Remember the Decision I Was Meant to Make? A Tough Call, Isn’t It?
I called my mum to discuss my options, but once again, she encouraged me to make the decision myself. Nursing or physiotherapy? To be honest, I didn’t even know physiotherapy was a viable option until I did extensive research. After weighing my choices, I ultimately decided to pursue physiotherapy. When God said He would lead me, He definitely knows where he is leading me to, mine is to make sure I’m taking steps.
Over the course of my stay in Karaman, I questioned whether I was in the right place; staying back at UNILAG seemed like a better option. Well, Baby steps Jemmy ..baby steps.. Just make sure you are moving.
Once my rehabilitation period was over, I received an acceptance letter from a school in Istanbul for physical therapy. I vividly remember the 12-hour bus ride from Karaman to Istanbul. I cried and eventually fell asleep, I had a dream, my mum was sitting behind me. I asked her what she was doing there, as she was supposed to be at home. She replied that she was coming to Istanbul with me and would never leave my side. That made me cry even more, as I was uncertain about what awaited me in Istanbul. Trust me, this made things appear more scary.. It got me asking, are things really going to be that tough over there?
They say Istanbul is the New York of the Middle East, where East meets West—the border between Europe and Asia. I worried about my tendency to stray off course, but I held onto the belief that God had a plan for me, and I didn’t want to miss it.
Upon arriving in Istanbul, I was greeted by the warmth of friends I had met at the Karaman girls’ hostel. As I took in the towering buildings and the vibrant atmosphere, I felt a mix of excitement and fear. The cold weather added to my unease, and I was exhausted from the journey.
While registering at my new school, I stumbled upon a hostel and inquired about a room. To my relief, they had a single room available. However, the price was a concern. I spoke to my mum about it, and I remembered the saying, “There’s nothing God cannot do.” And truly, He provided. I moved into the hostel, and the few friends I had from Karaman were still around.
Whenever I mentioned the price of my accommodation, people would gasp in disbelief. I was paying a particular sum a month, which felt extravagant for me. Looking back, I realize that God had a plan all along. I wanted to stay in the hostel, travel back to Nigeria every year, and explore different countries, even though I had no idea how I would afford it.
I often found myself explaining why I was paying such so called hefty amount, and it became a source of discomfort. Everyone around me seemed to be busy with their lives— Meanwhile, I felt stagnant, only supported by my mum, who was my bills.
Despite my mum earning capacity, we lived as if she earned much more. This made me reflect on the idea that if you’re living solely on your salary, something might be wrong. My aunt often said she wasn’t living on her salary but on God’s mercy, and that was indeed my reality.
I would talk to my mum, my brother, and listen to sermons from Pastor Joshua Selman, whom I learned about from Ariel. Speaking of Ariel, she attended Redeemers University and was quite church-oriented. I attended RCCG NLA just to mark my presence. Initially though.
One day, it hit me: I couldn’t be in a place without being part of a community. I realized I had so much inside me that needed to be shared. So, I decided to join a church community while keeping a low profile. My routine became simple: attend church, worship, and leave.
Looking back, I wonder why I didn’t consider taking legitimate courses earlier. I’ve forgiven myself for not knowing what I know now, but at least I’ve learned.
I began attending church as a quiet observer and later joined the sanctuary department. I went every Saturday, trying to avoid too much interaction with others—not because I was unfriendly, but because I was wary of people. Despite my reservations, I knew I had my own struggles to navigate.
And so, my journey continued, filled with lessons and dreams that would shape my path ahead.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog post! I’m committed to sharing my journey and feeding your reading appetite with every diary entry. If you have stories of your own or messages to share, feel free to reach out to me on jemmylistens@gmail.com—I’d love to feature your stories too! Don’t forget to subscribe to my blog, and follow me on Instagram. I’ll be in the comments section, eagerly waiting for your thoughts on this blog I’ll see you here sometime next week!
PS: NO REAL NAMEs WERE USED ASIDES MINE !!!
I KNOW YOU WILL BE HAPPY TO SEE ME BEFORE THEN!😉
Leave a Reply