“My daughter, make sure you dress stylishly and look stunning today. Phela the pastor has prayed for you, so make sure men notice you at church,” Mrs. Majola said.
“Whatever ma,” Leleti replied irritably.
*****
“Deuteronomy eight, verse one says: ‘Be careful to obey all the commands I am giving you today. Then you will live and multiply, and you will enter and occupy the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors.’”
“Amen,” the crowd shouted.
“There is one thing that people always say, that’s if you pray you’ll enter the heavens. Now that’s not true. Prayer alone doesn’t make you enter and occupy heaven, but here in Deuteronomy, we find out that the key to heaven is to obey God’s commands! Hallelujah!”
“Amen!”
“Now as I close the service I would like to make you aware that obeying God’s commands is not obeying the law, for the bible says where there is law there is sin. But by obeying God’s commands means we are walking in his ways and fearing him, that is Deuteronomy eight, verse six. And remember the law distanced us from God but obeying God’s command draw us near to Him as Jesus said in John fifteen, verse ten: “If you obey God’s command, you will remain in my love, as I obey my father’s commands and remain in His love!’”
After the service the congregation was catching up, fellowshipping. Pastor Rongo was also walking around chatting to people.
“That’s the beautiful lady I was telling you about, go to her and approach her,” Pastor Rongo said to the young man he was chatting to.
“No! I have my own woman, remember?” Lucas, the young man, argued.
“No man, forget about that Jezebel. I’m giving you true and pure stuff here and you decline it!” the pastor shouted.
“No, it just that I don’t know what to say to her,” Lucas defended himself.
“Just go and convince her that you are sent to this church for her. Now go!” Just as Lucas turned back and went away the pastor called him and whispered in his ear. “Lucas, don’t get any ideas, you are doing this for me and not for yourself.” With that, Lucas went away.
*****
“Whuu you look very beautiful my daughter, please turn around?” Mrs. Majola said excitedly.
“You remind me of my first date with your mother, she was the hottest woman at the restaurant,” Mr. Majola said.
“You mean at the Shebeen!” Mrs. Majola said laughingly, and Mr. Majola joined her in laughter.
“Ay I have to go mother. I’ll see you when I came back,” Leleti said.
“Okay my baby, have some fun! Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!”
“Ay suka no ways, do it as much as you like, for the sake of giving me twins for grandsons at least!” Mr. Majola shouted.
“Baba, watch your tongue,” Mrs. Majola said giggling.
“Remember how our first date was like?”
“How can I forget Baba, wawungum gijimi imphela, you were going faster indeed!” Mrs. Majola laughed.
“Ay suka, nganguwumhlonishwa imphela lapha nawe wawuzi thandela,” (I deserved all the respect that day and you really enjoyed it) Mr. Majola joked and they both cracked in laughter as they watched their daughter leave for a date.
Later that day, Mrs. Majola received a call from the pastor.
“Yebo, yes pastor!”
“Amen, Mam’Majola. How are you this blessed day?”
“Ay, I’m so happy, it is a blessed day indeed,” Mrs. Majola replied enthusiastically.
“That’s good. I have called to say that God told me that Leleti’s problem will soon be over,” the pastor said excitedly.
“Yes, indeed pastor, it’s over. She’s out on a date as we speak!” Mrs. Majola boasted.
“Hawu! God didn’t tell me He’s done it for her as yet. But ay, let’s hope that man is sent by God to her,” the pastor replied in shock.
“Ay, he is sent by God indeed, he is a gentle man. He was there for the first time last week at church,”
“Hawu! You must show me that lucky boy indeed,” the pastor exclaimed.
“Okay I will pastor. And by the way, my husband and I would like to say that we are grateful for what you’ve done for our daughter,”
“Don’t thank me, Ma, thank God. He’s the one who has answered our prayers,” the pastor said and dropped the phone.
***
Let’s chat: What do you think is the pastor’s plan with Lucas?