It was on that fateful Friday the thirteenth that I felt my world was coming to an end. My dad had told the family that we were moving. He hadn’t told neither where, nor why. All he had said was it is where the Lord would want us to be.” Really? That’s all you are going to say?” I had thought to myself angry and confused as to why we had to move. I was so angry that it was hard for me to concentrate and listen to the talks being given that Sunday morning.
“Do you really have to move Rose?” Nyasha my best friend since second grade asked me with tears filled in her big brown eyes. I could see her tears through the huge spectacles she had won since first grade and everyone had made fun of. Even in to her teens she had decided to keep them I always wondered why. Maybe she didn’t care anymore because High School kids were too mature to make fun of someone glasses. Her mother probably couldn’t afford too as she was a single mother with 5 children to take care of, Nyasha being the oldest.
“I could ask my mom and you can move in with us. We are like family and you know she won’t mind” This was probably the twentieth time in counting Nyasha had said that to me ever since I told her my family would be moving 2 months ago. It was becoming kind of annoying because I kept telling her over and over that it just wasn’t possible and plus I was just too sad to think about it.
“I told you before, dad won’t let me. We have to move in and live together as a family. That’s the whole idea, I already talked to him and he won’t let me.” I said forcing back tears. I could feel my throat tighten and tears blinding my eyes. I had hardly talked to my dad ever since he informed us about the move. I felt like he was just trying to ruin my life. How could he? Why now? And why won’t he tell us where we are going?
I still could not believe this was happening. It was the most tragic thing ever! Everything was going well both in the neighborhood and in the ward. I had managed to convert my best friend and her family and they were now strong in the gospel. The cute guy in my ward whom I had had a crush on for as long as I could remember was finally beginning to show interest in me. We had been on a couple of dates and each time I got back home, I would be in the most cheerful mood ever! Tatenda was tall and handsome. Every time he called my name, I thought I would melt. I had just been called to be president of the mia maids in young women. Things were perfect and now we just had to live that all behind and start all over again?
“Rose, it’s time to go home” my sister yelled from the family car.
We had had that car for about 3 years and we all just loved it. It was a great improvement from the small car we had had before. The four of us children would have to be squashed in the back like melons. We would scream at each other the whole way and my brother would find ways of annoying us to tears. My little sister would find this as an opportunity to share with us her not so interesting stories of her fifth grade class. This car had so much space that if you wanted to isolate yourself from these tragedies, you’d simply sit in the back and listen to your music.
“I will call you tonight” I quickly said as I hurried to the car with my cheeks all covered in tears. The family was impatiently waiting for me as we had to hurry home and finish packing. I rushed to and sat in the back in attempt to hide my tears from my little brother who would find this as a wonderful opportunity to laugh at me and make me feel so bad about crying. He always found joy in seeing me cry and upset and I must admit, I felt the same way when he was upset too. That’s the way we communicated and got along I guess. We had all worn our best Sunday attire as this was going to be our last Sunday in the ward. The Bishop had allowed some time for me and my family to bear our testimonies and say our goodbyes, even though it wasn’t a Fast and Testimony meeting.
“You bore beautiful testimonies everyone, I am so proud of you” my mom said in her low sweet voice. “Rose” she continued, “do you know who is going to take over your calling?” I simply kept quiet. I was really having a hard time leaving. I seemed to be the only one who did not want to move. Both of my sisters were extremely excited and my brother too! I figured it’s because they didn’t have anything good going for them in the ward that’s why they didn’t care.
Tears flooded my eyes as I looked out the window at the neighborhood for the last time. Memories came flashing back. This is where I had grown up. This was home. I hated change so much. I hated having to make new friends and start all over again. I was comfortable where I was. After what seemed like the longest drive home ever, we finally pulled in the driveway and I ran to my room. I kept thinking about Tatenda and how he had not even managed to come to church that Sunday. He said it was going to be painful to hear my last testimony in the ward.
“I don’t want to move” I yelled as I heard the door open. “Why not?” I looked up as I saw my little sister Edith walk in. She had just been recently baptized and was a sweet, understanding girl for her age. “Why don’t you want to move? It won’t be that bad. You will have me” I wiped my tears and squeezed her really hard. She was looking really cute in her white dress with pink flowers.
“Let me break it down to you, Edith.” I said as she sat next to me on my bed. “Moving really sucks. You live all your friends behind. You have start all over again and it’s tough. I don’t even have any friends in that ward, we don’t even know anyone in the neighborhood” I poured out my heart to her and how I didn’t want to leave Tatenda. She was really attentive as she listened to me going on and on.
Her simple reply was, “But Daddy says that’s where the Lord wants us to be. We must listen to him.” My mother walked in the room shortly after, calling us to eat lunch. She had worn her favorite purple African Brocade attire and looked really nice. It consisted of a white hat with a matching cloth she put over her shoulder. She also had on a purple Dashiki top with black embroideries on the neckline and, a matching purple skirt. My mom had always been one of my best friends. I shared with her everything, from school work to the crushes I had on the cute boys in my class. She was never really amused to hear me go on and on about boys but, she must have felt it was her duty to always listen to me. She didn’t want to push me away and loved the fact that I considered her my best friends.
“I will be out in a second” I replied. My little sisters’ words really got me thinking. Her two sentences continued to echo in my mind. I started feeling ashamed of myself. Clearly, I had overreacted. I had not even given a single thought to it that, this is where the Lord wanted us to be. I had been selfish. All I ever did was think of how much I would miss my friends and how miserable I was going to be. I did not understand why we had to move. All my dad ever said was, that’s where the Lord wants us to be. Why not here? We were happy weren’t we? I just did not understand and that’s why I felt so angry.
“You really have to consider what dad is going through, Rose. You won’t even talk to him or give him a chance.” That was my sister Rachel. Although she was two years younger than me she always acted like she was the big sister. She always knocked sense into what she called ‘mud filled’ head of mine. She was like my mentor and kind of my role model. She always got good grades and never got in trouble. She listened to our parents and never complained or found anything wrong with anything they said. I simply ignored her and she left the room.
Whatever, miss perfect. I thought to myself as she left. Why won’t you be a normal kid for once in your lifetime? I had come up with that as her nickname but never dared say it to her in her face. I always used it in my mind though. There had been times where I had wanted to go to the school dance but dad would only say yes if she was going too. No matter how much I begged to agree she would say no, it made so mad. I never understood why she didn’t want to have fun and be like other normal cool kids.
Edith’s words still continued to echo in my mind. Maybe I should give him a chance. I don’t even know where we are going. Maybe I will find myself liking this place. What if it really is where the Lord wants us to be? I started feeling bad. Everyone in my family were content and never complained. Why was I? It was then I decided to change my attitude. I was going to not only give my dad a chance but the Lord too. But how will I walk in the room. I have been a jerk for such a long time. I am even embarrassed to look at my Dad. How do I walk in the room? Oh why was I behaving like this? I hate myself.
“Are you going to join us for lunch?” my dad’s deep voice interrupted my thoughts. “Your mom and I have something to tell the family” I simply nodded my head and followed him to the dining room. At least I felt less embarrassed to go now because he called me. I sat at my usual place, next to my brother. He always found joy in teasing me. Ever since he could talk, all he ever seemed to do was make fun of me. It was our way of communicating I guess. Here we go again, I thought to myself. Again with the we are moving but not why we are moving. Maybe he was just doing this to make me suffer, clearly he could see I was having way too much and no Father wants to see their child happy I thought.
“The reason why we have to move is because a few months ago I was interviewed and found worthy to be called to be a Mission President. Your mom and I were asked to keep it from everyone including you guys, until we received a call as to where we will be going. We got the letter this morning and haven’t opened it yet, we wanted to open it when the family was there.”
What? Wow! My siblings and I were really shocked. We did not see this one coming. In the midst of our shock, my dad came back to the room with a letter in his hand. “Open it!” we all shouted. We were all anxious to find out exactly where we would be moving to. Random, places started to race in my mind. He opened the letter and read “Zimbabwe Harare Mission” The room was filled with cheer and relief. It was good to know that we would still be in our home country. We would still have to move, but it was only an hours’ drive away from our home. That is where the mission home was located. I would still be able to visit Tatenda and Nyasha once in a while.
“Rose, I bet you just feel so bad right now” my brother turned to me and said in his teasing voice. I was about to say something mean to him and my dad said, “She just has to work on trusting the Lord and having faith just like Edith. She was okay with moving the very moment I told her it was where the Lord wanted us to be”
“Oh ye of little faith”, my sister who is two years younger than me teased.” You had nothing to worry about after all.” I felt bad, I had over reacted, maybe if knew it was because of a calling I would have been okay with it. I smiled and apologized to the family.
“Now come on” my sister whispered “Let’s go and talk about how great it will be to be around all those cute missionaries in my room” We talked about fun it was going to be meeting the missionaries, feeding them and being around them. We even started arranging cute outfits we would wear.
