JESSICAšš
(My story of faith and pain)
Episode 13.
Ā©Miriam Edem
The pastor wife held me as I went on my knees in tears and they prayed for me. After the prayers I told them how it started and how I have accepted my fate,
“Jessica dont say that, this isnt your fate and it can never be. So you mean Nothing has worked even medically? The pastor asked after I was done and I nodded.
“This is very sad, how can people be this wicked? Tunde asked.
‘Jessica, the pastor called out.
“Yes pastor, I replied.
“Do you believe God can heal you? The pastor asked.
“I do, in fact I trusted so much in him then and got disappointed and backslided. Now I just want to serve him and nothing else, he knows better right? I asked and the pastor heaved.
“Just keep on trusting him, it won’t be long this will be over believe me. I know Jessica it will look difficult for you, but the truth is, its not a crime when you face sorrow and great tribulations that makes you wonder if God exists. It becomes a crime when you die in that sorrow or when there is absolutely nothing in your hand to show forth your victory. What do I mean by that? Your days of trials must show forth fruits, mind bl-owing testimony that will comfort you and encourage every ears that will hear you. In every Christian life, we all have a battle to face, you must be tried but in that trials God is expecting you to bounce back at the end of it more better than you’ve ever been. For your sorrow God multiplies your joy in full in a way that you won’t remember you were once feeling rejected and finished in life. Jessica, hold on, keep holding on for an expiry date to this disgrace will soon bring out something great in you, the pastor said and I nodded and sniffed.
“Amen pastor, i slowly said.
“Yes my dear, don’t worry everything will be fine, the pastor wife said and I nodded.
“Thank you so much pastor, at least she won’t be ignoring me again, Tunde said.
“Please don’t do that again and brighten up, don’t be moody for its not your fault and don’t worry, this will only be between us you have my word, the pastor said.
“Thank you pastor I appreciate, I said.
“Its okay, the pastor said and I left with Tunde. We didn’t say a word to each other until we arrived outside and he beckoned on me to enter his tricycle which I slowly did and he drove off.
He insisted on coming to my place which I let him in and he sat down on the plastic chair while I just leaned on the wall not knowing what to say.
Somehow he was able to take me off that mood and before he left my place my countenance was revived. That marked a new turn in our friendship, in fact I just realized I was in love with him probably that made me so down when I disgraced myself that way around him.
Within a twinkle of an eye my two years was over. I didnt un-derstand such magic when it was as if it was just yesterday I had admission into school. My eyes cleared when my landlord called to tell me that my rent is expired and i should start warming up to renew.
I turned left and right and what I was able to save up can not pay my rent for another two years because the landlord collects rent in two years that’s why every rooms there is occu-pied by 3 to 4 students so they can contribute together and pay up.
Staying alone made me look like a rich girl and I began having thoughts of packing out to a more cheaper place, and my fees…. Hmm it is well!
One afternoon I was contemplating very seriously when a call came from Tunde and I sluggishly picked up not happy at all because I was still expecting money from my grandmother which was not coming for days now. Ever since my step mother behaved that way, I didn’t travel to anywhere during vacations, though my grandmother had to visit me twice with enough food stuffs.
“Hello, good afternoon, I picked up.
“Hey why is someone voice sounding this way? Still worried? Tunde asked and I heaved.
“The landlord is on my ne-ck Tunde and I don’t know what to do. I am not hearing from my family and I am so confused, what should I do? Where will I get money to solve my problems? I asked about to cry.
“Jess I’ll call you back okay, there’s a call now on my line please help me end the call, he said and i dropped the call as he asked me to.
I waited till evening and he didn’t call back which I decided to but he busied the call.
It was on a Tuesday, so I decided to go to church for a prayer meeting which I cried out my burden to God. I didn’t know where I will get help from and I nee-ded money most especially for my fees. I began to regret why I choosed a private university and I just had to tell it all to God to bless my grandmother so she can fulfil her promise to me.
After the prayers I didn’t still see Tunde and he didn’t return the call until the next day he woke me up from sleep.
“Hey Jess, he shouted so lively.
“Good morning, what happened yesterday? I asked.
“Babe you won’t believe it! My mother ran into one of my father relative and she told her about me. The woman immediately told my mother that my father just returned to the country for a business meeting and it will be a good opportunity for my mother so she gave my mother his address and they exchanged numbers. When it was the right time, the woman called my mother to get me ready, and just yesterday I landed in my father house! Tunde shouted.
“Are you serious? I shouted getting up from my we-t mat with such a news.
“Hey Jess you nee-d to see my father building, when he even saw me he began telling his aunty not to trust my mother but my mother stood on her ground that I am his son. Jess it was not easy and it was a long talk that we ended up saying there will be a DNA test, boom he called his doctor friend who came to the house that same evening and got samples and I am praying it should come out positive because my father @$$ured us that if I am truly his son then I have nothing to fear, Tunde continued and I jumped up in excitement.
“This is good news, the Lord is good Tunde and he will complete this good work he has started already, I said.
“Amen, so Jess don’t worry about anything, money is coming trust me and as my girl you’ll enjoy, he said and I was just smiling sheepishly.
“Oh stop it, have you told the pastor? I asked.
“Yes I called him early this morning, I was too excited yesterday when I came back home, babe I can’t even eat I’m filled with yesterday event, he replied.
“Its okay just be calm, everything will be fine and it end well for sure, I said.
“Okay babe, don’t worry too much okay. What’s the landlord saying? he asked.
“I am still begging him for a year rent for now then I can balance up later, I can’t possibly pay for 2 years at a stretch when I have a lot of bills to pay in school, I replied.
‘Its okay, don’t forget you’re dating a son of a rich man I’ll clear it up for you, Tunde said and I saw myself laughing ha-rd.
“Please just stop, are we seeing later today? I asked.
“Sure but I won’t drive today, I just want to rest and digest yesterday happenings, it is still sweeting me, he replied and i shook my head.
“Good for you, I’ll get prepared for school then, I told him.
“Okay my love talk to you later okay, he said and dropped the call.
I was about leaving the house for school when I saw the landlord approaching my door and my heart began to beat fast. I began to fear thinking he wants to scream on my head like he used to do with others,
“Good morning sir, i greeted with my heart in my hand.
“Morning Jessica, leaving for school? he asked.
“Yes sir, I replied pinning my eyes on him wondering what he will say next.
“When are you paying my rent? He asked.
“Sir please I have a year with me just ready, I promise I’ll balance up I am just waiting for my people, I replied.
“I am accepting this because you’ve been a good girl and I’ve not heard any bad report about you. se-nd the money you have for me today, he said.
“Ahhhh thank you so much sir God bless you, I’ll do that after lecture, I said very excited.
“Its okay, he said and left and I zoomed off to school. I and Sandra walked together to the bank and paid the money to him and pa-rt of my burden was off my che-st and I breathed out, then I told Sandra what Tunde told me in the morning.
“You don’t mean it? Sandra asked.
“I know it will come out positive and Tunde life will change for good, I replied.
“Same with you o as his girlfriend, soon you’ll be married to him as I dey see Una sef, Sandra said.
“Ahh Sandra marriage already? I shouted.
“What is ahhhh, like you’re too small or what? Abeg shift, Sandra said pushing me aside while I laughed and followed her…….
The results came out positive days later and no one could contain Tunde joy. He literally fell on the altar crying and praising God as his father was just ready to take up his responsibility and to make up for the 25 years he stayed without a father. He was even ready to introduce him to His family and to see Tunde is accepted and also enjoys every benefits his sons has.
Before I knew it Tunde traveled to Lagos with his father and spent about 2 weeks there which we ha-rdly talked on phone. I just have to un-derstand with him that there’s a lot of things he should do and he has to spend good quality time with his father and new family.
When he finally came back I could not see Tunde neither did he visit the church. Sometimes the pastor will ask me about him but I could not give him a tangible reply,
“Hmm let it not be what am thinking. Sometimes its another thing to ask something of the Lord, and its another thing to remain faithful to God after receiving the answers to your prayers. Will your attitude to God change when he finally answers you? that’s the problem and that’s why most people answers are being lingered because God who sees your heart knows what will happen next, The pastor said.
“Pastor I don’t think that is it, maybe something came up, Tunde can’t be like that let’s just watch and give him more time, I said despite being disturbe-d myself but I just have to believe in him.
Tunde called after two days apologizing for minutes and explained all that happened and concluded that he’s traveling to Dubai to see his father’s wife and children.
“That’s good, I said so down with my fees not paid yet and the portal will soon be closed.
“Are you not happy for me? He asked.
“How can you say a thing like that? I am just bothered about school and you know that, I replied.
“Calm down, take things easy infact I’ll see you before you travel so you can settle both your fees and your rent okay, he said.
“Where will you have such money? I asked.
“Are you forgetting something here? Don’t disturb yourself I got you, Tunde replied.
I trusted him because I had no choice, but to my surprise Tunde phone was no longer reachable and I came to find out he left the country already. I was shocked and looked stupid when the pastor told me that and my head so swelled up very confused with thoughts. I had to run to Sandra and begged her for money,
“Please just lend me some amount I’ll pay you back, business is really bad for my grandmother and she could only se-nd 20,000 naira for me while my pastor helped with 30,000 naira. I don’t know what to do and who to call when I don’t have a father who cares about me, please help me I beg you, I pleaded with her.
“Jessica am a student like you o, where do you expect I’ll get it from? Sandra asked and I began to cry knowing She’s right.
“No na Jess its not you to cry for me its okay, I have an aunty who promised me some amount of money, let me remind her, she said and quickly got her phone and called her up.
“Aunty you promised o, its my birthday gift and its long overdue, I heard Sandra said.
“Thank you aunty I’ll se-nd it right away, Sandra shouted and dropped the call.
“Jessica say Amen, she said to me.
“AMEN! I shouted not knowing what its for but she quickly se-nt the account number to her aunty.
“Let’s hope she se-nds something good, Sandra said to me.
“Thank you, thank you so much, I said and she stood up to get me something to eat. We were not done eating when an alert dropped in Sandra phone and she checked it out and kept a confused face.
“Ehmmmm Jessica come and count this digits well if its correct because I am not un-derstanding what am seeing, she said giving me her phone and I saw 100,000 naira.
“Its 100,000 naira o, i confirmed.
“Hey Jessica your God loves you. This my aunty has never bought me even recharge card before, Sandra said and her call entered immediately which Sandra picked it up screaming on phone.
“Thank you Aunty, this shock p@$$ transformer own o God bless you, Sandra said.
“You’re welcome my dear, use that to look more beautiful okay, her aunty said.
“I will aunty muuahhh! Sandra said throwing ki-sses and her aunt laughed and dropped the call.
I guess that’s how some people are just lucky in life to have such relatives, then Sandra looked at me as I just sat quiet,
“Let’s go cash the money so you can pay your fees, she said and a tear fell from my eyes.
TBC