Since I wrote my testimony, I have received replies from a few readers stating what God has done for them.
One sent a mail to my facebook page with this message:
I always tell people that giving makes a way for you. I had a similar experience but before I went into that dark period, I had obeyed God's Word through his servant at that time. After I had obeyed, I went into that trying period but with that seed I had sown, God used it to perform his miracle for me.After five months being homeless at that time(living in a room set aside for renovation in a hotel), begged for N200 to eat on a certain day and lived at an edge of life with nothing to call a source of income. God in his mercies came through for me. I got a job in a consultancy firm and it changed everything. Presently still in the consultancy firm, I'm married with 2 kids, furthered my studies, living in a wonderful apartment and much more. I can stand strong and look at the future with much hope. All thanks to God.
So I would very much like to hear from you if you have a testimony to share but more importantly if you are facing a storm in your life and are overwhelmed by it.
I would really like to hear from you too.
I would like to know if what I wrote here has helped someone in any small way.
I intend to start a series or rather continue a series on John Chapter 11 which I started earlier.
Your response will be very encouraging. I also welcome criticism on the articles written here.
I know the write-ups are far from perfect, and I am not a professional writer but the message is as true from the heart and I tried to make it as plain as possible.
Thank you and hope to hear from you.
Wednesday, 18 June 2014
Monday, 16 June 2014
John Chapter 11(Part 1)
"Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick." (John 11:1-3).
As we embark on a chapter study of the gospel of John, the first thing we are confronted with,as the curtains are raised, are the characters or actors who feature in this real life drama.
The acts are good people who by their acts have shown a love for God and with what one of them did, being set up for a memorial wherever the gospel is preached.
We can safely say that they loved Jesus and his love for them wasn't in doubt too.
Let's stop and think for a while and consider this.
Here is a family committed to Jesus, broke an alabaster box with perfume worth a whole lot, loved God and was also loved by God yet tragedy strikes! The one Jesus loves dies! That isn't supposed to happen, or is it?
Sometimes when we devote our lives to God and make so much sacrifices for the work of God we get the wind blown off our sails when negative things happen to us. We wonder why and argue constantly as to what may have caused it to happen to us. Some even go as far to get bitter with God and stop whatever service they were offering. Others may believe that God is punishing them or that God doesn't love them.
If you are going through some stuff which you can't say why the happened to you, then let me say this to you.
Friend, the truth remains that Bad things DO happen to Good people and No, that doesn't mean that God has stopped loving you!
Ask Job. He did absolutely nothing wrong and yet evil struck.
You are Loved by God!Your service and dedication to God is worth something to God.Your life isn't over yet and your season of visitation can still come.
Hold on to him no matter what life throws at you.
Above all, Trust Him.
As we embark on a chapter study of the gospel of John, the first thing we are confronted with,as the curtains are raised, are the characters or actors who feature in this real life drama.
The acts are good people who by their acts have shown a love for God and with what one of them did, being set up for a memorial wherever the gospel is preached.
We can safely say that they loved Jesus and his love for them wasn't in doubt too.
Let's stop and think for a while and consider this.
Here is a family committed to Jesus, broke an alabaster box with perfume worth a whole lot, loved God and was also loved by God yet tragedy strikes! The one Jesus loves dies! That isn't supposed to happen, or is it?
Sometimes when we devote our lives to God and make so much sacrifices for the work of God we get the wind blown off our sails when negative things happen to us. We wonder why and argue constantly as to what may have caused it to happen to us. Some even go as far to get bitter with God and stop whatever service they were offering. Others may believe that God is punishing them or that God doesn't love them.
If you are going through some stuff which you can't say why the happened to you, then let me say this to you.
Friend, the truth remains that Bad things DO happen to Good people and No, that doesn't mean that God has stopped loving you!
Ask Job. He did absolutely nothing wrong and yet evil struck.
You are Loved by God!Your service and dedication to God is worth something to God.Your life isn't over yet and your season of visitation can still come.
Hold on to him no matter what life throws at you.
Above all, Trust Him.
My Testimony Part 7- AFTER THE STORM ....
I had come to the end of what I could possibly bear.
It had been a year and five months without a job and seemingly no prospects of getting one soon, a wedding to prepare for without any money, still living with my sister, and discouraged.
I sat at the edge of the bed and let tears flow down my face as I thought about all that had happened and how it seemed that God's word to me had failed. I remember crying out to God in my desperation and telling Him I had come to the end of what i could bear. That I would rather die than face the shame anymore.
The problem was that I knew enough not to contemplate taking my own life, and God didn't seem interested in ending it for me.
As I sat and prayed, God softly spoke to my heart and asked "what i had in my hand?" The story of the widow woman whose husband had died and left a huge debt that she could not pay came to my mind(2 Kings 4). It was like a light bulb switched on inside my head. The impression I had was that I had prayed but if i could still trust God enough to release what I had to him that he would bless me. You see it was a question of "Can you still trust me, despite all you have been through?" I had very little money left in my account and I felt that God wanted me to give that away. I had a clear impression of Two Pastors I was to give it to. One was Pastor E. A. Adeboye and the other was the Pastor of the church I attended. To be honest with you the sum involved is just to embarrassing to give to them but I just felt I had to obey God.
I made a bank draft for Pastor Adeboye and went to a branch of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, and gave it to the Church Secretary. I guess she must have been embarrassed at the sum and was a bit reluctant to accept but I pleaded with her to take it. Promising to return if it was rejected(Thank God it was not).
What was left in the account was so small that I put it in a white envelope to give to my Pastor to conceal how much it was. I took it to midweek service that day and when I saw my Pastor the realization of how ridiculous what I was about to do hit me. What was left was far more embarrassing than what I had given earlier and to think I had to give it to him in person! I didn't want to give it to my Pastor. There was just no way I could disrespect him like that! I suddenly developed cold feet. I went to the midweek service with that money in my pocket and by then all the conviction had left me. I just couldn't go through with it, I concluded.
As I sat in the service that evening, still struggling within, my Pastor came to the pulpit and preached a message that hit at the struggle I was having and even gave an example of giving to God even when he tells you to give a certain amount of money.(now the amazing thing was that the "certain amount" of money he mentioned was the exact money I had in the envelop to give him!). At that point I gave up and agreed to obey God even if I looked like a fool for doing so.
After the service I went into his office, scared still but I knew I had to go through with it. I explained to him why I had come and proceeded to give him the money in the envelope apologetically. To my surprise, he understood, took it and prayed for me.
After I did this, the following week. I had a call from where I had attended an interview(but was rejected because I was "over qualified" and they had a policy not to under employ, honestly I did not mind even if they gave me a job there as a cleaner) and was told to meet some people who where interested in setting up an office here in Nigeria and needed someone to help set it up.
I met with my current employers at a pool side at Eko Hotel and was employed by the end of the week. I didn't have to alter my CV or lie about the circumstances that I lost my job.
The salary matched the salary i earned on my last job in the bank and my second salary paid the expenses for my traditional marriage, the first I gave to those two Pastors.
God indeed is a present help in time of trouble!!!
It had been a year and five months without a job and seemingly no prospects of getting one soon, a wedding to prepare for without any money, still living with my sister, and discouraged.
I sat at the edge of the bed and let tears flow down my face as I thought about all that had happened and how it seemed that God's word to me had failed. I remember crying out to God in my desperation and telling Him I had come to the end of what i could bear. That I would rather die than face the shame anymore.
The problem was that I knew enough not to contemplate taking my own life, and God didn't seem interested in ending it for me.
As I sat and prayed, God softly spoke to my heart and asked "what i had in my hand?" The story of the widow woman whose husband had died and left a huge debt that she could not pay came to my mind(2 Kings 4). It was like a light bulb switched on inside my head. The impression I had was that I had prayed but if i could still trust God enough to release what I had to him that he would bless me. You see it was a question of "Can you still trust me, despite all you have been through?" I had very little money left in my account and I felt that God wanted me to give that away. I had a clear impression of Two Pastors I was to give it to. One was Pastor E. A. Adeboye and the other was the Pastor of the church I attended. To be honest with you the sum involved is just to embarrassing to give to them but I just felt I had to obey God.
I made a bank draft for Pastor Adeboye and went to a branch of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, and gave it to the Church Secretary. I guess she must have been embarrassed at the sum and was a bit reluctant to accept but I pleaded with her to take it. Promising to return if it was rejected(Thank God it was not).
What was left in the account was so small that I put it in a white envelope to give to my Pastor to conceal how much it was. I took it to midweek service that day and when I saw my Pastor the realization of how ridiculous what I was about to do hit me. What was left was far more embarrassing than what I had given earlier and to think I had to give it to him in person! I didn't want to give it to my Pastor. There was just no way I could disrespect him like that! I suddenly developed cold feet. I went to the midweek service with that money in my pocket and by then all the conviction had left me. I just couldn't go through with it, I concluded.
As I sat in the service that evening, still struggling within, my Pastor came to the pulpit and preached a message that hit at the struggle I was having and even gave an example of giving to God even when he tells you to give a certain amount of money.(now the amazing thing was that the "certain amount" of money he mentioned was the exact money I had in the envelop to give him!). At that point I gave up and agreed to obey God even if I looked like a fool for doing so.
After the service I went into his office, scared still but I knew I had to go through with it. I explained to him why I had come and proceeded to give him the money in the envelope apologetically. To my surprise, he understood, took it and prayed for me.
After I did this, the following week. I had a call from where I had attended an interview(but was rejected because I was "over qualified" and they had a policy not to under employ, honestly I did not mind even if they gave me a job there as a cleaner) and was told to meet some people who where interested in setting up an office here in Nigeria and needed someone to help set it up.
I met with my current employers at a pool side at Eko Hotel and was employed by the end of the week. I didn't have to alter my CV or lie about the circumstances that I lost my job.
The salary matched the salary i earned on my last job in the bank and my second salary paid the expenses for my traditional marriage, the first I gave to those two Pastors.
God indeed is a present help in time of trouble!!!
Wednesday, 26 June 2013
My Testimony Part 6- Faith in the midst of Darkness
The months that followed were very trying. As the days went by and I attended a couple of job interviews. The results were almost always the same, "we would get back to you".
I got several counsels to alter my CV and remove the fact I ever worked at my last bank. Also never talk about it in interviews if asked. My refusal to do this cost me a few job offers but I couldn't see myself doing that and then claiming that God came through for me! That would have been no different from what brought down "here" in the first place. I was done trying to help myself.
I don't know how to capture all the emotions I felt and all I learnt in such a way that you would understand while still following my story but I would try. (You may choose to read through the other blogs to find out some of what I learnt because this blog is based on everything I learnt during this time)
When I left Yola (Adamawa State, Nigeria) after the loss of my job, I came down to Lagos to live with my family members. I stayed for brief periods in the homes of my siblings wondering how to pick up the pieces of my scattered life (I had some unpleasant experiences with them, I think some of these experiences were due to how sore I felt about being out of a job while others just underlined that my siblings were imperfect and still very much human).
I remembered what I had been told over and again while I still worked in the banking industry, that when you leave the banking industry getting another job would be difficult.
I was trained as an industrial biochemist but did not continue my studies in that field. In the banking industry I was also at a disadvantage as I had not added to my experience and would have had it difficult securing a bank job based on the circumstances under which I left my former Bank.
I took to applying for any kind of job I could find, no matter how much I was to be paid. I even worked as a "manager" of a small cybercafe for a while, a job that promised to pay below the minimum wage compared to someone that works at the lowest level in government, just so I could tell my fiance's family that I had a job. Why was it important to tell them I had a job you may ask? Well, I had started the process to marry their daughter and I DIDN'T have any job or money to go through with it. The money that I had saved I used to build a fence around 2 plots of land I bought while i was working and also register the land with the land registrar.
I fixed a date for my traditional marriage without a penny in my account and just trusted that God will come through for me.
When my parents-in-laws heard I had no job( Yes, I got married to their daughter), they still accepted me and agreed that I inform my people to come with me for the traditional rites. Infact i encountered more resistance from my relatives than I did for my in-laws!
I had set a date for our traditional marriage and still no job offers that I could take. I got a few offers though, I had an offer to pay a bribe to someone that works at an oil firm. The bribe (which i could pay) will ensure that my name is added to the names of those being recruited by the firm but i rejected the offer.
After this my parents in law also called with a similar offer for me to join the Nigerian Customs. I turned this down also as politely as i could. Knowing full well, they might not understand my reason for doing so and might even think I had no ambition.
You see, I had learnt to trust that God could come through for me and I reasoned that if he will not do so then I rather be without a job. I would not get help outside of God any longer nor would I help God.
I remember telling God that I know he was the Almighty and if it could not be done by Him then let it not be done. For with God nothing shall be impossible I resolved!
To be continued.......
Ps: Sorry It took me this long to write again, I have been so busy with work but I promise I will complete this series next week.
I got several counsels to alter my CV and remove the fact I ever worked at my last bank. Also never talk about it in interviews if asked. My refusal to do this cost me a few job offers but I couldn't see myself doing that and then claiming that God came through for me! That would have been no different from what brought down "here" in the first place. I was done trying to help myself.
When I left Yola (Adamawa State, Nigeria) after the loss of my job, I came down to Lagos to live with my family members. I stayed for brief periods in the homes of my siblings wondering how to pick up the pieces of my scattered life (I had some unpleasant experiences with them, I think some of these experiences were due to how sore I felt about being out of a job while others just underlined that my siblings were imperfect and still very much human).
I remembered what I had been told over and again while I still worked in the banking industry, that when you leave the banking industry getting another job would be difficult.
I was trained as an industrial biochemist but did not continue my studies in that field. In the banking industry I was also at a disadvantage as I had not added to my experience and would have had it difficult securing a bank job based on the circumstances under which I left my former Bank.
I took to applying for any kind of job I could find, no matter how much I was to be paid. I even worked as a "manager" of a small cybercafe for a while, a job that promised to pay below the minimum wage compared to someone that works at the lowest level in government, just so I could tell my fiance's family that I had a job. Why was it important to tell them I had a job you may ask? Well, I had started the process to marry their daughter and I DIDN'T have any job or money to go through with it. The money that I had saved I used to build a fence around 2 plots of land I bought while i was working and also register the land with the land registrar.
I fixed a date for my traditional marriage without a penny in my account and just trusted that God will come through for me.
When my parents-in-laws heard I had no job( Yes, I got married to their daughter), they still accepted me and agreed that I inform my people to come with me for the traditional rites. Infact i encountered more resistance from my relatives than I did for my in-laws!
I had set a date for our traditional marriage and still no job offers that I could take. I got a few offers though, I had an offer to pay a bribe to someone that works at an oil firm. The bribe (which i could pay) will ensure that my name is added to the names of those being recruited by the firm but i rejected the offer.
After this my parents in law also called with a similar offer for me to join the Nigerian Customs. I turned this down also as politely as i could. Knowing full well, they might not understand my reason for doing so and might even think I had no ambition.
You see, I had learnt to trust that God could come through for me and I reasoned that if he will not do so then I rather be without a job. I would not get help outside of God any longer nor would I help God.
I remember telling God that I know he was the Almighty and if it could not be done by Him then let it not be done. For with God nothing shall be impossible I resolved!
To be continued.......
Ps: Sorry It took me this long to write again, I have been so busy with work but I promise I will complete this series next week.
Wednesday, 3 April 2013
My Testimony-Part 5- A Journey into the Wilderness
After submitting all of the bank's property in my possession, I got home that day, pulled off my tie and sank to my knees.
All the way home I kept thinking of a way to react to the news I had just received,.I would have thought it was all a dream if not for the very real copy of the letter of termination of appointment in my hand.
I honestly didn't know what to do. The scripture of what Job did after he had lost everything he owned came to my mind and I decided I would just do the same even though I did not feel like doing that.
I started by telling God I was grateful for the job and the opportunity I was given,.I thanked Him for keeping me, His strength through these tough times, prayed that He help me not to hold a grudge against Mrs Foxy or Mrs Pity and see me through the months ahead...I did not know when tears started flowing and my heart seemed to break. This experience was a very painful one ( I found out firsthand that it isn't easy to praise God in your pain).
After this, I was able to gain some control and soon fell asleep.
I woke up to the sound of a knock on my door, a few of my colleagues who had heard what happened came to empathize with me. I would like to say that some of these people were neither Christians or from my tribe a typical example was the Chief driver of the branch. I have kept in touch with him through the years because he kept calling and asking after my welfare all through my ordeal. A lot of people I considered friends, never called me again ( its funny but as i sit by my computer writing this piece, I just discovered one of them on linkedIn and sent him an invite).
After I lost my job, I stayed in Yola till the month ended. Sold the house hold furnishings I had, after my house rent had expired and traveled to Lagos where I started staying with my brothers and sister (I will spare you the details of my experience with my relations).I soon settled to my new life and after a while I started job hunting. Explaining the circumstances under which I lost my job during job interviews did not endear me to any new employers and it was a very difficult time.
I was advised by friends and family who meant well, to alter my resume and not mention Fidelity Bank at all. They suggested and even offered stories that could cover up for the one year plus that would be unaccounted for on my CV if I followed their advise. I thanked them for their concern but did not feel at liberty to do that, I had tried to get myself out of a mess by my own design in the past and see where it had got me. I decided to trust God and not alter anything on my resume. I resolved that if God could not help me secure a job without my compromising or lying then let me be without a job.
I spent almost four months in Lagos before i started attending any particular church. I connected again with a lady friend of mine whom I had proposed to in the past but we had been apart because some issues (by the way,I am happily married to her today).
We started our relationship from were we had left off, though she was in Abuja and I was in Lagos. After a while, I restated my intentions to marry her as soon as I found my feet again. She came to Lagos and stayed with a Pastor she had known for a long time. He was pastoring a church just close to where I lived with my brother, so I decided to attend. I enjoyed the service and decided to get committed there. I decided I was going to draw closer to God and build my relationship with God.
Within this period I learnt a lot lessons that I initially sent out to my friends by email. I was later advised to start a blog,so that all my write-ups would be in one location. This gave birth to this blog.
I also had to fight the temptation of falling into a pit of depression or discouragement.
I would like to end this piece with a scripture:
All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us-
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 New Living translation version
to be continued....
All the way home I kept thinking of a way to react to the news I had just received,.I would have thought it was all a dream if not for the very real copy of the letter of termination of appointment in my hand.
I honestly didn't know what to do. The scripture of what Job did after he had lost everything he owned came to my mind and I decided I would just do the same even though I did not feel like doing that.
I started by telling God I was grateful for the job and the opportunity I was given,.I thanked Him for keeping me, His strength through these tough times, prayed that He help me not to hold a grudge against Mrs Foxy or Mrs Pity and see me through the months ahead...I did not know when tears started flowing and my heart seemed to break. This experience was a very painful one ( I found out firsthand that it isn't easy to praise God in your pain).
After this, I was able to gain some control and soon fell asleep.
I woke up to the sound of a knock on my door, a few of my colleagues who had heard what happened came to empathize with me. I would like to say that some of these people were neither Christians or from my tribe a typical example was the Chief driver of the branch. I have kept in touch with him through the years because he kept calling and asking after my welfare all through my ordeal. A lot of people I considered friends, never called me again ( its funny but as i sit by my computer writing this piece, I just discovered one of them on linkedIn and sent him an invite).
After I lost my job, I stayed in Yola till the month ended. Sold the house hold furnishings I had, after my house rent had expired and traveled to Lagos where I started staying with my brothers and sister (I will spare you the details of my experience with my relations).I soon settled to my new life and after a while I started job hunting. Explaining the circumstances under which I lost my job during job interviews did not endear me to any new employers and it was a very difficult time.
I was advised by friends and family who meant well, to alter my resume and not mention Fidelity Bank at all. They suggested and even offered stories that could cover up for the one year plus that would be unaccounted for on my CV if I followed their advise. I thanked them for their concern but did not feel at liberty to do that, I had tried to get myself out of a mess by my own design in the past and see where it had got me. I decided to trust God and not alter anything on my resume. I resolved that if God could not help me secure a job without my compromising or lying then let me be without a job.
I spent almost four months in Lagos before i started attending any particular church. I connected again with a lady friend of mine whom I had proposed to in the past but we had been apart because some issues (by the way,I am happily married to her today).
We started our relationship from were we had left off, though she was in Abuja and I was in Lagos. After a while, I restated my intentions to marry her as soon as I found my feet again. She came to Lagos and stayed with a Pastor she had known for a long time. He was pastoring a church just close to where I lived with my brother, so I decided to attend. I enjoyed the service and decided to get committed there. I decided I was going to draw closer to God and build my relationship with God.
Within this period I learnt a lot lessons that I initially sent out to my friends by email. I was later advised to start a blog,so that all my write-ups would be in one location. This gave birth to this blog.
I also had to fight the temptation of falling into a pit of depression or discouragement.
I would like to end this piece with a scripture:
All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us-
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 New Living translation version
to be continued....
Thursday, 28 March 2013
My Testimony Part 4- A Betrayal?
The day passed without event and my friend came through with the funds needed to tidy our books. No one else knew about what had transpired the day before and there was no way of finding out except Mrs. Foxy said anything about what happened. I believed that it was all behind me and that Mrs Foxy had my back,on that front, as she was the one that proposed the cover up in the first place.
There was no financial loss to the bank and the branch auditor would return in two days time. Our books were fine and there was absolutely no trace of what had occurred. I was much relieved to say the least but not for too long.
Within this period I had a nagging impression to pray against hidden agenda (that's the best way I can explain what I felt). I prayed for a couple of weeks and soon went on with my life.
About a month after, my reference letter had been received and my confirmation was being processed. I was so glad that finally it was all behind me and I was soon going to be paid.
I got a shocking mail!
It was a mail , a query rather, from my immediate supervisor asking me what part I played with regards to our books being out for one day. He also asked about issues of dry-posting (a term that spoke of asking for transfer of funds without making the money available immediately) in the branch. This mail was a rude shock to me and I was scared to my marrow. I called him to inquire as to why he sent me the mail but he did not say anything to me but to instruct me to answer the mail.
I dropped the phone more confused about what he knew, and immediately called Mrs. Foxy to know if she knew anything about the mail. she denied any knowledge of the mails or who might have informed him.
Anyway to cut the Long story short, I later found out that Mrs. Foxy and Mrs Pity were the brains behind all that. Mrs Foxy,with Mrs Pity collaborating her story, had told the Auditor, who had informed his boss and I was being investigated without knowing it or rather I was just the last to know about it.
I initially denied it, cause I was scared of admitting what I had done and I trusted that Mrs Foxy did not sell me out. I found out that she did actual sell me out, when I needed to work with her computer and by chance clicked on an email she sent to my supervisor. That email told me that she had told the auditor after he returned of what happened in his absence and that she felt it was her professional responsibility to do so. That she needed to 'blow the whistle' on me as she said in her mail. Her account was supported by Mrs. Pity. I couldn't finish reading the email as I saw that my coffin had longed been nailed shut and the query I received was not out of the blues but based on several mails that had gone on behind my back.
I wrote a mail to my boss detailing everything that had happened and ended by blaming everything on me cause I could not be the cause for which Mrs Foxy or Mrs Pity lost their jobs. My supervisor promised to help me but when I think about it now, I remember he never stood up for me when anything went bad during the normal course of business in the branch, he always left me to face any heat from the Head office. That should have told me, not to trust his statements.
I worked in the branch for a further 3 months in which they sent auditors to review our books to determine if I had stolen any money from the bank or any customer while being told to await a call from Lagos to face a disciplinary committee. I was redeployed to marketing and my supervisor assured me that I would not be sacked but sent to another branch.
This 3 months period was a difficult time and I lost a lot of weight within that time. I had to work every day with the very people who I felt betrayed me (well looking back, I wouldn't have done what they did, I think she should not have covered even for a day but I can't blame them). It was within this time, I learnt to let go the bitterness in my heart and forgive even when neither Mrs Foxy nor Mrs Pity asked for my forgiveness.
Finally my pride was gone and I had a lot of secret tears. Going to work was a huge burden and tested my endurance. I thought of resigning but no one would accept a resignation in the middle of an investigation. I endured it if only to clear my name that I had not stolen from the bank.
After all the investigations, It was determined that I had not taken any money from the bank but I was sacked for compelling my subordinates to go outside of the banks policy.
I had no inclination that I had been sacked a day after I was sacked. I just went to work one morning and was unable log on to my system. I informed the auditor of this development when he came and he checked his system and found my sack letter dated 13th October 2010. I dropped my identity card, my lapel pin and worked out of the branch with my head bowed on Thursday, 14th of October 2010.
My dream had turned into a nightmare....
There was no financial loss to the bank and the branch auditor would return in two days time. Our books were fine and there was absolutely no trace of what had occurred. I was much relieved to say the least but not for too long.
Within this period I had a nagging impression to pray against hidden agenda (that's the best way I can explain what I felt). I prayed for a couple of weeks and soon went on with my life.
About a month after, my reference letter had been received and my confirmation was being processed. I was so glad that finally it was all behind me and I was soon going to be paid.
I got a shocking mail!
It was a mail , a query rather, from my immediate supervisor asking me what part I played with regards to our books being out for one day. He also asked about issues of dry-posting (a term that spoke of asking for transfer of funds without making the money available immediately) in the branch. This mail was a rude shock to me and I was scared to my marrow. I called him to inquire as to why he sent me the mail but he did not say anything to me but to instruct me to answer the mail.
I dropped the phone more confused about what he knew, and immediately called Mrs. Foxy to know if she knew anything about the mail. she denied any knowledge of the mails or who might have informed him.
Anyway to cut the Long story short, I later found out that Mrs. Foxy and Mrs Pity were the brains behind all that. Mrs Foxy,with Mrs Pity collaborating her story, had told the Auditor, who had informed his boss and I was being investigated without knowing it or rather I was just the last to know about it.
I initially denied it, cause I was scared of admitting what I had done and I trusted that Mrs Foxy did not sell me out. I found out that she did actual sell me out, when I needed to work with her computer and by chance clicked on an email she sent to my supervisor. That email told me that she had told the auditor after he returned of what happened in his absence and that she felt it was her professional responsibility to do so. That she needed to 'blow the whistle' on me as she said in her mail. Her account was supported by Mrs. Pity. I couldn't finish reading the email as I saw that my coffin had longed been nailed shut and the query I received was not out of the blues but based on several mails that had gone on behind my back.
I wrote a mail to my boss detailing everything that had happened and ended by blaming everything on me cause I could not be the cause for which Mrs Foxy or Mrs Pity lost their jobs. My supervisor promised to help me but when I think about it now, I remember he never stood up for me when anything went bad during the normal course of business in the branch, he always left me to face any heat from the Head office. That should have told me, not to trust his statements.
I worked in the branch for a further 3 months in which they sent auditors to review our books to determine if I had stolen any money from the bank or any customer while being told to await a call from Lagos to face a disciplinary committee. I was redeployed to marketing and my supervisor assured me that I would not be sacked but sent to another branch.
This 3 months period was a difficult time and I lost a lot of weight within that time. I had to work every day with the very people who I felt betrayed me (well looking back, I wouldn't have done what they did, I think she should not have covered even for a day but I can't blame them). It was within this time, I learnt to let go the bitterness in my heart and forgive even when neither Mrs Foxy nor Mrs Pity asked for my forgiveness.
Finally my pride was gone and I had a lot of secret tears. Going to work was a huge burden and tested my endurance. I thought of resigning but no one would accept a resignation in the middle of an investigation. I endured it if only to clear my name that I had not stolen from the bank.
After all the investigations, It was determined that I had not taken any money from the bank but I was sacked for compelling my subordinates to go outside of the banks policy.
I had no inclination that I had been sacked a day after I was sacked. I just went to work one morning and was unable log on to my system. I informed the auditor of this development when he came and he checked his system and found my sack letter dated 13th October 2010. I dropped my identity card, my lapel pin and worked out of the branch with my head bowed on Thursday, 14th of October 2010.
My dream had turned into a nightmare....
Tuesday, 26 March 2013
My Testimony Part 3- Easy Solutions-the Stumble and the Fall
I went about my duties at the branch and was happy with the new career choice I had made. For a six month period it seemed like everything was looking up for me.
I also decided that I would be the best I could be as a Christian, I made out time to pray more and study my bible more. I had very few friends in my new location and I could spend time at home on my own. Not only was my life better but I was shaping up in my Christian life.
As I drew closer to God, I was confronted with my pride and attitude of putting down my colleagues, I must confess I cant say exactly how I reacted but I thought I was making some corrections in that direction.
As I neared the conclusion of my probation period, upon which I was due to be confirmed as a permanent staff and was expecting a huge allowance with a promotion.
Almost everything was ready, I had received information that my school had written a reference letter confirming my results, my personal reference had responded. The only reference left was from my former employers and with this last reference I could be appraised and my appointment confirmed. I had gotten very good verbal appraisals from my immediate supervisors and was seemed on my way to receive a huge ''settlement''.
I contacted my former bank's HR and was informed that I would not be getting my reference letter until I paid back the amount given to me as upfront (You see banks give you a substantial portion of your annual salary in advance so that you would remain with the organization, you are required to pay back the unearned portion if you leave the bank and require their reference).
So here I was, saddled with a debt I needed to pay that was the only stumbling block to my promotion and allowance. I needed this issue settled immediately so I could move to a new level. So I took a loan from a 30 day period from a friend A to make up the money needed for the loan payment. This solution was easy but proved costly later on.
When the time came to pay back the loan, I didn't have it because the bank had calculated that I owed more than I had already paid and needed to pay more. I paid using my salary and had a promise from a friend B to give me the money needed to pay up the first loan collected. I was digging one hole to fill another hole.
On the strength of the above promise and in my impatience, I gave an instruction for money to be paid to my friend with the hope that I would have the money to pay back before the end of the day as promised.
As the day drew to a close, friend B said he could not pay in the money I needed and that it would be have to be the next day.
At that point I was now in trouble.
I had just given an instruction for money to be transferred without making the money available, my account was not funded to pay for what was transferred. This would stick out of the branch's books for at least one day if friend B is to be taken at his word and the amount was a sizable sum that could not easily be replaced.
I made every effort to see if I could pay back the money but failed. As the Teller who was Mrs Pity (remember her from the last blog) started asking for the money which she needed to tidy up for the day. I had to swallow my pride and in my desperation told Mrs Foxy the situation I had put myself in.
Mrs Foxy who was a custodian of the cash books suggested that she could cover for me for one day since the branch auditor was not around to inspect the books. To this I agreed and was much relieved, looking back now I know that was a very big mistake and a poor choice I made.
Here began my downfall.....
I also decided that I would be the best I could be as a Christian, I made out time to pray more and study my bible more. I had very few friends in my new location and I could spend time at home on my own. Not only was my life better but I was shaping up in my Christian life.
As I drew closer to God, I was confronted with my pride and attitude of putting down my colleagues, I must confess I cant say exactly how I reacted but I thought I was making some corrections in that direction.
As I neared the conclusion of my probation period, upon which I was due to be confirmed as a permanent staff and was expecting a huge allowance with a promotion.
Almost everything was ready, I had received information that my school had written a reference letter confirming my results, my personal reference had responded. The only reference left was from my former employers and with this last reference I could be appraised and my appointment confirmed. I had gotten very good verbal appraisals from my immediate supervisors and was seemed on my way to receive a huge ''settlement''.
I contacted my former bank's HR and was informed that I would not be getting my reference letter until I paid back the amount given to me as upfront (You see banks give you a substantial portion of your annual salary in advance so that you would remain with the organization, you are required to pay back the unearned portion if you leave the bank and require their reference).
So here I was, saddled with a debt I needed to pay that was the only stumbling block to my promotion and allowance. I needed this issue settled immediately so I could move to a new level. So I took a loan from a 30 day period from a friend A to make up the money needed for the loan payment. This solution was easy but proved costly later on.
When the time came to pay back the loan, I didn't have it because the bank had calculated that I owed more than I had already paid and needed to pay more. I paid using my salary and had a promise from a friend B to give me the money needed to pay up the first loan collected. I was digging one hole to fill another hole.
On the strength of the above promise and in my impatience, I gave an instruction for money to be paid to my friend with the hope that I would have the money to pay back before the end of the day as promised.
As the day drew to a close, friend B said he could not pay in the money I needed and that it would be have to be the next day.
At that point I was now in trouble.
I had just given an instruction for money to be transferred without making the money available, my account was not funded to pay for what was transferred. This would stick out of the branch's books for at least one day if friend B is to be taken at his word and the amount was a sizable sum that could not easily be replaced.
I made every effort to see if I could pay back the money but failed. As the Teller who was Mrs Pity (remember her from the last blog) started asking for the money which she needed to tidy up for the day. I had to swallow my pride and in my desperation told Mrs Foxy the situation I had put myself in.
Mrs Foxy who was a custodian of the cash books suggested that she could cover for me for one day since the branch auditor was not around to inspect the books. To this I agreed and was much relieved, looking back now I know that was a very big mistake and a poor choice I made.
Here began my downfall.....
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