How it all started for us

It was a chilly October evening of 2005 and I had visited with a long time friend of mine, Tee-Y. We had spent some time in his room talking about life and dreams. Our families had been neighbours since 1986 when they moved in to our neighbourhood called Ndagi Faruk Close situated along Tafawa Balewa Street in Jos; my uncle had been leaving there for about five years by the time I came to live with him after the demise of my father in 1979. After Tee-Y's family had stayed a while, Lash the eldest brother became popular because he had a bicycle, and all the boys in the ungwa (neighbourhood) wanted to become his friend so they could have a chance to ride his bike. I didn’t really like him much because I felt the attention he got was making him proud so I rarely asked for a ride or became his friend.

Their family eventually moved to the University of Jos Senior Staff Quarters since the parents were both members of the university staff. A year or so later, my uncle moved to the New legislators Quarters (he was no legislator, but a retired civil servant!), which was close to where they had moved to. My relationship with the family grew and we started exchanging letters with Lash since he was in unijos studying Zoology and I was in Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University in Bauchi, studying Electrical and Electronics Engineering. The correspondences continued after our graduation and even after I decided after our National Youth Service Corps to become a missionary. His other siblings joined in the correspondence eventually and I would visit to chat with any of them as we exchanged ideas.

This particular October evening, I was at the house to visit, Lash wasn’t home but Tee-Y was so we spent time talking. I had left the missionary group I was with and was thinking of picking up a job some where and also moving into business especially online. Toyin knew some stuff about business ideas and proposal writing so we connected along these lines. As he was seeing me off to the one-room apartment I shared with my former class buddy Uzo, a young lady approached us and stopped to say hello to Tee-Y and told him about a speaking engagement she had where she had to speak in Hausa a language understood by several people in Jos and of which she could speak little of. Tee-Y was studying for his Masters Degree in Architecture and his house was like a consulting room where his junior colleagues always came for clarification and assistance with their drawings – she struck me as one of those until she mentioned something about speaking engagement. I had always wanted to be a motivational speaker as part of my business plans. I wanted to meet her so I could learn about how she conducted her business as she spoke from place to place and all, so Tee-Y promised to introduce us.

We met some weeks later and exchanged ideas about books and stuff we felt we connected on. Then we started seeing each other and I started wondering if we were not getting too close and she also pointed her fears to me. I felt I was too old for her to have any form of intimate relationship with her – I was about ten years older than her. Then I stumbled upon my list; I had written a list a few months ago describing the type of woman I wanted to meet, have a relationship and eventually marry her – she met over 90 per cent of my criteria for the ideal woman. Besides, our prayers for each other concerning our future together seemed to get answered almost effortlessly that I had no doubt she was meant for me.

In 2006 January 7th, Ene agreed to walk this life’s path with me. It’s been almost three years now and I feel in my spirit that its time to walk down the aisle with her. Last year on my birthday 27th October 2007, I prayed to God asking Him to give me a birthday present for 2008 – Ene as my wife. Staying together however, is a matter of choice for both of us and since our convictions do not seem to tell us otherwise, we have both decided to tie the knot. Weddings in Nigeria can be financially stressful but Ene is willing to support me in making our dream home together a reality. I still feel deep within my spirit that she’s the perfect wife for me.

This weblog is for you my friends for your support and prayers. The idea is to share struggles and victories through the work of the Holy Spirit. I’d appreciate your comments and prayers. I want to read this blog after the 25th of October this year and heave a sigh of relief knowing that God has children who are willing to cry out to him for comfort and support on behalf of others.

I will post stuff here as we move closer to the wedding date (25th of October 2008) and beyond to let you know how things are taking shape. Thank you for taking your time to read this post.