Trusting the God of the Process: My Relocation Story from Nigeria amid the COVID-19 Pandemic
...with seven lessons learnt so far from the journey
…but why will you leave? You have an excellent job in Abuja; what else do you want? Abuja has been a very great place for you. Ministerially, you are also blossoming at The Apostolic Church, Abuja. Recently ordained a deacon, your assembly's youth coordinator, assistant choirmaster, district youth treasurer, and now Abuja FCT Area programme coordinator. You love to serve God, and here you go. What exactly do you want?
…but the call was clear.
While I loved my job and gave my best to it (I have witnesses in the house…laughs), and I loved staying in Abuja, and I still do, I knew it was time to move.
‘Okay, but why not wait for one more year? COVID is here. You are even going to ‘where COVID came from’, o ga o…laughs
…but God said it was time to move.
Did I understand? No. Was I scared? Yes. But did I hear God? Certainly yes.
It is on this note that I welcome you to today’s post. I hope you are keeping well. I have been asked questions about my relocation experience so many times that I have lost count already. So, here is a summary of the process. You will get the full gist later in a book. It is a debt we owe, right, Dr Yetunde Tola…laughs. Watch out.
Let me know if you can’t wait to read the book in the comments section.
…September 24, 2019, my wife’s birthday at Shoprite Abuja, Nigeria.
The story begins…
On securing admission, I needed to pay a large part of the school fees (around 15,000HKD) to show my readiness, after which I would be paid my monthly stipend on getting to Hong Kong. Having settled that, I did not have the funds for the journey. My wife and I sold our car and almost all we had and headed back to Lagos. Who does that…laughs. God bless my parents, too, who supported us.
The airspace was ‘closed’, courtesy COVID…
Don’t forget that I had no job again by this time, so how could the airspace close? You people better open it, ooo…so I will now be hanging abi, I bind that devil…laughs ‘Fortunately,’ we saw a flight and booked. Little did I know that the flight would mainly carry people with foreign passports and others. I packed everything, and we got to the airport.
I was still hopeful. I talked to people, and they said there was a way out, just that the flight was now costly. So, I had to pay more money to join that flight. I did not bother. But while trying to make the payment, the time was up; the plane moved. I carried my baggage back home. There was pin-drop silence in that car with the driver, my wife, and my son as we drove back home. I did my best not to cry because men do not cry…laughs.
A word from my Dad
Getting home, my Dad reminded me of one of his core philosophies, ‘oju o ki n ti Aladura,’ ‘meaning the prayerful can never be defeated!’ Even if defeat is around the corner, God will make a way.’
I was encouraged. I resumed prayer walks every early morning around the National Temple, calling on ‘Olorun Iranologo’, God of the Glorious Vision of The Apostolic Church as we call Him in my church…laughs. My parents, in-laws and all were praying too. Did God answer?
My prayer mountain. The Apostolic Church, Nigeria National Temple.
The most devastating part of the journey
This story is getting longer than I imagined…
Eventually, we got another alternative that moved me out of Nigeria, but at a costly price (story for another day…). See me spending money that I did not have…laughs, just because I wanted to fulfil my call...laughs.
Fast forward my flight was to move from Ethiopia to Hong Kong. Only two people were to be on that flight (COVID-19 palaver). But imagine, that flight moved without me! Just because an official said students are not allowed to enter Hong Kong amid the pandemic (which was not entirely accurate). So, the plane carried only one person and left!
Stranded at the Airport.
That was the subject of the mail I sent to the PG Coord. of our Dept in Hong Kong, that their new student coming from Africa is stranded…laughs. That was around 1 am in Ethiopia and 6 am in Hong Kong. One of the options that was considered was for me to return home. But I had invested too much in this journey to return home (over 40,000 HKD for flight, accommodation in Hong Kong, etc.). Also, in my post last week, I mentioned the importance of resuming for a PG programme abroad early as there were so many things to be learnt. No going back. Eventually, the Prof. in Hong Kong called the airline and said they could put me on the next flight in two days. So, I had to book a hotel and continue spending money I did not have on another man’s land. I prayed all manner of prayers…lol. Shout out to everyone who prayed along. To be continued in my book.
Eventually, on the flight from Ethiopia to Hong Kong…don’t mind my face ‘mask’
Lessons learnt so far from the journey
1) Know how God speaks to you: It is a very precious requirement to receive all God has in store for you. Sometimes, even though it is time to move, every circumstance around you says NO. You must know how to hear God, even if the storms are raging.
2) Understand the times: Sometimes, circumstances around you say No, and God is saying Yes. You can only move if you understand the times.
3) Be prayerful: In my Dad’s tone, the prayerful can never be defeated.
Smile of victory on setting my feet in school after 14 days of quarantine.
4) Marry a spouse who believes in you and your call: My journey would not have been successful if my wife had not supported the move. She has sacrificed so much; God bless you, darling…stories about our Hong Kong journey loading.
5) Sometimes, you must do it afraid: I have always known there is peace in your heart when God wants you to do something. However, I learned by experience that this peace is such that surpasses all human understanding; it is deeper than you can think. I was afraid, but I had peace. Paradoxical right? But that is what it is.
6) Have a great support system: I have always said every PhD student needs a Dr. Tola…laughs. Also, I have a great spiritual heritage—thanks to my parents-in-law and Rev. Salako, who also stood in the gap.
7) Trust the God of the process: That the storm is raging does not mean Jesus is not with you. He calmed my storm; He will calm your storm.
P.S. Do you have any experience along these lines? Which of the lessons resonates with you most? I will be in the comments section.
See you again in my next post.
Affectionately,
©Dr Oluwadamilare Akingbade- The Nurse Researcher
Thank you for sharing Dr Damilare
Even in the storm, God is present
The part that stood out for me is the saying that "The prayerful cannot be defeated!" - A testament that when trouble blows even in the storm, Jehova sees and knows, He gives peace, and will always make a way for His people which also affirms that the scripture verse "The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous runs to it and get saved".
Thank you for sharing your story sir, it's really an encouraging one that God can be trusted over and over again!