Josh Sereria

What are you afraid of? What scares you to death? I never knew how challenging transition could be until my sister, with whom I had lived for many years, permanently moved out of Nairobi in November 2015. To better understand this, let me summarize my life journey. I was born in the 80s on the outskirts of the breathtakingly beautiful Mount Kenya in Nanyuki Military Barracks, where my father, Mr. Simon Masana, served as a serviceman in 1 Kenya Rifles, better known as 1KR. My infancy was marked by challenges, as recounted by my mother, Magdilta Khasiala. I fell ill, and she rushed me to M.R.S. Medical Reception Station, where the medics diagnosed me with Anemia and recommended an emergency blood transfusion. Since M.R.S. lacked the facilities for the procedure, I had to be immediately transferred to the Armed Forces Memorial Hospital in Nairobi, now known as Defence Forces Memorial Hospital (DFMH), which was 200 km away. The journey to Nairobi was arduous, especially with an aili...

In July 2016, our church, Mavuno, embarked on a transformative series centered around the theme "Be Fearless," meticulously broken down into four pillars: Grow, Glow, Go, and Give. The essence of being fearless, as aptly described by Urban Dictionary, captures the spirit of strength, a heart of gold, inner and outer beauty, and the resilience to emerge even more graceful and independent after facing life's storms. The first focus, GROW, delves into our personal faith journey and our contribution to the growth of those around us. It's a call to become active participants in the development of ourselves and others into everything God envisions. Moving to the second pillar, GLOW, the emphasis lies in being the light God has destined us to be and making a positive impact on society and the world at large. It's a clarion call to radiate God's light in our individual spheres of influence. The third dimension, GO, resonates with a divine calling to be fearless...

Courtesy of Angry Birds Website The urgency of addressing the challenges within the Kenyan education system is likened to a wildfire, drawing parallels to the devastating Horse River Fire in Canada in 2016. The consequences of neglecting these issues could be financially catastrophic, reminiscent of the estimated CAN$9 billion in insurance payouts for the rebuilding of communities affected by the Canadian wildfire. This comparison underscores the severity of the situation and the potential costs involved. The discontent among high school students is emphasized as an #Angry lot, with unexpressed frustrations that are yet to be fully acknowledged. The reference to the Angry Birds movie serves as an analogy, highlighting the need to pay attention to the underlying issues rather than dismissing them. The depiction of the Angry Birds movie storyline mirrors the potential consequences of ignoring warning signs, leading to significant disruptions. The call for leadership accountability...

When a soldier dies in a military barracks, people come together to offer support and care to the family. The flag for his unit will be at half-mast; however, the only thing that most people don't pay attention to is the children of the fallen soldier. In the many years I have been in the military camp, I can only recall three funerals, or at least that's what I can remember, but maybe my big brothers and sisters can count more. Children grieve as much as adults do and should also be assisted through the stages of grieving. Dealing with grief is no easy task. As someone who has experienced death and the loss of a sibling, I know firsthand. Loss visits us all in one form or another, and where there is loss, grief is sure to follow. But take it from me—the only way to deal with grief is to really deal with it. One of the most well-known models is "The 5 Stages of Grief," originally developed by the late (and great) Elizabeth Kubler-Ross. The 5 Stages of Grief are...

Dear Families of our Brave Heroes in the Kenyan Defence Forces, As the festive season approaches, we want to take a moment to send our warmest Christmas greetings to you, the families of our courageous men and women serving in active combat with the KDF. In this season of joy and togetherness, we want you to know that your sacrifices and the dedication of your loved ones do not go unnoticed. Your family members, our brave soldiers, are serving with honor and commitment to safeguard our nation. We understand the challenges and sacrifices that come with having a loved one in active service, especially during the holiday season. The separation, the worry, and the longing for their presence are felt deeply. We want to express our heartfelt gratitude for the sacrifices your family makes for the greater good of our country. Your strength, resilience, and unwavering support contribute immeasurably to the success and well-being of our military personnel. This Christmas, a...

 Just imagine this: one moment, a school is buzzing with life, and the next, chaos descends—a bomb threat, an active shooter, or a fire. These scenarios highlight why security drills are not just routine—they’re lifelines. But for these drills to truly save lives, they must be rooted in the 5S’s: Safety, Security, Sanitation, Surrounding, and Systems. In 2015, Strathmore University conducted a security drill—a necessary exercise, yet it resulted in the loss of a life and left 31 hospitalized. This tragic outcome reminds us that security drills must be executed with precision and preparation. It’s not enough to practice; we must practice well. Here's how the 5S’s can revolutionize emergency preparedness in schools and other institutions: 1. Safety: Protecting Lives Above All Safety is the foundation of every security drill. The goal is simple—ensure that everyone, from students to staff, knows how to protect themselves during a crisis. Drills like active shooter lockdowns, shelter...

  Just the other day, I found myself deep in a conversation with my dad—a man whose life reads like an epic. He’s a true Kuria warrior at heart, forged in the fires of remarkable stories and unshakable strength. From his days as a skilled runner to his service in the Kenya Army’s Signal Unit, his journey is etched into the core of our family legacy. Growing up, the military was more than just my dad’s career—it was our way of life. From Langata to Nanyuki, Thika to Kahawa, we moved with him, each barracks shaping our family with its own stories of resilience and discipline. And as I sat across from him recently, listening to his reflections on life and service, it dawned on me—his lessons from the barracks weren’t just about soldiering. They were blueprints for life. Fidelity: The Anchor of Trust "Fidelity," he said, "is the mark of a true soldier." My dad’s loyalty to his duty and his family was unyielding. Even when opportunities like United Nations Peacekeeping ...

Mavuno Kids Associates-Sunday Hangout after Church July 2015 Yesterday as we were hanging out with friends and family, we did Speed Dating . One of the questions that was asked by one of the ladies was my Mission and vision. Even though I know it in my mind, was thrown off balance because have never really really comprehend about it. Here are my  top five personal Values: Faith, Honesty, Responsibility, Compassion, and Health & Fitness.  These will provide me with my life blueprint. What does these mean to you and how to apply it to your life??  So what is Personal Vision & Mission Statement? A vision and mission statement is a paragraph that encapsulates everything you would like to be, do, and have in your life.  It defines what success and excellence look like to you. It expresses your vision for where you want to be in the future and it reflects your values, goals, and purpose and how you want to operate. Vision statement: A vision statement d...

The visit of U.S President Barack Obama to Kenya in 2015 was surrounded by misinformation, perpetuating five major lies that significantly impacted public perception and understanding. In the realm of capitalism, it's crucial to examine how Africa, specifically Kenya, continues to grapple with exploitation, even in 2023. One major falsehood revolved around the communication situation during Obama's visit. Contrary to claims of a complete communication lockdown, the reality was that communication would continue as normal, with only specific areas near the summit venue and his residence experiencing challenges. This misperception, however, underscores a broader issue of misinformation and the potential manipulation of narratives to control public discourse. Another deceptive narrative revolved around the anticipated traffic disruptions, with fears that all roads Obama would use would be inaccessible for at least three hours before his arrival. While it's true that traffi...

It all began with just passion in my heart. Didn't have much expectation apart from having fun, that is the key thing I was looking for. I have done almost 10,000 of adventure and each time I go to the same place no matter how many times, there is always a fulfilling moment and a new perspective. But one of the greatest adventure I have ever taken is the walk in the Lord. Its been tough, fun & a lot of learning. Many times have not finished the journey, but am not ashamed but resilient. I fall, wake up, dust off and keep going, keep walking. Have read many adventures in the bible, perplexed,Inspired, transformed and touched. My name is Josh and proud to be a failure. The journey of Entrepreneurship is amazing, scary and at the same time wow. Did you know I have ever planned a talk show similar to Oprah, Tyra Banks and the rest but target group was parents and children combined at Aga Khan Hospital? It was my first attempt into business venture and to tell you the truth all ...

For my people everywhere singing their slave songs      repeatedly: their dirges and their ditties and their blues      and jubilees, praying their prayers nightly to an      unknown god, bending their knees humbly to an      unseen power; For my people lending their strength to the years, to the     gone years and the now years and the maybe years,     washing ironing cooking scrubbing sewing mending     hoeing plowing digging planting pruning patching     dragging along never gaining never reaping never     knowing and never understanding; For my playmates in the clay and dust and sand of Alabama     backyards playing baptizing and preaching and doctor     and jail and soldier and school and mama and cooking     and playhouse and concert and store and hair and ...

The general Vision of Scouting is: Creating a better World . As many of us in Scouting have learnt from our founder Lord Baden Powell, he simply said "When you go to a place, leave it better than you found it". That's what most of us attempt to do in our daily routine, though we fail big time at times. As Scouts, our pride and meaning is pulled from 3 Unique things: Scout Promise Scout Law Motto World wide Scouts stand at almost 40 Million young people who are changing lives. Symbols used in Scouting are equally vital because they have deep meaning: Today I will only explain the meaning of the World Badge. The badge below may be used with either white or purple backgrounds which both have symbolic meaning. With white or silver, it represents Purity , while the royal purple denotes Leadership and Service . The Scout salutes also represents what the world badge has. You cannot be a Scout if you don't belief in a supreme being (Duty to God...

Article: God and money

What is Faith? To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for,to be certain of the things we cannot see. Hebrews 11:1 (GNB)My focus will be on 'Noah' we are told that Noah the son of Lamech,Genesis 5:28,29. Noah was a man of God, he was a just man and perfect in his generations and he walked with his Almighty. Though people sinned against God Noah remained upright. God was angry with the people on earth.'And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth,and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5) Why people continue indulging in evil even though they know it was wrong: 1. Ignorance 2. Lust 3. Greed 4. Pride and Ego 5. Rebeliousness e.t.c then how did Noah stood out different from the rest? Noah chose to obey God's command and that's why he is even included in the book of Hebrews Hall of Fame. Hebrews 11:7 which says, By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built...

The Effects of Social Networking on Kids There is no doubt that social networking has had both positive and negative impact on our lives. But how does social networking affect kids? This has been discussed in this article... A few decades after arrival of the Internet, came the social networking sites (with a boom). Since then, the popularity of these websites has only seen an upward rise. Social networking sites are popular among all, from kids to aged people. These sites are fun to use, very effectively facilitate communication and thus help people stay connected. But there is not a single social networking website that is free from discrepancies (see: Pros and cons of social networking). From problems backed by privacy to the hazardous effects of bullying, there are plenty of other drawbacks that cannot be ignored. Now coming to our point of discussion, the effects of social networking on kids. Well... all of you would agree that kids these days are smart enough to handle electron...

Humility Exemplified – Philippians 2:5-8 Posted on September 19, 2004 Kevin A. Pierpont Higgins Lake Baptist Church 9/19/04 Last week we studied the importance of humility in the church and how it’s through humility that we achieve unity. I think most believers need encouragement in this area of the Christian life. You might think you already have this area pretty well mastered but I’d venture to guess we all could improve our measure of humility. Orla Shup shared this in a Christian magazine… “When I babysit for my minister's 3-year-old, one of our favorite games is Go Fish. One evening, after winning several rounds, she kept bragging about how good she was. Jokingly, I said to her, "I'm going to have to teach you a little humility." Immediately she looked up and asked, "How do you play that?" 1 We don’t learn about humility by playing a game. (Well, maybe some of us do.) But as we continue this week in our study of the book of Philippians we’ll see ho...