After faking a straight face for thirty minutes, Ann couldn’t take it anymore and bursted into laughter. She almost fell on the floor laughing so hard from hearing my story. It was obvious she felt pity for me but couldn’t stop herself from laughing.
So I thought to share it with you too.
I just left NYSC camp. In a new environment, not knowing anywhere and anyone. I went straight to NCCF house (a home for new call members to stay, grow their spiritual life and bond with other Christians as well) and lived there for a week while I searched for a place to stay. I needed my privacy and space.
After a long search I finally found a new and clean self contain apartment in a cool and coordinated area, where all the big and elite personnel’s of Jalingo, Taraba state lived. Exactly what I wanted.
I moved in bought the basic necessities. Matrass first, then a mini shelf for my books and beverages, toiletries and food stuffs. I asked mummy to send pots and stove and containers from home which she eventually did. I started going to my PPA which was close by and began searching for a Job. I needed more to survive.
Three weeks later I was Broke
I used my last fifty naira to buy water for cleaning and bathing.
I had nothing else on me. No change no money no nothing.
I didn’t know how I was going to survive the next couple of days before we received our allowance.
I just stayed in my room.
That day, my fellow call member, friend and neighbor called me out to gist like we normally did every evening
“Babe how far”. He asked
“I dey oh”. I replied. And we talked about other things.
“Babe, please help me with Maggi and red oil?” He pleaded. I just stared at him not knowing how to tell him that the Chika that cooked in a big pot every evening to share with her friends and students had nothing except for a full pack of salt and matches laughs
“Guy sorry, I don’t have again. Its finished”. I told him and made an excuse to go back inside.
“If only this guy knew that I hadn’t tasted anything all day he wouldn’t be asking me for anything. He can take salt if he wants”. I muttered to myself and forced myself to sleep for the third time that day.
I woke up the next day with angry worms, grumbling stomach and a tired body. Plus today was not the day I embarrassed my generation so I had a plan.
I had my bath, dressed my bed, locked my empty kitchen, locked the front door, closed the windows and curtains and jumped right back on the bed and stared at the ceiling. laughs
Sounds weird right? Don’t worry.
The idea was to make sure no one knew I was home. And it worked.
Few minutes later I heard a knock on the door but I didn’t answer. I rolled myself to the far end of the bed so that no one would see my shadow even by chance.
“I don’t think she is around, even the door and windows are both closed. Let’s go”. they said as they went back. I heard them leave and was relieved.
Of all the ways to die, I’m I going to die of hunger? I murmured. I wanted to cry but how can I cry because of hunger so I held it back
“God please, today is the day you send my divine helper”, I prayed hoping for a miracle, “you rained manner from heaven for the Israelites, please just send two sachet of pure water for me”. I begged clutching my stomach.
I slept off and woke up in the evening hoping to see a miracle but I was disappointed. In few hours I was going into the next day without eating. So this is what poverty feels like I pondered.
I left the bed and changed into my one of my black shorts. I couldn’t endure the heat and suffocation coupled with my predicament so I decided to go out.
If I was going to die then its better to die where people would see me and save me on time than dying alone and isolated in my room.
I sat outside and stared at the clouds for so long that it was dark before I realized I was in that position for more than an hour.
I began walking around the compound with my hands inside my back pockets and when I was around my neighbors backyard I felt something like paper in my pocket and sighed. “Typical Chika, Always leaving pieces of paper everywhere”. I hissed, brought out the paper, raised my hand to throw it away when a letter flashed before my eyes. I stopped and quickly opened my palm to see the paper properly and to my greatest surprise it was a five hundred naira note.
I froze instantly and just stared at it as a lone tear fell on my cheek.
“Oh my God”. I whispered. The next thing I knew I was jumping
“Its a Miracle”, I screamed running round the compound in excitement, “I am rich! I am rich. Its a miracle. Thank you Jesus”. I continued shouting and all the neighbors came out shocked to see me shouting like a mad woman.
I ran to the first one “Megida its a miracle”. And to the second one “Sir you won’t believe this. I’m rich”. He simply smiled at me.
My friends asked me if I was okay and I told them I was more than okay. And ran out like a mad woman forgetting to lock my room.
Till this day I still can’t believe how I ran from my house to the shop without fainting on the road. A mere five hundred naira note had given me the strength of a lion. I knew then that a hungry man was a poor man. And I never wanted to feel that way again.
The first thing I bought was a bag of pure water (150 naira). And I drank from it immediately I bought it. Then I also got;
Bread (150)
Milk and Milo (80)
2 indomie (100)
Pepper (20)
And that was how the money finished. The bread was big enough for a two time meal. So I had one meal everyday for the next three days. That was enough for me.
God came through for me by making me put my hands in my pocket or else I wouldn’t have known that I had something left. From that day I believed in miracles. And decided I’ll never experience that in my life again. It was horrible.
Not to brag but I left NYSC with something close to three hundred thousand for someone who was starved for almost three days in a strange land with no one. And till date I have never been totally broke.
Moral of the story – Don’t stop believing. God always shows up. Sometimes in the strangest ways but he always reveals himself in our situations. One more thing. If you’re not angry enough at something you cant change that thing.
Ann may still be laughing at me but I know this story has inspired her to keep believing in miracles too.
What are thoughts after reading this story? I’d love to hear them. So drop a comment and share this post with everyone you know. Much love.