His Helper

1

My morning, as usual, began at a leisurely pace as I made my way to the customer service area, where a queue had formed. I had been stepping in for a colleague on maternity leave since my hiring. The municipal office, being a substantial establishment, had its own cleaning staff, but my responsibility covered the first floor, encompassing bathrooms, the customer service area, and the canteen.

One might question, why did I take this job? Well, I needed practical experience and wanted to contribute to household expenses while saving for the future. With both my older sisters having children, it wasn't feasible for them to solely support a twenty-six-year-old woman. Belinda worked as a cashier at a convenience store, and Somila pursued a nursing career. Meanwhile, my younger sister was still in high school, relying on all of us.

With both my parents having passed away, at least two older siblings were there to support me. They understood that even though I had graduated, obtaining a teaching diploma, I still wanted to learn and do more. I took short online courses to advance my skills for my writing, and I would turn to them for assistance whenever needed.

As for our names, don't ask how my parents decided. Belinda is a blend of Banela and Linda, combining my parents' names, while Somila reflects our family's faith. I'm Unako, signifying God's ability, and Unathi, my younger sister, means "The Lord is with us." It's as if they had sought the Lord's guidance in choosing those names, and we all followed the meaningful essence behind them.

Our born-again Christian parents respected our choices but hoped that, one day, salvation would guide us through Christ. As we all grew up, taking different paths and even making mistakes along the way, their instilled values served as constant reminders of our identity and the people who believed in God for our lives. Especially my mother, who didn't compromise when it came to God; she didn't mind if others distanced themselves due to the path she was taking. On the other hand, my dad would go to his family and support them during traditional rituals, even though he did not actively participate.

In my workplace, most people headed upstairs to the offices and rarely used the customer service entrance unless they needed assistance.

This morning followed the usual routine. Donning surgeon gloves and a mask for protection, I began cleaning. I always had my phone playing music or recorded prayers - I pray when the moment calls for it. Despite the challenges as a born-again Christian, I believe the Lord is orchestrating something greater - His plans consistently surpass my own. So whenever I had a chance, I praised and worshipped the Lord, letting Him take part in everything I did.

As a young woman, there are times when you know that if you do things by yourself without guidance, you would stumble. I prayed that I didn't end up like that. Ten years later, I have no regrets; I wanted to live a life where God and the Holy Spirit guided me through.

Around eleven, I would take a break for tea. Despite a few people coming in, the canteen remained clean. Opting for coffee, I enjoyed a homemade lunch. Carrying lunch proved wise – it saved money and allowed for healthy eating.

As individuals came in for meals, I kept a low profile, exchanging greetings and smiles, especially with those at the tellers on my floor. Some might label me as reserved – I've always been the quiet one, even in school. I did speak up when comfortable. When I did speak, people often forgot that I seemed reserved; I had never allowed anyone to think that I was a pushover. Voicing my opinions had been something I did, but after my salvation, I found it challenging to speak out. I believed the Lord would do the talking, allowing me to listen and let Him guide me.

On this particular day at work, it was rainy. After thirty minutes, I would check the entrance. Despite having a rug, the white tiles demanded continuous cleaning.