STEFO STORIES!

The pressure from my junior sister to attend the programme was suffocating.I had to yield to her desire.

The service was good. The choir sang well and the atmosphere was enchanting. Apart from what brought us to the church, something else caught my attention: a beautiful woman with two young twins, both boys. About five or six years old. Heŕ voice was angelic but her face spoke volumes about her sorrowful and unfulfilling life. I got drafted into her story:

She is an igbo woman. Had five children. Sleeping in a church compound. She has been driven out of her husband's house because she refused to worship their idol! When she moved to Lagos, she was accommodated by her younger sister whose husband could no longer keep them. A church took them in for a short term. Now, they are about to be homeless.

My heart went out to her. I walked up to her and offered her a free accommodation in our small boy's quarter. She moved in and we became sisters!

I would always prefer teaching a woman to fish than giving fishes. I gave four of her children free school in my school. But how will she sustain feeding them?

One day, I asked her what she wanted to do. She suggested trying yam, sweet potato and fish. Got a small space and business started. This sister moved to another level by getting a shop equipped with foodstuffs.

Her beauty, joy and glow returned. The children Academic level picked up from Zero. We became a family.

Her zealousness, dedication and hardworking paid off two years ago.

Each time she's  sweeping our compound, I will prayerfully tell her" very soon, you will move to your own house"

" Which house mummy? With frying akara( bean cake)? Where I go see the money?" Her laughter will always echoed round the compound.

"Just say Amen" I will insist.

" Ameeen mummy" 

The man came from Australia. A minister from Edo State. He got to know about her plight from her son who just relocated there through the dads brother's help. I was invited with her to see him. He asked few questions, and I faithfully responded.

The rest is history. Within a year, a four bedroom bungalow was constructed and handed over to her!

Today, my sister from another womb, another tribe, is a landlady!

Women will definitely achieve more if we continue to be each others keepers!