I was ill on Thursday. Very ill. I’m not even exaggerating oh but I thought I was going to give up the ghost! So I started praying with my little strength and reciting Psalms and declaring that ‘I shall not die but LIVE to declare the works of the LORD in the land of the living’. It was really bad. I called my Pastor who kept on praying for me and calling me almost every hour despite his busy schedule. It was so horrible. My mom called me. That woman sha! It’s like she is a spirit that just knows when something is wrong. As much as I tried to pretend that I was fine, she saw through it. But all she could do was pray for me. She was so worried ’cause she knows me. Hmm, I’m a very strong girl so for me to breakdown like that, it was serious.
And this Jand is so annoying. Kani let’s say I were back in Naij, it used to be a thing of joy to fall ill. Number 1, no chores for you. You could falala/lounge in your room all day whilst everyone including my lovely big brothers took turns to say ‘sorry, Temi’. I even remember once I fell ill and my parents ordered my eldest brother to peel oranges for me. Hehehe. It was funny seeing him come into my room, tray in hand. Trust me, I had to enjoy every moment and so I demanded that he cut them up in four little pieces and he sheepishly obliged. Lol! I’m sure he was thinking, ‘you get better and see how I shall deal with you’.
When you fell ill at home, everyone (including my toughie dad) fawned over you. You could laze in the living room watch TV all day whilst everyone fell over themselves to see to it that you were ok. As soon as you go to the hospital and had your medicine in little nylon containers and possibly, injection, you had qualified for special treatment. It was that time that all the ‘treats’ would be thrown in your face. See how popsy will be begging, ‘should we go and buy you Mr Biggs or do you want ice cream’. There would be Lucozade (bottle oh, not plastic, with that orange nylon thingy), glucose, vitamin C, Big Treats bread and all sorts. You would be the King/Queen in the house till you felt better and became a normal citizen again. Even at school, when you returned, everyone would care and ask if how you were feeling, both teachers and students. Even those beefing you would say ‘hi’ that period and there would be no punishment for you by the teachers and principal (for at least that week you returned).
But in this Jand, hmm, there is ABSOLUTELY no fun in being ill o. Gbabe! You are in OYO town. On Your Own. I was locked up in my flat the entire day groaning, writhing, praying and none of my neighbours knew. Not even the person next door. Everyman for himself, God for us all. Thank God for friends but there’s something about Jand you just don’t wanna bother people. Everyone is on the move and so busy. They say things like, ‘oh you should have called me’ but you know its good you didn’t ’cause they wish you well but really are soooooo tied up.
Anyways, there I was lying on my bed on Thursday morning. Something woke me up, whether it was my alarm or my headache, I’m not certain. But I woke up feeling like I fought battles in my dream. My back hurt, I was weak, I had headache, I was hearing all sorts of buzzing sounds in my ears, I had cough, running nose, cold, catarrh (I’m sure the last three are the same but just to pass across the gravity, lol) . And most worryingly, I had no apetite! Ok, I’m no glutton but I do have an okay apetite. I eat once a day. My usual day will start off with a cup of tea then on my way to Church office (where I volunteer), I’d stop by Starbucks and get a Venti Caramel Macchiato or Latte with whipped cream. Around 4, I’d get something to snack on then eat a proper meal at home when I get back (proper meal, being pancakes or the like). Somedays, I’ll just vex and make egusi, ila alasepo Okro or Okra (depending on where you’re from), efo riro (Vegetable soup), dish them in plastic containers and pile them in my freezer so I can always have something to eat when I get back. But the thing about me is that all those things will just lie in my freezer till I have visitors. I don’t like setting a table of food before myself. I prefer the quick concoction/jollof rice than making poundo or amala for myself. I just kent. I digress…and badly too.lol.
Ok, so I had no apetite, no medicine at home apart from the Actifed my friend forgot with me. I took Actifed and kept drifting in and out of sleep, all day on an empty stomok. At some point, I decided to watch some Yoruba movies on RejuvenatedBlendz’s channel on YouTube. As I was watching, the headache was getting even worse. Something then whispered into my ear, ‘Temi, why don’t you watch a sermon, maybe your fave, Aunty Joyce’. So I decided to go to my favourite site : http://www.joycemeyer.org/OurMinistries/Broadcast/.
To my amazement and delight, the topic for that Thursday was ‘The Lord our Healer’. I just started chanting, ‘Thank You Jesus, Thank You Jesus, Thank You Rapha, I am healed!’. I watched it about 4 times and indeed the Word is a healer. I started feeling better and better. Thanks be to God!
The next day was the beginning of our Praise Weekend at church which we had been preparing hard for. There was no way I was gonna miss it. So I gathered my strength, had a shower for the first time in two days, ironed my choir uniform, left my flat walking like a snail. I then branched at CostCutter to get Innocent Smoothie before getting on the bus.
Upon arriving at church, I felt a bit better. As soon as the Praise and Worship started, it was like magic. I was not dancing as I normally would (trust me, David’s undignified dance is usually my target) but for someone who thought they were going to die the day before, any small motion was a miracle. Friday was absolutely amazing, to put it succinctly. The choir sang ‘Thou Oh Lord’ by Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir which yours truly suggested and taught, with the help of our leader, and conducted. As I stood in front of them, I was just kabashing in my heart, praying that it goes well and it did. So all adoration be to the King of kings for that. Here is the song.
This song got me through some difficult times of my life and I just love it with my being. It is from Psalm 3:1-5 almost verbatim.
Psalm 3
1Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.
2Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.
3But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
4I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.
5I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.
Well that was my story that Friday evening so the song meant even more to me as I waved my hands back and forth to the sopranos, altos and tenors in my conduction. I was indeed grateful to be alive and standing. The praise and worship by guest minister, Silas was on POINT! People, in their joy, came out to the front to dance and I’m sure even the hosts of heaven were dancing along and God must defo have been nodding His heading and tapping His feet. It was great.
Saturday was awesome as well…It was even greater than Friday. Then came Sunday. Hmmn. I’m speeshless about Sunday. It was WONDERFUL! For real! Everything was glorious. I danced till I had backache. Though, I was still feeling a bit woozy, tired and weak, I do not know where exactly that strength came from. God bless our Pastor and his beautiful wife. God bless our choir. God bless our Church. God bless Dayo Bello and his team who ministered. That his drummer and his talking drummer had me doing things I didn’t think I had the physical capability to do. Someone even compared my dancing to Bro Franklin’s. For those of you who don’t know Bro Franklin, here he is in action.
Everyone was agog for God. Even those posh people who usually do ‘to the left, to the right’ during Praise and Worship were exhibiting some skills all in a bid to praise our awesome God who has seen us through January to December.
Then came the scariest part for me. Testimony Time. Azzz in. I wanted to faint cos I’m shy. Seriously, I am. That was my first time in all my life giving a testimony but I just had to tell people what God had done in my life. I had planned that testimony since June, lol. I thank God for His great mercies. God has been good to us all. Mehn, see queue waiting to testify. It was looooong. But we all got through and I was blessed by each testimony and I’m sure mine encouraged some too.
All in all, it was a lovely weekend. I had great time praising the LORD. I also thank God because despite what/how I feel, I know I AM TOTALLY HEALED IN JESUS’ NAME! Amen.
That’s all folks (for now)
Temiville.xoxo
Dapo
Dec 06, 2010 @ 13:58:07
Indeed He is our healer.U got so much strength Temi .Though u think its Oyo here but living here teaches u to encourage urself in the Lord .You digged it well at the weekend too.I hope u dey Kampe now!
temiville
Dec 14, 2010 @ 11:38:46
I’m much better now thanks D.x
RemiRoy
Dec 06, 2010 @ 14:14:12
Yes dear,I know you are totally healed.
wow, what a fun weekend you had, sounds so much like mine.
We had the Experience Lagos 2010 on Friday night and it was awesome!
Sunday was even better @ church.
I’m glad you better now. Stay Strong, k?
temiville
Dec 14, 2010 @ 11:39:40
I hard such amazing things about The Experience. Can’t wait to go for one. Maybe nex year’s…Thanks so much.xoxo
lifecandidlens
Dec 06, 2010 @ 14:40:46
Good to know you are better.
when i saw the first few lines of your post on my blg,i flipped and rushed here tto make sure you were ok.
He sends the right word at the right time.
like Remiroy said.the experience lagos was spectacular
temiville
Dec 14, 2010 @ 11:41:50
Lol…Sorry for scaring you…I’m great now! Thanks hun.xoxo
Kariebi
Dec 06, 2010 @ 16:01:15
Muser, u have no idea how much i am loving your posts, but the part of the story you didn’t shower for 2days fact or fiction?? just wanna be sure am not d only 1 dat does that.
Gbenga Awomodu
Dec 07, 2010 @ 12:16:06
“Hmmnnn…” **just passing by** 🙂
temiville
Dec 14, 2010 @ 11:47:35
lol…na fact o!!!
Tawe
Dec 06, 2010 @ 16:33:11
See me reading your post during my seminar ooo, if I don’t understand anything, I’m coming after you!!!
temiville
Dec 14, 2010 @ 11:42:13
lol
Tawe
Dec 06, 2010 @ 16:36:16
See me reading your post during my seminar ooo, if I don’t understand anything, I’m coming after you!!! Lol, but I glad you are well and God showed himself as Jehovah Rapha in ur life.
I am going to ve to concur that this past weekend was the most fantastic weekend I’ve had in ages! I danced like mad as well, didn’t even knw where the steps were coming from. I wishw e could ve d praise weekend more often, lol…
temiville
Dec 14, 2010 @ 11:42:46
I saw you digging it on stage. Well done!
Jennifer Abayowa (Jaycee)
Dec 06, 2010 @ 16:56:12
So you’re shy like me? *Giggles* Who would have thought that the talented Temi would be shy? He he.
Okay, the part about making your brother slice the oranges for you into smaller bits made me laugh.
I PRAISE Jehovah Rapha for your healing. Nothing is impossible with Him, and I’m falling in love with Him more and more each day 🙂
Naijamum
Dec 06, 2010 @ 18:07:10
Glad to know you are better.
I know Jand can be ‘cold’ – literally and figuratively – but try and have some friends’ numbers you can call for emergency peppersoup. I know I do 🙂
diamond
Dec 06, 2010 @ 18:16:24
alleluyah!!!!!!!!!! thank God for your life..
angelsbeauty
Dec 06, 2010 @ 20:14:17
plenty hugs! glad you are now well.. pele! mehn.. this country is proper OYO… it really sucks I won’t lie. But I guess it gives you skills you will need when you eventually move back and helps you stand on your own two feet even in the hardest of time. Thank God for God o! He has been so marvelous, in my life sef. I can’t believe another year is nearly over.
angelsbeauty
Dec 06, 2010 @ 20:59:47
o.. you reminded me of my past.. lol i used to look forward to my lil brother falling ill.. even though it was rare. lol me i did not enjoy when i was ill.. it was the second born who eats so much that when he doesn’t eat, we know he is falling ill and my mum goes alllllllllll out! lol me and last born will be at the foot of his beg begging for crumbs lol… he gets the whole works. from maltina to efinirin soup ( i dont know if you know it) with plenty meat to everything sha.
Not like i wanted my brother to be ill all the time… when he fell il.. it was very scary but thank God sha.
fairygodsister
Dec 06, 2010 @ 22:20:59
Pele dear, great to know you’re feeling better! After all said and done, it is God who heals o! I’m excited with the rich descriptions of the service and feel inspired to write about my experiences in His presence too.
I enjoyed reading this, and I’m happy I subscribed to your blog!
temiville
Dec 14, 2010 @ 11:48:16
Please write on your experiences!!! I can’t wait to read ’em…
Nireti
Dec 07, 2010 @ 03:43:34
Glad your doing much better dear.
Gretel
Dec 07, 2010 @ 05:32:07
Thank God for his healing power.
The Lord,he is your strength.God keep you.
WalkingEnigma
Dec 07, 2010 @ 09:25:41
I belive ure perfectly well now.
Cheers!
Yvonne
Dec 07, 2010 @ 10:08:47
hi Temi, So goo d to know u gatz ur confidence back. lol
It is well with you dearie.
Gbenga Awomodu
Dec 07, 2010 @ 12:13:12
“All adoration be to the King of kings” Thank God, you’re healed! Please, try get in touch with friends at such times o. As much as you respect people’s schedules, there could still be someone who could still (somewhat) squeeze out some time to check on you. This is actually one of the reasons I dread staying alone any time soon… Thank God for your miraculous healing once again!
I love that song too, but have you listened to Byron Cage’s version?
Cheers!
BTW: on the last video in this post:
[This is your day (Amen), the day of the Lord (Amen)…]
“He whom thou calleth ‘Bro. Franklin’ was christened ‘Bro. Sunday’ by the ‘Jaja Boys’ back in the days!” 🙂
http://gbengaawomodu.wordpress.com
wandy
Dec 08, 2010 @ 18:56:55
Thank God for the Healing.
anoda phase
Dec 09, 2010 @ 17:36:06
Great to hear that you are well and back on your feet…I almost felt your pain. God is good, to think that just listening to the word on healing, made you feel better…how awesome is that!
To snoop or not to snoop… « Musings of a Caramel Latte Addict
Dec 11, 2010 @ 12:41:38
tope
Dec 13, 2010 @ 16:51:19
Being ill can be such a bummer(not feeling so good myself). Glad to know that you were alright and that the healing power of Jesus manifested in your life!
Sope
Jan 21, 2011 @ 11:48:14
ha ha ha ! Temi you crack me up!…lol! pele hun..Havent been on the site in ages cos of exams. making my way through slowly but surely.
Congrats on your testimony- indeed Our God is an awesome God….
mwah!
Chaya Solla
Mar 28, 2011 @ 02:10:52
Keep all the articles coming. I really like reading your site. Thanks alot : ).