How old is ‘too old’ to join the US Military? This is a commonly asked question. Oftentimes, it is unlikely for recruits to be accepted past the age of 35, given the physical nature of the job.
“They came to Africa to give us the religion and now we are back here to minister to them, in the United States,” she says with a smile plastered on her face.
A Business Administration & Marketing graduate of Daystar University, Mary Miriti got the opportunity to leave for the US courtesy of a green card. Upon arrival in US, she enrolled in Perkins School of Theology, a seminary institute, to undergo training to become a minister.
Rev. Miriti recalled a time when her chaplain was recruiting people for army ministry. She was enticed by the promise of serving only two days a month. Additionally, she was passionate about the calling.
Speaking to Alex Chamwada, she stated that had she known what lay ahead, she mightn’t have vouched for the position.
“In the middle of it, for 3 months, I was like ‘if I knew this I wouldn’t have done it’. I thought that as a chaplain, things are done differently. As long as you’re a soldier, you’re a soldier,” she said.
In 2011, she received a commission as a first lieutenant and a chaplain. Subsequently, she underwent rigorous army battlefield training and is now a soldier in every sense of the word.
By 2015, she had earned a promotion to the rank of captain. While deployed in Iraq, she was promoted to be a major.
Interestingly, Rev Miriti revealed that, in her role as a chaplain, she is not required to carry a gun. Instead, she has an assistant who serves as a bodyguard.
Wherever she goes, she is always accompanied by the chaplain assistant, who is armed to counter any potential threats.
Her role in the army includes preaching to soldiers, counselling them daily, and helping people suffering from PTSD, general stress or depression.
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Since being enlisted, she has toured with several army units across the world, providing them with mental, emotional, and spiritual support in their times of need.
Despite these world tours, the mother of 3 always gets time to serve at her local church in Dallas. Her church is mostly made up of Kenyan immigrants. She noted that she was also a preacher before leaving Kenya.
“When I got to America, I realized it is difficult to preach. Here you have to be an ordained clergy before you get a pulpit. I received guidance and did a candidacy process, which took me 10 years,” she said.
In 2011, upon completing her seminary studies, Rev Miriti received her first appointment as an Associate Minister at a Caucasian church. Despite this, she remained committed to her vision of establishing an immigrant church to help people assimilate into American culture.
Rev Miriti rejected the perception that America is a land flowing with milk and honey. She advised Kenyans considering moving there to assess their ability to work hard and uphold self-discipline.
To confirm her statements, she gave an example of how America is full of many homeless people. She said that one mistake is enough to make anyone plunge into ‘the river’.
“People say it’s land of milk and honey. Unless you know how to remove that honey or you know which cow to get good milk, you have to work very hard, be focused and remain diligent,” Rev Miriti asserted.
