Chapter One
WHAT IS DESTINY?
Understanding of one’s life’s purpose or why we exist they say, comes with age or experience. This to an extent is true, but for me, it is my understanding of God and who He is. Born into a middle income family, in two of the oil richest states in the country, not too poor and not wealthy, defined the parameter of opportunities and pleasures that I had growing up. My parents were just ordinary citizens whose aim is to work daily and raise 16 boys and girls, who at bed time will sprawl over the living room to other bed rooms, some of which were my siblings and others from relatives.
CAUGHT IN THE MIX
From 1979 to 1980 going towards the completion of my high school education, the urge to school abroad, especially in the United States became visibly strong and noticed. Reflecting back then, I could not even fathom why. I had no family or friends abroad that I knew. But I had access to admission information of colleges and universities and pursued it. I got admitted into Grambling State University in Louisiana. But due to a polygamous background, my father could not support my traveling. After I came to the United States in 1989, almost 10 year after, then what God said to my wife and I, that He was sending us to the United States as missionaries and reach His world, became clear. The question is why here and not some other country? Yes indeed, back home in 1989, it was my wife that started the pursuit to leave the country. I was not interested. I had a good and promising job and business. She wanted us to go to London where most of her relatives were. But every step we took met a dead end. Then suddenly, when I offered that we go to the United States, it seems the rough road became paved.
Challenges of Hindsight & Foresight
As a little kid, probably about 8 years old, I was constantly sick or afflicted with fever, headaches and cold, and often went into convulsion, meaning a critical moment that my vitals sign indicated a state of illness with possibility of going into a shock or even death. But my parents will nurse me back to health. When in the village with my grandparents, they will apply the traditional homemade herbal medicine or remedies and when in the city, I had the luxury of either going to the hospital or clinic. But as to why these constant or episodic experiences or attacks eluded my parents or anyone around me.
Could it be possible that some forces temporary or spiritual were responsible for this? Is there something in me, my future and my life unknown to my parents and anyone around, that could be advanced for these incidences or occurrences?
“1 And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan. 2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. 4 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.
Gen 37:1-4 (K JV)
I also remember as a little child having accidents, head injuries, leg injuries and one time almost drowned in the river. On another occasion, hot oil spilled over on my stomach as I was frying plantains. What are witches? I never knew what this is. But when I started my middle grade school and going to high school as a boarding student, there was the episodic experience of constantly being oppressed at night, fighting in my dreams, being beaten by someone whose form I cannot discern or being chased by bulls. I was also mentally oppressed and could not grapes or comprehend whatever I was being taught or studied. I was not retarded, but in my elementary to high school, I was academically unfocused and delinquent. My height was below my age level and that of the average height and age of my age mates or peers.
Gen 37:23-28 (KJV)
“23 And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph ow of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him; 24 And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it. 25 And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with Their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt. 26 And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? 27 Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content 28 Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.”
When I shared these experiences with my parents who were then nominal Christians, some of these they knew very well, but others they were just as confused as to what was happening. They took to me see a voodoo priest for diagnosis and remedy, quite popular in Africa, for it runs in the family. Unfortunately for me, it never worked. But after I got saved, meaning prayed to receive Jesus Christ into my life at a campus Christian fellowship revival, the whole illness, nightmares, accidents, physical and mental oppression ceased.