people will take with them on the journey a variety of religions and philosophies to find the meaning of life."
"Yes Phil," said Elder Jack.
"Let Phil continue with his speech, Elder Jack," warned Sister Ruby.
"Go on, Phil."
"The bible tells us that Jesus is the word of God. He said he would provide us with purpose and direction when we walk with him. If we obey Jesus sayings we will be able to withstand the storms of life like the wise person who build his house upon the rock."
Sister May rose to her feet in tears. She was a long term carer for her disabled husband for twenty years.
"I have lost my husband a few years ago and I felt like giving up. I have been married to Brother John for over 40 years. He was my soul mate and my best friend. I started to read my bible again. Before, I was too busy caring for Brother John when he became ill. We relied on each other. Brother John meant everything to me. He was my life. I loved Brother John with all of my heart but I can't build my life on him. Life is temporary like quicksand. The scripture reminded me that Jesus is the solid foundation to build my life upon not Brother John. Jesus was my first love and I have decided to rededicate my life back to him as a spiritual bride of Christ."
Elder Jack was touched emotionally by Sister May's testimony. He supported and ministered to her over the years. He started to reminisce about his oversea ministry in Sierra Leone.
"During the middle of the night the rebel soldiers dragged me and Sister Ruby out of our bed. We were the oversea ministers in Sierra Leone. We were told to leave our goods, house and all of our possessions behind. We spent most of our money building the house in the surrounding farm land. We lost everything but our lives. The bible is right. We entered into this world naked and we leave the world naked. God owns everything."
"Sister Jan, how is your husband?"
"Sister Jan is not married Elder Jack," said Sister Edna.
"There are not enough men in the church. Most of the men want to party. They don't want to know God. They don't want to live the Christian life. The Christian life is too hard," claimed Sister Jan.
"Life is generally hard, Jan. But we have the promise of the comforter. He will help us through life's difficulties," said Margaret.
"Yes, we are surely in need of God's help" and "Where is the tea and biscuits, Margaret," asked Elder Jack.
"It's coming soon."
"I need to take my diabetic tablets."
Jan wanted a quiet word with Naomi about Mantel. Jan recognized Mantel had eyes only for Naomi. She thought Mantel was her man. She had known him for more years that she dared to remember. She had been working with Mantel for several years rebuilding the church. She had earned the right to wed him. Everyone expected it.
"Naomi, can you help me tie my hair back into a ponytail?"
"Sure."
"Let us go to the little girl's room."
Twenty
Jan and Naomi walked out of the lounge and straight upstairs to the toilet. Jan pushed the door behind them and Naomi bolted the door. She took a comb and black ribbon out of her handbag and bushed Janet long black hair with strands of grey.
"Don't you go yet, Naomi? I want to talk to you."
"What do you want to talk to me about Jan?"
"What do you think of Mantel?"
"Why do you ask me?"
"You seem to be close to him."
"Yes. He is a nice man."
"He is more than a nice man. He is a special man."
"So he is. What has this got to do with me, Jan?"
"Forget that I have mentioned it."
"Okay."
"Then why are you looking so upset?"
"You can have any man in the world. Why do you want Mantel, Naomi?"
"Are you in love with Mantel, Jan?"
"Mantel has worked hard to build up the church when your father caused the church to split."
"You can't blame my dad for splitting up the church."
"The church was growing rapidly before your dad affairs with the sisters."
"I am not my dad's keeper and the Church people should have never placed my dad on a pedal stool and given him celebrity status. They did not fix their eyes on Jesus who is the author and finisher of their faith."
"Your dad did not fulfill his responsibilities within the church."
"Don't you lecture me on my dad's responsibilities within the church? He spent most of his youth working for the church on a low income."
"My mum worked two jobs to support the family before the church split up and as a consequence of maintaining the jobs her health deteriorated and she never recovered from my father infidelities. She gave up everything for the ministry."
"I am so sorry, Naomi. Please forgive me for speaking without thinking. I am just overprotective of Mantel."
"Jan, I would never hurt Mantel. He is all yours. You can have him."
"I saw Mantel looked at you. He only had eyes for you, Naomi. He will never be my man. He has always loved you from the earlier days when we were kids. I want you to make me a promise that you will look after him."
"I can't, Jan."
"You can do it."
They hugged each other and cried. Jan's dream of spending the rest of her life with the person she loved had ended in the bathroom. It was time for her to give up on a lost cause as she wiped away her tears.
"You're a good woman, Jan. You deserve him."
"I don't want your pity. I want you to take care of him."
"I can't, Jan."
"Yes, you can."
"Mantel is probably wandering where we are."
"He can wait a few more minutes while we powder our nose."
In the lounge, Sister Edna opened up to the group for the first time. She lived the lifestyle of a Rastafarian before becoming a born- again Christian.
"I used to smoke pot in one hand and read the bible in the other hand. I raised six children without the support of their father and have worked every day at the hospital as an Auxiliary Nurse. One day I collapsed at work and was rushed into the Accident and Emergency ward. I was diagnosed with cancer and was treated for chemotherapy in the hospital. A close friend of mine invited me to a healing service at his church."
"What happened at the service?"
"Evangelist Zoe made an altar call. She said there was someone here who had cancer and you have been crying out to the lord during the night. God wants to wipe away your tears and heal you."
"We remembered Evangelist Zoe from London."
"She called me to come out of my seat and to walk down to the front of the altar. She said God wanted to heal me tonight."
"Yes, man."
"I knew God was calling me. I had nothing to lose. My body was suffering with extreme pains and I was desperate to be well again. Before I stood up I had promised God that if he healed me I would serve him for the rest of my life. When I walked down the aisle my whole body felt warm. I was miraculously healed before I reached the altar."
"You were such a bitter person, Sister Edna."
"Yes. I was always angry with the church and I thought all miracles were scams. Today, I am a living testimony of Gods supernatural power."
"That's a great testimony, Sister Edna. God has a special plan for your life."
Sister Jan walked quietly into the room without interrupting the flow of the conversation. She looked a bit pensive and was not her usual buoyant self. Mantel was wandering what's on earth is wrong with Jan.
"Is there something wrong with Naomi?" enquired Mantel.
"No, everything is fine, Mantel."
"Where is Naomi?"
"She'll be down soon."
Jan knew that Naomi had won his heart and hoping for a hand of marriage to Mantel was pure fantasy. Her marital plans were crushed. It was over. Naomi pushed open the lounge door. Mantel eyes were beaming and locked onto Naomi's whilst Phil described his childhood experience at school.
"I dreaded going to school and playing football with the boys. I was the
last name the boys picked for their team."
"Poor old Phil."
"The boys kept shouting at me to stay put in goal. They reminded me constantly that I was not good enough at sports and I was only chosen to make up the numbers."
"Boys can be so cruel."
"In time, I had internalised their words into my mind which contributed to my low self-esteem. It was hurtful. I was trapped in an emotional cycle of fear and doubt."
"That is so sad, Phil."
"There was no way out for me. I felt hopelessly lost. I hated myself. I desperately wanted to be loved by my school friends and I felt Jesus was the only answer."
"Praise the lord."
"I remembered another incident at school when I was marched out of the classroom by Miss Hope, my primary school teacher. She accused me of spitting on the desk which I had reputedly denied, even to this day."
"She escorted me to the Headmaster office as the holy lamb was led to Pontius Pilate. I felt a sense of injustice and betrayal from Miss Hope. I had lost all of my self-confidence and trust in her. Somehow I wanted to take my revenge out against her. She was a modern day version of Judas, the betrayer."
"It had crossed my mind to squeeze the transparent glue onto her chair. It was a nice thought. The vicar spoke about turning the other cheek and that vengeance was the Lord's. The vicar had a point. But when you are young, it is not so easy to forgive. It is a hard thing to do. As an adult I have found it increasingly difficult to forgive. I did squeeze the tube of glue onto her chair and the rest is history."
"You were such a bad boy."
"She never did sit on the chair to my relief."
"What happened next?"
"She knocked gently on the Headmaster door three times and some of the flaking paint on the surface of the wooden door fell off into tiny lumps onto the carpet. The door to the Headmaster