Dr Ke-Di-Bone Mokwena – Teaching Life Lessons Through Her Faith

by Daluxolo Moloantoa · September 4, 2023

What is it really like to go through life`s challenges and come out on the other side victorious and with deep lessons learned? Pretoria educationist and retired university lecturer Dr Ke-Di-Bone Mokwena delves into this topic through her sharing of a personal journey in the newly-released second edition of her book, Resilience in Adversity.

Born in Garankuwa, a township north of Pretoria, the long-time school teacher and adult educator uses her personal story to encourage others who are experiencing seemingly insurmountable hard times to put their faith in God and also to seek practical ways to overcome them.

“My life was turned around when I had a personal encounter with God during one of my darkest and most hopeless periods. I began to look at life from a different perspective, and as a result, I was able to find the silver lining in every cloud. Unfolding before me was the perspective of viewing myself as a singular entity who is wonderfully and fearfully made,” she told The Southern Cross.

She made use of a recent tragedy that affected most people internationally as a motivation to write the book. “In 2020, the sudden lockdown due to the Coronavirus epidemic presented me with several advantageous opportunities, most importantly the beginning of my book writing. For the aim of writing it, I looked back at my habit of keeping a journal, and I made use of this good habit to write the book,” she said.

The book makes reference to her story and its collision with her Catholic faith in many instances. For instance, she writes about the various homilies which, after listening to them had a great impact on her life. She also writes about her work with the Catholic Women`s Association (CWA).

“It is gratifying to have served this amazing sodality as its inter-diocesan president during the formative years of my life. During my time as president, the sodality chose to use the guiding principle “That we may be One” to direct its activities in the areas of both faith and action. My heartfelt gratitude goes to the founders of the sodality through whom we have the vision of the sodality, “to become true witnesses of Christ, inspired and empowered by the Holy Spirit,” she said.

She also writes about her collaboration with the Sisters of Mercy in her professional capacity as an educator. “I realised early in my career that I needed to adapt to the adult education environment. I needed some creativity to manage the differences in teaching adults compared to children. My first meeting with Sr Immaculata Devine (may her soul rest in peace), the then-principal at the Winterveld Adult Education Centre, strengthened my resolve that I had made a wise decision to make a detour into the adult education sector.

It was Sr Mac (as she was popularly known) who exposed me to diverse adult education opportunities such as training workshops, conferences, seminars etc. I felt the need to make mention of Sr Mac in the book because she played a pivotal role in nurturing me as an adult educator.

It is for this reason that chapter fifteen in the book is entitled “I stood on the Shoulders of Giants,”. The chapter is all about my gratitude to the Sisters of Mercy, and in particular with Sr Mac, for nurturing me to become the adult educator that I became,” she said.

Amongst her daily prayers and meditations, she deems it necessary to constantly make the Sign of the Cross. “I`d like to emphasise the significance of making the Sign of the Cross on an ongoing basis to my fellow Catholics. Every time we make the Sign of the Cross, we are acknowledging the divine work of creation, salvation, and sanctification. We are also renewing our confession of our faith, expressing our belief in the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, and expressing our belief in the Trinity,” she said.

In her retirement, Dr Mokwena makes use of her time to write, and to also give back to her community in Garankuwa. “I have worked with the Rotary Club International and the Standard Bank in Pretoria to obtain new and old books for one of our community’s no-fee schools. More projects are in the pipeline,” she said.

To order a copy of RESILIENCE IN ADVERSITY, please contact Dr Mokwena on 072 955 2974 (Call or WhatsApp).