Chapter 24 THE CHURCH

Pastor Melvin invited Sobrina to WUCC - a church he attended on the campus, which was founded and pastored By Reverend Saul. Sobrina began to worship at the church from time to time.

One Sunday, the Reverend started a teaching about 'destroying unclean things in one's life, because they affected one's salvation'. The Reverend described unclean things as things gotten through unclean means, such as gifts from men who are not one's husband, or relatives.

Sobrina was one of the few people using a Blackberry in the University. It was a new technology at the time, in her country. It had been a gift from one of her former "Oyibo" from Lagunde. Everyone knew there was no way she could have bought it on her own - it was really expensive - coupled with the fact that her past was no secret to both the Reverend, Pastor Melvin and some members of the church. She had been led to testify publicly about how God had saved her from a notorious past.

Pastor Melvin who was closely working with the Reverend, was more than happy to destroy the cell phone. He broke it to pieces on one evening, pounding on it repeatedly with a rock, while she watched, cringing at every impact, grateful for the darkness that concealed her displeasure.

Pastor Melvin took Sobrina to the Reverend's house for counseling from time to time, and while they talked, he would take her cell phone and delete the number of every male contact he sees as competition. But not before texting them as if she was the one doing it - "leave me alone, I am now with Christ", he wrote.

One evening after church, he took Sobrina aside. He had kept two chairs behind the church building for the purpose of the conversation he wished to have with her. After exchanging pleasantries, when they were seated...

"Soby, you remember how I told you I had problems when I was supposed to graduate?", he began.

"Yes?", she responded.

"Well, they were un-rectifiable problems. I had to write another JAMB, I chose this University as a first choice, but applied for a different department. I wrote the University's entrance exam and I have gained a second admission. This is how I know our relationship is God's will. I didn't even tell my parents until I saw my name on the merit admission list. My dad was hurt but he is being very supportive", he told Sobrina.

She was dumbfounded. She didn't understand what kind of problems could be un-rectifiable in the University. She had been thinking all the while that she was dating a man who was through with school, but had issues to settle with his department, such as missing scripts or rewriting of failed exams, which was why he was still around the University; and that in no time he would be completely done, which would mean that he would be getting a job soon, and they could be married.

The revelation caused a lot of changes in Sobrina's mind. First, she was angry, "you mean I've been dating someone who wasn't even a legal student? And for over two years?", she thought. But she was never to speak her mind in his presence. She was always in constant fear of annoying him. She only said her mind from behind the screen of her cell phone, far away in her hostel - through texting - after every meeting with him. All she does when they're together is listen, he had made sure of it by teaching her not to be bold in his presence. Therefore she couldn't speak her mind right then.

It dawned on her that the journey of their relationship was not moving to happily ever after any time soon, as she'd hoped.

Sobrina was now almost in her middle twenties, she would be around her late by the time he would finally be through with school. And probably in her early thirties by the time he would be ready to settle down. Continuing in the relationship was a huge risk to take. But by the time she got back to her hostel, her love for him had prevailed. Her emotions had also settled, and she had reached a decision.

"I will wait for you", she texted him.