Welcome to my blog and another wonderful edition of the Hive Learners' featured post. This week's theme got me thinking. I have a lot of stories I'd like to share, but since I am allowed to share just one, I finally made my choice after a lot of contemplation.
At some point in our lives, we all face difficulty and hardship for one reason or another. If you are going through a lot right now, just keep in mind that you will come out strong only if you believe. Keep telling yourself that it's just a phase, and this phase will pass.
About six years ago, my family got hit by a difficult situation, and right before my eyes, I saw things change. A family that could only take tea for breakfast now finds it difficult to even eat three square meals. We are yet to get back on our feet, but where we are today compared to six years ago, a lot has happened, and I am using this opportunity to say a big thank you to God Almighty.
My dad is a government official, and the nature of his job gives him little or no time for extracurricular activities. His kids were growing up, and very soon they will become university students. Just one source of income won't be enough to take care of three kids at the university and the rest of the family. He planned on starting a business, and he made all the necessary arrangements.
In 2017, he was able to meet a church member who said he'd teach him how to import goods from China. The capital to start up was nothing less than two million naira. My dad is somebody that trusts easily, and to this day, it pains me that he trusted that man so quickly. They made arrangements, and the man gave him the contact information of a man he said is his supplier.
My dad had talks with the supplier about what goods he wants to sell and how much they'll cost. He wanted to sell electric stoves, electric heaters, electric kettles, and other electrical appliances. After the talks, they reached an agreement, and my dad sent them the money; this is where our problem started from.
It was agreed that the goods would arrive in seven days. Fourteen days passed and nothing was received. My dad tried contacting the church member, but all his numbers were not connecting. It was more like I was seeing a movie; they went to his house, and neighbors said he just disappeared and no one knew where he was.
Not being able to get the guy made the picture clearer that it was a scam, and all of my dad's savings have been taken away. The only thing that came out of his mouth that day was, "How will my family survive?" This is how I had one of my most painful experiences, trying to adapt to eating whatever I had on the table with no questions asked unless I wanted my mom to burst into tears.
My dad almost died of high blood pressure; all the moves made to get those guys weren't fruitful. It is a phase of my life that means a lot to me, and the way we worked together as one big family during that period still amazes me. I never knew we could cooperate with each other that way. That same year, I had to work at a construction site as a way to support my family.
Family is everything, and I don't joke with mine because I know what we have been through together even while people thought we were doing okay.
Thanks for reading.
All images used are mine.
