The Missionary's Journey - Episode 2

 

Gabriel Onyinmadu sat in a moving Honda car staring out from the window looking bored. He stared at the large bushes and his car strolled along the road. The trees were looking like it had been existing since the early nineties. The grasses were very tall and he heard animals making various noises. Their voices sounded dim in his ear. The little huts and houses isolated within them aroused his attention.

Why would anyone live there in this bush? Are they not afraid of snakes and other animals? he thought.

The houses were so small compared to those in the city . He suddenly felt sad. He had lived in the city all his life. Now after sixteen years of his father's missionary journey, they were told to move to the village, a rural area. He had always prided himself on being exposed, falling in love with the city life and glamour.

Two weeks ago, he was out partying with his friends. One of his friends threw a party to celebrate his new age. He got home late that day. He had planned on lying to his father that he went to study at a friend’s place. Gabriel was the son of a pastor. He and his family attended the City of David church and his father was a senior pastor there, well known in the church for his miracles and vigorous prayers. Gabriel couldn’t care less about his father’s religious beliefs, he went to church because he had to

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/the-missionary-s-journey

. It felt more like an obligation to him. He participated in plays, choir ministrations, ushering positions, also acted as a protocol officer for visiting pastors, acted like the kid’s president in the children’s church and finally became the teenager’s president. He did these things because he knew eyes were watching him. He was expected to lead an exemplary life being the senior pastor’s son and he fulfilled that duty. His older sister, Anita, had a melodious voice and she led the choir every Sunday but Gabriel knew the sinful life his sister led during the week and like his sister, he also engaged in worldly pleasures and only showed his religious side on Sundays. The night when he came back from his friend’s party, he thought he was going to face his father’s wrath and memorized the lie he had concocted in his head again. He was surprised when he discovered that his father wasn’t really bothered about his whereabouts and had something to tell him.

"Sit down son, I have something to tell you and your sister," his father said.

He glanced at his mother and sister, wondering what was going on. His mother signaled at him to listen while his sister chewed gum and ignored him.

"Well I have been posted to a village in Abia State called Umuahala. I just heard about the transfer today and it seems there is a branch there that needs to be occupied by a pastor as …umm…mysterious tragedies befell the previous pastor. So in two weeks' time, we will be moving to this village for maybe a year or two, it depends, at least to strengthen our faith in that church while the junior pastor Mr. Okoro will take over as the new senior pastor of our branch. I know this is a big change for all of us but this is something we have to do, a sacrifice to make. So I decided to share this information and give us time to accept this short change in lifestyle and location. If you have anything to say, this is the time to voice your opinion."

Mr. Onyinmadu took his wife’s hands and looked at his children expectedly.

Gabriel was dumbfounded. His sister Anita hissed, clearly annoyed.

"What are you saying dad, you expect me to leave my friends and life to go to the village? I am in my sixth year in high school and our dinner party is almost here. I had plans, big plans, I could win prom queen you know and you want me to toss all that away?!" Anita screamed. "We don’t even know if the place is safe. What if the people there are savages, haven’t you said of cases where innocent people died because of jungle justice?" she said.

"Anita calm down, don’t forget you are talking to your father, lower your voice. I understand this is hard to accept but your father must accept this call. It is for the lord and we have to carry you along. We have no relatives to leave you with here in Lagos and your father needs us, his family to support him," Mrs. Oyinmadu said to Anita.

Anita shook her head, folding her arms as she sat back in annoyance.

Mr. Oyinmadu rubbed his wife’s hands and whispered, "It is fine. Thank you." He turned to Anita staring at her softly and said, "Anita, it will be safe there, I promise you. The people there are peaceful and welcoming, there will be no threat to your health or your brother’s health not while I am there."

He turned to his son ‘What about you Gabriel? he asked.

Gabriel paused, thinking of the unexpected news. "If this is what we have to do, there is nothing to do but go. We just have to adapt," he said, holding back tears that threatened to spill.
"Thank you for understanding," his father smiled.

Two weeks later, they packed their bags, said to their friends and well-wishers that came to see them off and drove to Umuahala. The journey was long and tiring. Soon enough, Gabriel saw the signboard that said: "Welcome to Umuahala." He thought what kind of name is it.

His father drove slowly, explaining the village’s origin and shared other information concerning the village. Gabriel and his sister listened with zero interest.

"This is where we will be staying. Umuahala, ah, it’s a small village but it’s quiet, free of thugs, robbers, kidnappers and the likes. The main mineral resource here is crude oil and the village is also rich in agriculture. Some of the food you eat in Lagos comes from this place. Try to make new friends here hmm," he turned back smiling at his kids. Anita ignored him tapping away at her phone and Gabriel gave his father a forced and fake smile.

They soon arrived in front of a small house. The house, Gabriel observed, was smaller than the one they were living in back in Lagos. An old man stood outside the house, wearing a slacked singlet and wrapper tied around his waist.

"Ah, welcome," he greeted them. "I have been expecting you.

Read " A Tale of Five Bandits " by the same author ( Obinna Tony )

. Come, let me show you around."

The old man waved at them to follow him, smiling with one of his front tooth missing.
Gabriel looked at the house and sighed. They entered the house. Unlike the duplex they lived in while in Lagos, the house was a bungalow, it had three rooms and a general bathroom and toilet. The living room was small and cramped and a small television stood by the side of the living room. Holes were spotted in the ceiling and lizards crawled along the wall nodding at the new occupants.

"The previous pastor used to live here till….well," the old man said.

"Thank you Mr. Nwaneri, we can take it from here," Mr. Oyinmadu said, extending his hand to the man for a shake.

"Alright, if you need any assistance, you have my number, call me," the man said, shaking Mr. Oyinmadu’s hand.

"Okay, thank you once again. Goodbye."

Anita walked to one of the rooms selecting it as the one she liked best. Gabriel entered the room he finally got. He glanced around the room, staring at the faded wall and the spiders that made the corners of the room their little home.

"So much work to do," he sighed.