I was born in 1982 in Lodokejek village, Samburu County. My father was and still is a catechist, and I was introduced into the Catholic faith when I was very young and was baptised Roselyne Juliete Lenguris.
My family life was just like any other Samburu family and our father still followed the ways of our people - he had two wives and 11 children.
In 1996, when I was only 14-years-old, the elders in my village led by father’s brothers visited my home with the intention of marrying me off. I was young but I knew what was expected of me.
The elders did not tell my father of their intentions, for fear he would refuse their request, instead they came directly to me and asked me whether I was ready to get married.
Usually the question each girl is asked is: “Will you allow us to pick for you a husband or will you do it for yourself”. In the Samburu community, it is customary for a young girl to allow the elders to pick her husband, and the question is only a formality.
Deep down I was not interested in marriage but I was afraid to say so hence I said yes. I, however, asked for more time to at least finish my primary school education since I was in Standard Seven at the time.
The elders agreed and the following year just after I had sat for my KCPE they showed up and this time, they came with a suitor and the final payment of dowry. It was at this point that my father found out about the elders marriage plans and asked me if I was certain I wanted to get married, I then confessed I did not want the arrangement.
My father then struck a deal with me, he agreed to pay for my secondary school education if I passed my exams but if I failed, he would have no choice but to consent to the marriage proposal.
When the results were released, by God’s grace I passed and my father was willing to keep his promise but the elders started to get violent. They threatened me and my family and demanded that I must be married off as negotiations were already complete.
Afraid for my future and safety, I ran away from home and headed straight to the Catholic Parish where I met Father Aldolfo Ferero. He was an Italian missionary and when I explained my predicament he took me in and protected me.
He paid for my secondary school education in a school run by the Presbyterian Church but that had Italian nuns as part of the teaching staff. I really longed to be like them but I did not think it was possible for an African woman to become a nun.
When I completed my KCSE, I was even more determined that I did not want to get married. When I broached the subject with Father Ferero, he suggested I take up a clerical job as I weighed my options and I was was lucky to secure a job in Suguta Marmar Ward.
It was while working at the ward that I saw my first African sister (nun). I immediately followed her and inquired more about that life. That day, I went to Father Ferero and told him I had found my calling and was moving to Mathari Catholic Mission in Nyeri County, home to the Sisters of Mary Immaculate.
I took my first vows, in 2003 and the Sisters of Mary Immaculate then helped me get into Kamwenja Teachers College. Upon completion of my studies, I was sent to serve in Kagio Mary Immaculate Primary school and later Nanyuki Mary Immaculate Primary school.
After 13 years of living my life as a sister, I got to take my eternal and final vows on April 26, 2016 which signifies my vow to dedicate my life to Christ as his bride. To live a life of devotion, prayer and celibacy.
My joy was without measure on that day because it was my wedding day and my family and community were there to witness the event.
We finally reconciled with my family after years apart and they were able to accept my decision to join the Sisters of Mary Immaculate. It also helped that in 2008, my father defended me by telling the elders that he would pay off any pending gifts or fines for my failure to get married to the suitor they had offered.
I am now the first and only Samburu Catholic Sister but I pray to God that more Samburu women will be brave and take the great step to accomplish their purpose and destiny. I say to every young girl faced by cultural pressures, God created you for a purpose and only you can do the work He has called you to do.