Out of Yola after 12 Years of Waiting
Posted at 1:12 PM, Tuesday, March 18, 2008
12 years - yeah, it’s a long period alright but then, I’m glad I finally got the chance to travel to another state. I went to Abuja with dad and my siblings to see Nousheen and Hamman off to AU in Washington DC (as you may recall they are going there for the Spring semester as exchange students). I was expecting Abuja to be so much better than Yola. Abuja is actually better than Yola, but guess what? I found Abuja to be less interesting compared to Yola. I believe my reason for liking Yola is the fact that I grew up in Yola. I have too much here in Yola that I hold dear, too many memories, and I really like the scenery here. The greatest advantage Abuja has is the buildings and the good order of things, perhaps even job opportunities. I love the way everyone follows rules (so unlike Yola), and the way people are dedicated to working and making Abuja a better place. But the prices are very high in Abuja. Food in the hotel was like super expensive; Nino keeps on saying that Abuja has made her fat, haha.
This is Mona, Noshi, Me, and Raju outside Wonderland
This is Nino, Noshi, Mona, and Raju walking aroudn in Wonderland
This is Raju, Mona, Noshi, and Nino at Wonderland
This is Mona and Nino walking around Hilton Hotel
This is Noshi in Wonderland
This is Raju, Noshi, and Dad at Transcop Hilton Hotel
Abuja is very clean too, with lots of places to go. We visited the National park where we had a close-up view of Aso Rock (the rock, not the presidential house), Wonderland, Millennium Park, Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Amigo shopping plaza, and the most beautiful thing of all – the Central Church! It was the most magnificent building I have ever seen! Looked like it dropped straight out of heaven! Especially the interior; chandeliers looked like they were made of crystals. The rib vaulting was fantastic as were the flying buttresses and the huge organ for playing music. It had a very large capacity for believers from different denominations to come and worship. Dad was overjoyed when he saw the Church. Really, I wish I’d taken pictures. I couldn’t cos the camera wasn’t working. I’d say the interior looked pretty much like the Cathedrals we read about in our History of Art course – Cathedral of Reims in France, St. Dennis, Chartres Cathedral, Salisbury Cathedral of England, etc. Thank God we were able to visit such an awesome site. The other places we visited were also lovely – I enjoyed Wonderland and Millennium Park a lot. One thing I noticed (apart from the rest that I’ve already mentioned) was that there are a lot of Lebanese people in Abuja, esp at Wonderland and Amigo. I guess they own those places. It was nice to see a whole lot of foreigners in any case.
Anyways, the trip was good and beneficial in the sense that I realized that I had a lot to be thankful to God for - AUN being in Yola, living in Yola, and growing up in Yola. Perhaps I might want to work in Abuja; I don’t know yet, whatever God wills 
I remember dreaming of going in an airplane, flying to Europe for the holidays with mom, dad, and all my siblings. I had this desire after the trip in 1992 to Pakistan when we all traveled through Switzerland. It really was beautiful; I enjoyed every bit of it, Praise God! I never traveled out of Yola after 1995. Even after 1995 I still dreamt of going to Europe or the US, but my dream never came true. It does feel sad at times cos wishing for something and not getting it really breaks your heart. But then I cheer up after a while knowing that it is God’s perfect will for things to be this way, and I end up thanking God for everything He has done for me. The thing that cheers me up most is that I know I don’t need to travel anywhere on any airplane cos in the end I’ll actually fly up to heaven with my family and be with the Lord forever. Isn’t that the most amazing thing ever? I mean it’s more than a dream come true; it’s the best that anyone could wish for. And I thank God that even if I don’t have everything I desire in my lifetime, He will fulfill my dream of heaven. Thank you Jesus!
Do you have a dream that you would give anything to fulfill? Ask God, and He will give it to you according to His will. Even if your dream never comes true, always remember that there are greater things in store for you; if you fight the good fight of faith, God will surely reward you with greater joy than what your dreams could ever give. Trust God always and lean not on your own understanding.
