Mara! 3

EPISODE 3
I watched as her lips danced on…

The short, curly strands of hair at the sides of her face looked beautiful as thin streams of sweat cascaded down her face.

“These are incisions” she said, softly and I smiled

“As if I knew” I said in my heart
I held her back and patted her.

“It’s going to be alright my dear sister. It takes the revelation of the problem to proffer solutions to it. Since God has shown us what it is, then we already know the battle we are fighting” I explained.

I had been a victim of incisions and I knew just how to face it.

It’s nothing but through God’s divine power.

Before I gave my life to Jesus, I had a disease called epilepsy and this had really caused me many valuables plus disgrace in the public place.

I remembered when I was still at the college when a guy who had been a very close friend proposed to me jokingly and while we smiled over it, he had pushed me with the tip of a finger and the disgrace came again!

I started gasping

I fell to the ground with a thud!

I started foaming

Because of this experience, Amos, my very good friend deserted me.

I lost my family, I lost Amos my bosom friend, I was really being stigmatized and I was almost giving up.

Then, one day, my mother called me suddenly, asked me to get into her ‘cabu-cabu’ car and off she drove me to one mud house in her village.

I thought it was a joke until I was given something greenish to drink and before I knew it, I was asleep.

By the time I woke up, it was so brutal, what had happened to me.

My long, dark hair was gone- my head was scraped clean!

My hands peppered from the cuts of incisions- 21 on my right hand, 21 on the left hand, 14 on my forehead, and 14 behind my neck.

I couldn’t weep that day as I felt the frustration that my mum felt that could have made her do such to me.

She apologized as she wept that she just had to save me from the disease that ravaged me then.

And it worked!

…or it looked like it worked!

Until five months later when the problem returned with full force.

If the ailment lasted for 22 hours before the ‘traditional operation’ was carried on me, it increased to about 50 hours.

That was when I realized that it is only when God gives gift to a man that he adds no sorrow to it.

The devil gives you a single thing then he takes about an hundred things from you in return!

I met Jesus when I attended a crusade and I gave my life to Jesus.

“Mrs. Olowo, I can relate to what you are going through as well. Check my body well and you would see quite a number of incisions in there.” I started

Her eyes widened

“Really! Even doctors believe in traditional powers?” she asked so surprised

I smiled

“Well, I got the incisions before I gave my life to Jesus and I really did regret it” I said, surveying her face for her reaction

“You regret it? Isn’t it supposed to be the reason why you are still hale and hearty? Isn’t it why your work is going on well with no issue?” she spoke on naively, looking at me as if I was the weird one

“But what about you? Are the incisions working for you? If they are, why are you finding it difficult to do certain things? Why?” I asked and her enthusiasm died a bit

“Well…” she said and observed a very long pause

“The truth is this my dear sister, the devil gives no man anything good” I said firmly and she shook her head

“Of course I know. But I am alive only because I am well secured and safe through the powers imputed in me. If not for the incisions and all, my case would have been a no no!” She explained, so sure of her conviction.

I shook my head

Oh what blindness!

“So, what of Jesus? Where is the power he promised? Is he not able to save or deliver? Is that what you are saying? That Jesus is powerless?” I bombarded her with the seemingly millions of questions

She gripped my arm suddenly and squeezed it

“I didn’t say that” she said

“So, what were you saying? Explain in clear terms” I so hated it when my Lord and Savior is being underrated by anyone because He had so done marvelous things for me.

“You had incisions too. Why?” she asked, pouting her mouth in argument

I cleared my throat

I was ready to fight this to the end
God’s name must be glorified

“It was because of Epilepsy”

She smiled

“And it did stop after the traditional intervention, didn’t it?” she smiled as if she had won the case.

I was interested in the point she was driving at so, I nodded

“Oh yes, it did stop!” I said and she smiled widely, clapping her hands together

“God isn’t as strict as we have painted him to be. In fact, the Bible says, heaven helps those who help themselves…”

Misquote of the scriptures, oh God!

“My doctor, God seems slow sometimes. Where you expect him to act, he wouldn’t act but when you do not expect him to act, that’s when he would act. So, we have to consult the gods while still worshipping God because they are just like messengers to him” she killed it all.

My heart burnt within me.

We had fed this woman with these gibberish she had been vomiting oh God!

God, your daughter needs real refurbishing!

“Mrs. Olowo, I beg your pardon but your perspective about God is so wrong! One, no Bible says heaven helps those who help themselves, it had just been adopted for use by many people trying to avert the right spiritual course they are supposed to take. Two, God isn’t slow! Mrs. Olowo, He is merciful! He loves! He cares! He might appear slow but no, God’s time isn’t Ours’ and His’ is always the best time. If you trust him wholly, forget sister, He is never too late!”

I just couldn’t say much.

My heart panted so hard.

“So, how did he not save you when you fell into your fits of epilepsy?

Why was it that some incisions on parts of your body, done in the names of the gods healed you? Why?”

“I didn’t complete the statement the other time ma’am. The epilepsy stopped when I was taken to the traditionalist but it didn’t last! The devil never gives something that would last! The problem I had was epilepsy and by the time in came back after about 3 months later, it added real convulsion, rheumatism, blood vomiting and many more” I explained and she looked disgusted

“God of mercy!” she exclaimed, holding her chest firmly.

I was happy that that one hit her with a bang.

“But it took just a touch of His garment, the touch of faith and Jesus took them all away”

“Hmmm…but what happened to the incisions on your body?” she asked and I smiled as I relived it all.

After Jesus had healed me and I had become born again, I started having series of dreams, different masquerades pursuing me in the dream, different masked guys sleeping with me in turns; I saw myself carrying white calabash on my head and my body covered in white!

It was a scary thing!

I did wake up every day then with a start, panting, sweating and very scared.

I was so confused

Was this how it would feel at first after giving one’s life to Jesus?

“After months of tormenting dreams, I spoke out to my pastor who quickly sent for two deliverance ministers after listening to my story. They set to pray for me and see me vomiting different substances. The greenish thing I was made to drink at that time, I vomited too, a ring was vomited too and it was really a tug of war as everything done against me through those incisions were nullified and destroyed.”

“So, there are specially meaning attached to incisions?” she asked and I nodded

“You are right ma’am”

She gasped

“Do I also need deliverance?” she asked

“Yes you definitely need one. But you definitely need a man of God who has really been called of God because if a fake one lays his hand on you, it’s as good as proclaiming death sentence on you.” I said and she nodded

“Would you get me a pastor?”

“Yes. I would bring him tomorrow”

“That would be so nice of you.”

“You are welcome”

“Thank you for talking to me like this o. I am so grateful”

I smiled as I looked into her face.

I was supposed to have peace that her victory was near but no!

I felt as if I had not been able to even get to the root of the problem.

What else is the issue oh Lord?

I held her hand to pray with her and an electric current surged through my veins.

She smiled at me

…and I reciprocated in a very weird way ever!

“I will see you later. Let me go and attend to the other patients”

There was a knock at the door and a tall, slim, teenage and two small boys came in with a basket and a polythene bag.

“Good morning doctor” the girl greeted me in an almost sweet manner

“Morning dearest. How are you?” I replied

“I am fine ma” she replied

The two boys went and positioned themselves at the sides of the bed.
Glory smiled

“These are my children.” She said and I smiled

“They are very lovely” I said

“If you say so” she replied, bluntly

“I am very serious now. Your children are lovely, loveable and good looking”
I said and she winked at me

“Stop it” she whispered, trying to shush me up

I was dazed

“What’s your name lovely?” I faced her daughter and she looked down, fumbling at her dress.

“Taiwo” she said and I held her shoulder, pressing them softly.

She cringed

But I smiled

“Taiwo, please go out with your brothers while I discuss with mummy” I said and they obliged

I went close to Mrs. Olowo

“Why were you trying to stop me from talking?” I asked and she looked offended a bit

“I don’t like the way you were praising them in their presence. It is very wrong!” she said, closing her eyes to everything I would have said to defend myself

I smiled and tried to hold her hands

“When you praise the children especially young girls, they tend to become very arrogant and then they become immoral” she said and I practically laughed

“No wonder!” I said and she looked at me, her forehead wrinkled because of the frown on her face.

“What?”

“She winced at my touch,
embarrassed by my compliments of her body and oh…no wonder!” I exclaimed again.

I just wondered where some mothers get their orientations from about the girl-child upbringing

“So what?” she asked

“What you don’t know is that if you don’t tell her now, she would have people to tell her out there. The guys you are trying to shield her from would be the same people who would tell them about things in their bodies they had never even known about their bodies” I explained and she could only look on

“Hmmmm” she said, not so convinced

The door opened

“Dr. Flora, the Consultant wants to see you now” a nurse came to inform me

“Thanks Ennie” I said to her and smiling, she left.

“I think your kids have brought you some food. Try to eat. I will see you later.”

As I left the ward, her children entered and the door was closed.

I was tempted to go close to the door again and eavesdrop.

“What food is here?” she asked

“Rice, pepper sauce and goat meat. There is pap and moin-moin too” the daughter said and I was bemused

I thought she was supposed to be poor

“Inside the nylon her is cotton wool, more cannulas, syringes and tissue papers. She said she would see you in the evening” the daughter explained on

Oh, someone was helping!

“This Mrs. Hasiya o! Oh my God! What can I say to her but that you bless her for me? What else oh Lord?” she said, faintly

“She even gave us Semovita and Ogbonno Soup last night. Mummy Uku Amsin still came yesterday” she said and I heard a long hiss

“What was she looking for? Only looking for how members would fill their churches and not concerned about her welfare. I hate those kinds of Christians”

“She wanted to buy chinchin as usual” Taiwo said and the small boys laughed

“I wonder why some Christians find it difficult to help their so called brethren when they cant be there for them in times of need, especially the rich ones! Ah! People of other religions are doing better than them any time, any day!” Mrs. Olowo said again, somehow pained

My heart was crushed!

I was as guilty of what they were saying as much as the Rev. Mummy.
Most times we are carried away by winning souls and getting people free from some vices while we neglect their physical needs. What they need to make their faith grow!

God have mercy!

“God will bless her for me. When I had nowhere to go to for your NECO exams fee, she came in and paid it all. If not, that is how Kehinde would have disgraced me totally. Did she even return the money to the guy?” I heard her ask

“She said she did”

“But did she?” I heard her mummy ask, raising her voice

“No. she bought a new phone” I heard her say silently and I smiled

That should be expected!

As I straightened to start going, the nurse ran towards me again.

“Madam, there is an emergency.”

I followed immediately and set to work immediately.

>>>>>
“Why would you attempt abortion with a hanger for goodness’ sake” I said as I sanitized my hands

I never imagined that I would do any surgical operation that day but I just finished one almost life threatening one

……..
“I told her not to abort it o but I was shocked when she suddenly started bleeding in my shop this evening” a young guy with a hairstyle like agama lizard said

I looked at him

“Are you the one responsible for the pregnancy?” I asked and he nodded

“She is my girlfriend”

“So, why did you get her pregnant?” I asked and he looked at me as if I was the most absurd person on earth

“I love her. She is my girlfriend. How do I show her love if not through this?”

I shook my head

“And who says that having sex with a lady means showing her love? If you love her, you would go and asked for her hand in marriage form her parents. You are very wrong!” I said forcefully and the boy smiled

“She loves it too. Even if I don’t touch her, she would come close to me, just for me to touch her” he said and I shuddered

“Who are your parents, they need to be informed about your condition” I said and the girl raised her head.

“No ma. Don’t tell them. I will go home with Haruna. He is my husband” she said and I was shocked

“You love this person over your parents?”

“Yes. He is the only person that loves me in the whole wide world. He sees the good in every part of me” she explained, gasping for air.

“That he says that to you does not mean he loves you. It could be lust.” I said and she shook her head.

“I prefer the expressed lust he has to the unexpressed love my parents say they have towards me” she said again and I simply shook my head

“What is your name?” I asked

“Kehinde” she replied

“Surname?” I asked again

“Olowo” she replied again

And my tightened muscles loosened as my mouth caved into a small, perfect ‘O’!

“Did you go into any blood covenant?” that was the first question the pastor asked as he set his eyes on her

I smiled

Even I was becoming a prophetess!
I knew it was nothing but blood covenant!

“Sir, she had some incisions done on her”

It was then I realized that I had not even asked when she got the incisions and how

“Yes. The incisions are obvious and her parents had the incisions done on her body from birth in order to dedicate her to their family gods even though they were Christians at that time. Right?” the pastor asked

And she nodded

“I read it from my mum’s diary that I was dedicated to Olunlu, the god of Ilan, my village”

“Your mum kept a diary? She was learned?” I asked and she nodded

“They called you Glory but from birth, your portion had been shame.” The pastor revealed and I watched

I would reach that level one day too!

I didn’t tell the pastor anything about this woman so how he got to know was so wonderful to me.

“In accordance with the injunction of the herbalist, you were carried nakedly around the market square for 21 days after your birth to wade off evil and that was when the glory departed” the pastor narrated on.

He hadn’t even held her hands to pray for her o

But everything he said was true as she nodded amazingly to the words of the pastor.

“This is wonderful! God still exists o! Real men of God are alive” she exclaimed.

“You are right about what you just said but don’t be carried away by words of revelations and discernment as some false prophets can actually replicate that. Just know in your heart that God is alive and it shall be well despite the influx of many false prophets”

“Hmmm…this is wonderful! I am stirred” she exclaimed, looking intently at his face in awe.

“But, there is more to all that is happening to you. The incisions are the genesis of the problem but the Spirit of the Lord is telling me that there is more to it.” He said

“What?” she asked

“I am not being told. It is being held from me by the Lord.” He said

“Ah! What could it be?” she asked, so seriously

“I thought as much. I felt it deep in my spirit that something else still hangs in the air” I said too.

“Yes…something like Blood…I see blood!” the pastor said and we looked at one another questionably

“Your deliverance hangs onto your confession…if you could but confess”

“Blood? I have never killed anybody in my life o….not even an unborn baby” she said, tears gathering in her eyes.

“Just think deeply if you have been involved in some bloody transaction like that…” The pastor urged on

Was the case becoming pathetic?

Her daughter lay on the bed in the adjacent ward recuperating from a dangerous abortion attempt.

Another revelation of ‘Blood’ has resurfaced

God, please intervene oo

 

I hope you have been blessed
Watch for episode 4