“Everything is possible for one who believes.”
Mark 9:23
Scripture is rich with characters who were handicapped in severe ways but who still managed to register terrific success after they defied all odds ranged against them. Abraham was too old, Moses was only a shepherd, David was both young and untested in the art of war, Job was experienced physical and economic disasters, Zacchaeus was too short, and many more. Yet they all were able to attain enviable reputations. This book therefore shows that nothing is impossible for one who believes.
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Author: Venansio Ahabwe Author ID: PT0000354 Book ID: B00001150 Page Count: 178 Listings 1. Amazon 2. PageTurner
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REVIEWS
Fortunate Rukundo Akanyihayo
Reviewed in Uganda on July 7, 2022
Success is possible for every person, everywhere
‘Where There Is A Will’ is an inspirational book, and one of the most powerful I have read. In a captivating way, Venansio Ahabwe blends traditional African values, biblical teachings and modern trends without compromising either. Reading his pleasant narration of personal encounters in a traditional family setting, one momentarily forgets they are reading a self-help book. Along with beautiful tales and scriptural quotes, the writer enriched the book with proverbs and citations from great thinkers around the world.
The key message in the book is that success is possible for any person in any circumstances.
Sebo, the main character, had a typical village background and never went to school. Yet he is able to rise above the local conditions to become the envy of everyone in the neighbourhood. He sees White Fathers (priests) and admires them for they have everything that is missing in the community: shoes, cars, garments, and brick houses. On the other side, fellow villagers wear backcloth or scanty pieces of cloth and walk bare-footed all the time.
Sebo is determined to achieve what the whites have, so he works hard, keeps focused and succeeds. He owns a car and a beautiful house in his village. His wife, Nyabo, is uneducated but she does not slip into self-pity. She would not lament about her circumstances. Instead, she makes fun of her illiteracy and uses her God-given cleverness to solve complicated matters, including applying a kitchen knife to carry out a surgery on her dying son.
Nyabo belongs to the ranks of ‘village consultants’ who could forecast seasons and helped pregnant mothers to deliver babies without the benefit of modern medicine. In the end, she dies a fulfilled woman.
Today, it is ironical that ‘a modern woman’ easily weeps when she faces small ‘modern’ trials. There is absolutely no excuse for failure.
Many Bible characters like David, Moses, Joseph and Zacchaeus were disadvantaged but they registered tremendous success. For example, Zacchaeus who was a sinner and the shortest man in Jericho, managed to host Jesus at his home - because he creatively resolved his challenge by climbing a tree.
The writer asserts that whoever wants to reach the pinnacle of success must be ready to go an extra mile, be a risk taker, think positively, ignore negative criticisms, and become flexible, especially to confront the challenges that come along with climbing the success ladder. However, in a story of his own encounter with conmen, the writer cautions that flexibility does not mean careless submissiveness. It means tactful innovation.
In the final chapter, the writer asserts that to pray is to invoke a person’s inner divinity to attain success because prayer strengthens and links one to God, who is omnipotent and resides in every person.
This is a book you cannot put down once you start reading it. Irrespective of who you are, or what success means to you, this book is a must read.
About :
Fortunate Rukundo Akanyihayo is an award-winning writer, social entrepreneur, and motivational speaker. Nicknamed ‘Princess’ by her students, Fortunate is also senior teacher of English Language and Literature in English at Immaculate Heart Girls’ School.
Review by Fortunate Rukundo Akanyihayo
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Ronald Madaya
Reviewed in Uganda on March 16, 2017
Where There Is A Will is clearly a unique self- help book.
The writer, Venansio Ahabwe, does not just give hypothetical situations. His autobiographical point of view gives the book a distinct perspective and a practical appeal that makes it much easier to identify with.
The book is about the most discussed, yet elusive subject of success. Renowned authors including Dale Carnegie, Napoleon Hill and Gordon Wavamunno have all written books about success.
What sets Ahabwe’s book apart is that it is localised to the Ugandan and African setting without losing the universal view that success can be attained
by everyone who dares to exert themselves.
Ahabwe points out clearly that success is not reserved for particular individuals or communities but, rather, it is possible for all people of all walks of life. The mention of God on the book cover introduces the religious undertone that runs almost throughout the book. In the introduction,
Ahabwe states, “I have since noted that all principles of success are imbued in the Bible”, a position he upholds by quoting extensively from the Bible – the world’s bestselling book.
The 148-page book presents different principles of success in separate, yet coordinated chapters, each of which discusses an element that is a building block for success in life. Whereas the chapters look independent, they are not disjointed as you would typically expect to find in such a style.
Ahabwe’s style is remarkable. The book is set against a backdrop of a child born and bred in the typical African village.
His struggles and eventual success in education lend a lot of credence to some of the key themes – hard work and planning – as basic requirements for one to achieve success.
The main characters, Sebo and Nyabo, who happen to be his parents, also embody the very philosophies advanced in this book.
This is perhaps the quality of his book that places it closest to the African setting, with Nyabo using rudimentary tools to set up family gardens as well as herbs and other native methods to cure illnesses.
At the same time, Nyabo is described as a deeply spiritual person who “... was very successful in her own right: a mother of 14, a provider of all key family meals, a family counsellor, and the overall intercessor who never missed prayer”.
Ahabwe also says, “Above all, Nyabo was very rich in faith and offered ceaseless prayers for me.” This clearly shows that the writer has regarded faith very highly right from childhood.
He points out that success is very much a spiritual matter as it is physical, and that for it to manifest physically, it first must manifest spiritually. In this book, religious wisdom bounces off the pages in each chapter, enriched with scriptural citations.
On Sebo’s side, he had a deep craving for a life similar to that of the white men: “...he always worked very hard and attracted the attention of the priests. They were impressed and, in due course, brought him closer and assigned him extra tasks...Sebo was a man who wanted to succeed in life and achieved success, step by step.”
While his classmates clamoured to return home after being baptized, Sebo was hell-bent on working harder to have a better life. It is not surprising to learn that Sebo is among the first people to own a car in the village, much to the envy of his peers.
At another level, Ahabwe promotes defiance as he glorifies and advocates such controversial issues like risk-taking and never giving up, in addition to age-old principles such as positive thinking and going an extra mile.
The book teems with raw wisdom that everyone needs in life; after all, we all need a little inspiration every once in a while. As a reader, I found the last chapter of the book most attractive; so, I cannot end this review without talking about it.
It is titled: Pray To Fortify Your Confidence. Confidence is a vital building block of success. Success cannot come to those who are timid and ready to ‘coil their tails between their legs’ in the face of adversity. Ahabwe suggests that prayer taps into one’s inner potential and ability and, as such, gives the belief that one will make it.
That, for me, is priceless!
The author uses simple and straightforward language, making the book readable for all levels of learning and yet maintaining the intellectual edge.
This book is good for everyone in need of inspiration, from students looking to pass examinations to entrepreneurs looking to grow their businesses.
rmadaya@yahoo.com
Ronald Madaya teaches English Language and Literature at Kololo SS, Kampala.
Source: The Observer
Asaph Asingwire
5.0 out of 5 stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 8, 2016
"Where There Is a Will" is yet another great piece of writing by Venansio.
In this book he is able expound by using real life experiences and examples, the much cherished values of; sharing, hard work and risk-taking which make human beings tick but are under stress in this day and age.
Every theme in the book is in a genius way linked to relevant biblical scriptures. This spiritual interpretation has led me to serious soul searching regardless of my religious beliefs. It is a must read to those in positions of responsibility.
I highly recommend “Where There is a Will” to all readers across the board as I put into practice what I have grasped from the book myself.
Source: Amazon