The devil on the alter episode 3 – 4
THE DEVIL ON THA ALTAR
Written by: Grace Olayemi
CHAPTER THREE
Patricia got a call from home that her mother was terribly ill and her attention was needed to monitor her and be by her side in the hospital. She was so destabilized and taken aback. She could not go home immediately because of the approaching exams but all through the period of the exams she was a shadow of her former self. She became quiet and always deep in thoughts. She would even miss lectures and church services. She spent most of her time in her room praying and crying, hoping that God would heal her mother miraculously.
After about two weeks of her doing that, a lot of people started noticing the change in her and a few of them showed their concern and asked her what the problem was, but she decided to keep it away from them. Even her roommate had to push the words out of her mouth before she told her. Patricia though very friendly was a secretive person and never shared her personal life with anyone, not even Celestina but no one was expecting her to hide such vital and drastic information.
Bro Paul Adeoye was a 400 level student of the department of biochemistry and the president of the fellowsh¡p Patricia attended. He had always seen Patricia as an admirable person and also noticed her zeal and passion for God and indeed had loved to be close to her but they really never had any chance to relate outside church activities – and being the president, he was always very busy. He also noticed the change in Patricia and her incessant absence or lateness to the church. He called Bro Stephen who happened to be the prayer coordinator, Patricia’s direct leader, to find out if he knew why Patricia had been absent from church lately and even whenever she was present, she was always coming late which was very unlike her.
“Actually sir, I have been planning to report her to you because I really can’t understand why Sis Patricia suddenly changed,” Bro Stephen replied after the president questioned him concerning Patricia’s case.
“What steps have you taken to know what the problem is?”
“I have been to her hostel twice now and each time she has refused to tell me what the problem is and even her roommate is not helping matters.”
“Does she have a roommate that attends our church?”
“Yes sir, Sis Celestina in the ushering department is her roommate.”
“Ok, look around if she is still in the church and call her for me.”
Bro Stephen looked everywhere for Celestina but she had left the church, he went back to report to the president. The president then decided to pay Patricia a visit himself.
THE DEVIL ON THE ALTAR 4
Written by: Grace Olayemi
Locating Patricia’s room was not really difficult for Paul, the fellowsh¡p president.
“Peace be unto this house,” Paul said as he knocked quietly on the door.
“Peace be unto you too,” Celestina replied and opened the door for their guest.
She was shocked to see the president in their room and more so she didn’t know he was coming and the room was not that well arranged to receive an important guest like that. Their room was not spacious but it was comfortable for two people to live in.
“Please have your seat,” Celestina said pointing to the chair behind the door.
Patricia had been sulking since she received a call from home and Celestina has been trying to calm her down but she has refused to be calmed. She didn’t even raise her head to see who was at the door, not until Celestina mentioned the name of the brother before she stopped sulking. She was also wondering what the wh0le president of the entire student fellowsh¡p would be doing in her room. Paul also noticed the surprised look on Celestina’s face so he decided to state his reason for visiting them.
“I’m actually here to see Sis Patricia. I’ve noticed that she has really changed from who she was before and I’m certain there should be a reason for that and I’m here to find out that reason.” Patricia who was lying on the bed decided to pretend as if she was asleep hoping that Celestina would not open up to Paul but something else happened.
Celestina told him about everything that has been happening to Patricia and she even told him of how the wh0le situation had affected Patricia’s relationsh¡p with God. How she no longer read her bible or pray and in fact she preferred to stay in the room and sulk than to go for lectures or church programs and that in most of the courses she had written the exams, she didn’t prepare adequately for it. Paul was so shocked at the discovery that he kept quiet for a while then he later spoke.
“Sis Patricia please sit up and talk to me,” he said looking over to where Patricia was lying.
She sat up and greeted him, her eyes were red and swollen. He could not just imagine that the fervent, jovial and beautiful sister had been reduced to something else.
Paul advised her, encouraged her, prayed with her and even told her stories of how he lost his father just after he completed his first year in the school and he didn’t allow it to affect his spiritual life. He told her of the importance of always having a cordial relationsh¡p with God and not letting anything come between her and her Maker. He showed her examples in the bible of people that had trusted God in difficult situations and how they got their victories. He admonished and counseled her and even led her back to Christ. Because before he finished his sermon, Patricia had discovered that she had gone far away from God and needed to rededicate her life to God and she did. He was really a God-sent because his visit helped Patricia overcome the entire trauma she was going through and she became her happy self again.
To be continued…