Our brave soldiers

A few days ago i sat next to a young, handsome man in a bus.  he was on the phone when his envelope fell from his lap.  he looked at me as a sign of telling me to pick it up for him.  i got offended by his bossy behavior, but i picked it up never the less.  He got off the phone and thanked me, that's when i noticed that he had no one arm. I later learned he was a marine and  that he lost his arm and leg in war.

It got me thinking how much these brave men and women have been forgotten in the society.  We wrongly think that soldiers are people with no education and no career path. Tell me, when was the last time you thought about a soldier positively? or maybe talked and encouraged one? or even put one in your prayers? when?

These brilliant men and women work day and night for our sake, for the sake of their nations.  They risk their lives for yours.  They go off not knowing if they will ever come back home.  Yet, we call them uneducated!

You may not be able to comprehend this, and i don't blame you since you have never been a soldier. But for a moment put yourself in their combat boots. Do you see yourself leaving home, going into a war zone, to a place you have never been?? Think about the living conditions, the shock, the fear......

saying bye without knowing if you will return

That is not all, the war zone isn't the only hardship they face. I have seen soldiers missing their parents' funerals only to come back to see graves. Soldiers seeing their sons at a year old for the first time. I have seen soldiers loosing their wives, their lovers because they are never home enough. because their at work most times-and when they happen to be home, they have nightmares and scare the daylight out of their wives.  The fear of being attacked follows them even in their sleep.

I think these men deserve to be honored, they deserve much more than a pat on the shoulder.  Talk to them, encourage them, listen to them, pray for them and send them love.  I tell you, they just don't just work for a pay check at the end of the month...they work out of passion and love for their people.

They are our heroes and together we should appreciate and sing for them.

To our brave soldiers: you are in our thoughts and prayers.  Your work is not in vain.

To soldier's wives: You carry a heavy burden on your shoulders and for that we acknowledge you.  Please stay strong and stand with your men,they need you.

(Dickson Nyemba) unsung hero

Dickson Nyemba was born on the 8th September 1958. He spent his childhood in Chikumbulu, a small village in Mbeya region-Tanzania. As a young boy, he struggled to get past standard seven due to his poor performance. Many including his relatives had given up on him after he repeated the same class three times! He was moved to a town school in hopes of better results. To his luck, he managed to graduate standard seven and later high school.He went on to get a diploma in teaching and taught for some years before realizing his leadership and administrative talent, and went on to open his own school which grew amazingly. This definitely does not make him a hero.
How then is he on this page?
Nyemba did not sit on his blessings, but used them for the good of the community. He chose to share them in very distinctive ways.
# In his school which ran from form 1-4, he took in and accommodated five orphaned children every year. these students studied free of charge for all their four years at swilla schools. By 2011 he had educated over 60 students who went out and used their education to make a difference in the world in many ways.
# Every year him and his team went out into villages including chikumbulu(his home land), assessed the needs of the very old people and find ways to help. Cartons of sugar, rice, mattresses and house renovations were some of the things they did and gave to the elderly.

serving in the Army

                                                         

# Its a tradition that each October,his staff engage in planting trees in and around the school area.
# His school has a dispensary that not only takes care of the student's health, but also the health of the community around the school for free.
For this, i think he deserves to be sung.
(Dickson Nyemba passed on in December 2011, but his deeds still speak fro him...RIP)

Nyemba as a young man

This is a special page for the unsung heroes. African men and women who have made an impact in our societies, but have not been recognized or appreciated. Stories from all over are welcome. Just write them to me at martha.dickson4@gmail.com, and they will be featured here.

Lets all sing for the unsung heroes