THE EVANGELIST PART 4

©Temi Akintade

"The place you asked me to stay is not good at all. Dimeji's place was better than this. Why am I going through all this suffering Lord?" I was frustrated and angry.

The abnormally cold weather around the November period was alarming. It's been 5 months since I got to Kaduna. 5 months since I started staying with the missionaries that, my ex-schoolmate asked me to stay with. It was a one-bedroom apartment and most tomes, I slept in the sitting room because the couples needed privacy even though they offered me their bed several times. The environment even though it was a small town, was nothing to write home about. We drank borehole water and sometimes, well water. Twice I fell sick from malaria because of their mosquito-infested environment. I longed for my home or at least somewhere better than this. And for that 5 months, I refused to go for evangelism even though God had commanded me to go. I was tired.

"You have asked me not to work. Please how will I be feeding in this place? Those missionaries rely on the monthly stipend the church sends them monthly and they are not even consistent. How do I cope?" I sighed deeply and began to walk away from the tree shade I was previously sitting under.

I began to take a stroll around the small town. The people there were religious. They loved God but didn't know him quite well. They loved God but still trusted in their herbalist to get them healed and set them free from their problems. I was still taking my evening stroll when I saw a light-skinned lady walk past me. I froze in one spot. I had a notion that all the ladies in Kaduna were dark-skinned but never have I, since I came, seen that kind of beauty.

She was even more than Ifunaya. All her feminine curves were displayed in her pink flowered gown, and her face was another beauty to behold. She had a pointed nose and nicely shaped lips. I swallowed, struggling to ignore the nasty fantasies in my head. I beckoned on her to wait even though I could feel the gentle tug in my spirit to let go.

"I haven't seen much of you around. What's your name?"

She smiled shyly. "Kauna. We know you around. You are the evangelist."

I almost got lost in her dark eyes. God should forgive me on this today but I needed to dance to the tune of my desires. Besides I am a man! I have blood running through my veins, not water. "Wow, Kauna that is a lovely name. You attend the church I attend?"

"Yes. I'm even in the choir sir. We enjoy your ministrations all the time. And you are handsome sir. But be careful with these village girls around. Most of them want to end up with you and they are just selfish."

I frowned. I never viewed her as the bold time. "I love bold ladies." She smiled. "Tell me then, you are a city girl I presume?"

"Yes. I finished my national diploma in Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic Zaria last year."

"So what do you do now?"

"I'm a teacher."

"And after that?"

"I will get married."

"Why don't you go back to school?"

She laughed and waved at other ladies who glared at her on seeing me. I never knew that I was most wanted in the town. "School is work and I don't like too much work. At least, I am working as a school teacher now it is all that matters."

There was something wrong with her mentality. How could she want something so low? I should let her leave since her mind was not a match with mine. But then, her beauty enchanted me and I couldn't even move my lips.

"I should take my leave now. I will love to attend your Bible study sessions, sir. The one you hold every Friday in the church."

I nodded. She smiled and left. It was when she left that I got back to my senses. Still, the desire of having her couldn't leave my head.

"Holy Spirit help me."

I took another stroll further and got home. It was when I got home that a neighbour came to call me to attend to his sick son.

I prayed and called on the God of Elijah to come down but nothing happened. The boy got worst instead. I tried to worship and praise but the boy wasn't relieved when I came back the following day. His parents kept looking up to me as though I was their saviour.

Finally, I returned to the house I shared with the missionaries, then I asked them to please vacate the room because I needed to pray. They quickly did, and I began to intercede. I wanted to know why God didn't want to heal the boy. I heard nothing. I was about to round up the prayer when I heard a clear voice in my spirit.

'If you must bind and break loose in this town, then you must have power over your mind and you must possess self-control.'

Instantly my mind went to my meeting with Kauna. I had fantasized about her until I went to bed last night. Even when I was praying for the sick boy, her naked image kept playing in my head. I couldn't help myself.

Then I asked a genuine question.

"Lord, what do I do?"

Almost immediately I heard, 'acknowledge your weakness first, then surrender.'

I began to cry.

To be continued...