Anne: Lost in Transit

Chapter 9

With only three weeks left to first semester exams, now was not the time to show unseriousness but even the consciousness of the exam and the exam spirit did not stop me from constantly losing concentration. I’d called home last week after waiting one more week for my allowance but it did not come. The anxiety in my mother’s voice was more frightening than the lack of money I was facing. My father was sick. Very sick. So sick that he had been on oxygen for weeks.

The doctors were yet to diagnose the problem, and my mother was constantly met with their confusion. Every test done came out negative of any probable cause the doctors suspected, making their diagnosis more difficult.

   As soon as Yere left the room to attend night class with some of her course mates, I closed my books and knelt down to pray.
‘In Jesus name, Father in heaven, I come to you today because your Word says whatever I ask in your name, you will do it. My father is lying helplessly in the hospital and even the doctors are confused, please cause your healing to flow into his body so that he can be healed. By your stripes he is healed in the name of Jesus. Your word also says, you sent forth your word and it healed them, and delivered them from their destruction, deliver my father from this destructive life-threatening sickness in Jesus name… Amen!’

   I opened my books again. Still unable to read, I closed them and went back on my knees. ‘Father God, I’m here again asking for your healing for my father…please don’t let him die…’

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   “You are not the first person to have a dying parent! You either write your exams or come back next year to write them!” There was no way to describe how tired I was but more than that, I was sick! Sick of the Nigerian education that was dispassionate about the mental health of her students. Compassion was a foreign word to many lecturers and because they were not shown that during their time, it was with the same anger and frustration they treated their students badly.

   The exam of today was very tough. I pushed the thoughts to the back of my mind. The exam was written already, I won’t beat myself over what I could have written better. I may not get an A or a B but I will not be getting a D either. I changed into house clothes and laid on the bed.
Yere was going to be at Osas’ for the rest of the exam period. Thank God! If I was going to be vulnerable with my feelings, I needed to be alone to do that. ‘In Jesus name, Father Lord, it’s me again, your word says in John 14 verse 14, that if I ask anything in your name you will do it. I’m asking again and thankful for the answer because I believe you will do it! You did it for the lame man at the beautiful gate, you also did it for the crippled man that Paul commanded to work. In the name of Jesus, whatever has caused my father to be sick is gone now…!’ Until my phone rang the next hour, every time I attempted to stop praying, an overwhelming longing came upon me making me go back on my knees and continue.

  ‘Hello good afternoon?’

‘Hi Anne. I just heard about your dad from Yere, I'm really sorry about his health.’ Ebere said lowly. ‘Why didn’t you tell me before? How was the exam? Yere even told me what your HOD said.’ He sounded exasperated.

   ‘My exam was okay. As for my dad, I’ve been praying and my fellowship has been praying along with me. We told God that the next call I’ll get from my family will be good news of my father’s recovery. Since I’m expecting good news, there’s no need to bother you with a problem God has already turned to a testimony.’ Ebere was quiet for a long time.

   ‘I hope so too. Yere said you’re hardly eating, since you’re convinced that God will heal your father, I believe you should be alive to see the miracle that’s why I'm outside your hostel with food for you.’