Tuesday, 10:00 PM

William Ossey dropped Lisa Awalé off in front of her gate before heading home with his sister Angela. He made Lisa promise not to hesitate to call him if she needed anything. He took her number, and Angela did the same. In any case, the two girls would stay in touch. They had each hugged Lisa, and then they had said their goodbyes.

Once at the small villa that had been rented for Angela, William kissed his sister and went to his room. It had been an exhausting yet rewarding evening for everyone. He would speak with Angela a little later. For now, the doctor needed some time to reflect after a nice shower. While Angela was watching a Korean drama on TV, William locked himself in one of the rooms of the villa and prayed. He stayed inside for about an hour. Knowing what he was doing in there, his sister didn’t disturb him. At 11:00 PM, William opened the door and saw that Angela was still watching TV in the living room. He sat next to her.

— Is Jesus okay? his younger sister asked with a hint of humor, a type of humor similar to what James used with Jerry.
William smiled slightly.

— Yes. He is happy for Lisa.
— She really is a lovely girl, Angela said. I like her.
— I noticed, William replied. You get along well. Stay close to each other.
— I plan to.
— I won’t stay long in Golé. Unfortunately, I need to hit the road tomorrow for work.
— I understand. What time are you leaving tomorrow?
— I’ll wait until the afternoon. I want to meet those twins you mentioned.
— Okay. We could invite them for lunch during the break.
— Yeah, why not? Do you know a good restaurant other than the one from yesterday?
— Yes. But there aren’t many options in Goléta. I have an idea of a place we could go to.
— Alright, that’s understood. Now, let’s talk about that girl who didn’t greet me in front of your school. Who is she? Angela frowned.
— You mean the girl, Isabelle? I don’t really know her, Angela said. I left you a message to tell you about a weird scene I experienced in the cafeteria… this girl was involved. Do you believe ghosts exist?

William’s forehead creased slightly, giving him an older look.

— The idea of ghosts often refers to the wandering souls of the deceased. But in reality, when someone dies, their soul is forced to leave the land of the living. It either rests in God’s peace or suffers in torment while awaiting final judgment.
— So the ones I saw weren’t ghosts?
— What exactly did you see?
— It was in the cafeteria. There was this girl… Isabelle. First, there was some kind of argument between her and another girl who left the room crying. Then, I saw what seemed like people appear in front of Isabelle at the same table as her. I don’t know if she noticed me because the next moment, she stared at me really strangely. Her gaze was unsettling. I felt like they were talking about me, and that this girl meant me no good. So I suddenly got up and left the cafeteria. I couldn’t handle that aura. And later that day, she tried to make friends with me.

William remained silent after listening to his sister.

— I understand better now. So that’s what’s going on.
— What do you mean? The doctor sighed.
— You must have noticed something was off at your school, right?
— Yes, indeed, she replied, sighing in return. Many aren’t saved here. I wish all these young people could know the Lord like I did.
— Those are the burdens God has given you. God speaks through your heart for this school. And for this city…
— I understand… I especially felt a tug in my heart for that girl in the cafeteria who was with Isabelle. It was as if she had serious problems and needed Jesus.
— You’ll need to pray a lot, Angie. For everything that will follow.
— I’d love to. But I can’t pray like you…
— Like me?
— Yes, I’ve often heard you pray. You don’t just pray in French. I’ve also heard men of God pray that way in the videos you gave me. What is that?
— It’s called praying in the Spirit or praying in tongues.
— Praying in the Spirit?
— Yes. In the Bible, there are two types of prayers. Prayers with understanding and prayers in the Spirit. Praying with understanding is the type of prayer you often make with everyday language. You often pray in French, asking God for things, right?
— Yes…
— But when you pray in French, I can hear what you say. Everyone can hear, even demons. Well, to solve that issue, God has given us a kind of encrypted language through which we can pray for our most important issues. Angela furrowed her brow in thought.
— And do you understand what you’re saying?
— Not really. Even I don’t know what I’m saying when I pray in tongues. Sometimes I have a vague sense of what I’m praying for. But generally, the Holy Spirit keeps me in the dark. The important thing is that this kind of prayer is directly inspired by the Spirit of God, and He approves it. These prayers are usually more effective because they are more precise. I don’t know what I’m saying. The words come naturally, breathed by God’s Spirit. He helps us pray properly. Otherwise, we would quickly fall into mere recitation. But the most important thing you need to remember is that prayers inspired by the Spirit are perfect prayers. They are more effective than if you were speaking directly with intelligible words. The Spirit leads you to say exactly what needs to be said at that precise moment for your prayer to be answered by the Father. That’s why I usually prefer praying in tongues to receive guidance or, if you like, the direction of the Holy Spirit.
— The Holy Spirit, what is that?
— Not “what” – “Who.” Hmm. I think tonight is going to be long, William said. Well, the Holy Spirit is a person. I told you about Him. God is a three-dimensional being, just like man. The Spirit, soul, and body. In God, the three persons are distinct, but they form one whole. This is what we call the mystery of the Trinity. So, you have God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit I’m talking about is just God’s Spirit. Who is on earth to help us accomplish God’s will. He is a person. He works kind of like a coach.
— A coach? You mean He… speaks?
— Well, yes, of course. God speaks. And when God speaks, it’s usually through His Spirit. The Holy Spirit… William paused for a moment and then continued.
— For example, just now, He spoke to me. You met a boy today named Ben who invited you to a party. But you didn’t go because you wanted to spend time with me. That was kind of you. Angela stared at her brother with wide eyes. Her brain was racing. She took a step back while continuing to stare at him, a mix of surprise and fear in her expression.
— How do you know that? William shrugged, reminding her of her younger brother Freddy.
— I told you. I heard Him speak.
— What… and what is He saying now? The doctor smiled.
— He’s not saying anything. He’s not a vending machine. He’s God. He speaks when He wants to. He’s the one who asked me to come to Benin. And He’s the one who asked me to come to Goléta today. Angela was simply stunned. Recently, supernatural experiences had been piling up in her life. She wondered if she was losing her mind.
— No, you’re not crazy, William said. Angela looked at her brother in disbelief. She abruptly stood up.
— Damn! Will, can you read my mind?
— No, not at all. I heard and repeated. I think, just now, it was the Holy Spirit speaking to you. Please, sit down. Angela complied but kept her distance. She was no longer sure what was happening.
— Is the Holy Spirit here with you right now? she asked suspiciously.
— He is always with us. With me, just as He is with you. Since the first day you prayed, He entered you. And He is around you.
— And why don’t I hear Him? Doesn’t He speak to me?
— It will come. Truthfully, He speaks to you, but maybe you don’t discern His voice.
— I want to meet Him, Angela suddenly said. She couldn’t stop herself from speaking.
— He wants to reveal Himself to you too. But before that, I have a message for you, Angie. Take your phone and record everything I’m about to tell you. There are people with bad intentions at your school. And there are many of them. They’re preparing something. I don’t know what. But you will soon be involved in a fight. Against the darkness that fills this city, God has chosen an army, and you are part of it.
— A fight?
— Yes. Lisa is also involved. And your friends, the twins, and the other boy Lisa mentioned. Horel, I believe. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to stay long here with you, but I believe that for God, you’re enough. You’ll be stronger together. So, find the others and allies. Your friend the seer, you must stop him from teaming up with the black priestess. She’s dangerous. For him and for you. Keep the seer on your side. He will play an important role in what’s to come.
— The seer? Who is that?
— I don’t know. I will pray for you now, Angie.

William took his sister’s hand, and at that moment, she felt a chill run through her. She had never seen her brother like this. It was as if someone else was really speaking through him.

“Lord,” William began, “I thank You for Angela. I pray that You equip her for what’s ahead. May Your Holy Spirit clothe her completely. Spirit of God, thank You for Your anointing that falls on Angela tonight. Fill her with strength and wisdom, and especially with love. Let her light shine brightly in the darkness that is coming. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.”

Angela also responded “Amen” without fully understanding the prayer. William hugged her and kissed her on the forehead.

— I love you so much, Angie. You have no idea. But Jesus loves you more than I do. He will always be with you. And I will also pray for you. You have a great destiny, sis. I can feel it. And they felt it too. Mom would be proud of you. You’re becoming a beautiful, strong woman.
Angela broke into tears, and William pulled her into his arms. She cried silently in his embrace. There was a peace and tenderness in the room that couldn’t have come from William alone. Through her brother’s arms, Angela could feel the embrace of the “Holy Spirit” her brother spoke about. He was there.

Yes, I am here.

— Wipe your tears now, princess. Plenty of extraordinary adventures await you. Angela laughed as she wiped her face.
— I love you, Will. I pray that all the little sisters in the world have a big brother like you.
— Amen, William said with a broad smile. Well, that’s enough, but I’m going to sleep now. When I think about the shift I’ll have to pull starting tomorrow, I need to rest. Goodnight, young lady.
— Goodnight, Will.

William returned to his room, leaving his sister alone in the living room. Angela was happy. Something special had happened again. She had thought that the joy she felt when she met Jesus couldn’t be surpassed. She was wrong. Now, I need to talk to James, she told herself. She grabbed her phone and sent him a playful message.

***

Tuesday, 11:00 PM
After taking a shower, Lisa Awalé got dressed and lay down on her bed. She picked up her phone and scrolled through some messages, avoiding getting involved in the conversation with Roland. By this time, he was probably already asleep. Avoiding him was the only way she had found to escape this situation. Lisa hesitated about blocking him. She still felt pain because she loved him. But deep down, it was clear that this relationship had no future. And if it did, it wouldn’t be anything good. Especially for her.

Lisa tried to stop thinking about it. She had had a wonderful evening with this man and his sister. She thought Angela was incredibly beautiful, and of course, her brother was very handsome. But what caught Lisa’s attention was their simplicity. Especially William. If this was what it meant to be a disciple of Jesus, she wanted to become one. At no point did she perceive any judgment or condemnation in his voice. On the contrary, he was so caring and kind towards her.

William had given her a WhatsApp number so she could contact him if she needed to talk. Lisa went into her WhatsApp and decided to leave him a message. She spent a few minutes staring at her smartphone screen without really knowing where to start.

She finally decided to write. This meeting had left too strong an impression on her that night for her to say nothing.

“Good evening, William,” she wrote. “Thank you for the wonderful evening I spent with you and your sister. I have been richly blessed today, and it’s thanks to you. So, thank you. It did me good. I guess you’re already asleep. I just wanted to say thank you. Have a great night and sweet dreams.”

She hesitated for a moment before adding: “P.S. I hope we can meet again soon.”

Once her task was done, she felt much better. She didn’t expect a reply from William that night. He was probably already in bed. Lisa turned off her internet connection and placed her phone on her bedside table. A great peace filled her that evening. A peace she hadn’t felt in a long time. Maybe she had never felt such a great peace, she thought. Yes, she was sure—this was the first time. The Father is happy. She knelt down, resting her elbows on her mattress.

She closed her eyes and joined her hands.

“Good evening, Jesus,” she murmured. “It’s me, Lisie. Yes, I know I’ve missed you. You’ve missed me too (she smiled). Very much missed. I’ve cried a lot, actually. I don’t even know why I was so stubborn about staying away from you. I didn’t want to, you know? I really didn’t want to. But all that is in the past now. My God. I’m back. Thank you for sending this beautiful man to talk to me on your behalf (I hope he’s single). And also the motorcycle-taxi and Mom and Dad, who have never stopped talking to me. It’s so good to be back. Thank you, my God, for your love and mercy towards me. I know I’m not the best of your daughters, but I aspire to be better. I want to do your will, Lord. So help me. Strengthen me, my God. Roland is going to come back, and I don’t know how I will react then. I pray that you help me. I won’t be able to resist him on my own. Keep him away from me if necessary. Maybe I will suffer, but it’s for a good cause, Lord. It’s for your pleasure, and you know what’s good for me. Doing your will is now the only thing I desire. To live for your pleasure. Thank you, my God, for everything. I entrust you with this night; you can speak to me if you want, I’ll listen. Good night, Jesus. Amen.”

Lisa opened her eyes and wiped away the tears from her cheeks. “I’m home now,” she said.

“You have no idea how much I love you, my Lisie. I’ve always loved you. Before the beginning. I loved you. Particularly loved you. You are precious to me. And this love is unconditional. My Lisie.”

These words echoed in Lisa’s mind as if she had imagined them. But she knew this voice wasn’t hers, nor was it her conscience. The voice was much too soft, much too soothing to be that of a human being. A pleasant shiver ran through Lisa. For a moment, she felt as if someone had placed a blanket around her shoulders… and someone had kissed her on the cheek. Lisa began to cry.

There was such peace and sweetness in her room that she didn’t want it to stop. After crying for a few moments, Lisa wiped her face and began to smile. She couldn’t see him, but she knew he was there. And he hadn’t sent an angel. He had come in person. Her Jesus. And she was His Lisie. I am His Lise. At that moment, she remembered the name Horel that had come to her mind earlier in the evening.

She got up and wrote on the notepad on her bedside table: Meet Horel. Then, she lowered her mosquito net, turned off the light, and let herself be carried away by sleep. The day had been long. Barely had Lisa closed her eyes than she slipped into a deep slumber. That night, Lisa Awalé had the most pleasant night of her entire life…

This text is an excerpt from the book SENTINELS: FIRST WATCH TOWER written by Charles SANDAH.

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