Our head office in Europe had organized a workshop for all IT specialists in Africa and I was invited to attend the workshop. As a matter of fact Malawi was initially not included on the programme but when the organizers noticed that they still had 3 places available they extended the invitation to Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Malawi.
“Please send Ophara to Mombasa. Sorry for inviting you at such a short notice”, read the email in part which was sent to the director of finance. I was happy they mentioned my name in black and white otherwise somebody else might have gone there (when I returned and as I was reporting to one of my bosses how I had traveled he said “only that I didn’t want to go there myself” . This made me realize that it was good the organizers had explicitly mentioned who was to attend the workshop). Within a day I had my air ticket ready and the second day I was on my way to Mombasa.
When I arrived in Mombasa on the morning of Sunday 11th January I was so tired that I felt like sleeping straight away but something urged me to go to Church. (You know, I had hardly slept the previous night. I had worked till about 10pm and then went to the airport. The flight was at 2:20am arriving at Nairobi around 5:30am which is 4:30am Malawi time). I asked for a pentecostal church and was directed to Crossroads Church just a few kilometres from Nyali Hotel. I quickly took a shower and took a taxi to Crossroads. I took the taxi driver’s number and told him I would call him after the service.
I was very early as the service would be starting in an hour’s time. In no time I was dozing uncontrollably. I must confess I didn’t enjoy the service because of this fatigue. I regretted. I felt it was just as good as missing the service in the first place. I should have taken time to sleep and get refreshed. Little did I know God had a purpose in all this.
At the end of the service I decided not to call for the taxi but rather walk back to the hotel enjoying the scenic views on the way. I convinced myself that I would not be lost and indeed I successfully made my way back to the hotel.
On the third day of the workshop I decided to inform my internet friend, Patrick Abungu, of my presence in his home country. Little did I know he was from the same Mombasa. He was then in Netherlands doing his masters degree. The reply I received from him was not what I had expected. “Please visit my family. I’ve already informed my wife and she will be expecting you”.
I knew Patrick through another internet friend in Botswana, Ntikwe, who I knew through yet another internet friend in Zimbabwe, late Blessings. I’ve now forgotten how I came to know Blessings.
When I told my fellow participants at the workshop about my intention to visit a family in Tudor they all told me not to go ahead with the plan as I was new in this place. They feared for my life but I assured them I was safe. So on the eve of my departure back to Malawi I asked the driver of our vehicle to drop me in Tudor where I was met by three children who led me to Patrick’s house.
I was welcomed into the house by Sister Liez, Patrick’s wife, who was accompanied by Lavina, a close friend of Liez’s, Brian and 2 other children.
Now as we were chatting in the house I didn’t seem to be in a hurry. I really took my time sharing with them my home experiences and delicacies as I also enjoyed listening to theirs. I must have thought Mombasa was as small as my beloved city, Blantyre. I was shocked when Brian later told me that we would have to take 3 matatus (minibuses) to get to Nyali Beach Hotel. My heart sank when I thought Brian had to take the same route back to Tudor. That was well after 9pm.
When we were waiting to take the third matatu I suggested to Brian we take the motor cycle taxi which was readily available. I didn’t want to waste any more time. I had turned down dinner at the house so had to be in time for dinner at the hotel. After negotiating the fare we jumped on the motorbike and the rider told us he knew the place where we were going. It was the first time for me to take a motorbike ride without wearing a helmet. In my country it is a strongly enforced law to always have a helmet on whether you are the rider or the passenger failing which you can be fined heavily. In addition, to have 2 passengers on one motorbike is totally inconceivable in my country. Anyway there we were with the rider struggling to balance the bike with the weights of the 2 passengers. He was lucky because I didn’t weigh more than 53kgs. In fact I have never weighed more than 57kgs in the many years that the Lord has allowed me to live on this beautiful planet while my wife’s weight ranges from 90 to 100kgs.
About 15 minutes later we passed a certain place where I saw a notable landmark, a sculpture of a large crocodile. I instantly told our “driver” to stop. “We are lost”, I said. I had seen this sculpture when I visited Crossroads Church and the signpost of the church was just a few metres away. “Now from here follow my directions. Let’s go back.”
We took the road in the direction of where we had come from and I led our driver to Nyali Beach Hotel. I was there just 5 minutes before 10:00 p.m. when the restaurant would be closed and that was also the time my colleagues had finished drinking and we all had our dinner together. They had earlier expressed worry about my safety in the strange land when I dropped in Tudor but I had assured them all was going to be alright. So they were happy to see me safely in their midst.
Then I thought my going to church the previous Sunday was for a purpose even though I was dozing during the service. If I did not recognise this landmark where would we end up at? Would Brian be able to get back to Tudor in good time? I was glad when he sent me a message that he had arrived safely back home.
For everything there is a purpose. When you prosper or suffer or feel inconvenienced or do something that you yourself don’t understand don’t get excited or worried. God might have a purpose in your situation.
ophara 