It doesn’t matter whether you earn very little money, for as long as Christ blesses it, it will be able to meet all your needs. 32:57 I started by earning very little money but not to say that I now earn a lot however, I am contented with whatever I earn. 33:04 If you save whatever little you earn, you will be able to start up bigger projects with it simply because you have been trustworthy and the Lord has blessed you. 33:20 So I advise all of you to be trustworthy, patient but most important have Christ in your life so that He can make a way where there seems to be no way. 33:35 We thank you Rachael for what you have shared with us in this first part but before we take a short break, I would like to ask you a simple question. Are you still born again; Yes or No? Yes, indeed I am a born-again Christian. 34:00 Do you still testify to the Lord? Yes, I do. Praise God. Praise Him. 34:04 We are still with Rachael Nkamwesiga who has been married to her husband for 5 years now and she is a born-again Christian. 34:20 She is the manager of North Ankole Platinum SACCO and I believe she got the job on merit being a trustworthy person. She is our guest for today on the Shield of Faith program here on Rite TV. 34:35 Like I told you at the beginning of the program, someone may label us as selfish because we host Christians only. But the crunch of the matter is that we host men and women who lead lives of integrity and can truthfully testify about their lives which have been transformed by Jesus Christ. These people are ready to stand by their word in order to transform other people’s lives who have not yet got the opportunity to also come here and testify to the Lord 35:09 That is our aim here at Rite TV. 35:14 We are still with Rachael telling us about her life but let us take a short break. Continue following us on all our social media platforms. Simply type the word ritetvuganda and you will be able to watch this and many other programs. Rite TV came with a new chapter of transforming people’s lives both spiritually and mentally. 35:57 That is why we host such people whose testimonies can help rebuild those broken souls. Rachael is still young but she holds a very important position in office, she is married and last but not least, she is born again and trustworthy. And she says that yes, it is possible to manage finances and remain trustworthy. 36:20 We will be right back with Rachael’s second part.