JESSICA?♂️?♂️
(My story of faith and pain)
Episode 18
©Miriam Edem
The next day I went to school and was not comfortable that they were planning to involve me into politics. I was never interested in that and I didnt know how that will change my life if I accept to go into it to run for any position,
“But Jessica you’re bold and fluent in speech, you’ll do very well I don’t know why you’re scared sef, Sandra said.
“What about you and what are you waiting for? I asked Sandra.
“Well am still thinking about it, she replied.
“Look Sandra you know how this things go, will I be able to do all that is done in politics? I can’t do this please, I said to her and a lady approached us where we sat.
“Hello good morning, she greeted waving at us and we greeted back.
“Sorry am disturbing, my name is Amara, she said.
“Its okay, can we help? I asked.
“Yea sure, am in the depa-rtment of pharmacy and currently in my finals and I can tell you that I’ve seen lot of nasty things our gender do with their bo-dy that ends up affecting their health, you know what I mean right? She asked.
“No, Sandra replied.
“Okay in the area of ab-ortion, honestly I have helped many and made thousands of money from it but I can’t take it anymore. My conscience cant bear it and I want to organize a group, just our gender to tell them the danger of what they are doing, the lady continued and Sandra scoffed.
“They are grown ups and its impossible to change their mind now, this isn’t secondary school please, those girls knows what they are doing, Sandra said.
“I know they are grown ups and I never said we can change the mind of everyone, but what about the young ones that will be admitted next semester? We still have a chance you know to to-uchlives before leaving campus, Amara said.
“Why us? I asked her.
“I saw you once talking in a campus fellowship about entrepreneurship and got noticed of you, I believe you’ll do great Jessica, she replied.
“Oh you even know my name? Wow! I exclaimed and looked at Sandra.
“So? Sandra asked me.
“We’re in, I replied.
“Who and who? Sandra asked.
“Sandra this is better than that politics, I replied her.
“Hiannnn I cannot o, Sandra said with a frown.
“Don’t worry about her, when are we to start? I asked Amara and Sandra pla-yfully hit me as I laughed………….
Before the end of the day Amara got five more girls and opened a WhatsApp group for us where we can plan and communicate on how to carry out this goal. As we walked back home tired, Sandra was still frowning that i involved her and it made me so happy because she ran her mouth too much during the day.
“Sandra something just dropped in me now, what if I use this platform to tell everyone my story? I asked her and Sandra began to laugh ha-rd.
“Okay at least you’re laughing, I said nodding and she looked at me.
“What will you tell them? That you’ve been peeing in be-d? What kind of testimony is that? Biko its too embarr@$$ing, she replied and I smiled.
“Its easy for you to say, but do you know that there are some simple things we have, things we don’t put much value for because its within our reach, that same thing can be someone else headache and prayer topic. Okay you are able to use the toilet freely without stress, but there are thousands of people going to the hospital for the same thing. You were able to control your urine but I wasn’t, you think its not a testimony because its embarr@$$ing? I asked.
“It will sound weird to people though, besides the platform is meant to teach our gender about the consequences of what they doing on their health and you’re bringing God in? Sandra asked.
“Sandra why are you saying such things? How do you expect the heart of the ladies who will listen to you repent if God is not involved? What power do you have to convince adults not to have s-xand terminate the pregnancy? I asked.
“Well I was just thinking loud how you’ll do it, but its okay let’s see how it will go, Sandra replied and I heaved.
When I got back home my pastor called and I remembered that I was to see him today,
“Hello daddy good evening, I picked up.
“Evening Jess, back from school? He asked.
“I just got in. What time will I be meeting you? I asked.
‘When you’ve rested okay, i’ll be in church, he replied.
“Okay daddy, I said and dropped the call.
Done taking my dinner I left to church to see the pastor and met him talking with one of the deacons in his office and I greeted them.
“Jess wait in the church I’ll call you shortly, the pastor said and I left to the church and sat down throwing my head backwards with my eyes closed to rest.
I heard footsteps approaching and I opened my eyes to see Daniel coming and I sat up well.
“Hello there, we meet again, he said.
“Yes….. Sorry where have I seen this face? I asked and he smiled.
“Just yesterday, he replied.
“Oh yea exactly sorry about that. You’re here to see the pastor? I asked.
“Yes, he replied.
“Same here but he can attend to you first, and does he know you’re here? I asked and my pastor call came in immediately.
“You can come in, he said.
“Daddy there’s someone here looking for you, please attend to him first, I said.
“Okay You two should come in, the pastor said and dropped the call.
“Okay he’s done, let’s go, I said to him and we left together to the pastor office.
“Welcome Daniel, please sit down, the pastor said and we sat down but the pastor was just looking at me smiling and I was like Shooouuuu what is making him smile this broad??
“Daddy I don’t un-derstand, this your smile is scaring me o, I said to him.
“How was school today? He asked.
“Twas hectic but I thank God, I replied.
“Okay, so do you plan of furthering? He asked.
“You mean masters? I asked.
“Yes aunty, the pastor replied and I laughed.
“Of course why not but I wish it is not in Nigeria but then thats impossible right? I asked the pastor forgetting there was someone else in the office with us.
“Jessica clean your mouth, the pastor said and I innocently did thinking there was something on it.
“Is it still there? I asked.
“Maybe, because you just said a bad thing that’s why I told you to clean your mouth. Who told you that its impossible to do your masters outside the country? He asked and I smiled.
“Daddy I don’t know except God blesses my father the more to sponsor that, you know its expensive na, I replied and he cleared his throat and looked at Daniel.
“Please forgive her, that’s how she talks, the pastor said to Daniel and didn’t clear me.
“What did I do? I asked confused.
“Ermm Jessica, actually its not impossible for you to study abroad that’s why am here, Daniel replied.
“What! I shouted shocked.
“Yes, he came to me about three month ago that God se-nt him to Yuh but he does not want to. He disappeared when I wanted setting a meeting for you two to meet……. That was before your healing, but now he’s back, the pastor said.
‘I have been fighting it but I can’t hide or say no whenever I am being commanded to do something, its just like the case of Jonah in the bible, God will so fetch you out where ever you’ll run to, so I had to come back, Daniel said.
“But am still in school how will that happen? I asked.
“That’s why am Here on time so that when you’re done with school your papers and everything nee-ded for you to travel will be ready, he replied and I blinked my eyes.
‘Daddy he’s joking right? I asked my pastor.
“Remember when I do tell you Jessica pray ha-rd, this was what I was trying to tell Yuh, my pastor replied.
“Which country are we talking about here now? I slowly asked.
“Its the UK, Daniel replied.
“UK? How on earth do you want my father to sponsor that? I asked and Daniel smiled again same with the pastor.
“Jessica I thought you had the discernment spirit, can’t you see what is going on? The pastor asked.
“Please make it clear to me because am getting confused, I replied.
“I will be the one to sponsor you in your masters, that’s my responsibility and that was what I was asked to do Jessica, Daniel said and my eyes bulged out with tears gathered up already.
“You’re not serious are you? I whispered.
“I am dead serious. We’ll take the process slowly, all you have to do is study ha-rd because I have a University in mind for you, hope you won’t disappoint me? He asked and I looked at my pastor still not believing what is going on.
When I arrived home after the meeting, I sat down on my be-d thinking ha-rd. This Daniel of a person sef is not looking like someone that has cross river Niger before talk less to fly to UK. I got angry and called my pastor to know if he’s not pla-ying any prank on me because it was too expensive,
“Jessica, he picked up.
“Sorry daddy I’ve been thinking, who is this Daniel? I mean he doesn’t look rich to me to sponsor me in UK or is he? I asked.
‘Jessica, sometimes our blessings come in disguised form and we despise it because it does not look in a prese-ntable container. You think I will give you out to any scammer? Is that how you see me now? My pastor asked and a tear dropped from my eyes.
“No daddy I didn’t mean it that way, am still in shock because I was not expecting such a meeting, but why me? I asked.
You know Daniel asked the same “why you” question when he first came because he felt you didn’t worth such favour from God and he left but he’s back to carry out that @$$ignment in your life and all you can say is why me after such rare favour? The pastor asked back.
” So its true then? Aahhhhh! I screamed and fell on my knees keeping my phone aside to thank God……..
Tbc