1

911

(
It'
sane
merge
ncy
)

by

OL
UWADAMI
LOL
ABABSAI
YEDERO
I
nspi
redbyt
heHol
ySpi
rit

2
Bér
ubanwast
hedev
il
'sbodyguar
d,hehadwor
ked

cl
osel
y wi
th hi
m si
nce t
he bat
tl
ein heav
en wi
th

Mi
chaelandt
heot
herangel
s.Noonehadbeenabl
e

t
o beat hi
srecor
din hel
l
.He si
ngl
e handedl
y

sl
aught
ered a mi
l
li
on men al
lov
ert
he wor
ldi
na

mi
nut
e.Luci
ferl
ovedhi
mfori
tandsoheconsul
ted

hi
m of
tenbef
orer
eleasi
ngnewf
reebi
est
othewor
ld.

Theywer
ecal
l
edf
reebi
esbecauset
heywer
equi
ckl
y

embr
acedbyt
oomanyonar
ri
val
,butt
oni
ght
,ther
e

wasweepi
ngi
nhel
l
.Thehost
sofhel
lhadgat
her
ed

andbegant
owai
l
.Ber
ubanknew bet
tert
hant
olet

t
hem wakehi
smast
erup,f
ori
twashi
sresthour
,so

3
her
ushedt
oseewhatwaswr
ong.Wher
etheyl
i
ved

washot
,butt
heywer
eusedt
oit
.Not
hingi
nther
e

gr
ew,
onl
ydeat
hthr
ived.Hebi
rt
hedchi
l
drenv
eryof
ten

knownast
hepr
incesofhel
l
,andnoneoft
hem was

spar
edf
rom t
heev
ilwor
ksoncet
heywer
eofage.I
t

waswher
etheywer
egoi
ngt
obeet
ernal
l
ycondemned,

y
ett
hehot
nesswi
thoutt
hepr
omi
sedf
urnacecoul
d

mel
tamer
eman'
ssoul
.Theywer
eusedt
oitasf
aras

t
heywer
econcer
ned.

"
Whati
shappeni
ngi
nher
e?!
"Bér
ubanasked,angr
il
y

domi
nat
ing wi
th hi
svoi
ce and hi
s huge hor
se-
li
ke

body
.Theyhadal
lthoughti
twast
her
easonhewas

t
hef
ast
estoft
hem al
l
,unt
ilt
heyr
eal
i
zedhecoul
d

t
aket
hef
orm ofany
thi
ngt
hef
atherofl
i
ghtcr
eat
ed,

anabi
l
ityonl
yLuci
ferhad,y
et,hehadnev
erf
oronce

consi
der
edhi
msel
fequal
tot
hef
atherofdar
kness.

4
"
Arey
oual
ldeaf
?"Bér
ubany
ell
edonceagai
nandt
his

t
ime,hesoundedl
i
keawoundedLi
onandt
her
ewas

si
l
ence i
n hel
l
.Theyknew t
heyhad t
o choose a

spokes per
son as t
he commander
s ofhel
lhat
ed

di
sor
der
.ItwasLuci
ferorhi
m,t
heot
her
shadt
hei
r

t
err
it
ori
es and st
ayed t
her
e.Mammon t
he god of

money
,Asi
deust
hegodofi
mmor
ali
tyandqueenKai
.

Shewast
heoceangoddesscont
rol
l
ingt
heseasand

ev
erywat
erbody
.Sheal
sowor
kedhandi
nhandwi
th

Asi
deust
o spr
ead i
mmor
ali
tywi
tht
hehel
p ofher

daught
ers cal
l
ed Adoshs. They wer
e pr
ost
it
utes

scat
ter
edont
hef
aceoft
heear
th,
somewer
en'
tint
he

act
,butt
heyi
nfusedt
hespi
ri
tandl
ett
hei
ncenseof

i
mmor
ali
tyspr
eadwher
evert
heywer
efound.

"
Bér
ubanourMast
er,weweepov
ert
hef
erv
encyof

t
his gr
owi
ng ones.Thei
rlov
eforpur
it
yand t
hei
r

st
rong f
ait
hint
he f
atherofl
i
ght
.We see t
hem

5
gr
owi
ngi
nthei
rnumber
s.Whatdowedo?
"Vamon

spoke.Shewasasmel
l
yspi
ri
tthatwentaboutwi
th

t
hei
ncenseofhy
pocr
isyandl
i
es.shehadt
heshape

ofagoat
,al
way
swant
ingherwi
l
ltosuper
sedei
nal
l

t
hings.
Shewasusual
l
ynotav
ail
abl
einhel
l
,butf
ort
he

ur
gencyoft
hemat
ter
,sheshowedup.

"
Butt
hey hav
e weaknesses,don'
tthey
?"Bér
uban

asked.

"
Yes,buti
tishi
dden,wel
lhi
ddeni
ntheper
fect
ionof

t
hef
atherofl
i
ght
."Gabadont
ookhi
stur
n.Hewas

usual
l
ywi
thhi
smast
erMagog,
hewast
heGodofwar
.

Gabadonwast
opossesshumansandst
artr
ight
sthat

usual
l
yledt
odeat
h,spi
l
li
ngofbl
oodher
eandt
her
e.

Thebl
oodwasj
oyt
othem andt
hatj
oycoul
dfeed

t
hem f
ory
ear
s.Hewaswel
lrespect
edandhi
swor
ds

6
wer
ehi
ghl
yrev
ered.Ev
enBér
ubanhonour
edhi
mfor

hehadbeenhi
stut
orwhenhewasy
ounger
.

"
Thendosomet
hing!Di
str
actt
hem!
"

"
Abi
sht
hedemonoft
roubl
eanddepr
essi
onhasbeen

sent
,butt
heyst
il
ltr
ustandobey
."

"
Ha!
!"Bér
ubany
ell
edout
loud.Onl
yheknew how he

di
dthatwi
thoutwaki
ngLuci
ferup,butnott
her
est
.

Thei
rnoi
sewast
ormentandi
tcoul
dwakehi
m upat

anyt
ime.

"
Idon'
tcar
ehowy
oudoi
t,f
indasol
uti
ont
othi
sbad

news,donotr
etur
nunt
ily
ouhav
ethem,enough.St
ay

wi
tht
hem,t
aket
hem downoneaf
tert
heot
her
,you

ar
ewi
seandnowi
tmustshow.Depar
tyouagent
sof

dar
kness,sonsoff
all
enangel
s,l
oyalser
vant
sofour

7
mast
erLuci
fer
!"Bér
ubandi
smi
ssedt
hem al
l
,andt
hey

al
llef
texceptSogaī
.Hehadmor
etosay
,Bér
uban

knewbet
tert
hant
osendhi
m away
,hewasaser
pent
,

v
erywi
seandshr
udei
nhi
sway
s,y
ethi
sspeedwas

amazi
ng and t
he dev
il
's body guar
d had al
way
s

t
houghtofhi
m ast
hesecondi
ncommandt
ohi
msel
f,

hewast
hatst
rongev
enLuci
ferhadt
akenhi
sfor
mto

decei
vet
hesonsofmani
nthegar
denofEden.

"
Sogaīwhy hav
eyou st
ayed back? Hav
eyou no

busi
nesst
orunast
her
est
?"

Hebowedandl
ookedatBér
ubanwi
thmi
schi
efi
nhi
s

ey
es,j
ustt
henBér
ubanknewhehadcomeupwi
tha

mast
erpl
anhedi
dn'
twantt
oshar
ewi
tht
her
est
.

8
*
***
* *
***
* *
***
* *
***
*

Tol
ulopeJesubi
yiwast
hebestsi
ngeri
nhermot
her
's

chur
chwhi
l
egr
owi
ngup.Shewasj
ustt
hir
teenand

herv
ocaldext
eri
tywasal
readyoutoft
hiswor
ld.How

coul
dshesi
ngt
hatwel
l
?Shej
ustdi
dntknowbutshe

wast
hatgood.I
twasar
easonshewasl
etoutoft
he

chi
l
dren'
s choi
rver
y ear
ly,al
though some wer
e

agai
nsti
tandt
houghti
twast
ooear
ly,t
hechur
ch

di
dntmi
nd.Herst
atur
edi
dntgi
veherawayei
ther
.

I
twasf
unnyhowMDNnamdist
oodi
nforheri
nfr
ont

oft
hepr
esby
ter
yatf
ir
standspokeofherr
elease

f
rom t
hechi
l
dren'
schoi
rli
keshewasi
nsomeki
ndof

pr
ison.I
tpai
dof
faf
teral
l
,shewasal
l
owedi
ntot
he

mai
n choi
rand ev
en t
hough she di
dn'
ttouch t
he

mi
crophoneunt
il
laf
tersi
xmont
hswhenhergood

9
v
oicecoul
dnol
ongerbedeni
ed,
thesweetchi
l
dcar
ed

l
ess,shef
eltbor
edandt
houghti
twasbet
tert
obe

wi
thot
herchi
l
drent
hanadul
tst
hatkeptst
rai
ghtf
aces,

cont
inual
l
ynodedateachot
hert
oaf
fi
mtr
uthsabout

t
hewor
dandt
hen,t
her
ewast
hepar
toft
hel
ong

ser
mons t
hatcame wi
th no Mont
essor
ist
yle of

t
eachi
ng.I
tmadeherev
enmor
ebor
ed,butshewas

sur
eshel
ovedt
heLor
d,bey
ondwor
ds,y
es,shedi
d,

sosheendur
edt
heser
viceandenj
oyedt
hesi
ngi
ng

eacht
imei
tcame.

"
Yourdaught
err
eal
l
y bl
essed us t
oday
,we wer
e

t
ouched… i
nfact
,theHol
ySpi
ri
tmi
nist
eredt
ous…"

member
swoul
dgat
herr
oundhersi
ngl
emot
herand

t
alkabouthow herdaught
er'
smi
nist
rat
ionbl
essed

t
hem.Shewoul
dof
tenbow i
nhumi
l
ityandsayt
he

l
i
nes,"
webl
essGod.
"Seei
nghermot
herdot
hatv
ery

of
ten,Tol
ulopequi
ckl
yadopt
edt
hel
i
nes,"
webl
ess

10
God,
"andsai
ditv
eryof
tenwhenpeopl
eappr
oached

her
.Herf
atherhaddi
edwhenshewast
woandher

mot
herhadr
emai
nedsi
ngl
esi
ncet
hen.Manypeopl
e

t
ri
edt
alki
ngheri
ntoasecondmar
ri
agebutt
onoav
ail
,

t
hewomanhadmadeuphermi
ndt
oremai
nsi
ngl
e.

Tol
ugr
ew i
nfai
thandwasundeni
abl
ybeaut
if
ul.She

wasso ador
abl
eand i
twasn'
tlong bef
orepeopl
e

begant
ocal
lherT-
Wor
shi
p.

The name had st

art
ed wi
th herf
ri
end,Janel
.She

wasn'
tNi
ger
ian,
shewasami
xedbr
eedandsomehow

t
heduohadl
ovedeachot
herr
ightf
rom chi
l
dhood.

Janelhadspentmostofhergr
owi
ngupday
sinSout
h

Af
ri
caandhadonl
yret
urnedt
ohermot
her
'scount
ry

whent
hexenophobi
aat
tacksi
nSout
hAf
ri
cat
ook

anot
hert
urn.Shel
ovedTol
ulopeatf
ir
stsi
ghtand

ev
ent
hei
rpar
ent
scoul
dtel
lthel
ovewasmut
ual
.

11
"
To.
..
Tol
ew.
..
Tol
ewl
ohpey
."Janelwoul
d st
ruggl
eto

cal
lhernameandsot
osol
vet
hatpr
obl
em,
they
oung

gi
rlsi
mpl
ycal
l
edherT-
wor
shi
p.Shecoul
dnotdeny

t
hef
actt
hatsheal
sof
eltat
ingeofj
eal
ousywhent
he

whol
echur
chbegant
oshar
ethenameandcal
l
edher

T-
wor
shi
p.She want
ed t
o per
sonal
i
se i
tso as t
o

r
emi
ndherf
ri
endhowmuchshel
ovedherev
eryt
ime

shement
ionedi
t,butno,t
heyst
olei
tandmadei
ta

gener
alname.

Thegi
rl
swer
esmar
tandhi
ghl
yspi
ri
tualf
ort
hei
rage.

Janelwoul
dal
way
ssett
her
emi
nder
sfort
hei
rpr
ayer

r
out
ine,t
hent
hei
rpar
ent
swoul
ddr
opt
hem ov
erat

whosehouset
heydeci
det
ouseandl
ett
hem spend

t
imet
oget
heri
npr
ayer
.Itcont
inuedunt
ilt
heywer
e

ei
ght
eenandJanelwasmandat
edt
oret
urnt
oSout
h

Af
ri
ca.Theycr
ied,hugged,pr
ayed,sl
epti
nthesame

12
r
oom f
oraweek,t
henpr
omi
sedt
ost
ayi
ntouchwi
th

eachot
her
.

"
T-wor
shi
p,don'
tev
erf
orgetmeandmostespeci
all
y,

don'
tev
erf
orgetGod.Iam goi
ngbackt
oSout
hAf
ri
ca

t
oschool
,butIhopey
oual
way
sremembert
hatour

pr
ayer r
out
ines ar
en'
t j
ust r
out
ines, t
hey ar
e

appoi
ntment
swi
thJesus.
"Janelr
emi
ndedherf
ri
end

i
ntear
sast
heyhuggedagai
nandagai
n.

Tol
u'
smot
hercoul
dn'
ttakei
t.Shewasv
eryat
tached

t
oJanel
too.Whowoul
dn'
tbe,
shewasanangel
.

"
Iwi
l
lmake sur
eyou bot
h keep i
ntouch.
"Tol
u'
s

mot
herpat
tedt
hei
rbacksasshespokeandt
henl
eft

t
hem t
obeal
onef
orawhi
l
e.

I
naweek,Janelwasbacki
ntheSout
hAf
ri
cal
eav
ing

13
herf
ri
endi
nNi
ger
ia.Thet
wo coul
dn'
tgetof
fthe

phone.Tol
u'
smot
herev
engotherani
Phonesot
he

t
wocoul
dfacet
imeandseeeachot
herdur
ingt
hei
r

pr
ayersessi
ons.I
twaswonder
ful
.

Tol
uwoul
dtel
lherf
ri
endabouthow shesangand

t
her
ewast
hemani
fest
ati
onoft
hespi
ri
t.How l
i
fe'
s

wer
etouchedandpeopl
ewer
echanged,how many

peopl
eaccept
edChr
istandconf
essedt
hatJesusi
s

Lor
d.Theywoul
dpr
ayandsi
ngandcr
yinwor
shi
p.

Tol
uwasabet
tersi
nger
,buti
tdi
dn'
tst
opJanelf
rom

j
oini
ngherandaddi
ngherof
fkeynot
es.Somet
imes,

i
tmade Janelst
op and chuckl
e,somet
imes she

l
aughedandsomet
imesshej
ustl
eti
tsl
i
de.

Aboutay
earl
atersomet
hingpecul
i
arhappenedanda

l
otoft
hingschangedf
orgood.

14
I
twasi
naSundayser
vice,
Tol
uhadj
ustr
etur
nedf
rom

schoolaf
terherf
ir
stsemest
er.Shewasamedi
cal

st
udentandhert
imet
abl
ewasqui
teuni
que,al
i
ttl
e

di
ff
erentf
rom whatt
heent
ir
eschoolhad.Sheknew

she had t
o hur
ryhome and spend t
ime wi
th her

mot
herwhol
i
vedal
one.

Theser
vicewaspowerpackedasusualandt
her
e

wast
hemov
e.Shemi
nist
eredwi
thsomuchgr
ace

andconf
idence.I
twasobv
ioust
hewomanhadgr
own,

bot
h phy
sical
l
yand spi
ri
tual
l
yand t
hey
oung boy
s

wer
eal
readydr
ool
i
ngov
erher
,youngmenpr
oposi
ng

andpar
ent
swat
chi
ngoutf
ort
hei
rsonst
obet
he

l
uckyone.

Oncet
heser
viceended,T-
wor
shi
ppr
ayedqui
etl
yon

herseatandt
hengotupandexi
ted.Shef
eltsomeone

f
oll
ow her
,butsheknew shewassaf
e,i
twast
oo

15
publ
i
cforany
onet
ohar
m her
.

"
Hey
!Hey
!T-
Wor
hshi
p!T-
Wor
shi
p!"An unf
ami
l
iar

v
oicekeptcal
l
ing,butshedi
dntt
urn.Sheknew what

t
he y
oung boy
s coul
d do and wasn'
tready f
or

any
body
'st
aunt
ing.Then,a hand r
est
ed on her

shoul
der
.Theper
sonwaspant
ing,shecoul
dal
most

hearhi
shear
tbeat
.

"
T-Wor
shi
p!"

"
Yes,
"shet
urned,nothav
ingachoi
ce.Hi
sfacewas

compl
etel
yunf
ami
l
iar
,shehadnev
ermethi
m bef
ore,

soshedeci
det
opat
ient
lyl
i
sten."
Goodaf
ter
noon,oh

myGod!Sor
ryIdi
dntr
espond,It
houghti
twasoneof

t
heseboy
sthatl
ovet
opl
ayar
oundo.
"Shet
oldhi
m

t
aki
ngaf
ewst
epsawayf
rom hi
mtoseehi
m wel
l
.

16
"
Iti
snotapr
obl
em.
"Het
oldherandl
aughedi
nal
ow

t
one.Thenbef
oreshesai
dsomet
hingel
se,t
heman

di
ppedhi
shandi
ntohi
ssui
tandbr
oughtoutanI
D

car
d.

"
Her
e,mynamei
sSamuelDuncan,Iam t
heCEOof

Gr
aceForGr
ace,
agospel
…"

"
..
.r
ecor
dlabel
!"Shef
ini
shedt
hel
i
newi
thhi
m wi
thher

ey
eswi
deopeni
nshock."
OhmyGod!DunSammy
!"

Shecal
l
edhi
m byhi
smostpopul
arname,t
il
ti
ngov
er

asshel
aughedi
nexci
tement
.

"
Youknowme,
right
?"

"
Whodoesn'
t.Imean,whi
chgospelsi
ngerdoesnot

knowDunSammy
.Youar
eani
con,l
i
keani
dolt
hati
s

notf
rom her
e.Sowhatbr
ingsy
out
omychur
ch,Si
r

17
Duncan?Ihav
ebeenher
efort
ool
ongt
onot
icey
ou

ar
ound.
"Shet
oldhi
m.

"
Wel
l
,you T-
Wor
shi
p,y
ourv
oicebr
oughtmeher
e.

Phew!
"Heexhal
ed.

"
Wow!Whatdoy
oumeansi
r?"

"
Imean,l
ook,don'
tgetmewr
ongokay
.Youar
ethe

mostpower
fulwor
shi
pperIhav
eseen,y
oucar
ryt
he

r
awpr
esenceofGod,t
hepowerandt
hegl
oryofGod

r
adi
ates r
ound y
ou,buty
ourv
oice,oh mi
ne,i
tis

compl
etel
youtoft
hiswor
ld.
"

"
Thanky
ousi
rDuncan,butdi
dwemeetbef
orenow,

somewher
e?"

"
Eh,t
echni
cal
l
y,Imety
ouatemm,Iwasatemm,

18
Si
dney
'schur
ch,
youment
ionedt
hatshei
nvi
tedy
out
o

Chr
istMi
ssi
onAssembl
y,CMA.
"

"
Ohmywor
ld,
andIdi
dnotev
enknow.
"

"
Yeah,
iti
smyf
ri
end'
schur
chandhei
nvi
tedme.Ihad

t
o go f
ort
hesakeoff
ri
endshi
p."Het
oldherand

smi
l
ed."
SoIwashopi
ngt
hatIcoul
dseey
ouandt
alk

y
oui
ntosomev
erycr
uci
alt
hingsabouty
ourt
alentas

ay
oungl
ady
."

"
Whoa!Iwoul
d be gl
ad.
"She t
old hi
m and t
hen

si
ght
edhermot
her
."Oh,
mymum i
sher
e."

"
Okay
,good.Iwoul
dneedt
oseehert
oo.
"

"
Real
l
y,okay
,letusgo.
"Shet
oldhi
m andt
henl
edhi
m

t
ohermot
her
.Thatwast
hef
ir
stt
imet
heymetandi
t

19
wasn'
tbor
ing.Hehadof
fer
edt
ocomet
othehouse

and see t
he t
wo,bot
h mot
herand daught
er.Her

mot
herdi
dn'
tsaynoandsoi
ntwoday
shewasi
n

t
hei
rhouseexpl
aini
nghow t
hathewoul
dlov
eifT-

Wor
shi
pcoul
djoi
nhi
smi
nist
ryandpr
oduceherown

songs,t
rav
elr
oundt
hewor
ldandwor
shi
psot
hatt
he

wor
ldcoul
dbenef
itf
rom herv
oice.Theywer
ebot
h

exci
tedandshewasr
eadyt
oyel
lyesunt
ilhermot
her

t
alked.I
twast
hemostannoy
ingt
hingshehadhear
d

i
nages.

"
Mr.Duncan,
Ithi
nkweshoul
dpr
aybef
orewegi
vey
ou

ananswer
."Tol
ufel
tli
key
ell
i
ngt
ohermot
her
'sf
ace,

whati
fhef
ound someoneel
sebef
oret
heyf
ini
sh

pr
ayi
ng?Whati
fmor
epeopl
emethi
mfort
hissame

oppor
tuni
ty?Shecoul
dn'
tsayany
thi
ngany
mor
e,she

j
ustwat
chedunt
ilhef
ini
shedt
alki
ngt
ohermot
her

andl
eft
.

20
Shecr
eidsecr
etl
yandwai
tedpat
ient
lyunt
ili
twas

t
ime f
orherf
ace t
ime wi
th Janel
.Herey
eswer
e

swol
l
en,herf
airf
acehadt
urnedr
ed.Shedi
dntsmi
l
e

oncesheappear
edont
hescr
eenandJanelcoul
dtel
l

somet
hing was wr
ong.She st
art
ed wi
thal
oud

l
aught
ersay
ingshel
ookedl
i
keaswol
l
enbabyt
hat

hadbeensoakedi
nwat
erf
ort
ool
ong,butherf
ri
end

wasn'
tlaughi
ngbacksoshewassur
eitwasabi
g

pr
obl
em.Shebur
stouti
ntear
sandcr
iedl
i
keababy
.

"
T-Wor
shi
p,y
ouar
escar
ingme,
"shet
oldheri
nher

Sout
hAf
ri
canl
anguageandi
tmadeherf
rown.

"
Whatdoes t
hatev
en mean,Janel
?"She st
opped

cr
yingandaskedher
.

"
Imean,
youar
escar
ingme.Whati
sit
?"

21
Nowshewascal
m,sheexpl
ainedt
oherandhowt
hat

hermot
her
'sr
esponsehadmadehersul
l
en.Then,

Janel
sai
dthemostgr
uesomewor
dst
oher
.

"
Yourmot
heri
sri
ghty
ouknow.
"

"
What
?Ar
eyousuppor
ti
ngherdel
aymet
hod?
"

"
Hey
,wat
chi
tT-
Wor
shi
p,goi
ngt
oGodi
snotadel
ay

met
hod,i
tist
hesur
estmet
hod.How comey
oucan

t
rustGodi
nsmal
ldeci
sionsbutnoti
nsomet
hingas

bi
gast
his?
"

"
Don'
tgetmewr
ongJanel
.Iam notsay
ingt
ell
i
ngGod

i
swr
ong,
Iam j
ustsay
ingt
hat
,whycan'
tIsayy
esand

t
henst
artpr
ayi
ngabouti
t.Ir
eal
l
ydof
eell
edt
odo

t
his.
"

22
"
Hmm,
Ihopey
ouar
ereal
l
yledbyGodandnotbyzeal

anddesi
re.
"

"
Whatdoy
oumean?Ar
eyoudoubt
ingGodi
nme?
"

"
No,
no,
no.Don'
tev
ersayt
hatagai
n.I
fIdoubtGodi
n

y
ou,
itsi
mpl
ymeansIam doubt
ingGodi
nmyownl
i
fe

aswel
landy
ouknowt
hatt
hoset
hatdoubtdon'
tget

any
thi
ngf
rom God.James1:
6-7.
"Shepar
aphr
ased.

"
Iam sor
ryJanel
,sor
ryIam say
ingt
hewr
ongt
hing,

butt
hisi
sitmydear
,whati
fGodsay
sno?
"

"
Thenhei
swi
sei
nhi
sway
s.May
bet
hisi
ssmal
l
er

t
hanGod'
sor
igi
nalpl
ansf
ory
ou.Letmeasky
out
his,

whydoy
ouwantGr
aceForGr
acet
osi
gny
ou?
"

23
"
Hmmm,ser
iousl
y,Idon'
tknowy
et,Ij
ustt
hinki
tisa

goodhei
ghtt
oreach.
"

"
Whati
fGoddoesn'
twanty
out
otaket
hisr
out
e?What

i
fther
eisabet
terof
fer
?"Janelquest
ionedherand

t
henadv
isedhermor
e.Byt
het
imet
heyhadf
ini
shed

t
alki
ng,Tol
ucoul
dnotdenyt
hatshef
eltbet
ter
.They

al
sopr
ayedandwor
shi
pped.Janelhadt
obemor
e

qui
et.Shewasn'
tonbr
eakandherr
oommat
eswer
e

t
her
ewi
thher
.Shemi
ssedhomet
oo,al
otbecause

l
i
keTol
u,shewasal
soanonl
ychi
l
d.

Tol
ufel
tar
echestst
if
fen,
event
houghshehadpr
ayed

wi
th Janeland t
hey had bot
h got
ten a posi
ti
ve

r
esponse,sheknewi
twasst
il
lver
ydependentonher

mot
her
'sr
esponse.I
fshet
oldhi
m no,
thent
hatwasi
t.

Theysati
nthei
rli
vi
ngr
oom,i
nthesameposi
ti
onas

24
t
heyhadal
ldonebef
ore.Theonl
ydi
ff
erencewast
hei
r

cl
othes and t
he f
aces ev
ery
one wor
e.Tol
u wor
e

anx
iet
yandcur
iosi
tyi
nst
eadoft
heexci
tementt
hat

hadbl
aredoutofherf
acet
hef
ir
stt
ime.Andnow,
Mr.

DunSammywor
eav
erycal
mlook,shecoul
dn'
tev
en

sayi
fhel
i
kedt
hedev
elopmentornot
,butshewas

gl
adt
hathest
il
lshowedup,i
tmeanthewasst
il
lver
y

i
ntr
est
edi
nthedeal
.

"
Wel
comeMr
.Duncan,
hermot
hergr
eet
eddr
oppi
nga

t
rayofchi
ckenandcol
dwat
eri
nfr
ontoft
heman.

Tol
uwasshockedt
oseet
het
reat
,shedi
dn'
tev
en

knownt
heycoul
daf
for
dachi
ckenatt
hatt
ime,but

shel
ovedt
hef
actt
hathermot
herhadbecomemor
e

r
ecept
ivet
owar
dst
hemanunl
i
kebef
ore,shel
ooked

att
hemanf
rom t
hecor
nerofherey
esl
i
kehewast
he

dev
il
'sagentawai
ti
ngj
udgement
.

25
"
Thanky
ouv
erymuchma.
"Themanadj
ust
edonhi
s

seatbutnotf
ort
hechi
cken.Hi
sat
tent
ionwasf
ixed

on Tol
u'
s mot
her
,it was obv
ious he came f
or

busi
ness.

"
Please,hel
pusmanaget
his,pl
ease.
"Shet
oldhi
m,

smi
l
ingandpoi
nti
ngatt
het
rayont
het
abl
e.

"
Iwi
l
ltakei
tma,
butnotunt
ilIgetar
esponset
owhat

br
oughtme her
e."He announced wi
th so much

mat
uri
tyi
nhi
svoi
ce.

They al
llaughed undert
hei
rbr
eat
h and t
hen,i
t

becameobv
ioust
hatt
hel
ongawai
tedr
esponsewas

goi
ngt
ocome.

"
Hmm,Mr
.Duncan,Iam sur
eyouwoul
dn'
tbl
ameme

f
orwant
ingt
opr
ayaboutmydaught
erj
oini
ngy
our

26
r
ecor
dlabel
.Hmm,Il
ovet
he i
dea and wi
tht
he

document
syousentt
omewhi
chshehasnotseenor

r
ead,
Ihadt
oint
ensi
fymypr
ayer
sandbesur
emoney

wasn'
tthemai
ndr
ive.
"

"
Iunder
standma,
"hei
nter
rupt
ed.

"
Butaf
terpr
ayi
ng,
myanswert
oyouwoul
dbeay
es.
"

Tol
usi
ghedoutandcl
appedherhandst
oget
heri
n

gr
ati
tude.Mr
.Duncanl
ookedatherandl
aughed.He

pat
tedheront
hekneeandl
ookedatherf
ace.

"
Thanky
ou v
erymuch ma.Ido nott
ake t
hisf
or

gr
ant
ed.Imean,nor
mal
l
y,Iwoul
dnotwai
tthi
slong

f
oranymi
nist
erwear
ebr
ingi
ngonboar
d,butf
orTol
u,

hercasei
sdi
ff
erentandpecul
i
ar,Godhasapl
anf
or

heratGFG and Ipr

ayi
tcomest
o passi
nJesus

27
name.
"

"
Amen!
"Mot
heranddaught
erchor
usedhappi
l
y.

"
SoIwi
l
lsendt
hedocumentdi
rect
lyt
ohernow,l
et

hergot
hroughi
t,andt
henwhenshecomest
othe

of
fi
ce,she can come and si
gn t
he necessar
y

document
sandt
heny
oucanbegi
nyourr
ecor
ding

sessi
ons.
"Het
oldher
.

"
Wow!Godbl
essy
ousi
r,Iam sogr
atef
ul.
"Tol
ulope

t
hankedhi
m endl
essl
yasshebowedherheadsl
i
ght
ly

manyt
imes.Shewasei
ght
eenandt
hemanwas30

accor
dingt
owhatGoogl
eshowedher
.

Tol
ucoul
dnotwai
ttogi
veherf
ri
endt
hegoodnews.

28
Thet
wof
ri
endssang,wor
shi
ppedandt
hankedGod

f
ort
henextl
evel
.IfTol
u'
sfi
rstsongwasgoodenough,

i
taut
omat
ical
l
ymadeheraChr
ist
iancel
ebr
it
y.

"
Remembert
o cel
ebr
ate Chr
istTol
u and he wi
l
l

cel
ebr
atey
oui
nret
urn.WhenChr
istcel
ebr
atesaman,

hebecomesacel
ebr
it
y."Janelt
oldherl
ast
lybef
ore

shef
inal
l
ybi
dherf
ri
endgoodni
ght
.

The nextweekend was supposed t

o be herf
ir
st

meet
ingwi
tht
heot
hermember
sofGFG.Herar
ri
val
to

t
hest
udi
owasmassi
vel
ycel
ebr
ated.Theof
fi
cewas

beaut
if
ull
ydecor
atedandhernamewaswr
it
enon

ev
erycor
nershet
urned."
Wel
comeT-
Wor
shi
p,wel
ove

andcel
ebr
atey
ou.
"Itwasov
erwhel
ming,
butshekept

hercool
.OnceMr
.Duncanar
ri
ved,
heappr
oachedher

wi
thhi
sar
mswi
deopen,sheknewwhathemeantso

shehuggedhi
m andt
hent
hewhol
eof
fi
cegat
her
edas

29
t
heyst
oodt
her
elooki
ngl
i
keacoupl
e.

"
Tomywonder
fulcowor
ker
sinGFG,
Ihav
easkedy
ou

al
ltohel
pmecel
ebr
ateTol
ulopeJesubi
yit
hisway

because,shei
sn'
tan or
dinar
ywor
shi
per
,oh mi
ne,

hav
eyouhear
dthi
swomanwor
shi
p?Ay
ahy
ahy
ah!

Tel
lyournei
ghbour
,heav
enwi
l
lfal
l
!"

Theyt
urnedt
oeachot
herandr
epeat
edt
hel
i
nesaf
ter

t
hei
rboss.

"
AndbecauseourTol
u,ImeanourownT-
Wor
shi
pis

her
e,shewi
l
lbel
eadi
ngusi
nourdev
oti
onalwor
shi
p

t
his mor
ning.Letus hav
ethi
s beaut
if
ul,amazi
ng

gospelsi
nger
,mi
nst
relTol
ulopeJesubi
yi
,al
soknown

asT-
Wor
shi
pleadust
hismor
ning!
"

Tol
uthoughtt
hehy
pingwast
oomuch,
butshewasa

30
conf
identper
sonnat
ural
l
y.Herst
atur
ewasn'
tsmal
l
.

Shewasat
allwel
lendowed gi
rland atei
ght
een,

any
bodycoul
dmi
stakeherf
orat
went
yfi
vey
earol
d.

"
Am Iper
mit
tedt
osaypr
aiseGodher
e?"Sheasked

t
hem al
l smi
l
ing and l
ooki
ng r
ound. She was

undeni
abl
y gor
geous.I
fther
e was one t
hing her

mot
herhadt
houghther
,itwasbei
ngi
ntent
ionalabout

how shel
ookedandappr
oachedt
hings.Shewor
ea

hi
ghwai
stmul
ticol
our
edpol
yest
erf
lai
rski
rtt
hatwas

f
ull
ypadded,andt
henawhi
tecr
opt
opt
hatst
opped

r
ightabov
etheski
rt
.Thet
ophadabi
gbow byt
he

si
deandi
tmat
chedwi
tht
hebowt
iedt
oherhai
r.The

t
ophadaf
ullar
mthatwasi
ntr
insi
cal
l
ydesi
gnedt
o

al
i
gnwi
thi
tdoubl
ecr
ossedf
ront
aldesi
gn.Shewor
ea

f
latshoey
et,shest
oodt
all
ert
hanmostmeni
nthe

r
oom.Herhandswer
eli
ft
edasshebegant
oleadt
he

wor
shi
p.Herf
inger
swer
elongandcl
ean,
andshehad

31
t
hemostbeaut
if
ulhandany
onehadev
erseeni
nthe

r
oom.Al
lthosedi
dn'
tmakeherwhoshewas,she

r
emember
edhermot
heral
way
stol
dhert
hati
twasn'
t

aboutt
hepr
aisesofmenbutt
heappr
oval
ofGod.

"
Thepsal
mistspeaki
ngsay
s,weshoul
dext
olhi
m who

r
idesupont
hecl
oudbyhi
snameJah.Ar
eyour
eady
?

Whydon'
tyouj
ustsear
chy
ourhear
tandcal
lhi
m what

hei
stoy
ou…Yousee,manwoul
dn'
tbemani
fther
e

ar
enor
ought
imesorseasons,soev
enf
ort
hose

exper
iencest
hatl
ookedl
i
ket
heywer
egoi
ngt
otake

y
ourl
i
fe,
blesshi
m…"

Thewor
ker
shadbegant
o pr
ayal
oud,somesang

songsandsomest
oodsi
l
ent
,notev
enknowi
ngwhat

t
osay
,butT-
Wor
shi
pwasal
way
sgr
atef
ul.Shehad

seen peopl
e say mor
e,cr
y mor
e and not
hing

happened,
butf
orher
,Godal
way
sshowedup.Thet
en

32
mi
nut
eswor
shi
ptookaboutanhoursot
hatbyt
he

t
imeDuncanwasgent
lydr
aggi
ngheri
ntohi
sof
fi
ce,

somewor
ker
swer
est
il
lont
hegr
oundpr
ayi
ng.He

keptst
ari
ngatt
hey
ounggi
rli
namusementashe

pr
esent
edherwi
tht
hedocument
ssheshoul
dsi
gn.

"
T-Wor
shi
p,hmmm,who gav
eyout
hatname?
"He

askedst
il
lwonder
ing.

"
MySout
hAf
ri
canbestf
ri
endwhocoul
dn'
tpr
onounce

myf
ullname.
"Shet
oldhi
m andchuckl
edl
i
keshehad

donenot
hing.

"
Wow!
"Hesatqui
ckl
yandwat
chedheropeneach

pageoft
hedocumentagai
n.

"
Ipr
esumey
oumusthav
ereadt
hisony
ourphone,i
t

wassentt
oyouremai
laddr
esssomeday
sback.
"He

33
t
oldher
.

"
Yes Ihav
e and Imustsayt
hatt
he deali
sver
y

i
mpr
essi
ve.Thank y
ou si
r.Iwi
l
ljustsi
gn wher
e

necessar
yandgi
vei
tback.
"

"
No,
no,
wewoul
dpr
inti
toutagai
nwi
thy
oursi
gnat
ure

soy
oucanhav
eyourowncopyandbyt
heway
,Iam

addi
ngaspeci
algi
ftt
othi
sbef
orey
oul
eav
e."Het
old

her
.

"
Wow!Godbepr
aised.Thanky
ousi
r.

"
Okay
,sodoy
ouhav
eanysongher
eri
ghtnow?Dot
un

wi
l
ltakey
out
othest
udi
osoy
oucanr
ecor
dandt
hen

wecanmakeat
rackr
ighther
eandnow.
"

Shesmi
l
edbackathi
m andnoddedaposi
ti
veanswer

34
back.Themanwasexci
ted.Hespr
angupandt
hen

hel
dherhandashehoi
stedherof
ftheseatcal
mly
.

ThatwashowTol
urecor
dedherf
ir
stsongandgott
he

bi
ggestgi
ftev
eraf
ter
.

Shehadt
houghti
twasasmal
lgi
ftashehadwor
nno

ser
iousl
ookwhenhet
oldherofi
t.I
tshockedTol
uto

herbonest
oreal
i
set
hathehadmeanthewasgi
ft
ing

heracar
.Ha!Whodoest
hat
?Whogi
vest
hei
rwor
ker

acaront
hei
rfi
rstdayatwor
k?Tol
ust
oodt
her
ein

shock,she di
d notknow whatt
o sayordo,she

coul
dn'
tev
endr
ive.Shegav
ehi
m adi
sappr
ovi
ngl
ook

t
hatt
oldhi
m shecoul
dnott
aket
hegi
ft
.

"
WhyTol
u?"Heaskedwear
ingaconf
usedf
ace.

"
BecauseIj
ustcan'
t.Iam onl
yei
ght
eengoi
ngon

ni
net
een,
Iam ast
udentandIdon'
tev
enknowhowt
o

35
dr
ivey
et.
"

Mr
.Duncanl
ookedatherandbegant
olaugh.Shef
elt

al
i
ttl
einsul
ted.Whathewasl
aughi
ngaboutwasher

bi
gdi
l
emma.Whywashel
aughi
ng?
"

"
Whati
sfunny
,si
r?"Sheaskedhi
m wear
ingaser
ious

l
ook.

"
Becausey
ouj
ustbehav
edl
i
keat
ypi
calhuman.We

al
way
scountr
easonswhywear
eunwor
thyf
orget
ti
ng

t
hathel
ovedusf
ornor
easoni
nthef
ir
stpl
ace.
"

"
Look,Iunder
standy
ousi
r,butIj
ustcan'
ttaket
his

gi
ft
,for
giv
eme,
buti
tisj
ustt
oomuch,
Iam sor
ry.
"

"
Tol
u,i
fGodgi
vesussomet
hing,i
tisbecausehehas

seent
haty
ouneedi
tandi
twoul
dn'
tki
l
lyou.Di
dyou

36
askmef
oracar
?"

"
No,
"sheanswer
ed.

"
Doy
ouneedacar
,yes.Imean,
lookr
ightbef
orey
ou,

t
hemanypl
acesy
ouwoul
dbel
ater
."

"
Youj
ustsai
dlat
ersi
r,notnow.Whent
het
imecomes,

Godwi
l
ltakecar
eofme.
"

"
Godi
staki
ngcar
eofy
ounowTol
u,accepti
t.
"Bef
ore

shecoul
dsayJackRobi
nson,Mr
.Duncanhadcal
l
ed

Jer
ryandt
oldhi
mtodr
iveherhomei
nhercar
.She

wasst
il
linshockbutshekepthercoolandwat
ched

ev
eryt
hingunf
old.

Soon,t
hey wer
ein hermot
her
's compound.The

womanst
oodi
nfr
ontofherdoorasshewel
comed

37
herdaught
erbackhomet
henj
ustwhensheexpect
ed

t
hedr
ivert
odr
ivebackwi
tht
hecar
,hest
eppedout
,

handedov
ert
hekeyt
oTol
uandt
oldhergoodby
e.I
n

shock,hermot
herkeptst
arr
ingather
.Shet
urned

ar
oundandl
ookedatherdaught
er.

"
Whatwas t
he meani
ng oft
hat
?"She asked her

daught
eri
nwonder
.

"
Mom,he gav
e me a car
."She anounced nei
ther

l
ooki
ngsadnorexci
ted.

"
ButIr
eadt
hedealnow,acarwasn'
tpar
tofi
t.
"She

t
oldherdaught
ernotl
aughi
ngst
il
l.Tol
uknew her

mot
herwasn'
tthet
ypet
ogetcar
ri
edawaywi
thgi
ft
s

soshenewbet
tert
hant
oannouncei
twi
thasmi
l
e.

"
Mommy
,It
oldhi
mthesamet
hingoandIal
sot
ri
ed

38
har
dtor
ejectt
hecar
,buthekepti
nsi
sti
ng.
"

"
Andt
heny
oucol
l
ect
edi
t?"

"
Iam sor
rymom,bef
oreIcoul
dsayany
thi
ng,hehad

pul
l
edmei
ntot
hecarandaskedsomeonet
odr
iveme

downher
e."Shet
oldhermot
her
.

Thewomansi
ghedandl
ookedatheri
ntensel
ybef
ore

say
ingany
thi
ngel
se.

"
Woul
dyouhandov
ert
hekey
sunt
ilatl
easty
oul
ear
n

howt
odr
ivenextmont
h."Shet
oldhersmi
l
ingweakl
y.

Tol
uknewi
tmeantshehadhermot
her
'sappr
ovalt
o

dr
ivet
hecar
.Nextmont
hwasj
ustt
woday
sawayand

sheknewi
tmeantshewasat
tendi
ngadr
ivi
ngschool

ASAP.Sheal
soknewt
hati
nal
lthese,
onewayt
okeep

39
hermot
herhappywoul
dbet
opassherexamsand

comeoutwi
thf
lyi
ngcol
our
s.Thatwasn'
tapr
obl
em,

Godhadbl
essedherwi
thsomuchunder
standi
ng.Al
l

sheneededwast
obei
ncl
assandcopyhernot
es.Her

new f
oundf
ri
endDunSammywasal
sogoi
ngt
obe

hel
pful
,shehaddi
scussedwi
thhi
m nott
ofi
xst
udi
o

sessi
onsf
orhert
imei
nschoolandsheknewi
tsi
mpl
y

meantbi
ggerwor
konceshewasathome.

Hermot
herhadcal
l
edSamuelDuncanandt
hanked

hi
m agai
nandagai
nandagai
nfort
hecar
.Hegotso

ov
erwhel
medbyt
hewoman'
sgr
ati
tudet
hathecame

byt
othankherf
ort
hanki
nghi
m.

40
I
ntwoweeks,Tol
uwasusedup.Shehadt
oread

ahead,bei
nthest
udi
oal
mostev
eryni
ght
,wr
it
enew

songsr
eadandpr
ay.Al
though,herpr
ayert
imewi
th

Janelwasdwi
ndl
i
ng,shecoul
dn'
tkeepupwi
tht
hier

schedul
eany
mor
e,her
shadchangedandshewas

gl
adherf
ri
endunder
stood.Sheof
tencameonl
i
net
o

seeJanel
'
smessagesandpr
ayer
sforherandher

mi
nist
ry.Anot
hert
hingt
hatst
ruckTol
uwast
hati
n

t
wo weeks,she had herown t
eam and was al
so

enr
oll
edi
nGFGmusi
cschoolt
olear
natl
eastt
hree

i
nst
rument
s,t
hekey
boar
d,t
hegui
tarandt
hev
iol
i
n.

Shecoul
dn'
tbel
i
eveherey
es.

SammyDuncanhadmadeherdr
opherf
ormaldr
ivi
ng

cl
assandt
ookherev
eryev
eni
ng,
anhourt
oherst
udi
o

sessi
onswi
thSesan.Yes,t
hatwashi
sname,hewas

t
hepr
oducert
hatcoul
dmi
xany
thi
ng,
shei
mmedi
atel
y

41
sawpot
ent
ial
sandwhyhewor
kedf
orSammyDuncan.

I
twasst
ressf
ul,butsheconcl
udedi
twast
hel
i
feshe

hadt
oli
vet
osur
viv
e.Oncei
twast
imet
oret
urnt
o

school
,Sammy Duncan showed up atherdoor

unexpect
edl
y.Shewasshocked.Theyhadf
ini
shed

t
he st
udi
o sessi
ons and not f
or once had he

ment
ionedt
hathewascomi
ngbackt
othehousef
or

her
.Hermot
herhadsi
ght
edhi
mthr
ought
hei
rwi
ndow

and announced t
hat he was ar
ound.Bef
ore he

knocked,t
hedoorhadopened.Shest
oodi
nfr
ontof

hi
m l
ooki
ng shocked.Herwhi
te ni
ght
y was saf
e

becausei
trev
eal
ednot
hing.Shesl
eptl
i
keachr
ist
ian

gi
rlandwokeupl
i
keone,hermot
hermadesur
eofi
t.

Hewasf
ull
ycl
othedi
nhi
ssui
t,asheusual
l
ywor
eit
.

Shesmi
l
edandi
tli
tuphersur
pri
sedf
ace.OhGod!

Shewasbeaut
if
ul,
Duncant
hought
.

42
"
Hey
!Mr
.Duncan,
whatbr
ingsy
oubackt
omyhouse?

My mom j
ustsaw y
ou t
hrough t
he wi
ndow and

announcedy
ouwer
eher
e."Shet
oldhi
m st
il
lhol
ding

t
hedoor
.

"
MayIcomei
n,pl
ease?
"Her
equest
ed.

"
Ofcour
se,whynot
."Sher
espondedandopenedt
he

doorwi
derso t
hathecoul
dcomei
n.Hemether

mot
hert
her
eint
hel
i
vingr
oom,herneckt
il
ti
ngt
o

knowt
het
ime.I
twaspast9pm andev
ery
bodyknew

Abuj
awasn'
tsaf
ebyt
hatt
ime.

"
Goodev
eni
ngma,
"hegr
eet
edbowi
ngsl
i
ght
ly."

"
Goodev
eni
ngmydear
,"sheanswer
ednow t
urni
ng

backt
ohi
m."
Howar
eyou?Ihopeev
ery
thi
ngi
sfi
ne?

I
tisqui
tel
ateandwewer
en'
texpect
ingy
oubyt
his

43
t
ime.
"Shet
oldhi
m.

"
Sor
ryIbar
gedi
nony
ouma,Iwant
edt
oseeTol
u

bef
oreshel
eav
esf
orschoolt
omor
row mor
ning.
"He

t
oldher
.

"
Oh,
okay
.Nopr
obl
em.Iwi
l
llety
out
wot
alkt
hen.Iwi
l
l

j
ustbei
nsi
de.
"

"
Thanky
ouv
erymuchma,
thanky
ousomuchma.
"He

t
hankedherast
heybot
hwat
chherl
eav
ethesi
tt
ing

r
oom.

"
Please,makey
our
sel
fcomf
ort
abl
eMr
.Duncan.
"she

t
oldhi
m poi
nti
ngataseati
nthel
i
vingr
oom,t
heone

heal
way
ssatonwhenev
erhecamet
othehouse.He

hadnot
icedi
twast
hemostcomf
ort
abl
espacei
nthe

houseandt
heyal
way
swant
edt
hei
rguestt
ohav
eit

44
f
ort
hei
rownsake.

"
No,nott
oday
,Iam notgoi
ngt
osi
ther
eandf
eell
i
ke

aguest
.Letmemanagey
ourspacewi
thy
ou.
"Het
old

herandsatwher
ehermot
herj
ustgotupf
rom.I
tsank

t
ool
owandt
hespr
ingwer
eal
mostgoi
ngt
openet
rat
e

hi
str
ouser
s.

"
Wow!Thi
sis bet
ter
."He t
old herand t
heybot
h

l
aughed.

"
Iam sur
eyouwon'
tbeabl
etomanagei
tforl
ong.
"

Shet
oldhi
m andset
tl
edi
nthecomf
ort
abl
eonenext

t
ohi
m."
Sowhatbr
ingsy
out
hisl
atet
oourhouse,
Mr.

Duncan?

"
Woul
dyou pl
ease,cutt
he f
ormal
i
tyand cal
lme

Sammy
."He t
old herl
ooki
ng atherwel
lwr
apped

45
v
irgi
nhai
r.

"
Ha!Who am It
o cal
lthe al
might
y Mr
.Duncan,

Sammy
?"

"
Look,
yes,
youwor
kforme,
butsee,
Iwantt
obey
our

f
ri
end.
"

"
OkayMr
.Duncan_
"

"
Ther
ewegoagai
nwi
tht
heMr
.Duncant
hing.
"

"
Whatdoy
ouexpect
?Imeany
ouar
e30,andIam

ei
ght
een,
twel
vey
ear
sdi
ff
erencei
sn'
taj
oke.
"

Sammycoul
dn'
thel
pbutl
aughoutl
oud.Shecoul
dn'
t

expl
ainwhyhel
ookedy
oungert
hanhi
sage.Theman

wasv
eryhandsome,
areasont
hei
nter
nethadsai
dhe

46
senthi
sfi
rstt
wogi
rl
sawayf
rom t
her
ecor
dlabel
.The

l
adi
es want
ed hi
m f
or t
hemsel
ves and so t
hey

compet
edbet
weeneachot
herunt
ili
ttur
nedt
oadi
rt
y

bat
tl
eint
hest
udi
o.

"
Wai
t,howol
ddoy
our
eal
l
ythi
nkIam,
T-Wor
shi
p?"He

askedher
.

"
Thi
rt
y,atl
eastt
hati
swhatt
hei
nter
netsay
s."

Hel
aughedagai
nandt
hist
ime,
shewasf
orcedt
oask

hi
m why
.

"
What
'sf
unnyMr
."

"
Don'
tcompl
etet
hat
,pl
ease.
"

"
Okay
,okay
,whati
sfunnySammy
?

47
"
Good.So,
wai
t,howol
ddoy
out
hinkIam?
"Heasked

heragai
n.Thi
sti
me,headj
ust
edandt
il
tedt
owar
ds

heront
heseat
.

"
Wel
l
,li
ke Isai
d,y
ou ar
ethi
rt
y accor
ding t
othe

i
nter
net
."Shet
oldhi
m agai
n.

"
Accor
dingt
othei
nter
net
,yes,butaccor
dingt
ome

andmyf
ami
l
y,Iam t
went
ysi
xyear
sol
d."

"
Idon'
tunder
stand,Idon'
tgeti
t.Accor
dingt
othe

i
nter
nety
ouar
ethi
rt
y,butaccor
dingt
oyouandy
our

f
ami
l
y,y
ouar
etwent
ysi
x,how?
"

"
Okay
,Iwi
l
ltel
lyouwhatIhav
enev
ert
oldany
one

bef
ore,myf
ami
l
yisr
ich,madl
yri
ch,Imeanwehav
e

associ
ates,shar
es and shar
e hol
der
s,we hav
e

48
v
ent
uresunderusl
i
keVol
tMi
l
k.

"
What
?!Yourf
ami
l
y own'
s Vol
tMi
l
k?"Herey
es

wi
denedi
nshockassheasked.

"
Hmm,al
argershar
eofi
tandt
hatbr
ingsmet
othe

poi
ntIam t
ryi
ngt
omake,notev
ery
thi
ngonl
i
nei
s

t
rue.
"

"
Wow!
"

"
Wehav
eDev
onhai
rs,
"hement
ionedagai
n.

"
Duncanst
opi
t,st
oppl
ayi
ngwi
thme.
"Shewar
ned

hi
m.

"
Iam not
.Okay
,Iwi
l
lst
opt
ell
i
ngy
oumor
eandgo

st
rai
ghtt
othepoi
nt.Soaf
tert
hedeat
hofmyf
ather
,

49
Mat
hew Da Si
l
va Duncan,t
he ent
ir
e company at

Pay
Growt
h_"

"
What
?!YouownPay
Growt
h?Doy
ouknowwhatknow

whaty
ou ar
e say
ing? Thati
sthe bi
ggestmul
ti

pr
oduct
ioncompanyi
nAf
ri
ca,
wit
hbr
anchesi
nGhana,

Si
err
aLeone,Sout
hAf
ri
caandev
eryAf
ri
cancount
ry

al
lov
ert
he wor
ld.Whyar
eyou doi
ng t
his?
"She

musedathi
m.Herey
eswer
ered.Sheonl
yknewhi
m

asapr
oducernotal
ltheot
hernewsabouthi
m.

"
Cal
m down Tol
u,cal
m down.Sor
ryy
ou ar
ejust

knowi
ng.Thei
nter
netonl
yment
ionsmeast
heowner

ofGFG,
butaf
tert
hedeat
hofmyf
ather
,thecompany

neededt
ohandov
erpowert
ooneoft
hesonsoft
he

t
wobi
ggestshar
ehol
der
s.Iwoul
dhav
equal
i
fied,but

f
ort
hecompanypol
i
cyt
hatst
atedt
hatnoCEOmust

bebel
owt
hir
ty.
"

50
"
Soy
ouf
orgedy
ourageandconv
incedev
ery
onet
hat

y
ouar
ethi
rt
yandy
ouar
ecapabl
e?"

"
Yes,Tol
u."Anawkwar
dsi
l
encecameupbet
ween

t
hem.Theykeptst
ari
ngateachot
her
,Tol
u'
sey
es

f
ight
ingbackt
het
ear
sthatst
oppedf
rom herey
es.

"
Duncan,It
houghty
ouwer
eabel
i
evert
hatf
ear
ed

God?
"Sheaskedoutofashakyv
oice."
Ithoughty
ou

l
ovedt
heLor
dandwoul
dn'
tdoany
thi
ngt
ohur
thi
m or

cr
uci
fyhi
m agai
n?I
…thou.
..
thoughty
ouknew t
her
e

wasnot
hingpr
ayercoul
dn'
tdo?
"Thi
sti
me,hert
ear
s

dr
opped.Shedi
dntev
enbot
hert
ofi
ghti
tback,she

j
ustl
eti
tfl
ow.

"
YesTol
u,Ido,
buti
twasbey
ondmypower
.Il
ovet
he

Lor
dbutnotmymot
her
.Shewoul
ddoany
thi
ngt
o

51
st
ayi
npower
.Idontev
enknow how t
heagegoton

t
hei
nter
net
,Idon'
t.Al
lIwasact
ivel
yinv
olv
edi
nwas

bei
ngnamedaCEOandsi
gni
ngpaper
sIhadbar
ely

r
eadbef
oret
heywer
ehandedov
ert
ome.
"

"
So,
youar
enotr
eal
l
ytheCEO.
"

"
Onpaper
,Iam.I
nreal
i
ty,
mymot
heri
s."

"
Oh my God!So she used y
ou t
o getwhatshe

want
ed?
"

"
Sheusedmet
ogetwhatshet
houghtweneeded.Al
l

ofus.Thef
ami
l
y."

"
Sammy
,Duncan,Idon'
tev
enknow whatt
ocal
lyou

any
mor
e"

52
"
Mynamei
sSamuel
,Samuel
DaSi
l
vaDuncan.
"

"
Okay
,Samuel
,sowhyar
eyout
ell
i
ngmeal
lthese?
"

"
Because…because.
..
becauseIl
ovey
ouTol
u."Hehel
d

herhandgent
lyi
nhi
s.Shecol
l
ect
edi
tqui
ckl
yand

l
aughedar
eheadt
il
ti
ngbackandherheadf
axi
ngt
he

r
oof
.

"
PleaseDuncan,Ibegy
oui
nthenameofGod,dont

maket
hisanymor
ewor
se.Iam ei
ght
een,t
ryi
ngt
o

di
gestsomanyf
act
satonceandt
hent
his?Pl
ease,

don'
taddsal
ttot
hisi
njur
y,j
ustdon'
t.
"

"
Tol
u,Imeani
t,Il
ovey
ou.Ir
eal
l
ydo.
"

"
Wai
t,what
?!Youhav
eonl
yknownmef
orhow l
ong

andher
eyouar
etel
l
ingmey
oul
oveme.Whol
ovesan

53
ei
ght
eeny
earol
dli
ket
hat
?"

"
MeTol
u,me.Ihav
eknowny
ousi
ncey
ouwer
efi
ft
een

andev
ent
houghi
tsoundscr
azy
,Il
ovedy
ousi
nceI

saw y
ou.It
houghi
twascr
azybuty
ouhav
enev
er,

nev
erl
eftmymi
ndsi
nceIsawy
oumi
nist
eri
ngi
nyour

chur
chchoi
rthaty
ear
."

"
Okay
,youknow whatSamuel
,getupandgo.
"She

or
der
ed,
sheher
sel
fnowst
andi
ngonherf
eet
.

"
Iwasexpect
ingt
his,

"
What
ever
,justcomeandbegoi
ng.
"Shey
ell
edt
ohi
s

f
ace.

"
Please,
hearmeout
."

"
No,Idon'
twantt
o.Ican'
tev
ent
rusty
ou.GetupMr
.

54
Duncanandgo.
"Sheopenedt
hedoorwi
det
ohi
sface.

Hegotupsl
owl
yandbegant
owal
koutoft
hehouse.

"
Andpl
ease,consi
dert
hedealof
f.Mymot
herwi
l
l

br
ingy
out
hepaper
stomor
row.
"Shet
oldhi
m asshe

wat
chedhi
m wal
koutoft
hehousesl
owl
y.Oncehe

wasoutoft
hehouse,hermot
herwal
kedoutand

st
oodbehi
ndher
,shej
ustt
urnedandcr
iedonher

shoul
der
s.I
twasappar
entshehear
dev
ery
thi
ng.

"
T-Wor
shi
p,i
fGodt
oldy
out
ogoahead,i
tmeanshe

knew t
hiswoul
dcomeandt
her
emusthav
ebeena

r
easonhet
oldy
out
ogoon.
"Itwasherf
ri
endJanel

55
andi
thadbeenaweeksi
ncet
hei
nci
dence.Tol
uwas

backi
nschool
,butt
hemat
tert
roubl
edherst
il
l.She

coul
dn'
tfocusonherst
udi
es.Shewasgl
adshehad

t
akenhert
woweeksst
udi
esathomev
eryser
iousl
y.

Theyhad st
art
ed t
he new semest
erwi
th di
ff
erent

i
mpr
ompt
utest
sfr
om di
ff
erentl
ect
urer
sbutshewas

r
eady
,justt
hatshewashur
ti
ngandt
hequi
etnesst
hat

hungar
oundt
heschoolasal
lthest
udent
shadn'
t

r
esumedexceptf
ort
hei
rdepar
tmentmadei
twor
se.

Shewasi
nhost
elal
onewi
thherr
oommat
eRi
tat
hat

wassel
dom ar
ound.

"
Iknow,
butr
eal
l
yJanel
,howcoul
dGodmakemesay

y
est
oal
i
ar?Howcoul
dhemakemegosof
ari
nthe

pastweeks?
"

"
Thenhow coul
dhel
ethi
sonl
ybegot
tensondi
efor

y
oursi
nsTee?Orhav
eyouf
orgot
ten?Look,Iam not

56
say
ingt
hismani
sri
ghtf
ordoi
ngwhathedi
d,buthi
s

si
nsandhi
smot
her
'ssi
nsar
enotagai
nsty
ou,t
hey

ar
eagai
nstGodandi
fheopenedupt
oyou,
Ithi
nky
ou

shoul
drespectt
hatandnotmakehi
mfeell
i
kehe

shoul
dbegi
venadeat
hsent
encef
ori
t.
"Janel
tol
dher

adj
ust
ingherear
podst
ohel
pherhearherf
ri
end'
s

r
esponsewel
l
.

"
So whatar
e ar
eyou say
ing Janel
?"She asked

depr
essi
ngl
y.

"
Iam say
ingy
oushoul
ddowhatChr
istwoul
ddo.He

say
shel
ovesy
ou,l
etmeasky
ousomet
hing,ar
eyou

ababy
?"

"
No,
"sher
espondedt
wit
chi
ngherl
ash.

"
Doy
oul
i
keSamuel
Duncan?
"

57
"
Yii
i
...
yes.
" She answer
ed, squeezi
ng her f
ace

chi
l
dishl
y.
"

"
Isheaski
ngy
out
osl
eepwi
thhi
m?"Janelasked

agai
n.

"
No,
"

"
Thenbabe,
prayabouthi
m."

Shesi
ghed,
notknowi
ngwhatel
set
otel
lJanel
.

"
ButJanel
,hei
stwent
ysi
xandIam ei
ght
een.
"

"
Ehnehn,so?Doy
ouwantt
omar
ryay
oungerman?

Whatar
eyousay
ing?Andbyt
hewayTee,
youar
enot

ei
ght
een,y
ouar
eonl
ythr
eemont
hsawayt
obei
ng

58
ni
net
eeny
ear
sol
d,so,y
ouar
eni
net
eenandhei
s

sev
eny
ear
sol
dert
hany
ou,
sopr
ay.
"

Shesi
ghedagai
n.ShecaughtJanelhi
dingachuckl
e

ont
hescr
eenandi
tmadehersmi
l
e.

"
Janel
,what
?!"

"
Tel
lme,hashecal
l
edagai
n?"Sheaskedt
wit
chi
ng

herl
ashesmi
schi
evousl
y."

"
OhGodJanel
,ar
eyoust
il
laChr
ist
ian?
"

"
Ehn,
soChr
ist
iandon'
tusedt
omar
ry?
"

"
Getoutofher
e."

"
Pleasebef
ast
,soIcancal
lyouMr
s.TeeDuncan.
"

59
She j
umped up and danced ar
ound herr
oom i
n

exci
tement
.

"
All
owmepr
aywi
thapl
ainmi
ndnow?Dontal
l
owme

f
all
inl
ovebef
orepr
ayi
ngnow.
"

"
Eh,y
ou,f
alli
nlov
ebef
orepr
ayi
ng.Tee,y
oual
ready

l
i
ket
hismani
fnotIknowwhaty
ouwoul
dhav
edone

t
ohi
m.Youwoul
dhav
efr
iedhi
sheadwi
thhotoi
l
."

"
Eh,Jesus!
"Sheex
clai
medast
heycont
inuedt
hei
r

bant
er.

Theweekendwasf
astappr
oachi
ngandev
ent
hough

60
Tol
uhadsomucht
odooncampus,
shewassur
eshe

want
edt
ovi
sitt
hest
udi
o.Shepackedaf
ew cl
othes

andmadef
orMai
tama,wher
ethest
udi
owas.She

hador
der
edabol
tri
deandsoon,shear
ri
vedi
nfr
ont

oft
hegi
gant
icbui
l
ding.I
twasn'
tj
ustamusi
cst
udi
o,i
t

had ev
ery
thi
ng i
nitso l
ong i
twas aboutgospel

ent
ert
ainment
,butsheknewj
ustwher
eshewant
edt
o

be.

Tol
u wal
ked maj
est
ical
l
y, not t
hat she di
d i
t

i
ntent
ional
l
y,herel
egancewasj
ustanat
ure'
scal
lfor

heronceshewal
ked.Shewentst
rai
ghtt
ohi
sof
fi
ce

andshewasgl
adhewasn'
tther
e.Theot
her
sgr
eet
ed

herwi
thsomuchexci
tement
.Theywer
en'
texpect
ing

her
,sheknewhowmuchshehadt
otakeoft
obeabl
e

t
omakei
t.Shesatonhi
sdeskast
heyal
lgat
her
ed

r
oundheri
ntheof
fi
ce.

61
"
Hei
sher
e,"oneoft
hem announcedandi
nseconds,

t
heywer
eal
lout
.Sheher
sel
fgotupandsatont
he

v
isi
tor
'schai
rwai
ti
ngf
orhi
m.Shewassur
pri
sedt
o

hearv
oicesf
oll
owi
nghi
m andexpl
aini
ngt
oomany

t
hingatonceashecamei
n.Hest
oppedat
tendi
ngt
o

t
hem oncehesawherandr
ushedt
oherhoi
sti
ngher

of
ftheseatandbr
ingi
ngherupt
oherf
eet
.

"
Tol
u,
"hecal
l
edl
i
kehewasat
ypi
calYor
ubaboy
,but

sheknewhewasn'
t.

"
Yes,
"sheanswer
edsmi
l
ingathi
m.

"
Itr
iedy
ourl
i
neendl
essl
y,y
ouwer
en'
tpi
cki
ngup,
your

mom wasn'
tgoi
ngt
ogi
vemey
ouraddr
ess.Iwasj
ust

comi
ngt
ocheckt
hingsher
eandt
hencomedown

t
her
eandf
indy
ou?
"Het
oldher
.Hi
sst
affwhost
ood

behi
ndhi
m cl
ear
edt
hei
rthr
oatbuti
twasobv
ioushe

62
wasl
osti
nherey
esashekeptst
art
ingather
,she

st
arr
ed back f
ear
lessl
y. They excused t
hem

i
mmedi
atel
y.

"
Tol
u,
"hecal
l
edagai
nli
kehewant
edt
obesur
eshe

wasr
eal
l
yst
andi
ngt
her
e.

"
Yes,Sammy
.Hmm,f
ir
st,Iwantt
osayt
hanky
ouf
or

t
rust
ing mewi
tht
het
hingsy
ou t
old me,t
heywi
l
l

r
emai
nsecr
etsandsecondl
y,aboutus_
"

"
It
'sokay
,ify
oudon'
twanti
t,j
ustdon'
twal
koutofmy

l
i
fe,
Ibegy
ou,
don'
t.
"

"
Iwanti
tSammy
,"shet
oldhi
m."
..
.butIwoul
dwantt
o

pr
ayabouti
tfi
rst
."

"
ThenIwi
l
lpr
aywi
thy
ou,l
etmepr
aywi
thy
ou.
"He

63
hel
dherhandsandshookt
hem gent
ly.Shenodded

backathi
m."
CanIhugy
ou?
"Heaskedher
.

"
Noty
et,
"shet
oldhi
m smi
l
ing.Hesmi
l
edbackand

t
hendr
oppedt
hemostamazi
ngnewsev
er.

"
Thesongsar
eready
."

"
What
?!Ar
eyouki
ddi
ng?
"

"
NoIam not
.Thef
oursongsy
our
ecor
dedar
eready

and t
heyar
epower
ful
.Tor
ycoul
d notst
and af
ter

hear
ingonet
rack,shepr
ayedandpr
ayedandpr
ayed

f
orhour
s.

"
Whoi
sTor
y?"Sheaskedi
nsur
pri
se.

"
Oneofy
ourbackups,
Tor
iol
a."

64
Shel
aughedatherowni
gnor
ance.

"
Arey
ouser
ious?Youguy
snow cal
lherTor
y?"She

mused.

"
Isn'
ti
tbeaut
if
ul?
"Heasked.

"
Yes,i
tis.
" She t
old hi
m and f
oll
owed hi
m i
n

exci
tement
.

Theywer
esooni
nther
ecor
dingr
oom.Sesanwas

bl
ast
ingt
hesongi
nthest
udi
o.Hi
sey
eswer
ecl
osed

andhi
shandsr
est
edbehi
ndhi
shead.Hi
schai
rtur
ned

one ei
ght
ydegr
ee and r
etur
ned.Byt
he t
ime t
hey

camei
n,hehadt
akenanot
heroneei
ght
ysot
hey

wai
tedf
orhi
mtof
acet
hem.

65
"
Sesan,
"Tol
ucal
l
edi
nthecal
mestv
oicet
hemenhad

ev
erhear
d.Shesoundedl
i
ket
heHol
ySpi
ri
twasabout

t
odel
i
veramessaget
osomeone.

"
WomanofGod!T-
Wor
shi
p!"Hey
ell
ed,r
isi
ngt
ohi
s

f
eett
ohugher
,hedi
dbr
ief
lyandwi
thoutbei
ngt
old,

r
etur
nedt
hesongt
othebegi
nni
ng.Tor
ysoonr
ushed

i
n.

"
Wher
eis she? Wher
eis T-
Wor
shi
p?"She asked

l
ooki
ng ar
ound l
i
ke t
he woman wasn'
tther
e.She

adj
ust
edhergl
assesandsawherr
ighti
nfontofher
.

"
OhmyGod!Imi
ssedy
ou.Wewer
en'
texpect
ingy
ou

backunt
ily
ournextbr
eak.How comey
ouar
eher
e?"

Sheaskedherr
est
ingherhandsonherwai
stasshe

spoke.

66
"
Camehomet
oset
tl
esomet
hings.Iwi
l
lbel
eav
ingon

Sundayev
eni
ng.
"Shet
oldher
.

"
Now,Mademoi
sel
l
e,do y
oumi
ndsi
tt
ing?
"Sammy

pul
l
edoutaseatandsatherdowngent
lyont
hechai
r.

Sesangav
ehi
m anawkwar
dsmi
l
ethatmadehi
m

r
eal
i
zeheknewhel
i
kedt
hegi
rl
.Notwi
thst
andi
ng,he

pat
tedhershoul
derl
i
kei
twasnot
hingandf
ocusedon

l
i
steni
ngt
othesong.Asi
tpl
ayed.Sammybegant
o

pr
ayqui
etl
yint
hespi
ri
tandt
her
estj
oinedi
n.I
twasn'
t

l
ongbef
oret
hewhol
eroom wasl
i
tupwi
tht
heHol
y

Ghost
.

Thel
yri
csoft
hesongwassi
mpl
e,y
et,somehow,i
t

mi
nist
eredl
i
vet
oal
lthathear
dit
.

"
Touchedbygr
ace,
Ican'
tdenybei
ngt
ouchedbygr
ace,

67
Jesusi
sgr
ace,

Hewal
kedmet
hroughmydar
kestni
ght
s
Ever
ybr
eat
hIt
ookbackwasdependi
ngonhi
m
NowIl
i
vebecausehebr
eat
hehi
sli
fe
Ican'
tdenybei
ngt
ouchedbygr
ace…"

Somet
hing behi
nd t
he wor
ds j
ust made t
he

at
mospher
e change.I
t was peacef
ul,Tor
y was

l
aughi
nghar
d,shel
aughedsohar
dthati
ttur
nedi
nto

t
ear
s.Asshebegant
ocr
y,ev
erywher
ebecamet
oo

dar
kli
keshewasgoi
ngt
otal
l
ybl
i
nd.Wel
l
,nott
hatshe

di
dn'
tknowshecoul
dgobl
i
ndatanyt
ime,
shewasn'
t

j
ustexpect
ingi
ttobesosoon.Herey
epr
obl
em had

beendecl
aredper
manentbyt
hedoct
ors.

"
Ican'
tsee,
Ican'
tsee,
"shebegant
oshout
.

68
Tol
urushedt
ohersi
dehel
pingherup,
sowasSesan.

"
Tor
y,y
ouar
ecl
osi
ngy
ourey
es,t
ryt
oopent
hem.
"

Sesant
oldher
.

"
Butt
heyseem gl
ued.
"Shet
oldt
hem.

"
Wai
t,
"Sammy t
oldt
hem and wentcl
oser
,gent
ly

r
emov
inghergl
assesf
rom herf
ace.Ther
ewassper
k

al
lov
erherey
es,noonehadev
erseent
hatmuchon

anybody
'sey
es.I
tdr
opedl
i
ket
ear
sfr
om herey
es.I
n

shockandhi
ddendi
sgust
,herbossbr
oughtouthi
s

handker
chi
efandbegant
owi
pei
tof
f.Themor
ehe

wi
pedi
tof
f,t
hemor
eitdr
opped.Theysatherdown

qui
ckl
yandSesanbr
oughtouthi
sownhandker
chi
ef

t
ojoi
nthecl
eani
ngspr
ee.Af
teraboutt
enmi
nut
es,i
t

st
oppedpour
ing.I
tlookeddr
yandnew,l
i
kenot
hing

hadev
erf
all
enf
rom i
tbef
ore.

69
"
Itf
eel
sli
ght
er,Icanopent
heey
esnow.
"Tor
ytol
d

t
hem col
l
ect
inghergl
assesqui
ckl
yfr
om Tol
u.Once

herey
eswer
eopenandhergl
asseswer
eon,
hersi
ght

wasbl
urr
y.

"
Oh,
oh,
"sheexcl
aimedcal
mly
."

"
Whati
sit
?"Tol
uasked.

"
Not
hing,not
hing,
"shet
oldherqui
ckl
y,r
emov
ingt
he

gl
asses.Oncet
heobj
ectwasawayf
rom herey
es,
she

saw t
hem cl
ear
ly.Tor
yjer
kedupf
rom t
heseatand

t
heyal
lcopi
edher
.

"
Whati
sit
,Tor
y?"Thi
sti
mei
twasSesan.Sammyj
ust

st
oodacr
osst
her
oom andwat
chedt
hedr
amanow.

70
"
Ithi
nkIcanseebet
terwi
thoutmygl
asses.
"

"
What
?!"Sesan mused outi
n sur
pri
se."
How?
"He

asked.Hi
shandsspr
eadi
ngov
erherbar
eface.

"
Wai
tSesan,
takeaf
ewst
epsbackwar
d."

Hemov
edi
mmedi
atel
y.

"
Stop t
her
e.You,y
ou ar
e wear
ing an ar
mygr
een

but
toneddownshi
rtandabl
uej
eanwi
thanar
my

gr
eensneaker
swi
thwhi
tedesi
gns.
"Shet
oldhi
m.

"
Jesus!Tor
y,y
oucansee.
"

"
Wai
t,wai
t,comecl
oser
,st
op!I
tist
hesamecol
our
,

ar
mygr
eenshi
rt
,bl
ueJean,ar
mygr
eenshoeswi
th

whi
test
ri
pesal
lov
er.
"

71
Theyal
lknew shewasduef
oraonoper
ati
ont
hat

weekendt
hatst
il
lwasn'
taguar
ant
eet
hatshewas

goi
ngt
oseef
orl
ong,
theyal
lknewshewasn'
tcomi
ng

backt
owor
kli
ket
her
estoft
hem anyt
imesoon,so

whatwas happeni
ng was behi
nd amazi
ng.Tor
y

dr
opped t
hegl
assesoutofherhandsand mov
ed

cl
osert
othemi
xerwi
tht
ear
sst
oredi
nherey
es.She

i
ncr
easedt
hev
olumeoft
hesongasi
tsang,Jesusi
s

gr
ace.

"
It
'st
hesong,t
heheal
i
ng i
sfr
om t
hesong,
"Tor
y

announced."
Ihav
ebeent
ouchedbygr
ace,Jesusi
s

gr
ace!Jesus i
s gr
ace!Jesus i
s gr
ace!
"She kept

y
ell
i
ng.

Sesanr
ushedoutandbegant
oannouncet
other
est

oft
hewor
ker
s.

72
"
Tor
ycanseewi
thouthergl
asses!Tor
yisnotgoi
ng

bl
i
ndany
mor
e."

"
Whathappened?
"Ar
ryasked.Hewasacr
ossdr
esser
,

butnotgayashewoul
dal
way
ssay
,butev
enSammy

di
d notbel
i
eve hi
m.How coul
d he notbe gay
?

Unf
ort
unat
ely
,he was t
he best dance i
nst
ruct
or

ar
ound and f
ort
hesakeoft
hei
rtr
ainees,Sammy

empl
oyedhi
m wi
thoutt
hinki
ngt
wice.

"
Gracehappened!
"Sesankeptannounci
ng.

Thatwast
hef
ir
stt
imet
hesongwaspl
ayedandi
t

heal
ed Tor
y.Sammybecame qui
et.Whatki
nd of

womanwashegoi
ngt
omar
ry?Thatwasev
eni
fshe

sai
dyest
ohi
m.Now,
mor
ethanev
erhewassur
eher

hear
twasi
nthehandofGodandheal
onecoul
dgi
ve

73
i
ttohi
m.Hekeptst
arr
ingatheri
nthecarast
hey

dr
ovet
oherhousei
nKubwa.

"
What
?"Sheaskedt
wit
chi
ngherey
esf
rom si
det
o

si
de.

"
What
?"Her
ever
ber
ated.

"
Whati
swhat
?"Sheaskedagai
n.

"
Imean,whyi
sGodwi
thy
ou?
"Hef
inal
l
yaskedher

f
ocusi
nghi
sgazeont
hebusyr
oad.

"
Because he chose me bef
ore Iwas bor
n and

pr
omi
sedt
obewi
thmef
orev
er.
"

"
Wel
lhepr
omi
sedmet
hesamet
oo,i
sn'
titi
nthe

scr
ipt
ure?
"

74
"
Yes,
Sammy
.Soi
fyouknowwhyar
eyoust
il
laski
ng?
"

Sammypul
l
edov
erhar
shl
y.Tol
ubouncedbackand

hi
tthecarseat
.

"
Tol
u,amy
riadofpeopl
ehav
erecor
dedsongsi
nGFG

andi
thasnev
erheal
edev
enabi
rd.Tol
u,y
oursong

heal
edTor
y."

"
Godheal
edTor
y."

"
Thr
oughy
oursongTol
u."

"
ToGodbet
hegl
ory
."Shet
oldhi
m.

"
Tol
u,watdi
dyoudot
oGod?Ki
l
osenow?
"Heasked,

hi
sYor
ubasoundi
ngf
unny
.

75
"
Not
hingSammy
,not
hing.
"

"
Hmm,
thi
sisnotnor
mal
.Thi
sisnotnor
mal
."

"
Let
's cal
m down Sammy
,gr
eat
ert
hings wi
l
lst
il
l

happen.I
fwecan'
ttakesmal
lmi
racl
es,t
henhow

woul
dwehandl
ethebi
gones?
"

"
Hmm,
nowIknowt
her
easonwhyGodi
susi
ngy
ou.
"

"
Why
?"

"
Yourhear
t.Yourhear
tiswi
l
d,y
etsof
t.Thatmakesi
t

f
lexi
ble.Godcant
urni
thowev
erhewant
s."

"
Sammy
,pl
easedr
ivemehome.
"Shet
oldhi
m and

smi
l
ed.

76
Thatwast
hel
astt
hingshesai
dtohi
m unt
ilt
hey

ar
ri
vedatherhouse.Shehadcal
l
edhermot
herand

t
old hershe was ar
ound.The woman was t
her
e

wai
ti
ngf
orheri
nfr
ontoft
hehouse.

"
Thanky
ouSammy
."Shef
inal
l
ytol
dhi
m andhugged

hermot
her
.

"
Goodni
ghtdear
."

"
Goodev
eni
ngdear
,"hermot
her
'sv
oicecameup.I
t

wasobv
ioust
hegr
eet
ingwasdi
rect
edt
oSammy
.The

mant
il
tedoutofhi
scarandgr
eet
edherbackand

t
hendr
oveof
f.

Shewasgl
adhermom madedi
nner
,shecoul
dn'
twai
t

t
oeathergar
riandokr
asoupandsl
eep.

77
Sameni
ghtathome.
..

Tol
usaw her
sel
finf
rontofabur
ningal
tar
,soont
he

f
ir
eont
heal
tarbegant
obur
nlow.Behi
ndherwasan

ol
dmanhol
dingabur
ningoi
llamp,shest
ret
ched

f
ort
hheroi
ll
ampt
hatwasnowbur
ningl
owandadded

mor
eoi
ltot
hebur
ningal
tarandt
heni
tbur
nedmor
e.

I
nfr
ontofherwasaqueueofpeopl
ewhol
ooked

l
i
fel
esswi
thoutbur
ningoi
llamps.Tol
umov
edcl
oser

andbegant
oli
ghtupt
hei
roi
llampswi
thher
s.She

f
ini
shedl
i
ght
ingupt
hei
rlampsandt
hent
heol
dman

si
gnal
edhert
ocomebackf
ormor
eoi
l
.

78
I
twaspast2am,Tol
ugotupsl
owl
yfr
om whathad

beenasl
eepwi
tht
heHol
ySpi
ri
t.Shebegant
opr
ay,

t
hanki
ngt
heHol
ySpi
ri
tforgi
vi
ngheroi
landl
ett
ing

herl
i
ghtupot
herpeopl
e.Sheal
sopr
ayedabouther

songt
hatwascomi
ngouti
naweek.

Fi
rst
,theyhadt
omakesur
ethepubl
i
cbecameawar
e

oft
hesongsandt
henf
inal
l
yrel
easei
t.Shepr
ayed

unt
ili
twasmor
ning.Hermot
herdi
dnotbot
herher

aboutt
heusualf
ami
l
ydev
oti
ont
hathappenedat6

am,
shej
ustl
etherr
estandpr
ayedal
one.

Bymor
ning,t
he song awar
eness was ev
ery
wher
e,

ev
ent
hei
rnei
ghbour
shaddr
oppedbyt
otel
lthem t
hey

sawT-
Wor
shi
pspi
ctur
eonanawar
enessonl
i
ne.

"
Didshesi
ngt
hesong?
"Theywoul
daskandt
henadd

79
t
heusual
,"ey
ah,
thankGodoo.Wheni
sitcomi
ngout
."

"
Nextweekma,
"Tol
utol
dthem andt
henmadeupher

mi
ndshewasgoi
ngt
okeepher
sel
fawayf
rom t
hem

unt
ilsher
etur
nedt
oschool
.Thatwassupposedt
obe

t
hepl
an,
butf
orSammywhokeptcomi
ngwi
thhi
sbi
g

cart
othehouse.I
tmadeev
ery
bodyknow shewas

ar
oundandev
ent
houghshewentf
rom hi
scart
oher

mot
her
'shouse,i
tmadet
oomanypeopl
eknockt
hei
r

doort
oomanyt
imes.Theyhadl
i
vedaqui
etl
i
febef
ore

t
hesongawar
enessGFGpost
edonal
lsoci
almedi
a

pl
atf
orms,and r
adi
o st
ati
ons.Theyv
alued herf
ull

nameandaddedherst
agenamet
oit
.Andt
henher

pi
ctur
ewason i
t.Shedi
dntknow whent
hepi
ctur
e

wast
akenbuti
tseemedl
i
kei
thadbeent
hef
ir
stday

shev
isi
tedGFGandl
edt
hei
rwor
shi
phour
.Shewas

gl
adshewasf
inal
l
ygoi
ngbackt
oschoolwher
eher

l
i
fewasgoi
ngt
obenor
mal
,shehat
edt
heat
tent
ion

80
t
hatcamewi
thhernewl
i
fe,
shej
ustdi
dnotknowhow

t
ohandl
eit
.

I
thad been a whol
e week and Tol
u'
s song was

ev
ery
wher
e.Shehadt
akenhert
imet
ovi
si
ttheGFG

pageonl
i
neandbar
elyt
wohour
saf
tert
hesongaudi
o

waspost
ed,i
thad500Kl
i
kes,16,
000comment
sand

1kshar
e.Shesaw mor
ecomment
srushi
n.Shesaw

peopl
etest
if
yingt
hatt
hei
rsi
ckoneswer
eheal
ed,
she

sawi
nvi
tesandl
i
nksundert
hesong.Shel
oggedout

andsatt
her
e.Herescaper
out
ehadt
urnedapr
ison.

Shecoul
dn'
tst
epoutofherr
oom wi
thoutsomeone

r
ecogni
sing her
,she coul
dn'
t wal
k past wi
thout

81
someone shout
ing T-
Wor
shi
p or her f
ullname,

Tol
ulope.Nott
hatshet
houghti
twasbad,butt
heni
t

f
eltawkwar
dtobeknownbyev
ery
body
.Tol
ubecame

v
eryi
ntent
ionalaboutwhatshewor
eandwher
eshe

wentt
o,spoket
oSammyev
eryni
ghtandt
oldhi
m she

wi
shedshebr
oughthercarorl
i
vedof
fthecampus.

Themant
old herhewasgoi
ng t
o empl
oyanew

managerandpayhi
mforher
.Tol
uthoughti
twasa

good oppor
tuni
tyt
o get Tor
y by her si
de and

suggest
edher
.

"
Butshei
sal
soast
udentandshei
snoty
ouronl
y

backup,
ther
eisGl
oryandSt
ephen.
"

"
Sheneedst
hemoney
."

"
Itdoesn'
twor
kthatwayTol
u.Pi
tycannotwor
kher
e,

shehast
obecapabl
e."

82
"
Iknow Sammy
,buty
oucanal
way
shel
pherwi
thal
l

sheneedst
oknow.Sheneedst
hemoneyt
osuppor
t

herpoorpar
ent
sandr
etur
ntoschool
.Sheshoul
dn'
t

cont
inuet
oeatcr
umbs.
"Shecont
inued.

"
Iwi
l
llett
hishappenononecondi
ti
on.
"

"
Whi
chi
s?"

"
Youl
i
veof
fcampusandshest
ayswi
thy
ouf
ornow.
"

"
Idon'
thav
ethemoneyt
ost
ayal
one,besi
dest
he

medi
cinehost
eli
sver
ycomf
ort
abl
e,i
tismor
eli
ke

l
i
vingal
one.
"

"
Tol
u,Iam goi
ngt
osayt
hisonce,andIhopei
tsi
nks

once.Tol
ulopeJesubi
yi
,youar
enow,T-
Wor
shi
p,t
he

83
wor
ldknowsy
ou,
thi
ngsmustchange.
"

"
Like?
"

"
Accessi
bil
i
ty,av
ail
abi
l
ity
,Ti
me,Il
i
ke t
he wayy
ou

dr
essal
readysoi
tisf
ine.
"

"
ButIam f
ir
stami
nist
er,
Sammy
."

"
Ami
nist
erwi
thcl
ass,
"

"
Nobodyev
enknowsmey
et,
"

"
Okay
,butIknowy
ouknowbet
ter
.Whenwoul
dyoube

av
ail
abl
e?Weneedt
oshootv
ideosf
ory
oursongs.
"

"
What
?Ihav
en'
tshotv
ideosandIcan'
tev
enmov
e

ar
oundf
reel
y,can'
twej
ustwai
t.
"

84
"
YouseeTol
u,t
hisi
swhyTor
ycannotmanagey
ou.I

am sur
eshewoul
dhav
etol
dyou.Gr
eat
!Letuswai
t.

Buther
eismyr
esponsemadam,
no,
wecannotwai
t.
"

"
Okay
,sowhendoIcomear
ound?
"Sheasked

"
Wheny
ouhav
ethet
ime.
"Het
oldher

"
Nexty
ear
,"

"
Don'
tmakemeki
dnapy
oudear
."

Shel
aughedandhej
oinedi
n.

"
Whataboutus,
Tol
u?"Heasked.

"
Iam st
il
lpr
ayi
ngaboutus,
Sammy
,"shet
oldhi
m.The

85
t
rut
hwast
hat
,shehadgot
tenheranswer
,butwasn'
t

j
ustr
eadyt
ogi
vehi
m ananswer
.Itwasposi
ti
veand

shewant
edt
otel
lhi
m badl
y,butwhatshedi
dn'
twant

wasgi
vi
nghi
mideasofbei
ngdesper
ate,
sohehadt
o

wai
t.

Byt
het
imeTol
udr
oppedt
hephone,
sher
eal
i
zedt
hey

had spentt
wo good hour
stal
ki
ng.She had ev
en

mi
ssedherpr
ayerhourwi
thJanel
.Ti
meswer
efast

changi
ngandJanelshoul
dunder
standt
hatshedi
dnt

hav
eal
lthet
imel
i
keshedi
dbef
ore.Tol
uthoughtas

shedugherheadbacki
ntoherbookandr
ead.

"
T-Wor
shi
p,somebodyi
slooki
ngf
ory
ouout
side.
"

"
What
?It
'sl
ate.
"

86
"
Ahah,
"pastsev
enandi
tisl
ate.
"Ri
tamusedather
.

"
Pleasedon'
tsayt
hisi
npubl
i
cooo.
"Shewar
nedher

l
i
keshewasachi
l
d.Shei
gnor
edherandt
henst
rol
l
ed

outi
nhert
hickunr
eveal
i
ngni
ghtgownt
hatmadeher

r
oommat
esper
pet
ual
l
ywonder
.

"
Tol
u,
"itwasTor
yandi
tshockedhert
othebones.

"
Tor
y,whatar
eyoudoi
ngher
e?"

"
Mr.Duncan,
hei
sout
sideandhewant
stoseey
ou.
"

"
What
?Why
?"Sheaskedl
i
ket
hegi
rlwashi
m.

"
Goouti
nbet
tercl
othes,
itmi
ghtbeal
ongni
ght
."

"
ButIhav
eacl
assasear
lyas6am i
nthemor
ning.
"

87
"
Thenpi
ckcl
othesf
ory
ourl
ect
uret
oo.
"Shet
oldher
.

"
Ist
hissomesor
tofj
okeorsomet
hing.
"

"
No,i
tisnot
,come,l
etusgo.
"Tor
ydr
aggedherback

i
nto herown host
ell
i
ke she was t
he guest
.She

f
oll
owed herl
i
kea zombi
e.Shockdi
dntal
l
ow her

know whatt
odo.Shedr
ew outherboxbutl
etTor
y

pi
ckoutt
hecl
othesf
orher
.Shesatt
her
emusi
ng

whi
l
eTor
ymov
edaboutaski
ngquest
ionsandget
ti
ng

hert
hingsr
eady
.

"
Please,
wher
eishert
oot
hbr
ush?
"

"
Overt
her
e,"Ri
tat
oldTor
yandt
henl
i
ket
hechar
act
er

Fl
ash,
shewast
her
eput
ti
ngi
tinhersmal
lbag.

88
"
Wecanshar
emysoap,wekukumahav
ethesame

col
our
."Shet
oldher
.

"
Arey
ougoi
ngsomewher
e,Tol
u?"Ri
taaskedl
ooki
ng

atTor
yli
keshewasaki
dnapper
.

"
Myogasai
dIam goi
ngsomewher
e."

"
Whoi
sshe?
"Ri
taaskednotmi
ndi
ngi
fTor
ywast
her
e.

"
Myf
ri
end,manager
,backupar
ti
st…"shecount
edso

manyt
hingst
hatmadeTor
ywi
nkatherandwhi
sper

t
hanky
ou.

"
Take,
youwi
l
lweart
hisonenow.Getup,
getup!
"She

t
oldherandt
henhandedherabl
ackdr
ess.

"
Thati
smySunday
,Sundaydr
essnow,
"

89
"
Thi
sone?Wo,notany
mor
e,getupandweari
tnow.
"

Shet
oldherandhoi
stedherof
fthebedsot
hatshe

begant
ochangehercl
otheswi
thoutbei
ngt
oldagai
n.

"
Tol
u,
"Sammycal
l
edheri
nhi
susual
wayoncehesaw

her
.Thi
sti
me,f
ort
hef
ir
stt
ime,notmi
ndi
ngTor
y'
s

pr
esence,
Sammyhuggedhert
ight
lyandl
andedaki
ss

onherf
orehead.

"
Sammy
,peopl
ear
ewat
chi
ng.
"Shet
oldhi
m.

"
Youdon'
thav
etocar
e,"

"
Imi
nist
ert
othem Sammy
,Icar
e."

"
Okay
,Iam sor
ry,
come.
"Hesl
owl
ydr
aggedhert
othe

cardoorandopenedi
tforher
."Comei
n."Het
oldher
.

90
"
Wher
ear
eyout
aki
ngme?
"Sheaskedl
ooki
ngathi
m

assheent
eredi
nsi
det
hecar
.

"
Tor
yst
eppedi
nqui
ckl
ytoo,
"

"
Tor
y,It
oldy
ounobags,
"

"
Sor
rysi
r,shehasacl
assby6am andIj
ustdi
dnt

wanthert
obest
randed.
"

"
Shewon'
tbe.
"Het
oldherandt
hent
ookTol
u'
shand

i
nhi
s.Het
ookt
hebackofherhandandki
ssedi
t.

"
Whyar
eyoubei
ngsor
andyi
nfr
ontofev
ery
body
?"

Sheaskedshi
ft
inguncomf
ort
abl
ybesi
dehi
m.

"
Tor
y,doy
oumi
ndmebei
ngr
andywi
thher
?"

91
"
Emm,
nosi
r,Idon'
t,
"

"
Itdoesn'
tmat
terwhatTor
ythi
nks,y
oucan'
tbel
i
ke

t
hatwi
thmey
et,
wear
en'
tev
enmar
ri
ed.
"

"
Yet
,"headdedandTol
utur
nedqui
ckl
ytoseeTor
y'
s

f
ace,shewor
eapl
easantshockandgest
uredhert
o

cooper
ate.

"
Rel
axbabe,Iam aChr
ist
iant
oo,abel
i
evi
ngoneat

t
hatandIwoul
dn'
twantt
ofal
li
ntosi
ntoo.
"

"
Oh,
thankGody
oucal
l
edi
tsi
n."Shet
oldhi
m."

"
Butwhydoy
oudot
his?
"

"
Dowhat
?"Sammyaskedsmi
l
ingandf
ocusi
ngont
he

92
r
oad.

"
Giv
emeunpl
easantsur
pri
ses.Wehav
ebeent
alki
ng

f
ort
hel
astt
hreeweeksandnot
hingy
ousai
dgav
eme

ahi
ntabouty
ourcomi
ng.
"

"
Iti
sli
ket
hecomi
ngofourLor
dJesusChr
istmydear
,

i
twon'
tbeannounced.
"Het
oldherandl
aughed.

"
Iti
snotf
unnyj
or.
"Shet
oldhi
m.

"
So,
wher
ear
ewegoi
ngt
o?"Sheaskedhi
m agai
n.

"
Umm,Isuggesty
oupat
ient
lywai
tfort
hissur
pri
se

ma,
wewi
l
lsoonbet
her
e."

"
Andwhyi
sTor
ypar
toft
his?
"

93
"
Youwant
edhert
omanagey
our
ight
?"

"
Emm,
yes.
"Sheanswer
ed.

"
Wel
l
,ther
e,y
ourmangerdear
."

"
Ah!
!"Shey
ell
edouthappi
l
yandt
wist
edher
sel
ftohug

t
hewoman.

"
Wai
t!Shei
sonl
ythatonpaper
,buti
nreal
i
ty,Iwi
l
lbe

managi
ngy
ouandshewi
l
lbey
ourPA.
"

"
Iam hav
ing a PA?
"Yes.Who has got
ten t
he

admi
ssi
on f
orm oft
heschoolandwi
l
lbesi
tt
ingf
or

herpostUTMEsoon.
"Heannounced.

Sheshout
edagai
n.Thi
sti
me,
shej
umpedonhi
m and

huggedhi
mti
ght
.Hi
shandt
wit
chedont
hest
eer
ing

94
andi
tmadet
hem al
lshout
.

"
Wai
t,wear
eher
eal
readysol
etmecomedownand

t
heny
ouwi
l
lhugmepr
oper
ly.
"Het
oldher
.

"
Wher
eist
his?
"

"
Yournew apar
tmentof
fcampusandher
eisy
our

schedul
efort
omor
rowma,
"Tor
yanswer
edandpul
l
ed

herapapert
oherf
ace.

"
WhydoIhav
emyschedul
eonpaper
?"

"
Becausey
ouhav
etogot
hroughi
tmaandmakesur
e

Il
eftnot
hingout
."

Tol
utooki
tfr
om hersl
owl
yandbegant
oread.They

had st
opped i
nfr
ontofahouseand Sammywas

95
honki
ngatt
hegat
e.

"
What
?!Ihav
eameet
ingwi
tht
hepast
orofChr
ist

Ar
ise Assembl
y?"Tol
u mused att
he paperi
n her

hands.

TonyAdul
am Esanwast
hecel
ebr
it
ypast
oroft
he

cel
ebr
it
ychur
ch.I
twasagl
obalmi
nist
ryandmeet
ing

wi
thhi
m wasgoi
ngt
obeapr
ivi
l
ege.Recent
ly,
hewas

named Af
ri
ca'
sfi
nestpast
or.Themancoul
d bea

dudeandapast
oratt
hesamet
ime,
knowi
ngt
her
ight

t
hingst
orockt
oev
eryser
vice.

"
Yes,
appar
ent
ly.Yoursongwaspl
ayedi
nhi
sof
fi
ceby

hi
ssecr
etar
yandj
ustl
i
kei
nther
ecor
dingr
oom wher
e

i
theal
ed Tor
y,i
tdi
d wonder
s."Sammy expl
ained

f
urt
her
.

96
"
Sowhatam Igoi
ngt
obedoi
ngi
nhi
sof
fi
ce?
"She

askedast
heyr
odei
ntot
hemagni
fi
centv
iew.Tol
u

wasn'
tev
enl
ooki
ng,herat
tent
ionwasst
il
lfi
xedon

t
hepapershewashol
ding.

"
Singi
ng,
"Tor
yanswer
edwi
thspeed.

"
What
?!"

"
Tor
y,"Sammyst
ressedhernameashecal
l
edher
.

"
Okay
,sor
ry,t
hatwasaj
oke.Wedon'
tknow y
et,but

heemai
l
edusandt
henwesenthi
m ourdi
rectcont
act

andt
henhecal
l
edt
ohav
eyoui
nhi
sof
fi
ce.Wedon'
t

know whyhe cal

l
ed y
ou y
et,butt
hree t
hingsar
e

i
nvol
ved.
"

"
Whi
ch ar
e?" She asked now l
ooki
ng at Tor
y'
s

97
beaut
if
ulf
ace.

"
Prayf
ory
ou,i
nvi
tey
out
ohi
schur
cht
omi
nist
eron

t
hebi
gdaycomi
ngupsoonorbot
h."Shet
oldher
,

col
l
ect
ingt
hepaperbackf
rom her
.

"
Andi
tisdef
ini
tel
ybot
h."Sammyassur
edher
."Al
ri
ght
,

wear
eher
e."

Tol
ufi
nal
l
yli
ft
edherheadt
othebestbui
l
dingshehad

ev
erseenal
lherl
i
fe.

"
So,whoar
eweher
etosee?
"Sheaskedopeni
ngt
he

cardoor
.

"
Tor
y,"Sammycal
l
edhernameandsheunder
stood

t
heor
der
.

98
"
Hmm,act
ual
l
y,wear
eaty
ournewhouse,j
ustaf
ew

st
one t
hrows away f
rom y
our depar
tment
, an

apr
oxi
mat
est
ret
chofamet
erawayf
rom y
ourf
ormer

host
elandemm,i
tisanensui
tet
hathasal
lyouneed

t
oli
veacomf
ort
abl
eli
fe.Don'
twor
ryabouty
ourmom,

sheal
readyknowsabouti
tandsomeoft
hei
nter
ior
s

wer
echosenbyher
."Shef
inal
l
ysi
ghedaf
tersay
ingso

muchwi
thi
nashor
tper
iod.

"
No one el
se coul
d hav
e done t
his bet
terTor
y,"

Sammyhai
l
edherandt
hent
urnedt
hekeyi
nthedoor
.

I
nseconds,t
hedoorwasopenedast
heyal
lwent

i
nsi
de,
himl
eadi
ngt
hem.

"
Wel
comehomedear
ie,
"hegr
eet
edher
.

"
Wow!
"Tol
uexcl
aimed.I
twasbeaut
if
ulandcl
assi
c,

l
i
keshewasi
nthel
i
vingr
oom ofaf
ivest
arhot
el.I
t

99
wassi
mpl
e,y
et,
itwr
it
heofcl
ass.

"
Doy
oul
i
kei
t?"Sammyaskedherandshesi
mpl
y

nodedback.

"
Ali
ce,pl
ay us Ressur
ect
ed by T-
Wor
shi
p." Tor
y

or
der
ed.

"
Alr
ightTor
y,r
ightaway
,"t
heAIanswer
edbackandi
n

seconds,
Tol
u'
ssongwaspl
ayi
ngoutl
oud.

"
Now,
letuspr
ay.
"Sammyt
oldt
hem.

"
Ali
ce,
coul
dyoubr
ingdownt
hev
olumeandj
oinusi
n

pr
ayer
?"Themusi
cwasaut
omat
ical
l
yreducedandi
t

shockedTol
u.

"
Whati
shappeni
ngher
e?"

100
"
You asked t
hatt
he v
olume be r
educed.
"The AI

answer
edandTor
ylaughedasSammybegant
opr
ay.

Af
tert
hat
,he f
inal
l
y satherdown whi
l
e herPA

excusedt
hem.

"
Sammy
,whyal
lthese?If
eeli
tist
oomuch.
"Shet
old

hi
m.

"
No,
Tol
u,not
hingi
stoomuchf
ory
ou.
"Het
oldher
.

"
Exact
lymypoi
nt,
"shet
oldhi
minawor
ri
edt
one.

"
Whati
syourpoi
nt?
"

"
Ist
hispar
toft
hedealori
sthi
sjustapl
oyt
omake

mel
ovey
ouandaccepty
ourpr
oposal
?"Sheasked

hi
m.

101
"
Wel
l
,theTol
uIknowwon'
tsayy
est
omebecauseof

beaut
if
ult
hings.
"

"
Notwhen y
ou ar
ethi
s car
ing,l
avi
shi
ng me wi
th

t
hingsInev
ert
houghtIcoul
dhav
einoneday
."

"
Shhh,
"hegent
lyhushed herand t
old hert
o st
op

t
alki
ng."
Tol
u,j
ustbest
il
landwat
chwhatGodi
sgoi
ng

t
odoi
nyourl
i
fei
nthenextf
ewmont
hs.Hechanged

y
ourst
oryt
hedayImety
ou,
itj
ustt
ookt
hisl
ongf
ori
t

t
omani
fest
."Het
oldherandt
hengent
lywi
pedt
he

t
ear
sthathadgat
her
edi
nherey
esaway
.

"
Thanky
ouSammy
,"shet
oldhi
m andhuggedhi
m

wi
l
li
ngl
yfort
hef
ir
stt
imesi
ncet
heymet
.

"
Stayf
ort
he ni
ghtSammy
.Tor
yand Iwi
l
lmake

102
di
nner
."Sheof
fer
ed.

"
Thatr
emi
ndsme,
yourcookandhousecl
eanerar
ri
ve

t
omor
row.
"

"
But
,but
,Icancook,
"

"
Soon,y
ouwon'
thav
ethatt
ime.Youar
eamedi
cal

st
udent
,"het
old her
."Then aboutsl
eepi
ng ov
er,I

won'
tsayno.Iwi
l
lsl
eepi
ntheguestr
oom.Ther
ear
e

f
ourbedr
oomsi
nthesehouse.
"

"
Wow!Butwai
t,Iam ser
ious,nocookandhey
,thi
s

t
hingTor
yjustcal
l
edAl
i
ce,Idontwantheri
nmy

house.
"Shet
oldhi
m andt
heybot
hlaughed."
Come

andshowmear
ound,
"shet
oldhi
m anddr
aggedhi
m

al
ongsi
de.

103
Thenextday
,Tol
ugott
heshockerofherl
i
fe.I
twas

ev
ery
wher
eont
henewst
hatshewassl
eepi
ngwi
th

t
heownerofherr
ecor
dlabel
.Whi
l
esomewer
esubt
le

abouti
t,somewer
en'
t.Shecoul
dn'
tbel
i
eveherey
es.

Wasshet
hatpopul
aral
ready
?Thi
swasn'
tgoodasf
ar

asshewasconcer
ned.Tor
ydi
dn'
tfol
l
owhert
ocl
ass,

shest
ayedbackandr
eadwhi
l
eshet
ookherl
ect
ures

wi
thot
herst
udent
s,shecoul
dn'
tev
endr
ivewel
lyetso

hercarwaspackedi
nthecompound.Cal
l
spour
edi
n

l
i
keshehadbeendecl
aredwant
ed.Someofcour
se

mat
esbegant
olookatheri
naf
unnymanner
.

"
Whati
sitAnu?
"Shef
inal
l
yaskedoneoft
hem who

hadt
heef
front
eryt
ocomecl
oseaf
terr
eadi
ngt
he

news.

"
Thenewshasi
tthaty
ouar
ehav
ingar
elat
ionshi
p

104
wi
thSamuel
DaSi
l
vaDuncan.
"Shet
oldher
.

"
What
?!"Sheaskedoutofshock.Herhandal
ready

hol
dingt
hegi
rl
'
sar
m.

"
Letmesee,
"shet
oldherwear
ingapl
eadi
ngl
ook.

Shesawt
hepi
ctur
eofsheandTor
ycl
osi
ngt
hegat
e

asSammydr
oveout
,sheal
sosaw pi
ctur
esofhi
m

dr
oppi
ngherof
fforl
ect
uresi
nthesamecar
.Shewas

gl
adi
twasn'
tthepi
ctur
eofhi
mlandi
ngheraki
ssi
n

herf
orehead.

"
Tol
u,
"

"
Butt
hegl
assesar
eti
nted,howdi
dtheyev
enknowi
t

washi
m?"

"
Thepl
atenumberi
scust
omi
zedTol
u."

105
"
Butwear
en'
tev
endat
ing,hej
ustof
fer
edt
odr
iveme

f
rom mynewapar
tmentt
othi
spl
ace,
"

"
Thi
sear
lyTol
u?Def
ini
tel
yhesl
eptov
erory
ousl
ept

ov
er.
"

"
Eh!I
twasj
ustahar
mlesssl
eepov
er.
"

"
Youcan'
ttel
lev
ery
bodyt
hatnow,
cany
ou?
"

"
YesIcan,Idi
dnot
hingwr
ong.
"Shet
oldt
hey
oung

l
adyi
nfr
ontofher
.

"
ButIam t
heonl
yoneher
eli
steni
ng.
"

"
Thenpl
easebemyf
ri
endandspr
eadt
henewst
hatI

am i
nnocent
."She pl
eaded wi
th her
.She si
mpl
y

106
noddedbackandt
hengotupandl
eft
.Tol
ust
epped

outnotev
enknowi
ngwhatdi
rect
iont
ogo.Shewas

happyshewasn'
twi
tht
hegener
alst
udent
sont
he

mai
ncampus,t
heat
tent
ionwoul
dhav
ebeencr
azy
.

Asshet
ookast
ep,
acarhonkdr
ewherat
tent
ion.She

st
oppedandt
henay
oungst
outmancameoutoft
he

carandappr
oachedher
.

"
Miss Tol
ulope Gr
ace Jesubi
yi
."He cal
l
ed herf
ull

nameandst
opped.Shewonder
edwhohewasasshe

l
ookedathi
mfr
om beneat
hherey
es,shewasway

t
all
ert
hanhi
m,sot
hatwhi
l
eshel
ookeddownonhi
m,

hewasl
ooki
ngupt
oher
.

"
Yes,
Iam she.
"

"
Sammyi
swai
ti
ngf
ory
oui
nthecar
."Het
oldherand

poi
ntedadi
ff
erentcart
hatshehadnev
erseenhi
m

107
dr
ivebef
ore.Hewhi
neddownhi
sgl
assandshowed

hi
sfaceandt
henwhi
nedupagai
nver
yqui
ckl
y.She

t
hankedt
hey
oungmanandwal
kedt
othecar
.The

doorf
lungopenandshewasi
n.Shebur
sti
ntot
ear
s

oncesheent
eredt
hecar
.

"
It
'sokay
,it
'sokay
."Het
il
tedt
owar
dshersi
deand

hel
dheri
nhi
shands.

"
Whati
shappeni
ngSammy
?Ihav
enotst
art
edy
etand

t
hisi
shappeni
ng.
"

"
You mustgetused t
othi
sli
fe Tol
u,i
thappens.

Peopl
etal
k,t
heymustt
alk.
"

"
Am Ist
il
lmeet
ingwi
thPast
orTonyAdul
am t
oday
?"

Sheaskedsni
ff
ing.

108
"
Yes,why ar
eyou aski
ng? Don'
tyou wantt
o go

any
mor
e?"

"
Iwantt
o,j
ustt
houghtt
hatwi
tht
hisnewst
her
eisa

possi
bil
i
tyhemaycal
ltocancel
."

"
Hei
snotl
i
ket
hat
.Heunder
standst
het
askt
hat

comes wi
th publ
i
cint
erf
erence.He hi
msel
fisa

cel
ebr
it
ypast
or.
"

"
Cel
ebr
it
yPast
or?
"

"
Imean,he i
s a popul
arman ofGod and ear
th

cel
ebr
ateshi
m asmuchasheav
endoes.Sowi
l
lyou

wi
pey
ourt
ear
sand l
etusgo?Youhav
eal
otof

pr
epar
ingt
odo.
"Het
oldherandt
henst
art
edt
hecar
.

Onceshewashome,
Tor
ywasout
side.Sher
ushedt
o

109
herandcol
l
ect
edherbooksandhandbag.

"
Easyj
are,
"youar
emyPA,
notmymai
d."

"
Abeg,abeg,l
etmehonoury
ouo,womanofgr
ace.
"

Theybot
hlaughed.Tol
ushookherheadhappi
l
y.She

wasgl
adnoneoft
hem ment
ionedt
hemat
tert
hathad

madehert
ensedear
li
er.Shewassur
eSammyhad

gi
vent
hem acl
earcutwar
ningaf
oret
ime.

"
Yourmake-
upar
ti
stei
sher
eal
ready
,shear
ri
vedov
er

f
ort
ymi
nut
esago.Shei
sthel
atestempl
oyeeadded

t
o ourl
i
stand hername i
sIr
ede.
"She expl
ained

openi
ngt
hedoort
othel
i
vingr
oom.

Thesi
ghtofI
redewasheav
en.Thewomanwashal
f

herhei
ghtbutshewasgor
geous.Shehad.at
hin

f
igur
eandchi
l
dli
kesmi
l
ethatwol
dmakeany
onenot

110
t
owantt
ofor
getheri
nahur
ry.Shewor
eanov
ersi
zed

sweat
shi
rtandabl
ackj
ean,herboxofmake-
upsat

cl
oset
oherneat
ly,butTol
uwasst
il
linshock.She

dr
aggedTor
yaf
terher
sel
fint
oherbedr
oom.

"
Idon'
tunder
stand,whydo Ineed herher
e?"She

askeddumpi
ngherhandbagont
hebedangr
il
y.

"
Itwasn'
tmyi
dea,
bosssuggest
edi
t.
"

"
Andwhymusty
oual
way
sli
stent
ohi
m wheni
tfeel
s

l
i
key
ouknowmebet
ter
."

"
Hei
sthebossma,Ican'
tlooki
ntohi
sey
esandsay

no.
"

"
Youcoul
datl
eastwai
tformet
ohel
pyousayi
ttohi
s

f
ace.Idontseet
heneedt
omaskmy
sel
fupbef
ore

111
goi
ngt
otheGodwhomademe.
"

"
Youar
egoi
ngt
oPast
orTonyAdul
am Esan,
notGod.
"

Tor
ytol
dhersmi
l
ing.Shecoul
dn'
tresi
stt
heur
get
o

chuckl
e,herf
acel
i
tupt
ir
edl
y.

"
CommonTor
y,y
ouknow whatIam t
alki
ngabout
,

don'
tyou?
.If
eelmor
ecomf
ort
abl
einmyownski
n

andt
hati
showIr
eal
l
ywantt
obe.
"

Onceshel
anded,aknockcameont
hedoor
.They

bot
hknewwhoi
twasandadj
ust
edqui
ckl
y.

"
Comei
nSammy
,"Tol
uanswer
edandt
henhewal
ked

i
n.Tor
ygotupwi
thoutbei
ngt
oldandexcusedt
het
wo.

Shewasbehi
ndt
hem br
ingi
ngoutnewsetofdr
esses

al
lwel
lpacked.I
twasobv
iousnonehadbeent
ouched.

112
"
Tol
u,Iknow y
oumaynotl
i
ket
hisi
deaofgl
amour
,

butpl
ease,
don'
tsaynot
oit
.Youdeser
vei
t.Don'
tget

mewr
ong,ev
erywomant
hatcomesi
ntomyl
i
fedoes

notgett
hist
reat
ment
,iti
sjusty
ou,
youTol
uandl
i
keI

hav
etol
dyou,
Iwoul
dwantt
ospendf
orev
erwi
thy
ou.
"

Het
oldheragai
nandt
henTor
ydr
oppedadr
essout

ofshock.Sheknew t
heywer
ecl
osebutnott
othat

ext
ent
.Washer
eal
l
ygoi
ngt
omar
ryher
?

"
Sor
rysi
r,
"sheapol
ogi
sedandwal
kedoutqui
ckl
y.

"
Youshoul
dn'
thav
esai
dthati
nfr
ontofherSammy
."

Shet
oldhi
m.

"
Does i
t mat
ter
? I know y
ou woul
d be mi
ne

ev
ent
ual
l
y."

"
Whatmakesy
ousosur
e?"Sheaskedl
ooki
ngi
ntohi
s

113
ey
es.

"
Godassur
edmewomanoff
ait
h."Her
espondedand

t
hensi
ghed.Hewassot
empt
edt
ogoast
epf
urt
her
,

butt
her
ewer
eenoughspecul
ati
onsi
ntheai
ral
ready

and hewasn'
tgoi
ng t
o def
il
eher
,shewasst
il
la

mi
nist
eraf
teral
l
.

"
I'
llexcusey
ounow soy
oucandr
essup.Wehav
e

onl
ythr
eehour
s,pl
ease,
don'
tbel
ate.
"Het
oldherand

st
eppedoutqui
ckl
y.Soon,Tor
yret
urnedwi
thI
rede

i
nsi
det
her
oom.Shet
ookherbat
heandj
oinedt
he

l
adi
es.I
redewasr
eady
,herboxwasopenedsot
hat

af
tershemoi
stur
isedherbody
,thepr
ocessbegan.

Shehadpi
ckedt
hebestdr
essf
rom t
heopt
ionsshe

waspr
esent
edwi
th.I
twasawhi
tef
lai
rdr
esst
hat

st
oppedr
ightonherknee.Shehadapai
rofwhi
te

heel
stogowi
thi
tandherhai
rwaspackedupi
na

114
dough.Al
thoughi
twashernat
uralhai
r,Tor
yski
l
ful
l
y

wr
appedi
tunt
ili
tst
ayedupi
naf
ull
,fi
nedoughsi
nce

shehadr
eject
edal
lthewi
gst
heyshowedher
.Her

make-
upar
ti
stehaddoneagoodj
obwi
thi
nfor
tyf
ive

mi
nut
es,
Tol
ucoul
dnotbel
i
efherey
es,
shehadnev
er

l
ookedt
hatbeaut
if
ul,nev
er.Herski
nshunandt
hey

t
houghtshewasj
ustpr
icel
ess.

"
Let
'sgo,
"shet
oldTor
ywhohadal
sowor
nasi
mpl
e

bl
ackdr
ess,wi
thnomakeupandt
henwor
eal
oaf
ers

wi
thi
t.

"
Okay
,"t
het
wogi
rl
schor
usedandt
henf
oll
owedher

out
sidet
her
oom i
ntot
hel
i
vingr
oom.

"
Sammycoul
dnotbel
i
evehi
sey
es.Hewasnowmor
e

t
han sur
ethatt
hiswoman wasj
ustf
orhi
m.The

t
ransf
ormat
ionwasamazi
ng.Shespi
nedr
oundand

115
showedhi
m al
lofher
.

"
Wow!Youar
ethemostbeaut
if
ulwomanIhav
eev
er

seen.
"He t
old herr
ecei
vi
ng herhand i
n hi
s and

l
andi
ngaki
ssoni
tsl
owl
y.

"
Letusgo.
"Het
oldherandi
nseconds,t
heywer
e

al
readyi
nthecar
.Theyhadgonet
odr
opI
redeof
fand

t
henpr
oceededt
oCAA,
Chr
istAr
iseAssembl
y.

The chur
ch was gi
gant
ic,t
hei
rheadquar
ter
s was

wher
etheywer
evi
sit
ing.Shehadnev
erseenany
thi
ng

l
i
ket
hatal
lherl
i
fe,ev
enTor
yseemedl
ost
.Theonl
y

per
sont
hatst
rodei
nconf
ident
lywasSammy
.Tol
ulet

hi
sconf
idencei
nfl
uencehert
oo.Shewal
kedbesi
de

hi
m wi
thpr
ide.Theyhadnev
erseenherbef
orei
n

r
eal
i
ty,al
ltheyhadseenwasherpi
ctur
eonanaudi
o

116
awar
enessandwhyi
twasgoi
ngv
iral
,shedi
dn'
tknow.

"
Hey
,hi
,goodaf
ter
noon,umm,wear
efr
om GFG,and

wear
eher
eforPast
orTony
."Samuelspoket
othe

f
ir
stper
sont
heycamei
ncont
actwi
thatt
her
ecept
ion.

Thepl
acewast
oobi
g,unnecessar
il
yspaci
ous,she

t
hought
.Shecoul
dn'
tcountt
henumberofchandel
i
ers

t
hatst
oodupbutshewassur
ethear
enawasgoi
ngt
o

beasmal
lLondonatni
ght
.Theywer
esomanydoor
s,

y
etnoonewasgoi
ngoutandnoonewascomi
ngi
n.

Maybeev
ery
bodywasbusy
,shet
houghtagai
n.Her

mi
ndst
ray
edev
ery
wher
e,shedi
dntev
enhearwhen

t
heywer
etol
dtoseatandwai
t.Ay
oungmani
nagr
ey

sui
tsoonappear
edt
owel
comet
hem.

"
Hi,mynamei
sDammyandy
ouar
eWel
comet
o

CARA,Chr
istAr
iseAssembl
y.Nor
mal
l
yyoushoul
d

hav
egonet
hroughpr
otocol
sbutPast
orTonyAdul
am

117
Esanhasbeenexpect
ingMi
ssTol
ulopeJesubi
yi
,al
so

known asT-
Wor
shi
p."Hesmi
l
ed ashecal
l
ed her

st
agename."
Ma,Imustconf
esst
haty
ouar
ever
y,

v
ery beaut
if
ul.
"He t
old herand t
hey al
llaughed

f
oll
owi
ng t
he huge br
otheri
nfr
ontoft
hem.They

ent
eredsomanyr
oomsbuti
tdi
dn'
tseem l
i
ket
hey

hadr
eached.Af
teraboutf
ivemi
nut
es,t
heyr
eached

t
hef
rontofadoorandDammyopenedi
twi
thout

knocki
ng.Theyt
houghtt
heywer
eaboutt
oseet
he

manofGodbutno,i
twashi
ssecr
etar
y.Tol
uthanked

herst
arst
hatshewasl
ooki
ng good.Thewoman

l
ookedl
i
keshewasgoi
ngf
oranoccasi
onandnot

wor
k.

"
Wel
comeGFGt
eam,wow!I
tisamazi
ngt
oseey
ou

mi
nist
ersi
n per
son.
" She gr
eet
ed t
hem war
mly
,

bowi
ngandt
wit
chi
ngherar
ti
fi
cial
eyel
ash.Tol
umade

uphermi
ndshewasgoi
ngt
ohav
eoneont
hei
rnext

118
out
ing,
shel
ovedi
tont
hel
ady
."Mi
ssTol
u,y
ouar
eso

beaut
if
uli
nper
son.
"Shet
oldher
."Thanky
oubr
other

Dammy
,Iwi
l
ltaket
hem t
othepast
ornow.
"Shet
old

hi
m andt
urnedt
othem al
mosti
mmedi
atel
y."
Please,

comewi
thme.
"Shet
oldt
hem i
nthemostbeaut
if
ul

accentTor
ythoughtshehadev
erhear
d.Sheopened

t
hedoort
hatl
ookedl
i
keananci
entgat
etoaci
tyand

t
hemanofGodwast
her
e,r
ightonhi
sseat
.Tol
uwas

wowed!Themanwast
all
,sl
i
ght
lybear
dedandbr
own

ski
nned.Whosai
dmoneyi
snotgood,shet
houghtas

t
heyappr
oachedt
heexci
tedman.

"
T-Wor
shi
p,"heshout
edhernameandescor
tedi
twi
th

ahappyl
aught
er.

"
Thi
sis pl
easant
!"Wel
come woman off
ait
h.He

gr
eet
edheropeni
nghi
sar
mswi
det
obl
essher
.Tol
u'
s

wal
ktot
heman'
ssi
deseemed l
i
kei
twast
aki
ng

119
et
erni
ty.Whywashi
sof
fi
cet
hatbi
g?I
nfact
,whywas

ev
ery
wher
ethat bi
g? She squat
ted ev
en bef
ore

r
eachi
nghi
ssi
desot
hatbyt
het
imesher
eachedhi
s

si
de,shewasal
readykneel
i
ng.Themanpr
ayedf
or

her
,bl
essed and comment
ed on herl
ook bef
ore

pr
oceedi
ngt
oot
heri
mpor
tantdi
scussi
onsl
i
kei
nvi
ti
ng

herf
ort
hei
rannualconf
erencet
hatwast
ohol
din

London si
ncet
hepandemi
crat
ehad r
educed and

ai
rpor
tswer
enowopened.

"
Ial
sosawt
henewst
oday
,yousee,
peopl
ehav
ebeen

t
alki
ng,andt
heywi
l
lal
way
stal
k.Remembert
het
ime

ofJesus,
thet
hingst
heysai
dabouthi
m,notbei
ngt
he

sonofGod,t
heyev
ensai
dhewasbl
asphemi
ng,so

whenIsawt
henewsofy
ouandSammy
,Iknewt
hey

wer
eati
tagai
n.Humanswi
l
lal
way
sbehumans…"t
he

manadmoni
shedherunt
ilhewassur
ethatshewas

sur
eshehadnotsi
nned.

120
Tol
uwasmor
ethanhappyaf
terev
ery
thi
ngandj
ust

whenshet
houghti
twasov
er,Past
orTonyAdul
am

Esani
nsi
stedonshowi
ngherr
oundt
hechur
chsot
hat

byt
het
imet
heywer
edone,
Tol
ufel
tli
keherl
egswer
e

goi
ngt
oleav
ethei
rjoi
nts.Oncet
heygoti
ntot
hecar
,

Tol
uremov
edhershoesandsi
ghed.

"
Sor
ry,
"Sammygr
eet
edandgoti
ntot
hebackseat

wi
thher
.Hel
i
ftedherf
eetof
fthecarf
loorandpl
aced

t
hem onhi
slaps.Tor
ymusedqui
etl
ybutsai
dnot
hing.

Wer
etheydat
ingal
ready
?Hebegant
ogi
veherf
eeta

gent
lemassage.

"
Ohmi
ne!Ineededt
hat
,buthey
,let
'sgethomef
ir
st,

l
et'
sgo.
"Shet
oldhi
m.

"
Arey
ousur
eyoudon'
twantmet
odoi
ther
eand

121
now?
"

"
No,t
hank y
ou.
"She t
old hi
m and t
hen l
ethi
m

maneuv
erhi
swayt
othef
rontseatwher
eTor
ysatas

t
heydr
ovehome.

"
Sor
rynow,sor
ry,
"Tol
ubeggedherf
ri
end.Theyhad

notspokeni
nlongwhi
l
e,ev
ent
hei
rpr
ayersessi
ons

hadst
opped.Tol
uhadbecomev
erybusyshoot
ingher

v
ideosandr
ecor
dingmor
esongs.Shewasnowi
nher

t
hreehundr
edl
evelandmanagi
ngst
udi
es,mi
nist
ry,

f
ameandherr
elat
ionshi
pwasabi
gone.

"
Iti
sokay
,Iam notangr
y,buty
ouknow y
oudi
dnot

122
getbackt
omeonal
otoft
hings.Wehav
en'
tspoken

i
ntwomont
hsandt
hati
snotf
air
.Eacht
imeIcal
lyou

especi
all
yatni
ghtdur
ingourpr
ayerhour
,yourPA,

Tor
y,shei
sal
way
spi
cki
ngupandt
ell
i
ngmest
ori
es.I

ev
enpr
omi
sedmy
sel
fnott
ocal
lyouagai
n."

"
Ha!Noway
!Janel
,youcan'
tabandonme,
youcannot

oo.
"

"
Plus,y
oudi
dn'
tgetbackt
omeconcer
ningy
ouand

Sammy
,unt
ilt
oday
.Whydi
dn'
tyout
ellmeear
li
er?
"

Sheasked.

"
Sor
ryJanel
,Ihav
ebeenv
erybusy
.YouknowSammy

andIwor
ktoget
herv
eryof
tenso,Ij
ustt
oldhi
myes

dur
ingaf
reet
imewehad.
"

"
Hmm…"Janel
responded.

123
"
Oyat
ell
menow,
howhav
eyoubeen?
"

"
Ihav
ebeenf
ineoo,buty
ou,how hav
eyoubeen?I

hopet
her
eisst
il
lfi
reony
oural
tar
?Ihopey
ouar
est
il
l

bur
ningf
ort
hosel
i
ttl
ethi
ngst
hatmat
tert
oGod?
"

"
Lit
tl
ethi
ngst
hatmat
tert
oGod,Idon'
tgett
hatpar
t,
"

shet
oldherf
ri
end.

"
Iwasj
ustt
ryi
ngt
o_"

"
Breakov
er!T-
Wor
shi
p,y
ou ar
eneeded backher
e

now!
"

Sesan'
svoi
cecameupst
rong.Tol
ugotupwi
thout

t
hinki
ngandr
ushedt
owher
ether
estwer
e.Theyhad

been shoot
ing v
ideos and obv
iousl
ytheywer
e al
l

124
exhaust
ed.

"
Hey
,Janel
,sayhit
oSammy
,"Tol
ust
oodbySammy
.

Hel
andedaki
ssonherchi
ckandwav
edt
oJanel
.

"
HiJanel
,Ihav
ehear
dsomuchabouty
ouandIam

l
ooki
ng f
orwar
dto seei
ng y
ou.
"He t
old herand

l
aughedasTol
umov
edawayf
rom hi
m.

"
So Tee,whatIwas aboutt
o say
,"she t
ri
ed t
o

cont
inuet
hei
rdi
scussi
on.

"
Sor
rybabe,Iwi
l
lfacet
imey
oul
ater
,butf
ornow,I

hav
etogo.Takecar
eandenj
oyy
our
sel
f.By
e."She

cutt
hecal
landj
oinedt
her
estwi
thspeed.

Theyhadonl
ytheweekendt
oshootf
ivev
ideosandi
t

wasdemandi
ng.Sheal
sohadt
opl
anherj
our
neyt
o

125
London,Past
or'
s Esan'
s bi
g pr
ogr
am was f
ast

appr
oachi
ng,i
twast
hesecondt
imet
heywer
ebei
ng

i
nvi
tedt
otheannualpr
ogr
am andshehadsomucht
o

pl
an.Herbi
rt
hdaywas al
so appr
oachi
ng,butshe

knew bet
tert
hant
oaddt
hatt
othemy
riadoft
hings

shehadt
odosoasf
arshewasconcer
ned,i
twas

goi
ngt
obeal
owkeybi
rt
hdayf
orher
.

"
Ir
ede!I
rede!
"Tor
ywascal
l
inghert
ocomeadj
ust

t
hei
rcel
ebr
it
y'
smake-
up.Sheher
sel
fhadpi
ckedt
he

col
our
sshewoul
dbeusi
ngandhadal
sochosenat

whati
nter
val
sshewasgoi
ngt
obe appl
yi
ngi
t.The

womanwasnow saddl
edwi
tht
her
esponsi
bil
i
tyof

choosi
nghercl
othesasonl
yshewoul
dbeabl
etot
ell

whi
chwoul
dmat
ch.

Tor
ythoughthermake-
upwasst
il
lint
act
,butno,she

want
ed mor
e and herPA coul
d notdecl
i
ne.The

126
womanwasgl
adshehadbeenongr
oundwhenI
rede

ar
ri
vedwi
thsomeoft
hecl
othesshehador
der
ed.

Some wer
etoo shor
tand r
eveal
i
ng.Tor
yrej
ect
ed

t
hem andor
der
edf
ornew onesi
mmedi
atel
ywi
thout

wast
ingt
ime.

"
Ir
ede,nude,nude makeup,don'
tadd any ext
ras,

pl
ease.I
tisagospelmusi
cvi
deonotaf
ashi
onshow.
"

Shet
oldherandl
etherpr
oceedt
oputaf
ewt
ouches

ont
hemake-
up.

"
Okayma.
"Sher
espondedqui
ckl
yandmov
edcl
oser

t
oTol
u.

Tor
yher
sel
fwasnow i
nschoolst
udy
ing busi
ness

management
,hert
hreehundr
edandf
if
tyt
housand

Sal
arywasmor
ethanenought
ohel
phergot
hrough.

127
I
nnot
ime,t
heywer
ereadyandbackonsetf
ort
he

shoot
.

Tor
ycoul
dnotbel
i
eveherey
es.I
twast
hedayoft
hei
r

t
ri
ptoLondonandTol
u'
sdr
esshadcommuni
cat
ed

not
hingbutsel
f.Thechestar
eawast
ool
ow,
shesaw

herconst
ant
lyadj
ust
ing i
tto hi
de herv
olumi
nous

f
rontandt
hent
hel
engt
hwaswayt
ooshor
t.

"
Youneedt
ochanget
his,
"Tor
ytol
dherbuti
twas

obv
ious t
he woman was enj
oyi
ng Sammy
's ey
es

st
ayi
nggl
uedt
oherbody
.Themancoul
dn'
ttakehi
s

ey
esof
f.Hekeptst
ari
ngev
enast
heyf
lew.Some

128
peopl
ehadr
ecogni
sedheri
ntheai
rpor
tandst
opped

t
otakepi
ctur
esandaut
ogr
aphs.Sheanswer
edv
ery

f
ew peopl
eandt
henf
eignedheadachet
oav
oidt
he

r
estoft
hem.Tor
ywasdi
sappoi
nted.Theyusual
l
ydi
d

notanswerev
ery
body
,butt
heeasewi
thwhi
chshe

l
i
edandpr
oceededshockedher
.Gr
aveandSt
eveher

ot
herbackupswer
eequal
l
yshocked.Thewomanwas

gr
adual
l
ychangi
ngandshedi
dn'
tev
enknowi
t.

Soon,t
heywer
eint
hepl
ane,ev
enI
redehadbeen

oppor
tunedt
ofol
l
ow t
hem f
ort
hesecondt
ime.The

womanneededt
obear
oundf
ort
het
hreeday
ssoas

t
ohel
pwi
thhermake-
up.Tor
yhadnochoi
cebutt
o

or
dernew dr
essesf
rom ast
oreonl
i
nebef
oret
hei
r

ar
ri
valt
oLondon.I
redehadboughtt
hewor
seset
sof

cl
othesagai
nandt
hist
ime,shewasnotgoi
ngt
o

al
l
ow Tol
useeanyoft
hem nott
otal
kofwear
ing

t
hem.

129
"
You,
youl
ookamazi
ng.
"Sammysi
ghedoutashet
old

herf
ort
heumpt
eent
hti
meabouthowshel
ooked,he

r
epeat
edi
tver
yof
tenunt
ilt
heybot
hfel
lasl
eepand

wokeupwhent
heywer
ejustaf
ewhour
sawayf
rom

London.Tol
uthoughti
twasagoodr
estt
imef
ort
hem

ast
heyhadnotsl
eptwel
linal
ongwhi
l
e.Sammy

coul
dn'
tsayi
fhehadr
est
edwel
l
,thet
houghtofhi
s

woman'
sbangi
ngbodykeptr
etur
ningt
ohi
sheadand

heknewt
hathewasi
ntr
oubl
easi
twasgoi
ngt
otake

anot
herl
evelofsel
fcont
rolt
ost
ayawayf
rom her

now.

Once t
hey l
anded,t
he chur
ch pr
otocol
s wer
e on

gr
oundt
otaket
hem t
othei
rhot
elr
ooms.Oncet
hey

wer
eal
one,
Sammyt
oldt
hegi
rl
stoexcuset
hem.

130
"
Iwoul
dwantt
ospendsomet
imewi
thTol
u,y
ougi
rl
s

canshar
emyr
oom wi
tht
heguy
sfornow.
"Sammy

t
oldTor
yandI
redeandTor
yimmedi
atel
ythoughti
t

was a good di
str
act
ion t
o hel
p hergett
he new

dr
essessheor
der
edsoshel
eftf
ort
hest
oreshehad

or
der
ed f
rom onl
i
ne.Nott
hatshe knew herway

ar
oundper
fect
lywel
l
,butshewassur
eshecoul
dn'
t

gomi
ssi
ngsi
ncet
heywer
en'
tgoi
ngt
otr
ekt
her
e,pl
us,

shehadTol
u'
sint
ernat
ionalcr
edi
tcar
dwi
thher
.It

wasn'
tthei
rfi
rstt
imet
rav
eli
ngdownt
oLondon.

"
Ir
ede,t
akecar
eoft
hingsher
eti
l
lIr
etur
n."Tor
ytol
d

herandl
eftal
mosti
mmedi
atel
y.Thegi
rlknewwhatt
o

do.Sl
eep,
orderf
oodort
akeast
rol
lroundt
hegi
gant
ic

hot
elort
alkt
otheboy
s.

131
"
Babe,why di
dyou choose t
his dr
ess?
"Sammy

st
art
edoncet
heywer
einTol
u'
sroom.

"
Idi
dnotchosei
t,I
redegav
eitt
ome.
"

"
Buty
oucoul
dhav
edecl
i
ned.
"Het
oldher
.

"
Arey
oucompl
aini
ngaboutmyl
ook,It
houghty
ou

sai
dyoul
i
kedi
t?"Shepar
chedathi
m har
shl
y.

"
Ido,don'
tgetmewr
ongbutnott
oLondon,andnot

wheni
tismaki
ngmel
osecont
rol
aroundy
ou.
"

"
Hmm,
somebodyi
sfi
nal
l
yconf
essi
ng.
"Shesmi
l
edat

hi
m andi
tmadehi
sheadt
urnt
hemor
e.Sammyknew

t
hatwasi
t,t
hei
rwai
ti
ngday
swer
eov
er.Ther
eshe

was,al
lhehadev
eri
magi
nedhi
swomanwoul
dbe,

132
andt
heywer
eal
onei
nar
oom wi
thnoot
herper
son.

Hedr
aggedheri
ntohi
sar
ms,
shehel
dhi
mtooandhe

knewshewant
edhi
m asmuchashewant
edhert
oo.

Sohet
ooki
tast
epf
urt
herandpl
ant
edt
heki
sst
hat

l
andedt
hem bot
hinbi
gtr
oubl
eandst
arr
edt
hewr
ong

f
ir
eint
hei
rsy
stem.Soon,t
heyat
ethef
orbi
ddenf
rui
t

andnonecoul
dof
ferasucci
nctexpl
anat
ionabout

howi
thadst
art
ed.

Tol
ucoul
dnotbel
i
evewhathadj
usthappened.I
twas

herf
ir
stt
imeev
erandi
thadj
usthappenedi
nahot
el

wi
thamanshewasn'
tev
enmar
ri
edt
oyet
.Whatwas

shegoi
ngt
otel
lhermot
her
?How wasshegoi
ngt
o

f
aceJanelandt
ellhershehadhadsex.Shest
ayed

st
il
lont
hebednotwant
ingt
olookatt
hemanshehad

j
ustf
orni
cat
edwi
th.

"
OhGod,
Iam sor
ry.
"Shepl
eaded,
beneat
hherbr
eat
h.

133
Shef
elthi
shandsl
owl
ycr
awlov
erherbar
ebodyand

i
tfel
tli
ket
hebedwasgoi
ngt
oswal
l
owher
.

"
Iknowhowy
ouf
eelTol
uandIf
eelbadf
orl
ett
ingi
t

happen, but
, can we pr
ay and ask God f
or

f
orgi
veness?
"Heaskedher
.

"
Likewewer
ewai
ti
ngt
odoj
ustt
hataf
terf
all
i
ngi
nto

si
n."

"
No,
no,
butwhatel
secanwedo?Wear
ehumansand,

and,wear
ebot
hinl
ove,i
tisj
ustj
ust
if
iabl
ethatwe

woul
dwantt
obet
oget
herl
i
ket
his.
"

"
Yet
,itcoul
dhav
ebeenav
oidedi
fyoudi
dntf
oll
owme

i
nher
e."

"
No,i
tcoul
dhav
ebeenav
oidedi
fyoudi
dn'
tweart
hat

134
dr
essI
redegav
eyou.
"

"
Whatar
eyousay
ing?Ar
eyousay
ingy
ouwon'
tbe

abl
etocont
roly
our
slefev
eryt
imey
ouseeawoman

i
nadr
ess?
"Sheaskedwi
pingherf
aceandt
urni
ngt
o

hi
m.Thei
rbar
ebodi
esbr
ushedandTol
umov
edaway

f
rom hi
m wi
thspeed.

"
Youdon'
thav
etobel
i
ket
hiswi
thmeTol
u.Look,I

cancont
rol
mysel
fwhenIseeawomani
nadr
ess,
but

whenIseey
oui
nthatki
ndofdr
ess,
Imaynotbeabl
e

t
o."Het
oldher
.

"
Getdr
essedandgetoutofmyr
oom,
"shet
oldhi
m

andhebegant
oobey
.Oncehel
eftTol
uweptsour
,

shewassor
ry,
sheaskedGodt
ofor
giv
eher
,sheev
en

pr
omi
sedt
ofastandpr
ayt
hroughoutt
hei
rst
ayi
n

London.How wasshesupposedt
omi
nist
er?How

135
wasshesupposedt
ospeakl
i
fewhenshef
eltdead

f
rom i
nsi
de?

Tor
yandI
redewonder
edathersuddenmoodand

t
hent
hesi
l
encet
hatcameupbet
weent
he coupl
e.

Theywoul
dusual
l
yhol
dhands,st
aysi
debysi
dei
n

ser
vices,butnott
oday
.Theysaw t
hegapTol
ugav
e

Sammy
,itwasshocki
ng,unexpect
edandt
hesi
l
ence,

i
tmadei
tev
enmor
eawkwar
d.

"
Didy
oubot
hhav
eaf
ight
?"Tor
yti
l
tedt
owar
dsher

si
deandaskedheri
nsi
det
heser
vice.

"
No,
whyar
eyouaski
ng?
"

"
Can'
tyouf
eel
it?
"Tor
yaskedher
.

"
Feel
what
?"

136
"
Thespacebet
weeny
out
wo.I
tisobv
ioussomet
hing

i
sgoi
ngon.T-
Wor
shi
p,don'
tfi
ghty
ourman,hel
oves

y
ouv
erymuch.
"Tor
ytol
dher
,uni
ntent
ional
l
ymaki
ng

mat
ter
swor
se.

Tol
u pr
ayed qui
etl
y wher
e she st
ood and cr
ied

endl
essl
ywheni
twast
imef
ort
hewor
shi
p.

Shewassur
eonl
ySammyknewwhatwaswr
ongbut

nott
her
est
.Thei
rey
eshadmetaf
ew numberof

t
imesandshecoul
dseet
hegui
l
thef
eltev
enf
rom

af
ar.Unf
ort
unat
ely
,theywer
esoonbr
oughtt
othe

f
rontseatwher
ethey had no choi
ce t
han t
o si
t

t
oget
her
.Thet
woav
oidedey
econt
actasmuchas

possi
ble, l
aughed separ
atel
y when past
or Tony

Adul
am spoke and t
hen she was f
inal
l
yinv
ited

f
orwar
d.Sammyhel
dherhandsqui
ckl
yandsl
owl
y

137
shecol
l
ect
edi
tback.Sheknew t
hechur
chcamer
a

wasonher
,sowhat
evershedi
dwasgoi
ngt
obe

r
ecor
ded.Herf
eari
ncr
easedasshecl
i
mbedt
heal
tar
.

Shest
art
edwi
tht
onguesandbef
oreshecoul
dsayt
he

nameJesus,
thechur
chwasonf
ir
e.

Whati
sthi
s?Shet
hought
.Wasi
trealf
ir
eorwer
ethey

j
ustpr
etendi
ngbecauseshewaspopul
ar?Butt
hey

wer
en'
t,t
hechur
chwast
rul
yonf
ir
e.Shedeci
dedt
hat

shewasgoi
ng t
oreal
l
yfastand pl
ead f
ormer
cy

becauset
hel
oveofGodamusedher
.

"
T-Wor
shi
pwhatIsawwast
err
ibl
e.Isawy
ouquench

t
hef
ir
eony
ourbur
ningal
tar
,thatwasnott
hescar
y

138
par
t,t
hescar
ypar
tofi
twast
haty
ousoakedy
ourown

al
tarwi
thwat
er.Tee,
thatwasscar
y."

"
Hmm,t
hanksJanel
.Ipr
ayed and f
ast
ed abouti
t

al
ready
."Shet
oldherf
ri
endaf
tershenar
rat
edt
he

dr
eam shehadseen.

"
Cany
out
ellmewhati
tis?Imean,whaty
oupr
ayed

about
.Icoul
dal
sopr
aywi
thy
ou.
"

"
No,
no,
no,
Imean,
whenIwasi
nLondon,
Ihadgot
ten

si
mil
arr
evel
ati
ons and i
tmade me pr
ay,Ipr
ayed

har
d."Tol
uli
ed.How wasshesupposet
otel
lher

f
ri
endt
hatshesl
eptwi
thSammy
?Thatwasgoi
ngt
o

bet
hehei
ghtofi
t.Shecoul
dnotbel
i
eveshehadj
ust

l
i
ed,
butshej
ustdi
d.

Nott
hatshewant
edt
o,buti
twaseasi
estr
out
eoutof

139
herf
ri
end'
sunendi
ngquest
ions.

"
Oh,
thankGod.Iknewy
ouwoul
dhav
eseeni
t.Iknew

t
heLor
dwoul
dhav
eshowni
ttoy
out
oo.Sodear
,

whenwi
l
lyouhav
emyt
ime?Youpr
omi
sedIcoul
d

comet
oNi
ger
iaoncey
ouhav
ethet
ime.Wheni
sthat

goi
ngt
obe?
"Janel
askedherf
ri
end.

"
Idon'
tknow.HowdoIev
ent
elly
out
hatIhav
etobe

i
nschoolandt
henIhav
etobebackt
othest
udi
oin

t
woweeks.
"

"
Andt
heni
twi
l
lbey
ourbi
rt
hday
.Janel
remi
ndedher
."

"
Oh,t
hati
str
ue.
"Mybi
rt
hday
.Janel
,how comey
ou

ar
esoconsi
stent
?It
'sbeent
hreey
ear
sandy
ouhav
e

nev
erf
oroncemi
ssedmybi
rt
hday
."

140
"
BecauseIhav
enev
erst
oppedpr
ayi
ngf
ory
ouTee.I

pr
ayf
ory
ouev
erydayandt
hemor
eIpr
ayf
ory
ou,
the

mor
eIl
ongt
oseey
ouandr
emembert
hebestt
hings

abouty
ou.
"

"
Yeah,
met
oo.
"Shet
oldherf
ri
end.

"
Letuspr
ay,
"Janel
tol
dherf
ri
end.

"
Ineed t
o go,
"Tol
uresponded qui
ckl
y,buti
twas

appar
ent t
hat her f
ri
end had i
gnor
ed her and

cont
inuedany
way
.Sheknewshedi
dnthav
ethatt
ime.

Ther
ewer
emy
riadsofmessagesonhert
abandshe

hadt
oper
sonal
l
ygot
hrought
hem.Janel
'
spr
ayer
s

wer
enev
ershor
tandshewasn'
tgoi
ngt
ost
artwhat

shecoul
dn'
tfi
nish.Shepi
ckedherot
herphone,sent

i
redeat
extt
ell
i
nghert
ocomei
nsi
deherr
oom.I
na

second,t
hegi
rlwast
her
e.Sheknew t
her
ewoul
dbe

141
r
out
inest
otel
lherabout
.

"
T-Wor
shi
p,Iam her
e.Iwasgoi
ngt
otel
lyouaboutt
he

ot
herdr
essIpi
cked…"

Tol
usi
gnal
edhert
okeept
alki
ng,Janel
'
sheadwas

bowedi
npr
ayersoshecoul
dn'
tseeher
.Shet
urnedt
o

t
hescr
eenofheri
Phoneandi
nter
rupt
edherf
ri
endi
n

t
hemi
ddl
eoft
hepr
ayer
.

"
Janel
,Ihav
etogonow.Mymake-
upar
ti
stei
sher
e

andIneedt
opr
epar
eforameet
ing.
"Shet
oldher
.

"
Tee,
"herf
ri
endcal
l
edhert
ir
edl
y."
Mydear
,Ihopey
ou

ar
ereal
l
ypr
ayi
ng?AndIhopey
oust
il
lfi
ndt
imet
o

r
eady
ourbi
ble.
"

Tol
uwast
ir
edoft
hegi
rlsoundi
ngl
i
kehermot
her
.

142
Shehadi
ntent
ional
l
ymov
edawayf
rom hermot
her

andsel
dom v
isi
tedherhousebecauset
hewoman

hadr
efusedt
ost
opt
reat
ingherl
i
keshewassi
x."
Let

uspr
ay,
bibl
est
udy
,assi
gnment
s,books,
"shewast
oo

busyf
oral
lthatandsosheav
oidedt
hewoman.

Atl
eastshewasst
il
label
i
ever
,shel
ovedt
heLor
d

andshewassur
eofhersal
vat
ionst
ory
.Sheknewher

mot
herwassupposedt
obeherment
or,butshewas

t
ir
edoft
hewoman'
s ov
erwhel
mingat
ti
tudet
owar
ds

herbusyst
ate.

Janelwasbecomi
ngl
i
keherandshewasn'
tsur
ethey

coul
dbet
oget
heranyl
onger
.Sheanswer
edherand

dr
oppedt
hecal
lqui
ckl
y.Onceshedr
oppedt
hecal
l
,

shedi
smi
ssedI
redewi
thoutt
hinki
ngt
wice,shej
ust

want
edt
obeal
oneandr
est
.

143
Tol
uremember
edt
hel
i
eshehadt
oldandgui
l
tswept

t
hroughherwhol
ebody
,buti
twasanecessar
yli
e,she

f
inal
l
ythought
.

Hermaj
orpr
obl
em wasn'
tthel
i
eshehadt
old,
butt
he

f
actt
hatshe want
ed Sammy badl
y.She coul
dn'
t

bel
i
evet
hatshehadbegant
othi
nkofamanl
i
ket
hat
,

how di
dshegether
e?Thei
rfi
rstt
imehadbeena

mi
stakebutTol
uwasnotsur
ether
ewoul
dn'
tbea

nex
tti
mebet
weent
hem.Shewant
edhi
mli
kenev
er

bef
oreandshewasn'
tsur
eshecoul
dkeepher
sel
f

l
ongenough.

Eacht
imeshewasal
one,shet
houghtofSammyi
n

way
sthatshe knew wer
e wr
ong,butsomehow,

cont
rol
l
ingher
sel
fwashar
d,t
oohar
dforher
.She

woul
d gi
vei
n and somet
imes moan hi
s name i
n

l
ust
fuldesi
resassher
emember
edt
hei
rfi
rstni
ght

144
t
oget
herwhenhedef
lower
ed herand madehera

woman,
hiswoman.

I
twasTol
u'
sbi
rt
hdaybutshehadt
oomucht
odoon

herl
i
st.Thi
nki
ngaboutherbi
rt
hdaywast
hel
astt
hing

onhermi
nd.Shehadpr
act
ical
sandassi
gnemsnt
sto

submi
t.She l
oat
hed Monday
s,unf
ort
unat
ely
,her

bi
rt
hdaywasont
hatday
.Shehadal
mostcr
iedwhen

sher
eal
i
zedshewasgoi
ngt
ohav
eabor
ingbi
rt
hday
,

notwi
thst
andi
ng,shewasdet
ermi
nedt
ost
ayhappy

al
lthr
ough.Al
otofpeopl
egr
eet
edherher
eandt
her
e,

shegotgi
ft
sfr
om peopl
eshedi
dn'
tev
enknow.

Acar
dhadr
eadt
hatshewast
her
easonherf
ami
l
y

camet
oChr
istandt
hatshewoul
dbef
orev
ergr
atef
ul.

145
Tol
u'
sey
eswer
ewat
erywi
tht
ear
sassher
eadmany

good wi
shes on car
ds, and onl
i
ne. She saw

t
est
imoni
est
hatshedi
dn'
tbel
i
evecoul
dhappen,but

t
heywer
ereal
.WasGodr
eal
l
yusi
ngherl
i
ket
hataf
ter

whathappenedbet
weenher
sel
fandSammy
?

Tol
uret
urnedhomear
oundpastsi
xint
heev
eni
ng.

Shehaddr
ivenher
sel
fandf
ort
hef
ir
stt
imei
nyear
s,

shewast
hankf
ulf
orhercar
.Herl
egshur
t,herwhol
e

bodyached.Shecoul
dnotev
ensummont
hest
rengt
h

t
ogetangr
yathert
eam andSammyf
ornotcal
l
ing

heronherbi
rt
hday
.Shewasgr
atef
ulpeopl
eshedi
dnt

ev
enknow,cel
ebr
atedheral
lthesame.Hermot
her

hadmadeav
ideoandsentt
oherWhat
sAppandTol
u

hadr
esponded.Thewomanwaspr
oudofher
,butshe

had al
so r
efused t
oleav
e herhusband'
s house

cl
aimi
ngt
hedeadwoul
dnotbehappy
.Al
though,her

mot
herwast
roubl
ewi
thal
lthespi
ri
tualact
ivi
ti
esshe

146
camewi
th,
butTol
ulov
edheral
lthesame.

Tor
yandI
redehadbot
hannouncedt
hatt
heywoul
dn'
t

becomi
nghome.Tol
ufel
tGodwaspuni
shi
ngher

wi
thl
onel
i
nessf
orwhatshewasdoi
ng.How coul
d

shebeal
oneonherbi
rt
hday
?Itwast
hel
astt
hingshe

t
houghtbef
oret
hel
oudsoundofabur
sti
ngbal
l
oon

br
oughtherbackt
ohersenses.

"
Sur
pri
se!
"Voi
cest
hunder
ed t
o herf
aceonceshe

ent
eredherhouse.I
twasasur
pri
sebi
rt
hdaypar
ty.

Shewasshocked.Shel
ookedatev
ery
oneoft
hem

andt
ear
sfi
l
ledherey
es.Tor
ywant
edt
orusht
oher

butSammywast
her
e,al
readyhol
dingherandwi
ping

t
het
ear
saway
.

I
twasaf
ullhouse.Sesani
mmedi
atel
yhel
dupt
he

phonet
oherf
acei
twashermot
herandhermot
her
's

147
y
oungersi
sterAunt
yTut
u,t
heymadeav
ideof
orher

and pr
ayed f
rom t
hei
rhear
ts.Then,t
her
e came

Janel
'
svi
deo.Sammyj
ustknew how t
ogether
.He

knew t
he peopl
e she l
oved most
.She washappy

Aunt
yTut
uwasar
oundandshewascomi
ngt
oher

schoolt
henextday
.Shecoul
dn'
twai
t.Thewoman

car
ri
edf
ir
e.Oneofhersour
cet
hatl
i
ght
edupheral
tar

asachi
l
d.Shewasmar
ri
edandhadki
ds.Temi
day
o

andEr
ij
esu,t
heywer
ebeaut
if
ulchi
l
dren,chi
l
drent
hat

shehadnev
erseen,hermot
herwoul
dn'
tlethergot
o

Kadunaandseet
hem.Thei
nsur
gencyi
nthenor
th

woul
dn'
tletheragr
ee.Andnowt
hatshewasf
ree,
her

j
our
neyt
ookherr
oundt
hecount
rybutnott
oKaduna.

"
Thanky
ouSammy
.Iwasmadt
hinki
ngy
oual
lfor
got

mybi
rt
hday
,now If
eelsobadf
orget
ti
ngangr
y.You

al
lar
ethebest
."Shet
oldt
hem andt
heycl
appedand

cheer
ed.

148
Justwhenshet
houghtt
heni
ghtwasov
er,herman

hadst
ayedbehi
ndev
enaf
terev
ery
onel
eft
.Itwasj
ust

t
het
wooft
hem andagai
n,f
ort
hesecondt
ime,not

beenabl
etocont
rol
thei
ntensi
tyoft
hei
rfeel
i
ngs,
Tol
u

al
l
owedSamuel
sleepwi
thher
.Thi
sti
me,
itwasn'
ti
na

r
ush.I
tfel
tbet
tert
hanshehadi
magi
nedandshe

di
dn'
tthi
nkshewoul
dev
erbeabl
etost
opher
sel
f

f
rom l
ett
inghi
m hav
eher
.

"
Eh!
!Youmeant
hisi
smybaby
'shouse.
"Aunt
yTut
u

musedhappi
l
yasshewal
kedr
oundt
hehousewi
th

j
oy.Shewassmi
l
inghappi
l
y.Andt
othi
nkt
haty
ouar
e

so popul
ar.Ov
ert
her
einKaduna,ev
ery
bodypl
ays

y
oursongs,l
ookwewi
l
ltakeenoughpi
ctur
esooso

149
t
hatwhenIt
ellpeopl
ethaty
ouar
emydaught
er,t
hey

won'
tsayt
hatIam l
yi
ng.
"Thewomant
oldherand

t
heyal
ll
aughed.

Tol
uwashappyhermot
herwasi
nherhousewi
thher

si
ster
.Shehadnotbeenwi
thherf
ami
l
yinawhi
l
e.The

mi
nist
ryand schoolhad t
aken hert
ime,and ev
en

t
hough somet
imes,she now f
eltv
ery empt
y,she

t
houghti
twasar
esul
toft
hest
resst
hatof
tencame

wi
thherbusyschedul
e.Whent
hewomanannounced

t
hatt
heywoul
dbesl
eepi
ngov
er,
Tol
ujumpedhappi
l
y

andcal
l
edTor
youtf
rom t
her
oom.Shet
oldhert
hey

woul
dbepr
epar
inggoodf
oodandwi
thoutmuchado,

Tor
yagr
eedhappi
l
y.Somehow t
her
ewasanat
ural

l
i
kenessbet
weenTor
yandAunt
yTut
u,t
hewoman

l
ovedheratf
ir
stsi
ghtandkeptcal
l
ingonhereach

t
imesheneededany
thi
ng.

150
"
Woul
dyoupr
aywi
thmet
oni
ghti
fIaskedy
out
ojoi
n

me?
"SheaskedTor
ywhi
l
etheycooked.Thewoman

hat
edt
ost
ayi
dlesoTol
uletherhel
poutwhi
l
eshe

r
elaxedi
nherr
oom wi
thherkey
boar
d.I
twasamust

f
orherev
ery
day
,anhourr
ehear
salbef
oret
heendof

eachdayt
okeepheri
ncl
i
nedandhel
phergr
ow.

Herv
oicewashear
dindi
sti
nct
lyasshesang and

pl
ayedt
hekey
boar
dfr
om herr
oom.

"
Whynotma,
Iwi
l
lsur
elyl
ovet
ojoi
nyouma.
"Shet
old

t
hewomanhappi
l
y.

"
SoIcanwakey
ouupby12am,
right
?"

"
Don'
twor
ry ma,Iwi
l
lst
il
lbe up by t
hen.
"She

pr
omi
sedher
.

151
"
Woul
dmydaught
erj
oinusi
fIaskher
?"

"
Ha,
ma,
arey
ouaski
ngme?Youknowherbet
tert
han

menow.
"

"
Hmm,
yes,
butIobser
vedsomechanges,
emm.
..
don'
t

wor
ry,
Iwi
l
laskhermy
sel
f.
"Shecont
rol
l
edher
sel
fand

st
opped.Oncet
heyhaddi
nner
,Aunt
yTut
uwenton

andaskedev
ery
onet
ojoi
nint
heni
ghtpr
ayer
s.

"
Mummy
,Ihav
eami
nist
rat
iont
omor
rowandIwoul
d

r
eal
l
yneedt
orestmyv
oice.
"Tol
uexcusedher
sel
fand

l
eftbef
ore any
one coul
drai
se an obj
ect
ion.Her

mot
herexchangedaqui
ckl
ookwi
thhersi
sterand

t
heybot
hkeptqui
et.

Ev
eryonewasupat12.I
redehadgonehomet
o

checkhersi
cksi
bli
ngandwasn'
tgoi
ngt
oret
urnunt
il

152
t
hreeday
slat
er.Theonl
yper
sont
hatr
est
edi
nthe

housewasTol
u.Shewor
eherearpadst
oav
oidnoi
se

f
rom t
hel
i
vingr
oom f
rom st
oppi
nghersl
eep.Yet
,she

hear
d hername f
rom af
ar.Someone cal
l
ed her

i
ndi
sti
nct
lyandsheanswer
ed.Oncesheanswer
ed.

Shef
oundher
sel
finabushl
ooki
ngl
ostandaf
rai
d.

Shest
oodt
her
eshi
ver
ingnotbei
ngabl
etor
ecogni
se

t
hev
oicet
hatcal
l
edher
.Thenf
rom nowher
e,shesaw

somet
hingunusual
.Ani
nfantcar
ri
edaf
ullbucketof

wat
eronherheadandhur
ri
edt
oherl
i
keshehadno

wei
ghthangi
ngov
erher
.Tol
uwonder
edwher
eher

st
rengt
hcamef
rom.

"
Take t
his wat
er f
rom me.
" The chi
l
dtol
d her

aut
hor
it
ati
vel
yoncesher
eached hersi
deand she

t
ooki
twi
thouthesi
tat
ing."
Nowf
oll
owme.
"

Tol
ufol
l
owedt
hechi
l
d.Shewonder
edwhyshewas

153
t
aki
ng i
nst
ruct
ionsf
rom a chi
l
d.She shoul
d know

bet
ter
.Whatwashappeni
ngt
oher
?Hermout
hwas

cl
osed.Shecoul
dn'
tev
encommandt
hechi
l
dtost
op.

Al
lthest
rengt
hshehadwaswhatshehadputi
nto

car
ryi
ngt
hewat
er.

Suddenl
y,anol
dermanappear
edf
rom behi
ndhol
ding

abur
ningoi
ll
amp.

"
Tol
u,t
hiswhaty
ouneed,notmor
ewat
er.Thatwi
l
l

onl
ydest
royy
oural
tarmor
e."Themanbeckoned,but

shecoul
dn'
tev
enhearhi
m.Shef
oll
owedt
hechi
l
d

unt
ilt
heygott
othespacewher
eheral
tarwas.The

pl
ace was di
rt
y,ny
lons,l
eaf
s and cockr
oaches

gat
her
edev
ery
wher
e,Tol
ulookedbehi
ndherandsaw

t
heol
dmanst
il
lsi
tt
ingt
her
e.Hest
ret
chedf
ort
hthe

oi
ll
amp.Tol
utr
iedt
omov
eandcol
l
ecti
t,butsheal
so

had t
o obeyt
he chi
l
dthatst
ood besi
de her
.She

154
dr
oppedt
hewat
eratt
hechi
l
d'scommandandwai
ted

ont
hechi
l
dforanot
hercommand.

"
Now,
pouri
ther
e."Shepoi
ntedatt
heal
tari
nfr
ontof

t
hem.

"
But
..
.but
,itdoesn'
tneedmor
ewat
er,i
tneedsf
ir
eto

makei
tdr
yandbur
n."Shet
oldt
hecl
uel
esschi
l
d.

"
Arey
ouar
gui
ngwi
thme?
"Thechi
l
daskedherangr
il
y.

"
No,
no,
no"Tol
uanswer
edshi
ver
ing.

"
Good,
nowpourwat
er.
"

"
Tol
u,Tol
u,
"theol
dmanbehi
ndhercal
l
ed.Shef
inal
l
y

st
oppedt
oli
stent
owhatt
hemanhadt
osay
.

155
"
Unt
ilwhenwi
l
lyoust
opdoi
ngt
his?Unt
ilwhenwi
l
l

y
oust
op dest
roy
ing y
ourChanelwi
tht
hecour
tof

heav
en.Thecour
thasmi
ssedy
ou,deci
si
onshav
e

beent
akenwi
thouty
ou,soul
sar
eper
ishi
ngTol
u,y
et,

t
heyawai
tthet
hingsy
oushoul
ddot
osav
ethem.
"

"
Ha,Iam sor
ry,Ir
eal
l
ywantt
ovi
sitt
hecour
t.Ir
eal
l
y

wantt
oli
ghtupmor
elamps,butIam st
uckher
e."

Tol
ucr
ied

"
Youcanal
way
smakey
ourownchoi
ces.
"

"
Iti
snott
hateasy
,shewi
l
lbeatme,shewi
l
lexpose

me,shewi
l
ltel
lthewor
ldt
hatIam al
i
ar.Baba,Iam

t
oopopul
arf
oradi
sgr
ace.How doIt
ellt
hewor
ld

whathashappened?
"

"
How di
d Jesus st
aynaked on t
he cr
oss f
ory
ou

156
wi
thoutshame?Remember
,iti
snotwhatt
hewor
ld

t
hinks,i
t'
saboutwhatheav
enr
ecor
ds.Yourr
ecor
dis

sl
owl
ywear
ingout
,yournamei
sdi
sappear
ing,y
our

st
arsar
ereduci
ngandy
ourcr
owni
swav
eri
ng.Don'
t

st
ayt
ool
ongbef
orer
etur
ningTol
u,
"

Tol
ust
oodt
her
eandwept
,shewant
edt
obadl
yfol
l
ow

t
heol
dmanbutshecoul
dn'
ttaket
hef
ir
efr
om hi
m.

Thechi
l
dbehi
ndherl
ookedar
oundf
orst
icksand

began t
ofl
og herl
egs,shebentov
erqui
ckl
yand

obey
edwi
thoutquest
ioni
ngher
.Shesoakedt
heal
tar

andev
ery
wher
ear
oundi
tasshecr
iedouti
ndeep

agony
.

"
Tol
u,Tol
u,Tol
u,
"Aunt
yTut
ukeptcal
l
ingher
.She

157
openedherey
essl
owl
ynotwant
ingt
obel
i
eveshehad

j
usthadadr
eam.I
twasat
err
ibl
edr
eam,
buthowwas

shet
ost
artnar
rat
ingi
t?Shef
eltweakandnauseat
ed.

Sher
ushedupandr
ushedt
othet
oil
ett
othr
ow up.

Thesi
ghtshehadseenwasn'
tpal
atabl
e.

"
Ma,
"sheanswer
edt
hewomanoncesher
etur
ned.

"
Arey
ouokay
?"Aunt
yTut
uaskedsi
tt
ingher
sel
fdown

ont
hegi
gant
icsof
athatwassomewher
eint
her
oom.

Tol
ust
agger
edasshewal
kedt
owar
dst
hewoman

andl
andedont
heseatbesi
deher
.

"
Iam f
ine.Ij
usthadaf
unnydr
eam t
hatnauseat
edme.

Thati
sal
l
."Shet
oldherAunt
yandsmi
l
edweakl
y.

"
Tol
u,t
he Hol
y Spi
ri
thas sentme t
o ask y
ou a

158
quest
ion.
"

"
Ehnehn,
?"

"
Yes,
Tol
u,howi
syourr
elat
ionshi
pwi
thGod?
"

"
Fine.IandGodar
edoi
ngf
ine.Gl
orybet
oGod.
"

"
Tol
u,T-
Wor
shi
p,gl
orybet
oGod.Butdear
,ist
her
e

somet
hing y
ou need t
otal
ktoy
ourmot
herand I

about
?"Sheaskedoutofnowher
e.

"
Eh,not
hingoo.How manyr
elat
ivesdoIhav
einl
i
fe

t
hatIwi
l
lnow bekeepi
ngsecr
etsawayf
rom y
ou

peopl
e."

"
Any
thi
ngi
spossi
bleTol
uandy
ouseeGoddoesnot

l
i
e,I
fHe say
sther
eis somet
hing,t
hen t
her
eis

159
somet
hing.
"

"
Mummy
,mummy
,ther
eisnot
hing,bel
i
eveme,t
her
e

i
snot
hing.
"

"
Hmm,
arey
ousur
e,Tol
u?"Thewomani
nsi
sted.

"
Iam sur
ema.
"Shet
oldher
.

"
Okayt
hen,l
etus pr
ay.
"Aunt
yTut
u adj
ust
ed her

wr
apperandhel
dherhand.

Tol
ust
ruggl
edt
okeephercl
osi
ngey
esopen,
thet
ime

waspastt
hreei
nthemor
ning.Shewast
oot
ir
edt
o

pr
ayy
et,
sheknewbet
tert
hant
oar
gue.Al
lthewoman

hear
dwashersnor
e.I
twasl
oudandcl
eart
hatshe

hadf
all
enasl
eepwhi
l
ethewomanpr
ayed.

160
"
OhLor
d,Tol
ulopei
syourchi
l
d,Ipr
ayt
haty
oushow

hermer
cyLor
dandr
evi
veheral
tar
."Aunt
yTut
uended

herpr
ayer
sandl
eftheront
hecouch.

Tol
ufel
tweak,i
thadbeenaweekandt
heweakness

shef
eltsi
ncehermot
her
'sv
isi
thad notst
opped.

Todaywaswor
se,shecoul
dn'
tev
engetupf
rom her

bed.Tor
ycal
l
edSammyi
mmedi
atel
y.Themanwas

scar
ed.Shehadexamsi
ntwoday
sandf
all
i
ngsi
ck

wasn'
tagoodt
hingf
orheratt
hatt
ime.

"
Howi
sshe?
"Sammyaskedoutofat
oneofur
gency
.

Her
ushedt
oherr
oom wi
thoutwai
ti
ngf
orTor
y.I
rede

wast
her
e,si
tt
ingbesi
deheront
hebed.

"
Myl
ove,
"hecal
l
edonceheent
eredt
her
oom.I
rede

j
erkedupf
rom hersi
deandl
ethi
m si
t.

161
"
Whendi
dthi
sst
art
?"Sammyaskedl
ooki
ngatTor
y.

"
Sinceaboutaweaknow,
itj
ustgott
hiswor
set
oday
."

"
W..
.wat
…"Tol
ust
ruggl
edt
otal
k.

"
Wat
er,y
ou mean wat
er?
"Ir
ede enqui
red and she

noddedaposi
ti
ver
esponseback.

"
Tor
y,getherwat
er.
"Sammyor
der
edandi
mmedi
atel
y,

Tor
ywasout
.

"
Emm,
sir
,Ihav
esomet
hingt
osay
."I
redest
art
edonce

Tor
ywasoutoft
her
oom.

"
Ithi
nksheshoul
dtakeapr
egnancyt
estsi
r.
"

162
Tol
u'
sey
eswi
denedi
nshock.Shej
erkedupsuddenl
y,

st
rengt
hcameonherf
rom nowher
e.

"
Whatar
eyousuggest
ingI
rede,ar
eyoucr
azy
?"Tol
u

spoke.Shedi
dn'
tknowwher
ethest
rengt
hcamef
rom,

butshespoke.

"
Noma,Iam acer
ti
fi
edphar
maci
stmaandev
ery

sy
mpt
om i
ssay
ingi
tloudandcl
earma.
"

Tor
y ent
ered and t
her
e was si
l
ence ev
ery
wher
e.

Sammyhadnochoi
cet
hant
osendt
het
wooft
hem

outoft
her
oom.Fi
rewasdef
ini
tel
ygoi
ngt
obeont
he

mount
aini
fitwast
rue.

"
Sammy
,coul
dIbepr
egnant
?"

"
Wehav
etot
aket
het
est
."

163
"
Ha!Yeh!Iam i
ntr
oubl
e.Iam i
ntr
oubl
e."

"
Cal
m downTol
u,not
hingi
sconf
ir
medy
et,
not
hing.
"

"
Look,Isuspect
ed t
his,butIj
ustdi
d notwantt
o

bel
i
evei
t.I
fiti
str
ue,
thenIam dead.WhatdoIt
ellt
he

wor
ld?
"

"
Wel
l
,thewor
lddoesnothav
etoknowany
thi
ngaf
ter

al
ltheydi
dn'
tputt
hechi
l
dther
e,Idi
d."Sammyt
old

her
."Iwi
l
lgett
het
estst
ri
ps,f
ornow,keept
hegi
rl
s

outofy
ourr
oom.
"Het
oldherandexi
tedt
her
oom.

Tol
uwasr
est
less.Sheshutt
hedoort
oherr
oom and

gotoutofbed.Shewant
edt
oexami
neherbody
.Was

shet
rul
ypr
egnant
?Shel
i
ftedherdr
essandf
acedt
he

l
argemi
rr
ori
n herr
oom,gent
lyt
ouchi
ng herown

164
st
omachandt
aki
ngacl
oserl
ookati
t.Tol
uwasn'
t

sur
eofany
thi
ngandshedef
ini
tel
ydi
dnotwantachi
l
d

now,no.How di
dsheev
engett
othi
spoi
nt?She

askedher
sel
fandgav
enor
esponse.

I
nlesst
hananhour
,Sammywasback.Hehadgot
ten

f
ivet
estst
ri
ps,t
hey needed t
o be sur
e.He was

r
eli
eved,
noneoft
hem wasi
nthel
i
vingr
oom whenhe

gott
her
e.Hewentst
rai
ghtt
oherr
oom andt
ri
edt
o

bar
gei
n,buti
twasl
ocked.

"
Sammy
,ist
haty
ou?
"Sheaskedf
rom i
nsi
de.

"
Yes,
"

Sher
ushedof
fthef
loorwher
eshehadbeensi
tt
ing

and openedt
hedoorqui
ckl
ytol
ethi
min.Shedi
dnt

165
al
l
owhi
m sayany
thi
ng,
shej
ustcol
l
ect
edt
hepackage

f
rom hi
m andr
ushedi
ntot
het
oil
et.Sheusedt
het
est

t
ri
pandi
twasposi
ti
ve.Tol
ubegant
ocr
y.Shecr
ied

sol
oudt
hatTor
yandI
reder
ushedt
othedoort
ofi
nd

outwhatwasgoi
ngon.

"
Shei
sfi
ne,not
hingi
swr
ong.
"Sammyanswer
edf
or

herqui
ckl
y.The gi
rl
sret
urned t
othe l
i
ving r
oom

wi
thoutaski
ngf
urt
herquest
ions.

"
Eh!Iam dead.Iam dead.
"

"
Youar
enotnotdead,
wewi
l
lfi
gur
ethi
sout
."

"
How?Iam onl
ytwent
yone,Iam t
ooy
oungt
oget

mar
ri
ed,
Iam amedi
cal
student
,Ist
il
lhav
eal
ongt
ime

t
ogo.AndhowdoIev
enexpl
ain?Howam Isupposed

t
ofacemymot
herandt
ellhert
hatIam pr
egnant
.

166
How di
d Iev
en getmy
sel
fint
othi
s mess?
!"She

l
ament
edandf
ell
tot
hegr
oundi
nfr
ust
rat
ion.

"
OhJesus!Whatdowedo?
"

"
Sammy
,Iam abor
ti
ngt
hisbaby
."Shet
oldhi
m wi
th

herheadbowed.

"
What
?!Ar
eyououtofy
ourmi
nd?Iam notgoi
ngt
o

l
ety
ouki
l
lourf
ir
stchi
l
d.Pl
us,whosay
syouar
etoo

y
oungt
ogetmar
ri
ed,maybey
oushoul
drephr
ase

t
hatt
oyoudon'
twantt
ogetmar
ri
ednow.
"

"
Wel
l
,fornow,west
llhav
etof
igur
eouthowt
okeep

t
hisawayf
rom t
hepubl
i
c?"

"
Look,
Icant
akecar
eofus,
letusj
ustgetmar
ri
ed.
"

167
"
Ha!How doIcope?Mar
ri
age,chi
l
d,school
,abusy

mi
nist
ryandt
hepubl
i
c."Shet
oldhi
mlooki
ngathi
m

andcr
ying.

"
Andy
out
hinkabet
teropt
ioni
sabor
ti
on?
"

"
Iti
sst
il
lyoungSammy
,iti
sst
il
laf
oet
us,notababy

y
et.Remembert
hef
ir
stt
imewasi
nLondon.Iam sur
e

t
hatwaswhenwemadeababy
."

"
Thatst
il
ldoesnotmeanweshoul
dki
l
lit
?Youj
ust

cal
l
edt
hef
oet
usababy
."

"
Iti
s ev
acuat
ion notmur
der
,rememberIam a

medi
cinest
udent
,iti
samedi
calt
erm andt
heyar
enot

t
hesame.
"

"
OhGod!Tol
u,y
ouar
eobv
iousl
yfr
ust
rat
ed.Ican'
t

168
bel
i
evet
het
hingsy
ouar
esay
ing.
"

"
Iknow,Ican'
tbel
i
evemy
sel
ftoo.
"Shebr
okedown

andcr
ied."
Buti
fther
eisabet
terway
,Iwi
l
ltakei
t.I

wi
l
ltakei
t.
"

"
Iam sor
ryIputusi
ntot
hismess.
"

"
No,no,i
t'
snotj
usty
ou,Iwant
edi
ttoo.
"Shet
oldhi
m

st
il
lcr
ying.The t
wo satt
her
e on t
he f
looreach

r
umi
nat
ingont
henextl
i
neofact
ion.

*
***
* *
***
* *
***
* *
***

Onceagai
n,i
twast
ime,t
hesonsofhel
lwer
eto

gat
her
.Itwasn'
taf
requentmeet
ing.Theyonl
ymet

169
whent
her
ewer
etangi
bler
esul
tst
opr
esent
.Sogaīhad

cal
l
edt
hemeet
ingandBér
ubanappr
ovedi
twi
thout

ar
gument
s.

Thesl
i
mingdemonwasv
eryef
fect
iveandf
astandso

hepr
epar
edaf
eastev
enbef
orehi
sar
ri
valandt
he

ar
ri
valofot
her
s.Hi
scomi
ngwasn'
tev
enapr
obl
em,

whatannoy
edt
her
estwashi
sint
ent
ionall
ateness

t
hatcamewi
thnoapol
ogy
.

Thi
sti
me,t
her
ewasaf
east
,bl
oodwaswat
erand

f
lesh was f
ood.The smel
l
y spi
ri
ts spr
ead t
hei
r

i
ncensemer
cil
essl
yasi
twasi
ncenset
othem.They

r
ejoi
ced and j
ubi
l
ated i
nthei
rfi
l
th and t
hen as

expect
ed Sogaī ent
ered, hi
s smel
l domi
nat
ing

ev
ery
wher
e.Bér
ubanador
edi
tandi
nhal
edasmuchof

i
t as he coul
d.The r
est st
opped and wat
ched

Gabadonst
andi
nhi
sway
.Thedemonwasv
iol
ent
,

170
al
way
sreadyf
ort
roubl
e.

"
Gabadon!
"Bér
ubancal
l
edandheknewbet
tert
hant
o

st
andi
nthewayst
il
l.Hest
eppedasi
deandl
ethi
m

makehi
swayf
orwar
d.

"
Thanky
oumast
erBér
uban.Mayt
heki
ngdom ofour

Mast
err
eignf
orev
er.Ihav
ecomewi
thr
epor
tsf
rom

t
hel
astmeet
ing.
"Hespokeouti
nacr
oakyv
oice.Hi
s

v
oicewassmal
landcr
oakybutt
heycoul
dhearhi
m

per
fect
lywel
l
.

"
Mast
erBér
uban,how comehei
sthef
ir
stt
ocome

wi
thr
epor
tswhenhesai
dnot
hingi
nthel
astgat
her
ing

oft
he sons?
"Ev
ery
bodybegan t
o whi
speramong

t
hemsel
vesi
nconf
usi
on.

"
Qui
etev
ery
body
.Sogaīwasn'
tqui
et,he spoke_
"

171
Bér
ubanex
plai
ned.

"
When?
"Vamoni
nter
ject
ed.

"
Whennooneknew.
"

"
Butt
hati
sn'
tfai
r,
"hesai
d.

Bér
ubancoul
dnothol
dhi
slaught
er,hel
aughedso

hear
ti
lyandt
henspokeagai
n.

"
Fai
risn'
tawor
dthatexi
sti
nhel
l
.SpeakonSogaī
."

"
Thanky
oumast
erBér
uban.
"Sogaībowedsl
owl
yas

hespokeandt
henr
emai
nedl
i
ket
hatwhi
l
espeaki
ng.

"
Mast
er,
mypl
anwor
kedandpr
esent
ly,
ami
l
li
on,
thr
ee

t
housandandt
wohundr
edandt
ensoul
shav
ebeen

snat
chedf
rom t
hef
atherofl
i
ght
."

172
Thesi
det
alkr
esumedagai
n.Theywonder
edathi
m

andt
hent
oldeachot
herhewasl
yi
ng.

"
Ili
enotVamon,donotspr
eadsuchnewsofme

amongt
hepr
incesofhel
l
."Hey
ell
edandpoi
ntedat

Vamonf
rom af
ar.

"
Weknowt
hatt
hef
ir
stpr
incesofhel
lhav
ethei
rway
s,

butt
hef
igur
eyouspeakofi
slar
geSogaīwi
thi
nsuch

ashor
tti
meonear
th.Pr
ovet
hati
ndeedy
ouhav
e

whaty
oucl
aimed.
"Vamonchal
l
engedhi
m agai
n.

"
Onesoul
,onebur
ningsouli
ntheki
ngdom,
equalt
his

number
."Het
oldt
hem l
ooki
ngi
ntot
hei
rey
esand

smi
l
ingwi
ckedl
y.

"
Butt
heset
arget
sar
escar
ce.
"Zubr
ispoke.Shehar
dly

173
sai
dany
thi
ng,shewast
hest
onedemon,consi
der
ed

ast
heugl
i
estoft
hem al
l
,ar
easonshewasal
way
s

qui
et.Herwor
kwast
owr
eckhar
voci
nhomes.A

st
onef
rom hercoul
dwr
eckawhol
ecount
ryi
fsheso

desi
redi
t.
"

"
Thenwhydowehav
epower
sonear
th?Usey
our

headZubr
ianduset
hepower
sthatl
i
eonear
th.
"

"
Don'
tinsul
tmeSogaī
,
"shey
ell
edal
readyst
andi
ng

besi
dehi
m.

"
Zubr
i!
"Bér
uban cal
l
ed outl
oud."
Stay back.
"He

or
der
edher
.

Sogaīsmi
l
edsheepi
shl
yandcont
inued.

"
IsawAsi
deusandQueenKai
."Het
oldt
hem andt
hen

174
agai
n,t
heydebat
edi
tamongt
hemsel
ves.

"
Iti
s such a f
ardi
stance t
o see t
he Queen and

Asi
dues t
he god of i
mmor
ali
ty.You mean y
ou

embar
kedont
hatj
our
neyf
orasoul
?"Vamonasked.

"
Any
thi
ngf
ort
hissoul
,any
thi
ng.Heral
lmeanst
hef
all

ofami
l
li
on.Heav
eni
ssadov
erheraswespeak.
"

"
Whati
fmer
cyspeaks?
"ItwasZubr
i.

"
Mer
cyshal
lnotspeakov
ert
hisoneZubr
i,weshal
l

makesur
eofi
t.
"Bér
ubant
oldt
hem hi
tt
inghi
sseat

har
d.Theseatwaswaysmal
l
ert
hanwhatLuci
fersat

on and be wasn'
tev
en al
l
owed t
o si
twhen t
hei
r

mast
erwasar
oundbuthewassel
dom i
nhel
l
.Hewas

r
est
less,
alway
sgoi
ngaboutseeki
ngwhom t
odest
roy
.

Hehadt
hel
argestt
argetandhewast
ednot
imei
n

175
dr
oppi
ngt
hem of
tent
imes,oncet
heyf
ellhebl
i
nded

t
hem per
manent
lyorki
l
ledt
hem,f
orheknew af
ter

deat
hcomesj
udgement
.

"
Howdowegett
heset
arget
stoo?
"Gabadonasked.

Bér
ubanknewt
hesubt
lenat
urewasgoi
ngt
oaskf
or

somet
hingi
mpossi
ble.Theyhadt
ogot
hrought
he

t
roubl
eandgett
hei
rownt
arget
sthemsel
ves.

"
Off
ermey
ourseat
sher
einhel
landIwi
l
ltel
lyou

how.
"

Noneoft
hem gav
ehi
m ar
esponse,
theydepar
tedone

af
tert
heot
hersay
ingnot
hing.

"
You ar
eindeed t
he wi
sestoft
hem al
l
."Bér
uban

hai
l
edashebowedandl
efthi
mtoo.

176
I
twasani
mpossi
blef
eat
,ashandi
nghi
mthei
rspaces

meantgoi
ngt
oli
vei
nthebur
ningf
urnace,
thatt
ort
ure

nonewasr
eadyt
oface.

I
thadbeent
woy
ear
sandTol
uhadgr
aduat
edf
rom

t
heuni
ver
sit
y.Heroney
earcompul
sor
ytr
aini
ngwas

t
ost
arti
mmedi
atel
y.Byt
hist
ime,
herf
amewasgl
obal

andhert
imi
dit
yhadcompl
etel
ydi
sappear
edandso

had t
hewei
ghtofhersongsdi
mini
shed.Shewas

177
al
way
sonpaperandont
hesoci
almedi
asi
ngi
ngf
or

mi
nist
ersandcommi
ssi
oner
sont
hei
rbi
rt
hday
s.She

wasment
ionedamongt
hebi
gnamesi
nthei
ndust
ry.

Ev
ery
onewassur
eshehadnowmov
edf
rom mi
nist
ry

t
othei
ndust
ry.Theheadl
i
nest
hatwer
emaki
ngwav
e

was Sammy
'sr
omant
ic pr
oposalt
o her on her

gr
aduat
ionday
.

Thei
nter
netwasbr
eaki
ngl
ose.Cl
osef
ri
endsf
rom

v
ari
ous sect
orsi
nthe i
ndust
rywer
e cal
l
ing i
nto

congr
atul
ateher
.Shewasgl
adshehadbeenabl
eto

dr
ess up f
or t
he occasi
on. Al
though i
t wasn'
t

i
ntent
ional
,butshewasal
way
smaki
ngsur
etol
ook

herbest
,thel
ookhadgi
venheraccesst
osomany

peopl
eont
heot
hersi
de.Mostofhercel
ebr
it
yfr
iends

t
oldhert
heyl
ovedherdr
esssense.Shehadev
enmet

Thel
maGr
egI
yangi
noneoft
hebi
ggestchur
ches

because ofherhai
rst
yle.She was gl
ad she had

178
accept
ed I
rede,t
he gi
rlsur
e di
d know whatwas

t
rendi
ng.

Thel
maGr
egI
yangwasoneoft
hebi
ggestact
resses

i
ntown,
thewomanhadi
nter
nat
ionalconnect
ionsand

agl
obalr
ecogni
ti
on.Thr
oughher
,shehadmadei
tto

agl
obal
peaki
nhercar
eer
.

Shewasgl
adSammyhadal
l
owedt
heabor
ti
ont
wo

y
ear
sbackel
se,
howwoul
dshehav
emadei
tthi
sfar
?

Al
thoughal
otofpeopl
ecr
it
ici
zedherev
olut
ionbut

shesawi
tasgoodsuccess.TheLor
dhadbl
essedher

somuch,whowasshet
osayno?Andf
inal
l
y,hewas

cr
owni
ng i
t al
lwi
th maki
ng t
he man she had

consi
stent
lygi
venherbodyt
oaf
tert
woy
ear
spr
opose.

I
twast
hehei
ghtofi
t.

179
Tol
ucal
l
edf
oraThanksgi
vi
ngpar
tyaweekl
aterand

i
thadt
hebi
ggestgospelcel
ebr
it
iesi
nat
tendance.I
t

was st
ri
ctl
y by i
nvi
tat
ion. I
t was t
agged Bl
ue

Thanksgi
vi
ngast
hatwast
hecol
ouroft
heday
.

Thepar
tywasbi
g,asexpect
ednoonewasal
l
owedi
n

wi
thoutani
nvi
te.I
thadgot
tenTor
yext
remel
ybusy
,

shehi
redt
heev
entpl
anner
,fol
l
owedupont
hei
nvi
te

l
i
st,gott
hebouncer
sandensur
edt
hatev
eryot
her

t
hingwentaspl
annedi
ncl
udi
ngt
hedi
ff
erentki
ndof

f
oodsTol
uor
der
ed.I
twast
hej
oboft
heev
entpl
anner
,

y
et,Tol
umadeherdoext
raj
obandf
oll
ow upont
he

f
oodatt
hepar
ty.

Theni
ghtwascoolandev
ery
thi
ngwasset
.Janelhad

t
rav
eleddownal
lthewayf
rom Sout
hAf
ri
ca,shehad

f
ini
shedschoolt
ooandwasabankaudi
tori
nher

180
count
ry.Shecoul
dn'
tbel
i
eveherey
eswhenshesaw

herf
ri
end.Hergr
owt
h was obv
ious.The woman

l
ookedbi
ggert
hanherage.Shel
ookedt
hir
tyt
woand

nott
went
ythr
ee.

"
Dear
,youhav
echopupo.
"

"
Youst
il
lremembert
hatwor
d.Chopup!
"Tol
ulaughed

asshet
oldher
.

"
Yesnow.Youar
ebi
gnow o.Whathav
eyoubeen

eat
ingt
hatIhav
en'
tbeeneat
ing?
"

"
Niger
iandel
i
caci
es.
"

"
Imusteatt
hosedel
i
caci
esbef
oreIl
eav
eher
eandwe

hav
etot
alkaboutourpr
ayerhour
s."Wehav
en'
thad

someoft
hatt
oget
heri
nay
earandhal
f.Thi
ngshav
e

181
r
eal
l
ychangedwi
thy
ou.
"

"
Dear
,youwon'
tbl
amemef
a,Ihav
ebeengenui
nel
y

busy
.Ver
ybusy
.Youseet
heki
ndofpeopl
ethatar
e

ar
oundnow.Howwoul
dIhav
ebeenabl
etobui
l
dthi
s

ki
nd ofconnect
ion i
nfew y
ear
sifIhav
en'
tbeen

wor
kinghar
d?"

"
Bui
l
dingconnect
ionsonear
thi
snotasi
mpor
tantas

bui
l
dingconnect
ioni
nheav
en.Whatshoul
dbemor
e

i
mpor
tantnowi
syourheav
enl
yrel
evance.
"

"
Haah,don'
tbel
i
ket
hatnow.Iam st
il
laChr
ist
ian

now.
"

"
Obv
iousl
y,atl
easty
ou i
nvi
ted Chr
ist
ians t
oyour

bi
rt
hday
."

182
"
AndIst
il
lgot
ochur
ch.Al
thoughIcan'
tsayIpr
ay

ev
ery
day
,butwhenIhav
ethet
ime,Ipr
ayandIpr
ay

wel
l
."

"
Wow!And when y
ou don'
thav
ethe t
ime?
"Janel

askedr
est
ingherhandsont
hesmal
lwoodent
abl
e

t
hatsepar
atedt
hem.

"
Isayqui
ckwor
dsofpr
ayer
."

"
Okay
,but
,youwi
l
lbeneedi
ngmor
ethanqui
ckwor
ds

ofpr
ayert
ost
ayi
ntouchwi
tht
hef
ather
."

"
Eh!Janel
.Iam st
il
lint
ouch.
"Shet
oldherpant
ingas

i
fshewasst
ressedoutal
ready
.

"
Babe,
dontsayIam compl
aini
ngo,
butt
hisy
ourbl
ue

dr
ess,Ir
eal
l
ydof
eeli
tisal
i
ttl
erev
eal
i
ng.It
hinky
ou

183
shoul
dchange.
"

"
Janel
!Janel
!Wear
enoti
n1920now.Theseday
s

peopl
eweart
hingsl
i
ket
hist
ochur
ch.
"Shedef
ended

andadj
ust
edt
het
inyar
mlessl
ongdr
ess.I
twasl
ong

butt
hesl
i
treachedhert
highandt
her
estwasl
eftt
o

i
magi
nat
ions.

"
ButcomeoTee,
can'
tIt
alkt
oyouagai
n?"

"
Noy
oucan'
t.
"Shepl
ayf
ull
yjabbedatherf
ri
end.

"
Why
?"Sheaskedwear
ingaser
iousl
ook.

"
Becausewehav
egr
own.
"

"
Eh!Soar
ewenowol
dert
hant
heanci
entofday
s?"

184
"
No,buthe i
s new ev
ery mor
ning,r
emember
?It

meansev
enGodupdat
eshi
msel
f.Let
'sgr
owupnow

andi
npeacet
oo.
"shesi
ghedoutherr
esponseand

t
henwav
edhernew setofguestt
hatj
ustwal
kedi
n.

Sheknewshewasgoi
ngt
oav
oidJanelf
ort
her
estof

t
heni
ght
,shehadhadenoughofherchur
cht
alk.

Ther
e was mor
etot
alk aboutwi
th ot
herpeopl
e

ar
ound.

"
Sor
ry,wi
l
lyou go t
othe t
oil
et,may
be i
twi
l
lget

bet
ter
."Tor
y gr
eet
ed I
rede agai
n.She had been

hol
dingherst
omachf
ort
ool
ongandTor
ythought

sheshoul
dgoi
nandr
est
.

"
Ha!Tor
y,Ihav
etogonow,
Iwi
l
lbei
nsi
det
hehouse.
"

Shet
oldherandt
henbegant
owal
kbacki
n.I
twasn'
t

185
Tol
u'
s house on campus,i
twas Sammy
's secr
et

mansi
onandt
hatwaswhyt
hepar
tyhadst
ri
ctl
ybeen

byi
nvi
tat
ion.Once I
rede l
eftTor
y'
ssi
de,she saw

Sammy
'shand hol
ding herboss'
swai
stagai
nand

mur
mur
edt
oher
sel
fangr
il
y.Nott
hatshewasj
eal
ous,

butshel
oat
hedhow mucht
hingshadchangedand

howt
hatshehashadt
oremai
nfort
hemoneysake.

I
redecl
osedt
hedoorbehi
ndherandst
oodupst
rai
ght
.

Onceshewasup,herni
cey
ell
ow dr
essbecamea

snakeski
nneddr
ess.Herhai
rwasl
ongerandherr
eal

col
ourwasf
air
.Shehur
ri
edl
ylookedf
orami
rr
ori
nthe

r
oom butf
oundnone.Sher
ushedi
ntot
het
oil
etand

si
ghedonceshesi
ght
edone.

"
Ther
iver
sthi
rstandt
hedeser
tsl
acknot
hing,t
he

186
ar
msofdar
knessr
ejoi
cesi
nherownt
err
it
ory
.Mot
her

Zi
sor
a,daught
erofKandesh,gr
eatgr
anddaught
erof

Kai
,Iam anAdosh,
loy
alt
oourmast
erLuci
fer
,sentby

t
he gr
eatdemon Sogaīt
o dest
roy a mi
l
li
on,t
en

t
housandandt
hreehundr
edsoul
s.If
oundonet
arget

t
hatcoul
dgi
veust
hatandguesswhatmot
her
,she

f
ell
,shef
ell
flatf
ort
het
empt
ati
on.
"

Ani
mageappear
edi
nthemi
rr
oral
mosti
mmedi
atel
y,

i
tlookedl
i
keshewast
alki
ngf
rom ar
iversot
hather

head wascont
our
ed atdi
ff
erentt
imesi
ndi
ff
erent

pl
aces.Herv
oiceechoed,butt
heAdoshknew onl
y

shecoul
dhearher
.

"
Wel
ldonedaught
er.Yourr
epor
thadbeenwel
ltaken,

goonandexecut
ethef
inalpl
an.Ki
l
lthet
argetand

wast
ethesoul
s."Shel
aughedhappi
l
y."
Lookaty
our

si
ster
s,l
ookatot
herAdosh,t
heyar
edoi
ngwel
l
,thei
r

187
har
vesti
sful
landmenar
edy
ing.Thei
rdeat
hisour

del
i
ght
,nowt
hef
atherofl
i
ghtwi
l
lbet
hrowni
ntodeep

sadnessbecauseofus.Gener
ati
onswi
l
lbehopel
ess

wi
thoutl
i
ghtt
ogui
det
hem,
fort
hel
i
ght
sar
edi
m,t
hey

hav
elostt
hei
rusef
ulnessanddar
knessnow r
ules.
"

Shey
ell
edoutandl
aughedagai
n.

"
Yourwi
shi
smycommand.Idoasy
ousayt
hatImay

i
nher
ithel
landsecur
emyspacenextt
oourf
ather

Luci
feront
hel
astday
."

She bowed and t

hen t
he i
mage di
sappear
ed.She

t
ransf
ormedbackt
oIr
edeandl
eftt
het
oil
etonl
yto

f
indJanel
sit
ti
ngt
her
eint
hebedr
oom wai
ti
ngf
orher
.

"
Ir
ede,Ihav
e been wai
ti
ng f
ory
ou.
"She t
old her

cal
mly
."Adosh,
"shecal
l
edoutt
oIr
ede'
sshock.

188
"
What
?!Who t
oldy
ou t
hat
?"She asked,herey
es

wi
deni
ng i
n shock and br
eat
he i
ncr
easi
ng.Anger

swel
l
edupi
nherasshel
ookedatt
hewoman.

"
Het
hatl
i
vesi
nmei
sgr
eat
ert
hanwhat
everl
i
vesi
n

y
ou.Yout
hinkt
hisi
smyf
ir
stt
imeofseei
ngy
ou?Wel
l
,

no.Ihav
eseeny
oubef
orenow,Jesusshowedy
out
o

mei
nyourf
ullf
orm.Fr
om t
hef
ir
stt
imeTeeshowed

meav
ideoofy
ou,Iknew y
ouandIt
ri
edt
ell
i
ngher
,

butappar
ent
ly,
shegott
oobusy
."

"
Youwi
l
lshuty
ourmout
handsaynot
hingt
onoone

orel
se_
"shet
hreat
ened.

"
Orel
sewhat
?!Li
stent
ome,y
ouar
eanAdosh,t
hat

makesy
ouasl
avet
oyourmot
her
sandy
ourmast
er

Luci
fer
.Il
i
vei
nfr
eedom,Iam apr
incessandasl
ave

doesnotgi
veor
der
sint
hiski
ngdom.
"

189
"
Iwi
l
lnotl
i
stent
oyou,y
ouwi
l
lli
stent
ome.
"Adosh

spokeangr
il
y.Herv
einsshowi
ngt
hroughherneck.I
t

now wi
dened ateach wor
d she spoke."
Iam t
he

anci
entser
pentsentt
othesonsofmen,
Idonott
ake

or
der
sfr
om y
oubutf
rom myMast
ers,commander
s

ofear
thandhel
l
."

"
No,y
ouar
ewr
ong.Theear
thi
stheLORD'
Sandt
he

f
ull
nesst
her
eof
,thewor
ldandt
heyt
hatdwel
lther
ein.

I
fyoul
i
veonear
tht
heny
ouandy
ouri
nsi
gni
fi
cant

poweri
ssubj
ectt
oGod.I
rede,y
ouar
ejustaser
pent
.

Godl
ovesy
ouandhewoul
dwantt
osav
eyouf
rom

t
hesepower
s"

"
Stopi
t!Iwasbor
nher
eandt
hisi
swher
eIdi
e!My

mi
ssi
oni
stoki
l
landsendt
ohel
l
."

190
"
Thenl
i
sten,Iam anar
myr
ecr
uit
edbyt
heLor
dMost

Hi
ghandcal
l
edhi
sbat
tl
eaxe.Wari
syourmi
ssi
on,

v
ict
oryi
smydef
aul
tset
ti
ngf
orIhav
ereadi
nhi
swor
d

t
hatt
heweaponsofmywar
far
ear
enotcar
nalbut

mademi
ght
ythr
ough God,t
othepul
l
ing down of

st
ronghol
dsandcast
ingdowni
magi
nat
ionsandev
ery

hi
ght
hingt
hatexal
tedi
tsel
fagai
nstt
heknowl
edgeof

God,andbr
ingi
ngi
ntocapt
ivi
tyev
eryt
houghtt
othe

obedi
enceofChr
ist
!Myf
ri
endwi
l
lnotdi
e,sheshal
l

l
i
vei
nthenameofJesus!
"

"
Stopcal
l
ingt
hatname,st
opi
t!
"Shet
oldhernow

get
ti
ngmor
eangr
y."
Youmusthav
eal
sor
eadi
nyour

scr
ipt
uret
hatwhosoev
erbr
eakst
heedgeshal
lthe

ser
pentbi
te,soIdon'
thav
eanybusi
nesswi
thy
ou,

y
ourf
ri
endi
sasl
avet
oherf
leshal
readyandt
oni
ght
,

shedi
es!
"Shet
oldherf
inal
l
yanddi
sappear
ed.Janel

knew wher
eshewasgoi
ngt
o,i
twast
oherf
ri
end

191
out
side t
he house.She keptpr
ayi
ng as she r
an

out
sidet
hehouset
osav
eherf
ri
end,butI
redesai
d

shewasasl
avet
oherownf
lesh.Whatdi
dthatmean.

Shedi
dntcar
e,shej
ustkeptr
unni
ng.Mor
ethanev
er,

Janel
hat
edt
hesi
zeoft
hehouse.

Tol
usangonherhi
ghestpi
tchast
heyal
lenj
oyedi
t,

somegotupanddancedwhi
l
esomer
ecor
dedv
ideos

andt
ookpi
ctur
esandt
hensuddenl
yfr
om nowher
e,

shef
eltashar
ppai
ninherchestandt
henacur
rent

r
ant
hroughherbodyl
i
keshehadbeenel
ect
rocut
ed.

Tol
ufel
ltot
he gr
ound t
othei
rsur
pri
se,Sammy

r
ushedt
oher andgr
abbedherbef
oreshehi
tthe

gr
ound.

"
Tol
u,
"Janelcal
l
edoncesher
eachedout
side.She

192
wasn'
tsur
pri
sedatt
hechaos,
shej
ustdi
dnotl
i
ket
hat

shecoul
dn'
thel
pherbestf
ri
end.

Peopl
e wer
e begi
nni
ng t
o exi
t,some wer
etaki
ng

pi
ctur
es.Tor
ycal
l
edt
hebouncer
sini
mmedi
atel
yto

hel
p cont
rolt
he cr
owd,t
hey di
dntwantany
body

comi
ngcl
oset
oher
.

"
S..
.Sam.
..
Sammy
…"Tol
ust
uggl
ed t
o cal
land af
ter

t
hat
,shepassedout
.

Janel
lookedar
oundf
orI
rede,
butshewasnowher
eto

bef
ound.Ast
heyst
ruggl
edt
otakeherf
ri
endt
othe

hospi
tal
,She si
ght
ed t
he demon i
n herf
ullat
ti
re

l
aughi
ngandst
arr
ingather
.

"
Irebukey
oui
nJesusname!
"Shesai
doutl
oudand

r
anaf
tert
her
est
.

193
Tol
urushedt
owher
eBabawassi
tt
inghol
dingawet

l
amp i
n herhand.She was r
est
less and seemed

cl
uel
ess.

"
Whatdoy
ouwantTol
u?"Theol
dmanaskedher
.

"
Baba,
Ineedf
ir
e,pl
ease,
iti
sanemer
gency
."

"
Youdon'
thav
etobegf
orwhati
syour
s,t
akei
t,i
thas

al
way
sbeenher
efory
ou.
"

Tol
ust
ret
chedherl
ampbuti
twaswet
,toowett
o

cat
chf
ir
efr
om t
heol
dman.
"

194
"
Baba,
myl
ampi
swet
.Ican'
twai
tfori
ttodr
ybef
oreI

cat
cht
hisf
ir
e.I
tisanemer
gency
."Shecr
ied.

"
Iwar
ned y
ou ear
li
erTol
u,when y
ou wer
e busy

l
i
steni
ng t
othatchi
l
d,It
houghty
ou shoul
d know

bet
tert
hant
hatchi
l
d,buty
oul
ethercont
rol
you.
"

"
Eh!I
twasn'
tmyf
aul
t,Iwasasl
avet
oher
,Iwashel
d

upi
nherbondage,i
fIdecl
i
ned,shewoul
dhav
eki
l
led

me.
"

"
Ever
ymanmustdi
eTol
u,butchoosi
ngt
odi
ebyt
he

handsofachi
l
disadi
sgr
aceandt
othi
nkt
haty
ou

wer
etr
ainedandgi
venal
lyouneeded.
"

"
Okay
,Baba,
Iam sor
ry,
justhel
pme.
"

"
Ha,t
hisi
sn'
taboutme,t
hef
ir
eisher
e,i
tisal
way
s

195
her
e,buty
ourl
amp and y
oural
tarar
e wet
."he

r
emi
ndedher
."Thatchi
l
dwasy
ourf
leshTol
u,y
oul
et

hermaket
her
ulesandbecamesl
avet
oher
."

"
How?Hownow?Iam st
il
laChr
ist
iannow.
"

"
A power
less one,Tol
u.How do y
ou i
ntend t
o

wi
thst
andt
hiswhi
rl
windt
hathascomeupony
ounow?

Youdon'
tev
enhav
eti
met
odr
yyourl
ampandcat
ch

f
ir
e,t
heoney
ousubmi
tt
edt
ohascomet
oki
l
lyou.
"

"
Baba,
hel
pme,
Idon'
twantt
odi
e."

"
You f
ear
ed shame,now,deat
h hascome.I
sn'
tit

wor
set
hanshame?
"

"
Eh,
Baba,
Baba,
hel
pme,
iti
sanemer
gency
."

196
"
Thenexposet
hechi
l
dandbef
ree.
"

"
Baba,t
hati
stoomuchapr
ice,how doIf
acet
he

wor
ld?How?
"

"
How doy
ouf
acet
hewor
ld?Thewor
lddi
dn'
tsend

y
ouTol
u,t
hef
atherdi
d.Yourquest
ionshoul
dbe,
how

doy
ouf
acet
hecr
oss?Exposet
hechi
l
dandshewi
l
l

l
ety
oube,keepherandshewi
l
lki
l
lyou.Thef
leshi
s

unt
odeat
h,butt
heSpi
ri
tgi
vesl
i
fe.
"

"
Ha!
!"Tol
ukeptcr
ying,y
etshewassur
eexposi
ngt
he

chi
l
dwast
hel
astt
hingshewant
edt
odo.

197
"
Mr.Sam,Mr
.Sam,
"thedoct
or'
svoi
cecal
l
edandi
t

woket
hem up.Theyhadspentei
ghthour
sint
he

hospi
talandnot
hinghadbeensai
dunt
ilnow.Sam

st
ruggl
edt
ocheckhi
swr
istwat
chashel
ookedupt
o

t
hedoct
or.I
twaspast5am i
nthemor
ning.Hegotup

wi
thspeedknowi
ngt
hemanhadbr
oughtnews.Good

orbad,
hewant
edt
oheari
t.Janeldi
dthesamet
hing.

Shehadpr
ayedal
lthr
ought
heni
ghtandhadonl
y

cl
osedherey
eswheni
twas4:
45am.

"
Yes,
doct
or,
Iam her
e."Sam t
oldt
hemanr
isi
ngt
ohi
s

f
eetqui
ckl
y.

"
Iam sor
rybutwel
osther
."Het
oldt
hem andSammy

l
aughedl
i
ket
hemanhadj
ustt
oldal
i
e.

"
Doct
or,doct
or,st
opi
tnow,st
opi
t.I
sthi
saj
okeor

somet
hing?
"

198
"
No,Mr
.Sam,Mi
ssTol
ulopeJesubi
yii
snomor
eand

herbabydi
edt
oo.Ther
epor
tshowedt
hatherhear
t

beatatar
atet
hatwast
oohi
gh,
may
beshewasdoi
ng

somet
hingt
hatwasoutoft
heor
dinar
ythatt
ookt
oo

muchofherst
rengt
h."

"
Wasshepr
egnant
?Wai
t,shewasonpi
l
lsdoct
or,
she

wasn'
tsupposedt
obepr
egnantpl
usshewas…Imean,

shewasnotdoi
ngany
thi
ng,
no,
not
hing.Shewasj
ust

si
ngi
ng,she wasn'
t doi
ng any
thi
ng out of t
he

or
dinar
y…"

Samuel
keptt
ryi
ngt
oexpl
aint
othedoct
or.Thedr
eam

hehadbegant
omakesense,shel
ackedoi
lint
he

f
aceofbat
tl
e,t
her
ewasnof
ir
eonheral
tarandt
o

makemat
ter
swor
se,i
twaswet
.Her
egr
ett
edt
heday

hesawher
,her
egt
tedt
hedaysheagr
eedt
osi
gnt
he

199
deal
,her
egr
ett
edt
hei
rfi
rstni
ghtt
oget
her
.Yes,he

l
oved her
,buti
twasn'
ta l
i
cense,and t
hen he

r
emember
edt
hel
i
esshehadt
otel
ltocov
erupf
or

t
hem,t
he abor
ti
on and t
hen t
he pr
ayer
lessness.

Samuel
cri
edsour
,hecoul
dn'
tev
enl
ookatt
hewomen

whosatt
her
eandgr
oanedqui
etl
y.Ther
ewasr
oom

f
orhert
orepent
,whydi
dhenotl
etherr
epent
?Why

deat
h

"
ButGod,wepr
ayedaboutt
hisdealbef
oreshesai
d

y
es,wepr
ayed,i
fyou knew al
lthi
swasgoi
ng t
o

happen,
whydi
dyoul
ethersayy
es.
"Janelquest
ioned

i
ndeeppai
n.

"
Idi
dn'
tki
l
lTol
u,shel
eftmeoutoft
hej
our
neyand

t
hendev
ildi
dwhatheknewbest
."

Janelhear
dcl
ear
ly,i
twasl
i
kesomonest
oodbesi
de

200
herandspoke.Feargr
ippedher
.Shedi
dntknowwho

spoke.Shet
urnedar
oundandsaw nobody
.Shegot

upf
ear
ful
l
yandf
oll
owedaf
terSamuel
.Hedi
dn'
tgot
o

hi
scar
,hewaswal
ki
ngout
sidet
hegat
e.Janelr
an

af
terhi
m and dr
agged hi
m back t
o hi
s car
.She

dr
aggedhi
mint
othepassenger
sseatandt
ookt
he

key
sfr
om hi
m.Thensher
ushedbackandhel
pedTor
y

t
oherf
eet
.Thewomanj
ustl
aidt
her
eont
hef
loorand

wept
.They di
dn'
tev
en bot
hert
o ask abouther

pr
egnancy
.Tor
yknew si
nceay
eart
hatt
het
wohad

cr
ossed t
he l
i
ne and Janelunder
stood whatI
rede

meantwhenshesai
dshecr
ossedt
hel
i
ne.Shej
ust

spokei
ntonguesandl
ethert
ear
srunasshedr
ove

t
hem homeaski
ngf
ormer
cyf
ort
hedead.

Bymor
ning,i
twasal
lov
ert
henewst
hatTol
ulope

Jesubi
yihaddi
edf
rom t
aki
ngf
ail
edpr
egnancypi
l
ls

201
t
hatbackf
ir
ed.Sammycoul
dn'
tbel
i
evehi
sear
s,but

hehadbet
tert
hingst
obr
oodaboutt
hanwhatt
he

medi
apushedout
.Hermot
her
,GFG,Aunt
yTut
uand

hi
sownf
ami
l
y.Al
though,t
heynev
ermether
,butt
hey

had hear
d herv
oice and seen heron v
ideo cal
l
s

count
lessl
y.Sammyknew i
twast
imet
ogobackt
o

Chr
ist
,hedi
dntknow how hewasgoi
ngt
odoi
t,but

hest
art
edbyconf
essi
ngt
oherf
ami
l
yaboutal
lthey

di
d.I
twasal
readyapubl
i
caf
fai
r.Hermot
herhad

v
iol
ent
lyshownupandaccusedhi
m oft
aki
ngher

daught
er,butaf
terhi
sexpl
anat
ion,t
hewomangota

cl
ear
erpi
ctur
eandl
ett
hey
oungmanbe,hedi
dn'
t

st
artt
het
roubl
e,shedi
d.Shel
eftsi
l
ent
lywi
thJanel

whof
oll
owedherback.

Sammycr
iedaswel
l
.Itf
eltl
i
keadr
eam,
onehewoul
d

nev
erwakeupf
rom.Tol
ulopewast
rul
ydead.

202
"
Inl
ovi
ng memor
y of my f
ri
end,my si
ster
,my

sal
vat
ionr
out
e,Tol
ulopeJesubi
yi
,Iam pl
ayi
ngt
his

song f
ory
ou.
"Itwas I
rede.She had become a

r
enownedgospelgui
tar
ist
.Hernextmi
ssi
onhadnot

gonewel
landt
henf
oury
ear
saf
terTol
u'
sdeat
h,she

showedupi
nJanel
'
shousei
nthepoolofherown

bl
ood.I
twast
heonl
ypl
aceshecoul
dthi
nkoff
or

saf
ety
.Janelwast
heonl
yper
sonwhohadev
ert
old

heraboutl
ovei
nthef
aceofaheat
edbat
tl
e.Shehad

f
ail
edandi
tsi
mpl
ymeantt
hatt
heywer
egoi
ngt
oki
l
l

her
.Shewasn'
treadyt
odi
e,shewasbor
n,handed

ov
ert
othewi
ckedgoddessofofherf
ather
'shouseby

herf
ather
'smot
herandhadser
vedf
ait
hful
l
ysi
nceshe

wasachi
l
d.Shegr
ewsoqui
cki
nrankt
hatbyt
het
ime

203
hergr
andmot
herdi
ed,
shewasal
readyanAdosh.

Janelwasst
il
lonf
ir
eforGodandhadmar
ri
eda

Past
orf
rom Camer
oon.Toget
her
,theyconduct
eda

del
i
ver
ancesessi
onf
orheral
ongsi
deot
hermi
nist
ers

ofGod.

I
redewashappyaboutherdel
i
ver
anceandwant
edt
he

wor
ldt
olear
nfr
om i
tsoshemadeadi
sct
hathadher

conf
essi
onand t
henr
eleasei
tso t
hewor
ld coul
d

l
i
stent
oit
.Itwasi
ndeedapat
het
icst
oryt
hatqui
ckl
y

wentv
iral
,especi
all
ybecauseshehadcl
aimedshe

ki
l
ledTol
ulopeJesubi
yi
,thepopul
argospel
singert
hat

di
edf
oury
ear
sagowi
thababyi
nherwomb.

Now,she,I
rede,hadbecomeami
nist
eroft
hegospel

wi
tht
hegui
taranddi
dnothesi
tat
etopr
eacht
hewor
d

t
oev
ery
onet
hatneededt
oheari
t,becauseasf
arshe

204
wasconcer
ned,
preachi
ngt
hewor
dandst
ayi
ngi
nthe

l
i
ghtoft
hewor
dwasanemer
gency
.Ifcapt
uri
ngsoul
s

wasanemer
gencyi
nhel
l
,thenf
orev
erybel
i
everon

ear
th,i
twasal
soemer
gencyt
ost
ayf
ocusedont
he

cr
oss.becauseasl
onghasBér
ubanwast
hehead,

second i
n command i
n hel
lof al
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