Rakkestad is a small town about 50 km from Oslo, the capital city of Norway, and in this town, is a Kenyan who has learnt how to cope during the summer season. Chams media team took the chance to go and find out about this Kenyan who has built a life for herself and her Norwegian husband in Rakkestad.

What you notice when you visit their kitchen garden behind the house are fresh green healthy looking kale. She explains to the team that she obtained the seeds from Kenya and can only grow during summer. Nearby, on their 50 acre piece of land, wheat has been planted; their major cash crop. And this is not all! Emma’s husband leads Alex Chamwada to a 100 acre forest which they own. Being a professional logger, he spends most of his time in the forest.

Emma; the Kenyan farmer/teacher in Norway- ‘From grass to grace’ 1

“I work with two autistic persons whom I help,” says Emma’s husband.

Just like everyone else, Emma has a story to tell. She was raised by a single mother in a family of 8. Having not enough money for school fees, she dropped out of school while in form 4 and took a job in Nairobi town as a house help. While there, she also participated in an evangelical organization known as Life Ministries as a singer. In 2015, during her missions in Norway, she met her husband.

Emma; the Kenyan farmer/teacher in Norway- ‘From grass to grace’ 2

“We fell in love at first sight and got married a year after,” the husband explains. He even ended up visiting his in-laws in Mbale, Vihiga County. Emma’s husband now has even learnt some luhya from his wife which he mentions and impresses the Chams media team. Through their love, they are now blessed with two boys and two girls.

Apart from being a farmer, Emma is also a teacher who deals with children with special needs in the high school level.

It is only when you listen to stories like those of Emma’s that it is clear how one can break on shackles of hopelessness depending on one’s focus, resilience and determination.

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