I don’t plan waking today to see you still living in my yesterday, the bangles we couldn’t let go have now become the shackles we are drawn with, the path I zoomed off from now I can’t go back to it.
I can’t teach anyone success as my life already describes what failure is. If I could turn back the hands of time, perhaps I would have told uncle Abraham never to let me choose on my own.
The paths I desired from a distance the life I desired in my dreams brought me back only to where uncle took me out from. To those who don’t know my story I am Lot, whose lot is now to be forgotten, as my generation remains without a worth.
I’m to be blamed for my daughters choice I sought for a change but couldn’t find my way.
I hope you learn and not tread my path! go not to Sodom, your wife can’t be from there! except you don’t want the best for your generations too.
You may not find a mother like Sarah, but a morsel with peace is better than a feast with restlessness. I hope you find light in this, before the lights goes out I take my leave now!
Temilola brought me into her clique and that was were I met Lucid Ademade Bakare, another General Overseer’s daughter.
She was different, she joined us at age 15 while I was already 17. My parents then had become public figures, having their own ministry same as Lucy (so I chose to call her).
Lucy was easy going, innocent and upright until Temilola made her school daughter – The new technique we initiated then. We either make you friends or school son/daughter, depending on your class.
She was all into her books, cultured but soughted her parents attention even till now and would do anything to be in their favour as she was the third born and first daughter out of five children yet felt and lived unloved.
And Temilola gave her a new love, how I wish….
As years passed by, I fell in love with Lucy, we buried our past and promised to let go but I never did, oh Korewa!
He snapped out of his thoughts, as his phone rang!
Hello Kore, where are you? I’m done, whatsup?
Oh Charis, I… I… I was caught up in something
One Last Pop E-book would be out shortly
that’s alright dear, if you’re not chanced, we could do it another time
No, give me 5 minutes, I’d be with you.
You sure? I can wait…. or rather still should I come to your office? At least I’d get to even know where you work….
Kore smiled….. I’ll be with you shortly, your excellency [they both laughed]
All this began when I went to stay over at Pastor Akande Charles house, when my parents went on a 2week mission trip and secondarily for church planting.
My Parents were both evangelists, Mr Albert Laolu Jesuferanmi and Mrs Gloria Jesuferanmi Albert.
You could also call them missionaries, have not seen anyone has devoted to the gospel as them.
They were mid-literates, Mom NCE holder, Dad OND holder. they both met in one of the village outreach dad had gone for.
Big Announcement coming up shortly, Dear Reader….. Thanks for reading through.
Fast forward, I was born (Korewa, their one and only child) and they were ordained in Alpha and Omega International Ministries (Ibadan, Oyo State), a church they were introduced to by a fellow missionary they met in one of their trips to Ilorin.
Seems my birth was an open door for them. From a self contain, the church gifted them with a duplex in Ibadan.
They were also given more platforms for village outreaches, were they planted branches for the church.
Pastor Akande Charles, the general overseer’s son returned from the overseas and as at that time I was 9years.
Any time my parents were going for evangelism, I would stay at the mission house but this time Pastor Akande ( In charge of African missions) suggested I stayed with their only daughter and child – Temilola, as they were not always at home too and his Wife, a Doctor and prolific Writer, was always busy and had little or no time for the family.
My parents saw it as a big favour, only if they knew….
We were age mates but I was like a toddler beside her, in mass, brain, substance, fluency and carriage. I was clearly way out of her league.
In three days, I lost all my home training.
Their way of life made me felt like I was a prisoner in my parent’s abode.
My daughter, Godbless you……… my one and only barrister, please don’t stress yourself oh…..
The doctor said, it was accumulated stress and some other grammar I didn’t get to hear because I was so happy………
(Fainting, technically known as syncope, is a temporary loss of consciousness, usually caused by low blood pressure and a lack of oxygen in the brain. Pregnancy hormones can cause the heart rate and blood supply to increase, while blood vessels relax, all of which can lead to dizziness and fainting).
Simi smiled, “thank you mama. I understand, at least now you’re a soon-to-be grandma”, How’s chief?
Yes oh, my daughter, that reminds me….. wait I’m coming, let me go check on him. She laughed…. Our God has smiled on me today, he brought back chief to me and you too my dear when death roared at us…
Let me go with you…. Simi cuts in
The doctor interrupts her…. Barrister, you need to rest and we need to do some checkups, you won’t be able to go anywhere for now, and you even need to eat, where’s your husband ma?
Mama, where’s my husband?
I should be asking you, Simi. I’ve called that boy countless times ooh
I’m here mama, honey I’m here now …… Josh walks in with a teary smile.
Charis filled me in as I was coming, let’s go see Dad.He pecks simi and whispers to her ears“I love you, thanks for not letting go”.
Doctor, let’s go see my dad, what’s his condition?I’m coming honey….referring to Simi.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Kore!
Hello, Charis, how are you? you sound cheerful
Guess what?
Well, is the dead back to life?
Oh yes! you guessed right Kore! My Dad’s awake!
Are you serious?
Yes, Kore….. Our Jesus does the impossible!
Hmmm…
Yes Kore……….you don’t sound happy, are you not happy for me?
Sure! why won’t I?…… I’m happy uhmmmn, what about that your in-law, did she make it?
oh, now I see why you were worried, she made it, thanks Kore, Infact with three months pregnancy, she laughed.
Are you serious! now that calls for celebration
Yes dear, I’ll be leaving the office shortly, where are you?
I’m also wrapping up here, I’ll come pick you
Thanks so much Kore. thank you, you’re a good man. she cuts the line……..
Am i really a good man?, Kore thought to himself.
Can I still go on with this, she’s innocent and does not deserve this, how did I get to this point!
oh Korewa! oh Korewa!
All this began when I went to stay over at Pastor Akande Charles house when my parents went on a 2week mission trip to Ęiyęnkorin village…
The rope immediately gave way without anyone touching it, she fell off the stairways and Josh got there in time to save the day but she was already unconscious.
He started praying vigorously, “Jesus have mercy” If you could give a chance, you can do the same to Lucy Lord If you truly love me like you tell me always, bring Lucy back If truly you sent me to Lucy, Jesus bring her back.
Josh sobbed
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Thank you so much Korewa for staying around, your company has been helpful but now I need to return to work, break’s over.
Here is my card, feel free to call at any time.
Oh, so it’s Doctor Flora, he sighed.
that’s alright, please be fine Charis, we will keep praying…
Uhmmn…. by the way, which patient did you say you came to check on? so I could keep a eye on…
oh about that, don’t worry yourself, you’ve got a lot on your plate already, it’s something minor. (He cut in)
oh, alright then. Thanks once again Korewa.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Where am I? Lucy looked around, an expanse without an ending, all dry without proof of any existing living organism.
How can anyone be here, who would just even abandon a land as this, what a fellow!
oh Yes! what a fellow indeed, a voice responded audibly right behind her.
she looked back and saw no one, scared to her wits, she asked
“Who are you?… I… I… I rebuke you in the name of Jesus”
Lucy Ademade Bakare, you can’t rebuke me in my name.
“Oh my Lord” she fell face forward on the ground, weak and drowned in fear, felt naked once again.
Lucy, for how long would you chose to be like this?
Look! that’s Joshua my son praying to me relentlessly to restore you back but just like this land, desolate and fruitless, so is your life before me, yielding nothing.
I have given you many chances to make me proud but you would rather make your parents proud yet live deep in sin.
I forgave you yet, for three years you did not forgive yourself, wallowing in your past, punishing yourself for what I have removed from my record.
But for the sake of my son, Joshua Azikwe, I am giving you a second chance, return and I’ll make him nurture you and teach you to make your land green!
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Lucy sneezed back to life
Simi sneezed back to life (after the doctor diagnosed she was three months pregnant with twins but couldn’t inform Mrs Azikwe yet as she was still in shock)
Chief Azikwe sneezed back to life, “Where is my Son?” Joshua! Joshua!
Season 2 ends….. Watch out for One Last Pop: The Journey
If I were to buy a flower for everytime I thought of you, your mom and brother, Azili, I would be surrounded by a wild forest now baby.
My most beautiful and courageous daughter, warrior Princess of Kutà, the one who never breaks nor concede to fear, I know you’ve not forgotten who we are and the tribe we belong to.
No lion turns back on its own Adan.
I received your letter from uncle Rufus just few weeks ago, November 15th precisely.
So sorry it took this long to reach out to you and to also reply your letter to Daddy, which was more of your feelings put together in the past 5 months and I’m glad you did.
With tears in my eyes, I write back to you my daughter.
The path we chose when we made an oath to serve our country, our motherland was the path of loneliness and obeying the last command.
We’ve never stopped fighting for justice and equity Adan but not everyone seems to be on that track anymore
One last Pop Season 2 continues shortly…..
and ofcourse few bad eggs are enough to make the poultry stink.
Foyà is more engaging but I never stop praying for you, your brother and mother that our God will continue to preserve us all.
I wish I had sufficient explanation for you
hoping to see you soon but in the meantime Adan, only prayer, only prayers can save us now.
Josh heard so clearly in his Spirit as he was driving and immediately he had obeyed.
Josh was not the one to hesitate when such words dropped in his spirit has he had learnt overtime, the reward of disobedience many times even through Simi.
But it was his ATM encounter that made him completely obedient and always eager for any instruction from the Lord.
They had gone into the mall one time to get some items and they chose to branch the ATM machine before going in, as they were alighting from the car,
He had the urge to pray in tongues but he didn’t has he felt there was no need because everything was in order, then his ATM card got swallowed by the machine, He still didn’t realise what is disobedience had caused him, he went in for transfer only to realise his Bank App also was not cooperating.
Simi had to come through without saying a word.
As they were leaving the mall, Simi asked gently if he had received anything beforehand that he ignored, right there he confessed and they prayed but it still took him two weeks to resolve the bank issues.
Josh got to the door and rather than knocking, he opened immediately and walked in only to see Lucy trying to jump off the staircase to give the rope its full course of action.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Kore walked out of the hospital, with a lot on his head and bumped into a Lady whose eyes were fixed to her phone with mild tears forming in her eyes.
“oh! I’m so sorry”
“I’m so sorry”
“I should be the one apologizing”
Wait! Charis! you
Kore! what are you doing here?
Oh, about that… uhmmmn… wait, are you crying? what’s wrong Doctor?
Oh, nothing….. I…. I…. I…. was just informed…… I lost my Dad and my In-Law, been trying to reach home…
Oh my God! Is there anything I can do to help? Come, let’s leave this place…..
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Doctor! what are you not saying?! what’s going on, please talk to me, I can’t lose both of them in one day, No! No! Doctor!
Mrs Azikwe wept like a baby, seeing her daughter in law rushed into another ward and her husband flat lined, she wasn’t herself. Charis had called just at the period it happened.
Haa! flora Haa Flora! Chief is gone! he has left me, tell Jesus to return him ooh, tell Jesus oh
Joshua is not here, Simi too is dead, my daughter who did i offend, who? she broke down in tears……
To be continued…..
These series are purely inspired by the HolySpirit, keep praying for us as this journey continues.
“Please I’m here to see Doctor Charis, which department?”,
“Sorry sir, there’s no one by that name in this hospital, Mr…. “
“Yes, my name is Mr Korewa Albert, but you can call me Kore.
You mean there’s no one by that name? Charis? are you sure? please check your records”
Mr Kore, I know every single doctors, both junior, senior, part-time and fulltimers by their name and there’s no one by that name here.
perhaps you should check the next hospital few blocks from here, you might just see the one you looking for or at best, call the fellow.
Uhmmn…. that’s the problem, I don’t have her contact but I know she works here
“That’s quite complicating, I’m the receptionist here and I’m a little busy at the moment sir, if you would excuse me Mr Kore, thanks.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
“Jesus have mercy”, Josh kept praying as he drove at high speed hoping to meet Lucy in good time as he couldn’t tell what could be going on, trying to get her contact from The Williams Estate whatsapp group.
Meanwhile at home, Lucy had made up her mind to commit suicide, she was writing a long note when she heard tires screeching rashly right into the compound.
who could be coming in so drunk and driving in as if he were on express. She thought to herself as she made the knot
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
“Simi, could you help my husband get some fruits or perhaps something liquid, he has not taken anything yet”.
Okay mama, I’ll do just that, I’m coming mama.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Josh dropped his phone in the car and ran for the door as Lucy was about to put the rope on her neck
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
As Simi reached for the door and slumped…
Mr Azikwe started gasping for breathe and all of a sudden gave up the ghost!…
The crisis were over, Charis had travelled immediately that Friday evening after Josh had come to have lunch with the whole family bringing Simi along.
His parents were so happy when they heard the whole story, the mother was convinced right there at the dining and gave her life to Christ while the Dad asked for some more time to think about it, yet embraced Simi as part of the family.
Josh became more fervent in fellowships and things of God. He started praying for Lucy his neighbor rather than reporting her to the husband, every night before going to bed as Simi had counselled him to.
They would pray for Lucy, pray for Josh’s Dad to be convinced, pray for Nigeria and every other prayers that came to mind. Sometimes when they become speechless of what to pray on they both laugh at each other and in turn pray for themselves.
Josh did not get his job back and still did not take over his father’s business as they agreed he should do whatever he desires and would support him surely.
So he ventured into Fish farming with the little savings he had left and his parents support. He became a top notch in the field as he also had many professional hands working with him and every single client that came around he never hesitated to share a pound of his life with them.
Three years after, he wrote a book titled “One Last Pop” and got married to Simi who is now a Barrister.
Dear Reader, God minds our action and very much our thoughts. To disregard him in our dealings is to deprive ourselves of the True Essence of Life.
Thanks for Reading
Hope you’ve been blessed so far by these stories?….
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I do hope this letter meet you well. How are you fairing? since you traveled to Foyà to join your fellow soldiers five months back, I’ve never stopped missing you.
Thinking about every moment we’ve spent together, we hold so precious the days we get to see you, so proud of you Dada.
Have not seen anyone as fearless and loving as you’re, never seen you cry only when we lost grandma and you stared at her picture for so long at the dining room.
As I know you were both close just as I am to you.
We get to see you just 2months, 2weeks and 8days in a year according to my fifteen year old calculation.
We couldn’t travel around with you due to Mom’s work as the Midwife here in Kutà and Azili, my Ten year old brother whose health is unstable.
And you told me to watch over them both and to be fearless just as you.
I sincerely hope to see you soon, as it is already two weeks past your normal routine to come check on us.
I want to believe it’s due to the crisis ongoing across the country, which is also getting worse here in Kutà; protest, massacre and unrest day and night over a week now.
Dada, since the protest began, we’ve not been able to leave the house, I pray Uncle Rufus gets this letter across to you, for we’ve been harassed many times since we are known to be soldier’s children, we pray every night for our house not to be stormed into or worse, burnt.
Azili’s health is deteriorating, my friends deserted me, calling me names. They say, “A killer’s daughter is also a killer too!”.
InkandKeypad 