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When Divine Appointment was
done, they prayed and thanked God for His faithfulness. They thanked the
restaurant administration for giving them the opportunity to minister and
thanked us for supporting them. We gave them a round of applause and many
people bought their CDs.
“That was a blessing.” I stated.
“I’ll like to attend their concert sometime.”
Ọlaọmọ: They are good, very good.
Wọnu: I know I’m not big on Yoruba
language and culture and all that. But I love Yoruba praise and worship. I’d
like to attend a Yoruba church just for that.
I smiled and replied, “Before you
came I was thinking of attending an all Yoruba church service. With what you’ve
said, I’m determined to make it happen. If none of my Yoruba Pastor friends organize
one, I will. I’m putting that on my to-do list for 2008.”
Ọlaọmọ: That’s going to be tough. An
all Yoruba service? How many Yoruba Christians love Yoruba enough to go that
far? On second thoughts though, you’re right, we should have one, even if it is
once a year. Wow, I can just imagine myself reading the Yoruba bible out loud.
I have enough stress trying to read it privately.
Wọnu: You know that will be a nice
way to learn Yoruba. I’ll go get a Yoruba bible. I like the idea. Let’s work on
this Derbrah. You’ve got me excited. Now you’re no longer my husband’s friend,
you’re my friend.
We all laughed.
Divine Appointment said goodbye to everyone and left the restaurant. We all
waved them bye-bye, blessing them and asking them to keep up the good work.
After they were gone, a man at the
table across from us mumbled; “Na like so dem dey take God’s name dey make
money (That’s how they use God’s name to make money). Dis na church (Is this a
church?)? No be restaurant here be (Isn’t this a restaurant?)? If no be say I
like the food, I for no come here again. (If not for the fact that I like the
food, I would not come here again).”
His companion sited by him
responded, “Everybody is a pastor nowadays, anything to make money. I think I
should start a church. It is good business.” Somebody else from the next table
spoke sharply, “You people should not mess up the anointing here. You’re just
jealous because you can’t sing or dance. What have they done that is wrong
now?”
The first man replied, “They have
exploited God’s name. Let them go to church to sing and dance. This is a
restaurant.” Another person from the second table asked; “What is the
difference between them singing and the music playing in the background?”
A lady from a third table shouted,
“You must be from the Devil for you to be upset that people are praising God.
Look here, I know Jadesola. I was here the first day she opened this place.
This is a Christian restaurant. If you don’t like God and Christianity, don’t
come here.”
A person from another table muttered
something in firm tones and everyone began talking back and forth, calling
names and unpleasant words.
Wọnu: Look at how they’re tearing
each other apart. Yoruba is ẹlẹkẹ ebu (scornful cheek).
Ọlaọmọ: Let’s hold hands and pray.
Satan wants to pervert the victory we just wrought in the spirit.
We all held hands and prayed an
authoritative prayer and as if someone cut a cord, the fussing stopped.
Wọnu: Thank God for the privilege to
take authority in the spirit realm. Satan, you lost again.
“Amen, so be it.” I responded. “This
year has about a week left and it will be history. Divine Appointment
has assisted me to give God thanks again and again from now into the New Year.
Wọnu: What is that hymn? Count your
blessings, count them one by one, that is welling up in my heart right now.
That man’s testimony lifted me up. Imagine a busted tire on 80 MPH, God is
merciful. I have never been in a car accident. That is my testimony.
“Indeed God is merciful.” I
responded. “Over the past years, God has delivered me from many car accidents.
He is gracious. I have been in several, but He kept me, He kept my family. I
give Him praise. I want to sing, Emi adupẹ, ma fori balẹ, ma yin Baba,
(I will give thanks, I’ll bow down to the ground and exalt the Father).”
Ọlaọmọ: I had two accidents this
year and God saved my life. Someone died in one of those accidents. I glorify
His Holy name. I want to sing, Ẹşe, Ẹşe o, Ẹşe o, Ẹşe Baba (Thank You,
thank You o, thank You o, thank You Father), Opẹ, Opẹ o, Opẹ o, Opẹ Baba,
(Gratitude, gratitude o, gratitude o, gratitude Father).
Ọlaade began rooting and Wọnu
prepared to feed him.
Ọlaọmọ: Where is Patrick and Wole?
They should have been here by now. I think I’ll call to make sure all is well.
As she reached for her purse, Wọnu’s
phone rang. She picked it up and announced that it was Wole. He and Patrick
were in traffic. They were about five minutes away. I finished my ice cream and
Ọlaọmọ concentrated on hers. I took a piece of dodo Ikire and munched.
Ọlaọmọ: I fear that I’ll overeat
next time I come here. Everything is delicious. I love the chin-chin. Let me
try something.
She sprinkled some chin-chin on her
ice cream and took a scoop. “Not bad.” She proclaimed.
A Student dressed casually came to
us. Focusing on Wọnu who had Ọlaade in her arms, she stated; “ Good afternoon
ladies. My name is … I am a student and my project is on Yoruba mothers and
their perception on baby delivery. This is my ID card (She showed Wọnu her ID
card). The survey should not take more than ten minutes and it is by personal
interview so you do not need to write anything. I have three preliminary
questions. Do you consider yourself a mother?”
Wọnu: Yes I do.
Student: Would you consider yourself
Yoruba?
Wọnu: Yes.
Student: Is your child two months
old or younger?
Wọnu: My son is six weeks old.
Student: Thank you. You qualify for
the survey. Would you like to participate?
Wọnu: Sure, go on.
Student: Did you have a vaginal,
C-Section or both births?
Wọnu: I had vaginal.
Ọlaọmọ: How can someone have both a
vaginal and a c-section birth?
Student: Sometimes, especially with
twins, one can be born vaginally and the other by C-section
Referring to Wọnu she continued;
Did you have a hospital, home or
birthing center birth?”
Wọnu: Hospital.
Student: Was your pregnancy full
term (36 weeks or more)?
Wọnu: Yes.
Student: Did you pay by health
insurance, private payment or government assistance.
Wọnu: Health insurance.
Student: Was your husband in the
delivery room with you?
Wọnu: Yes.
Student: Who else was in the
delivery room with you?
Wọnu: My sister.
Student: Who else did you wish was
in the delivery room with you?
Wọnu: My mother.
Student: Please choose from the
following options. Why wasn’t your mother in the delivery room with you?
1) She didn’t want to come
2) She was ill and couldn’t
make it
3) She had passed away
4) Financial reasons
5) Other family commitments
6) Birthing facility policy
7) Other reasons
Wọnu: Can I choose more than one
response?
Student: No. Just one.
Wọnu: Then I chose she was ill and
couldn’t make it.
Ọlaọmọ: That’s not why. She didn’t
get a visa. That’s why.
Wọnu: She missed the first
appointment she was given because she was ill. By the time she got another
appointment, I had already given birth.
Student: Was there anyone else you
wished was with you in the labor room?
Wọnu: Yes
Student: Who was this?
Wọnu: My mother-in-law
Student: Please choose from the
following options. Why wasn’t your mother-in-law in the labor room with you?
1) She didn’t want to come
2) She was ill and couldn’t
make it
3) She had passed away
4) Financial reasons
5) Other family commitments
6) Birthing facility policy
7) Other reasons
Wọnu: Other reasons.
Student: Please list the other
reason.
Wọnu: My father-in-law would not let
her come.
Ọlaọmọ: You got that right.
Student: Do you plan to have more
children?
Wọnu: Yes.
Student: How soon do you plan to
take in again?
Wọnu: In a year’s time
Student: Would you use the same
birthing facility?
Wọnu: Yes.
Student: Please explain your answer.
You may choose as many responses as you wish.
1) The staff were nice
2) Birthing facility policy
was family-friendly
3) The food was nice
4) The environment was
comfortable
5) My baby was well cared for
6) My baby and I received many
gifts
7) Other reasons (please list)
Wọnu: Number seven, other reasons.
Student: Please list the reason or
reasons.
Wọnu: That is the hospital my OB-GYN
delivers babies at.
Student: Thank you for your time. I
am almost done. The following list of questions is for demographic purposes
only. You may decline to respond if you wish. What is your age group, 15-19,
20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-45, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64 years?
Wọnu: 30-34 years.
Student: What is your educational
level, High school diploma, Some community college, bachelors, graduate,
doctorate, post doctorate?
Wọnu: Bachelors.
Student: What is your annual income
..?
Wọnu: I decline to answer that.
Student: That’s fine. What is your
current marital status Single-never married, married, separated, divorced,
widowed?
Wọnu: Married.
Student: What is your religious
affiliation, Christian, Atheist, Agnostist, Judaist, Muslim, Yorubaist, Other?
Wọnu: Christian.
Student: What is the highest level
of education your mother has completed, High school diploma, Some community
college, associate, bachelors, graduate, doctorate or post doctorate?
Wọnu: Post doctorate.
Student: What is the highest level
of education your father has completed, High school diploma, Some community
college, associate, bachelors, graduate, doctorate or post doctorate?
Wọnu: Graduate.
Student: Thank you very much for
your time. Have a merry Christmas and a lovely New Year.
She got up and left and I pondered
on her questions. Surveys are very interesting. I found out a lot about myself
when I took some surveys last year.
Ọlaọmọ: I wonder what she’s trying
to find out.
Wọnu: They were interesting
questions. It’s revealed how much I depend on my OB-GYN. So I don’t care
where I give birth. I never thought of that.
Ọlaọmọ: I think the focus was more
on the service you received where you gave birth.
“I’m think it’s more on your
expectations at delivery.” I said. “She wanted to know about your support
system. I’d like to read the report of her findings.”
Wọnu beckoned to the lady and she
came back. Wọnu informed her of her interest in reading her report and the
student collected Wọnu’s email address and promised to send her a copy.
“So has your mum gone for her visa
interview?”
Wọnu: Yes. She got her visa last
week.
Ọlaọmọ: She can’t travel until mid
January though.
“I understand.” I replied.
“December-January are peak periods.”
Ọlaọmọ: I always pity those who
travel during the holidays. It’s too much hassle.
Derbrah writes courtesy of Agape for All Ministries. Author
retains copyright.
Jadesọla’s restaurant is a drama
ministry of the Yoruba Christian Women (YCW), an international faith-based
non-governmental, not-for-profit organization. Similarity of names and stories
are coincidental. Feel free to copy for non-commercial use. Commercial use
requires permission. For more information on YCW write Jesutoyin Ajikẹ-King (toyinking@yahoo.com).
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Posted by Robot| 04.01.2008 19:42