Judge’s Inspiring Transformation: Faith, Fitness, and a new Outlook
High Court Judge Asenath Ongeri’s life is a testament to the power of faith, healthy living, and personal transformation. Her recently published memoir, The Making of a Judge, details a remarkable journey from struggling with health issues and professional burnout to achieving a vibrant and fulfilling life.
Ongeri’s story begins during her time as a magistrate in Kikuyu, Kenya. She describes a period marked by poor health, low productivity, and a lack of spiritual engagement. “While working at the Kikuyu law courts, I was not doing well health-wise. I had grown fat and sickly. I had fibroids, haemorrhoids and a goiter. I regularly visited a goiter clinic at the Kenyatta National Hospital, a referral facility, and I was on thyroxin,” she writes.
This physical struggle manifested in other areas of her life. “consequently, I had a bad attitude and a temper,” she admits. “In that state of affairs, I could not wake up early to report on duty on time or even pray.” Her work ethic suffered as well. “The prevailing attitude at the Judiciary was that court starts when the magistrate or the judge arrives… no matter what time that was,” she explains. “I rarely started my court at 9am which was the official time for beginning court hearings.”
Her struggles extended to her daily routine. She recounts a time when her husband would start the car for her in the morning, only to return to find her back asleep.A turning point arrived in the form of a two-week church seminar. While advertised as a lay preachers’ training, the seminar focused on lifestyle transformation. “The first miracle toward my personal transformation journey happened when I wrote a letter to [then] Chief Justice Bernard Chunga to allow me take leave to attend the lay preachers training seminar for two weeks, although my colleague had just gone on leave,” she shares. “He allowed me to go to the seminar, albeit with clear instructions. A stand-in replacement was sent to the Kikuyu law courts from the Kiambu law courts.”
The seminar proved pivotal. ”I had never taken seriously the restrictive health message taught by my church even though I knew it in theory, but during that seminar, I decided to give it a try,” Ongeri reveals. This decision marked the beginning of a profound shift in her lifestyle, leading to improved health, renewed energy, and a more positive outlook on her work and life.
Ongeri’s story resonates with the American experience, highlighting the universal importance of prioritizing well-being and the transformative power of faith and self-discipline. Her journey serves as an inspiration to anyone seeking to improve their health, productivity, and overall quality of life.
Health Transformation: Couple’s Journey to Wellness
A woman’s dramatic health turnaround, inspired by the “Newstart” health principles, has not only transformed her life but also spurred her husband to adopt a healthier lifestyle after a serious illness. This inspiring story highlights the power of holistic wellness and the ripple effect of positive change within a family.
The woman, whose name has been withheld for privacy, embarked on her journey after attending a seminar that introduced her to the eight principles of Newstart: nutrition, exercise, water, sunshine, temperance, air, rest, and trust in God. She describes her previous habits as including a diet heavy in sugary sodas and fast food. “I recall a restaurant I used to frequent in town before my reformation,” she recounts. ”It sold fast food. The chicken was big and very tasty, and towards the bone it appeared as if the chicken was raw but it was too sweet to abandon.”
Initially, her commitment to change was met with skepticism. “I heard some participants vowing they would reduce their intake of sugar and soda and related foods,” she explains.”As for me, I made up my mind to drop everything I perceived to be harmful, and eat everything good, and to eat in moderation.It was going to be a big test of resolve.” The transition wasn’t easy; she experienced withdrawal symptoms and weight loss. Though, the results were remarkable. “The amazing thing is that all the tumors I had been nursing disappeared,” she shares. “I had known ‘Newstart’ in theory, and had even taught it, but I had never lived it.”
Her commitment extended beyond diet. “From the conviction I developed after the seminar, I reduced my extra work to ensure I got quality rest,” she says.”I ended my junk-food eating habits and fired up my faith practices and everything about me changed. I even stopped teaching evening classes (which was a side hustle) at the National Polytechnic and at the Australian University Studies Institute,and I concentrated on my work. The transformation was total, embracing both diet and values.”
The impact on her life was profound.”The lesson I learnt was that your food is your medicine. You’re what you eat!” she emphasizes. “It made a brand-new me… I was suddenly excited about my work. It was as if there was new blood in my veins. My energy levels soared, and they’ve never waned to this day as long as I religiously follow those Newstart eight rules of health. I started waking up very early every morning to start my day with devotion and focused prayer, and I became enthusiastic about my assignments.”
Her husband, initially resistant to her lifestyle changes, continued his unhealthy habits. “My husband would accompany me to various churches to tell my story,” she explains, “but whenever we got back home, though, he would brew his tea until it became yellow.” Though, a serious illness served as a wake-up call. “Today he has seen the light – but only after a [major ailment] diagnosis,” she says. “Along with this lifestyle change,he has responded remarkably well to treatment.”
Inspired by her own journey, she has become a passionate advocate for healthy living.”My journey of transformation started when I started walking the talk and it’s still ongoing because the making of a golden gem takes time,” she concludes.
