My husband is not a pàstór but a riitúàliist ~ Episode 18
“After the testimony, Felicia knelt down directly beneath the altar and started cryíñg. Her testimony was so powerful that it caused great jubilation on the crúsàde ground. The congregation gave a standing ovation, clapping and praising Gód.”
“The moderator dwelled so much on the testimony, reemphasizing each phase and expanding each detail. Mr. Frank kept smiling the whole time as he chitchatted with our pàstõr right there on the altar.”
“He must’ve been the happiest person on the crúsàde ground. Felicia’s testimony to others was just evidence of the miracle-working power of Gód, but to Mr. Frank? It was way more than that.”
“He was connected both physically and spiritually, not just to the testimony but to the testifier. He was delivered, shown mercy, and given a second chance just like the testifier, Felicia.”
“In light of this, his lips curled into a joyful curve, revealing a radiant display of pearly white teeth, as he gesticulated like a music conductor, possibly sharing his astonishment with our pàstõr on how Gód lifted a 5-year-old burden overnight without a single prior effort from him.”
“As words of glory and triumph were still dancing in the mouth of the moderator, the pàstór could no longer contain his excitement. He mounted the pulpit, sang a song of praise, and gave glory to Gód for such a mighty miracle.”
“I felt ashāmed of myself and got really æñgry seeing Mr. Frank bursting unapologetically in the adulation of the testimony. His eyes sparkled like the sun’s rays on a dew-kissed morning, and his cheeks blossomed into rosy, joyful blooms.”
“Felicia’s testimony won the rest of the day, and all the other testifiers were told to come back on Thursday, the second and last day of the crusade, to testify.”
“Her testimony became a sweet song of praise and righteous gossïp in the mouths of the vast majority of people in Abuja, including those who didn’t attend the crúsàde that day because it went viral and was aired and broadcasted the next day on TV and radio stations all over the streets of Abuja and beyond.”
“I got to know this on Thursday morning on my way to see the hérbàlííst. I was so shóckéd to see so many people watching the video and listening to the audio of the testimony. I never imagined my little séçrét agenda of bringing d0wñ a leader would end up becoming the greatest advertisement both the leader and the church have ever had.”
“Immediately I got off the bus to go see the hérbàlííst, my phone rang, and it was my pàstór. ‘Brother Peter, please come to my office right now. It’s urgent,’ my pàstór said.'”
“My heart began to race faster than the vehicles on the road. I began fidgeting with a million goosebumps pushing against my pores. I hurriedly retreated to the front of an abandoned store and began to soliloquize:”
“‘What happened? Why did my pàstór summon me out of the blue with such a level of urgency? What did they find out? I hope it’s about the crúsàde and has nothing to do with me. I hope Mr. Frank hasn’t seen through my plot. Or is it about Felicia? My Gõd! I hope she didn’t say anything súspiçíóús about me. But wait, it’s not possible because she never knew about my intentions.'”
“Then what’s up with the urgency? Or wait, hope it’s not about my siblings? I think my pàstór has found out that I never took them to the crúsàde, and I suspect it’s Mrs. Grace, his n0sy and intrus!ve wife, who never sits in one place.”
“She must’ve visited my house during the crúsàde and discovered I didn’t go with my siblings. But if she did, my pàstór would’ve summoned me immediately after the crúsàde yesterday, not now,’ I thought, lost in the maze of ‘why did?’ ‘hope my,’ ‘what if?’ and ‘I think.'”
“I staggered like a drūññkãrd, boarded a bus, and headed straight to my pàstór’s office, ready to dance to whatever music fate has decided to play.”
“As I arrived at my pàstór’s office, lo and behold, I saw Felicia, Mr. Frank, my pàstór’s wife, and two sisters from the choir. I became even more confused trying to unravel the reason behind such a gathering and what it’s got to do with me.”
“‘Due to the massive wonder and miracle Gód performed in Felicia’s life at the crúsàde last night, we thought it wise to have her stay in my office and delay her going back home until this morning.'”
“‘Even then, she won’t go alone. You’ll accompany her alongside these two sisters from the choir. Get to know where she lives and report back immediately so that we can follow her up, making sure the dēv!l never gets an opportunity to pull her back into the world.'”
“‘She has shared her concerns with me, and I’ll give the three of you some móñey to stop by the market before going home with her. Make sure to assist her in getting nice and decent clothes, along with some basic foodstuffs for her upkeep.'”
“‘After the crúsàde today, my wife, Mr. Frank, and I will find time next week to officially pay her a warm visit and get to know where she is staying. We’ll solidify her connection with Gód through pràyérs and occasional visitations,’ my pàstór said, as he handed an envelope containing móñey to one of the sisters to purchase items at the market for Felicia.'”
“Felicia wasn’t completely shóçked to see me because she already knew I was among the chúrçh’s workforce, but of course, she was amazed to see that I was among those my pàstór chose to accompany her home.”
“I felt extremely relieved and calmed, seeing that fate played a random tune whose lyrics had absolutely nothing to do with my m!sch!evous underground railroad. My féàrs smiled at the outcome of my ‘what ifs’ and sent a message to my thoughts telling them to calm down.”
“We left immediately and went straight to the market. I kept casting rēgrētful sidelong glances at Felicia while on the bus, wishing the hérbàlííst had never suggested we involve her. I went to her as an unfr!endly friend who had a common ēñëmy, Mr. Frank, only to end up becoming their uncommon and unexpected destiny helper.”
“That was the most ann0y!ng experience I will ever live to rēgrēt. There was an æñgry vo|cano boi|ing and spewing torrents of f!re within me, but in order not to raise susp!cion, I wore a fæke cool demeanor as we discussed yesterday’s event with Felicia on our way to the market.”
“We strolled through the market like tourists, bought all the decent clothes we could afford, and purchased a handful of basic foodstuffs like a carton of Indomie, a few yams, rice, and beans, among others. We boarded another bus and went straight to her house.”
“We assisted her in doing a little cleaning, arranged the foodstuffs where they should be, and pràyed with her. She insisted we stay so that she could quickly prepare something and feed us a bit, but we declined and left immediately to report back to our pàstõr.”
“When we arrived at our pàstór’s office, Mr. Frank had already left, and it was just him and Mrs. Grace, his wife. We provided him with all the necessary feedback. He was greatly pleased, dismissed the two sisters from the choir, and asked me to wait.”
“‘Why did you not bring your siblings to the crúsàde, Brother Peter?’ My pàstór said, reawakening my féàrs with a question I had rejoiced over, thinking I had escaped.'”