I was not in a good mood when I arrived home from work despite the fact that I had knocked early from work. To my surprise there were many people at my house and then I remembered that Mai VaMaidei had reminded me in the morning about the church group meeting in the evening.
It was already too late for me to retreat as the pastor had already spotted me. I seldom attended church services.
The church group meetings happened regularly and the meetings rotated among the congregants in the group.
There were about 20 adults and a few children. I saw Zvazviri, the photographer among the congregants. He always took pictures and posted on the group.
Marita, my younger daughter came to sit next to me.
Soon after, Pastor Smart began his sermon.
“Today I will just give a brief sermon, we have come to fellowship with Baba VaMaidei and his family as we always do,” he said.
He read from the book of Romans 8:18, “The pain that you have been feeling cannot compare to the joy that is coming.”
After that, Mai VaJoyline stood up and said, “We have brought a little present for our hostess.”
Mai VaMaidei stood up and smiling she received the groceries. This always happened when the church groups met. The hosting family would be presented with some groceries. All the members donated US$2 each to this cause. It was a good thing and brought the church members together. Afterwards drinks were served with some samoosas. And while all this was going on, some members were giving testimonies. As the hostess, Mai VaMaidei stood up and thanked the congregants for the groceries.
“What you have done today for us, should not stop here. I also want to thank God for my business at the market, I am having good sales,” she said and sat down.
The whole meeting lasted for about an hour and I had a brief chat with Pastor Smart.
“I hope to see you on Sunday at church,” he said and left with the others. Despite my erratic attendance at the church, Pastor Smart always encouraged me. I really wanted to be a firm believer and attend all church services.
Zvazviri was the last person to leave and then he was gone. Five minutes later, Pastor Smart returned breathlessly. “I think I left my phone behind. Have you seen it?” He asked. We looked for it everywhere, under the chairs and on top, on the ground and every likely place, it was not there. I was worried. Where was the phone? Had it been stolen? Surely, theft can’t happen in church.
After Pastor Smart left, distraught, we even continued to look for it, but to no avail.
Later, when the children had gone to bed and we were preparing to sleep, Mai VaMaidei said, “I saw Sister Lynette in the meeting. What did she want?”
I never saw Sister Lynette. I was actually surprised as she had never attended church service before. Sister Lynette was a hairdresser at the hair salon and lived in the same street. Nothing was going on between us. She had caught me speaking with Sister Lynette once and that was the problem.
I saw no point in replying and so I kept my peace.
The next morning, I received a call from Pastor Smart. He had found the phone. It was in one of his jacket pockets. We were all relieved.
Onie Ndoro X@Onie90396982