No More Mistakes #Projectnigeria

Chapter 29

Chapter 29

OMOLARA'S POV

  I couldn’t still believe I was going to church. I felt the reason I was going was silly but I was going anywhere, I hoped it would be fun.

There was a church on the same street as the house so it was close to the house. I dressed in a simple knee-length black dress and wore my wig on the cornrows made with my natural hair, then I dress my baby in a pink dress. I carried her on my back and wrapped kanga around my chest and stomach area to hold her still. I feared she was going to pull my wig off with her tiny strong hands.

I walked out of my room. Ayodeji was in the living room, I could tell he had questions but kept them to himself.
“I’m going out” I told him.
“It’s Sunday, where… forget” He replied.
“Please if you are going out, keep the key” I said and left the house. I walked to the church, I noticed it was not big but had many members that there were barely enough chairs for more people.

I slipped into the back hoping no one noticed me. The people at the back greeted me but most of them were more interested in dancing to the songs which were sung. I heard some of these songs before. Funny enough, any form I had to feel for school or any other thing I would always write Christianity as my religion but my parents and I never went to church. My parents listened to some sermons but were not so crazy about religion. I was now sitting with my baby in my hands.

“You are big, big, big….” They sang. Eriayomi was giggling, I turned and saw a woman playing with her.
“Sorry, she’s so cute!” The woman said.
“Thank you” I replied and smiled. I looked around and realized kids were not there. The woman noticed what I observed.
“Kids and teenagers have their own section in the church” she replied, I nodded and faced the front. They sang songs in unison, they gave offerings and tithe, they prayed while I sat and watched them. Every woman in the church wore something to cover their hair except me. Soon, it was time for the sermon. The pastor stood at the pulpit and preached about having hope.

“There is hope for a living dog than a dead lion” He said. He opened the Bible and read from it. I actually liked the sermon, it was refreshing and interesting. I looked down at Eriayomi and found her sleeping. The sermon ended and the pastor prayed, I noticed people closing their eyes so I did. The pastor finished and went to his seat. Someone came to the pulpit and prayed for him.

“Are there first-comers in our midst today? Please indicate by raising your hand” The person on the pulpit said. Of course, I was supposed to raise my hand but I didn’t. The people around me were staring at me but I ignored them. The service was over, I got up to leave because I didn’t know how to approach the pastor. These people looked so confident, some went to greet the pastor but I jjust wrapped my sleeping baby on my back and picked up my bag to go.

“Hi, I noticed you're new here” The woman who was playing with Eriayomi said.
“This is the Redeemed Christian Church of God. Life of Peace Parish. Our services are…”
“Ah, thank you but I don’t think I’ll be coming here again ” I replied. There was nothing wrong with this place, everyone seemed happy and at peace. The problem was me, I felt like I didn’t belong.
“Oh” the woman sounded disappointed.

Another woman came to me, I wasn’t living her anytime soon.
“Hello, I don’t think I’ve seen this face before. My name is Mrs. Mary Sylvester, the pastor's wife and head of the women’s fellowship” The other woman said
“Hi, I’m Omolara”
“It's nice to meet you. I’m happy you came here today. I guess they have already told you about the church. This is a place you can lay all your problems and questions down to God. It is a place of peace” Mrs. Sylvester said.
“Will all my questions be answered?” I asked and she nodded.
“Omolara, are you a Christian?” she asked.
“yes…no, ah, I don’t know” I replied.
“Are you willing to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour?”
“To be honest, no. I do need help but I don’t want to get ahead of myself” I thought she would judge me but she looked at me with compassion.
“Can I get your number?” She asked. We exchanged phone numbers.
“We’ll keep in touch, Omolara. Have a lovely day” she hugged me and walked away. The church was almost empty by the time we were done talking. The other woman who was playing with Eriayomi was nowhere to be found. I walked away with these words in my mind.
“Everything will be fine” I said as I left the church building.