I
was in my shop with customers, two ladies, I can't remember who they were now,
when I received a phone call from Dad saying Kechi's plane was in trouble and
that we should pray. I stared praying quietly.
I
knew the kids were vacating that day for Christmas. We were expecting Ugo and I
thought Kechi was coming to Lagos, so I was kind of expecting Kechi in Lagos.
Then
I got another call from Dad saying Kechi's plane went down..... I didn't hear
the rest. My phone dropped......I think I froze and I couldn't breathe!
I
kept hearing "Aunty! Aunty! What is it?" It was the two ladies in my
shop.
I
couldn't breathe. I couldn't talk. I just stared at them. Then I started
struggling to breathe! The most important thing then seemed to be to
fight for air!
Which I was
doing noisily! I
think I was hyperventilating. They laid me on the long chair and were
trying to fan me.
After
some time I was able to say "Kechi....plane crash....”
Everything
became a blur. I remember telling Miriam who lived with me then and she started
crying! I wasn't crying. I think I was in shock. I made some calls to Ned and
Ulo and said that we should go to Apapa, to my parent's house. Mom was on my
mind...
How
we got to Apapa, I don't remember. I think I rode with Ned. When we got there,
just as we feared, it took three people to restrain Mom
from harming her self. She had been throwing her self all over the place in her
grief!
It
was a horrible meeting with everybody crying and plans were being made to buy
tickets to go to PH.
Suddenly
there was a phone call. Dad, I think answered and announced that Kechi
survived! I think there was the incredulous few seconds of silence before the
crying turned to laughter! And then straight into worship, in thanksgiving to God!
….My
sister, Nkechi's account.
To be continued...
No matter how "christian" you are, there will be times when situations will come at you with such force and, with little preparation, you fall apart almost like a non-christian. This was one of those times. It took being among Christians to remember our christianity. We all wanted to die too! To question God! To turn back the clock! To wake up from the dream!
ReplyDeleteOur Lord Jesus promised us be fore He left that He would send the Holy Spirit. One of the things He promised that the Holy Spirit would do is to "tell us of things to come". Could we have been told? Could we have known? Was God speaking? Were we attentive to the Spirit?
If Jesus is who he is, and not a liar, what happened?
Christians need to rise up in the knowledge of who they are and the power they possess. Jesus also said, "Greater things you will do...!" We are designed to do the the same and more. Open the eyes of our hearts Lord that we may see you... and know you! Amen!!
I got to know about everyone's account of that fateful day when I started putting the book together, about five years after. It is very interesting that everyone remembered every detail of the way they felt that day when the news hit. It was a turning point, not only for my family, but for people far and near. It was as if everyone refused that Kechi would die! It was as if the whole world was united in praying for this child - both people who knew her and people who did not.
ReplyDeleteWhen I heard later of all the prayers said for Kechi, I just went down on knees in awe.
The prayers were granted.
Kechi pulled through every infection, organ failure, every low point. Our God was, is, and will ever be faithful.