ACK Kapsabet Diocese Bishop Paul Korir on Friday left mourners in stitches when he narrated his love story.
Korir who was preaching during the burial ceremony of late marathoner Kelvin Kiptum decided to use his personal experience to drive the message home.
Korir was preaching about the power of forgiveness as being key in restoring healing, adding that forgiving is having the power to let go of past pain.
He revealed that he gave his life to Christ on October 24, 1987. But before that, he said he had a girl whom he liked until he got heartbroken.
"I got saved on October 24, 1987, and I thank God for that. But before that, I had a girl whom I had told a lot of words. I told her I would take her to Mombasa," Korir said.
"Telling a girl you will take her to Mombasa during those days, that was the highest place to go."
Korir said that the girl loved him but one day she wrote a letter notifying him that their love had ended.
"I thought of suicide but I remembered there was no cow to slaughter to feed mourners, I changed my mind, you know you have to calculate, so I said no," he said.
One day as he was walking along the road, he saw her approaching.
To him, it was a perfect opportunity he needed to utilise to apologise. He made up his mind to go down on his knees and ask for forgiveness.
The girl, whom Korir identified by only one name as Flo, was headed to the posho mill. On her head, she was carrying a heavy load of maize which he said were two 'debes'.
It was drizzling that day, a sign that it was a day God had made. What motivated him further was the fact that there was no one along the road at that time.
"When she got closer I went on my knees and said Flo, please forgive me. She looked at me and told me to stand up," he said.
"She said for me to know you mean what you said help me carry this maize, two debes. Sometimes when I feel my neck pain I suspect it is because of the maize I carried that day."
He helped Flo carry the maize to the posho mill and back to their house.
It was at that point that she asked him if he would come for a disco dance later in the evening.
"Getting there I found the guy who had snatched her from me was also there. I said it can't happen, after carrying two debes of maize during the day, you can't take away her from me....because of time, the rest to be continued...." Bishop Korir said.
He however urged those whose relationships are having problems not to resort to suicide saying they should embrace dialogue and speak up.
He said it was only through speaking about their tribulations that they would get help and have restoration and healing.
He further eulogized the late Kiptum as a humble person who related well with people both internationally and locally.
He said that despite his success nd fame, he was down to earth and never looked down on other people he had grown up with.
He said Kiptum would for instance eat his food in local restaurants unlike what many people in his position would be willing to do.
