I was standing my hands raised up high. It had been 7 days of attending prayer sessions with
Benjamin, the priest had told me I had to continue taking him every afternoon and as I did, my faith
grew.
I was feeling myself becoming so spiritual, my prayers became more powerful. I even took the
advice of fasting on behalf of Benjamin as he could not do it himself. The first days were tough, but
with time I started feeling great.
I would woke up in the night to pray as I continuously had bad dreams especially where the same
women I didn’t know kept on haunting me and wanting to kill me.
One man who was always present whenever the priest was praying for Benjamin, told me he had
seen that Benjamin’s situation was caused by a certain woman but he was not sure of her relationship to him.
” Have faith my sister and all shall be well, by the end of this seven days, you shall testify to the
goodness of God” he strengthened me.
” I know for sure he will be okey” I had responded feeling my faith.
Friday came and I took time bathing Benjamin like I always did. I pulled a pair of brown soft jeans,
a white vest and a black short sleeved shirt from the closet and asked him to dress up as I waited.
I put some black casual shoes on his feet, satisfied he looked good, I sprayed him some perfume.
I was trusting God that the seventh day was a day he was going to deliver Benjamin, so I needed
him to woke up and see himself looking normal and good.
” Today you will be okey, I don’t know what will happen next after you regain your consciousness,
but whatever will happen I will be able to live with myself knowing I played a great role in ensuring
you got better.” I whispered to him.
He was awkwardly quiet that day. He didn’t even do his usual murmuring and smiling . As I drove
us to Chelstone, I let Ephraim’s song “Kafiwe fi Jericho!” play on repeat as l kept praying inside my
heart. Something felt so right my spirit was so happy.
Minutes later, Benjamin was placed in the middle, this time we were joined by another man and
woman who I was told were prayer warriors from the Charismatic Renewal Movement.
The priest asked us all to hold hands surrounding Benjamin, as we started singing praise and
worship songs. The shouting and praying started and I joined in crying and praying to my God to
hear us.
Tongues and calling on the fire of God went on as the prayers got deeper. The priest was leading
the prayer lines with all of us agreeing and praying violently I could feel the change in the
atmosphere.
” Jennifer! ” the priest called my name.
” Do you believe in the Lord Almight!”
” Yes I believe ” I responded without doubt.
” Do you believe that God the father, the son and Holy spirit has the power to set this man you
brought here free?” He asked again and I shouted with faith.
” Yes father, I believe!” Tears ran down my face as I answered. Not that I was feeling any pain but
the power surrounding us felt so strong it made my heart ach with extreme joy.
” Come kneel besides Benjamin and lay your hands on him. Tell God what you want him to do to
this man and it shall be according to your faith” the Priest told me.
Slowly I knelt besides Benjamin, taking a closer look at his face as tears ran down my face. I
opened my mouth to pray.
” My God, my father, hear me all my redeemer, I don’t know who this man really is and I don’t
even know why you allowed that I took him in with me. I have not done the right things most of the
times in my life but I know and am sure of one thing, you God are the only way and the only true
salvation that I have.
Whatever it is that Benjamin had done to get to this condition, whatever unfairness that might have
been done to get him like this, today in the name of Jesus, I pray you set him free.
I call out to your holy spirit to release your anointing power upon his body, soul and mind, that he may be set free.!
Free him almighty God and let your name be exalted !” I went on shouting and crying as my hands
trembled holding Benjamin.
I can’t recall anything else that l said in my prayers. But as everyone shouted and prayed,
Benjamin let go of my hand pushing me away violently like my hands were burning him.
The priest came to my aid spraying some anointing oil on him and he fall down shaking viciously
his mouth foaming with black liquids.
” Pray on people! ” the priest shouted
” lt is the the Lord’s time and his will shall prevail in the life of this young man today in Jesus’
name! ” He added continuously praying and casting out the demons as he went on spraying the oil
on him .
After some minutes Benjamin fall on his face silent.
” ls he okey?” I stepped forward trying to hold him up.
” lt is done my child” the priest smiled at me and I smiled widely raising my hand and praising God.
” Benjamin!” I called him shaking him.
He sat up looking confused but normal. That dull look on his face was gone and he looked okey.
We all watched him as he stood up straight looking around the room and taking his time staring at
each of the people in the room.
He moved his eyes towards me as I stood closer to him. ” Benjamin” I called him again trying to
see if he could remember me.
” Who are you people? And where am I?” He responded and I jumped up shouting in joy.
” Oh my God you are okey!” I exclaimed hugging him close but I felt his hands push me away.
” Who are you?” He asked again this time he was directing his question on me. ” Am am…. um” I
stammered not knowing what to say.
” She’s the woman God has used to bring healing to your life Benjamin” the priest answered
coming to my aid.
He asked everyone to leave and asked us to sit down as he let me explain what happened to
Benjamin.
” What? You mean I was mad? Like a mad man picking food from the rubbish pits and walking
around in dirty clothes?” He asked his face in pure shock.
” Something like that, though you mostly stayed in funeral homes in Kabwe” I responded.
” Do you remember who you are? Or anything that happened when you were in that state ?” The
priest asked him.
” Yes father, my name is Benjamin Kamanga, am working as the CEO of BK motor and equipment
suppliers, my family company in Kabwe. My family is in Lusaka I visit them every weekend. I went
there last weekend. ” He explained clearly.
” Family?” I asked my heart panicking.
” Yes, l have a wife with a one year old son in Lusaka” he responded and I felt my knees go weak.
Father, held my hand assuredly. ” it’s Okey” he whispered.
” Yeah” I pushed a smile.
” Do you know what year this is?” The priest asked him.
” Yes, this is Sunday 14th of March 2012 he answered confidently. We both looked at each other
and the priest shook his head.
” The enemy had put you in bondage for over 2 years Benjamin, today is Saturday 31st of January
2015
” What?” Benjamin now realising my story was true asked.
” Am sorry son, but this woman here is saying the truth, you were cast with a mental illness for 2
years and if not for her good deeds which were way out of normal, you could have still been mad.”
I saw Benjamin bow his head. The priest went on counselling him and for more than 2 hours we
were locked in the room.
He encouraged me to take heart and let Benjamin decide his next step as everything that
happened wasn’t his fault, of course he told me that in confidence after I let Benjamin in my car.
We were quiet as I drove us back home, he kept his eyes on the road and I kept on stealing
glances at him which he seemed not to notice.
” This is my house, you and I have stayed together here for almost 2 months now” I told him as he
looked around the sitting room.
This is where you were sleeping I led him to the spare bedroom and he entered looking around
taking in every detail like he was trying to remember.
He sighed sitting on the bed. ” So why did you bring me here? I mean I don’t understand, like you
said I wasn’t myself and that was quite a risk. Why did you do it? You and me never knew each
other before? ” he asked his calm voice steady.
I cleared my throat not knowing what to tell him. I felt ashamed of myself for the first time. ”
Honestly Benjamin I don’t know” I shrugged honestly.
” I saw you at the funeral all quiet looking like this” I said opening my phone and showing him the
photos I got of him before I bathed him.
He shook his head not believing he was seeing his image in the man in the pics.
” And I felt drawn to you” I told him the truth.
I showed him the clothes and covers he used to wear and he sat down again this time shedding
tears.
” I have lost 2 years plus of my life I don’t even know where to start from. I really don’t know how I
will ever repay you for your kindness and even if I have no idea why you picked me. Am so
grateful” he added looking at me, but this time I couldn’t see my crazy Benjamin anymore. He
looked like a stranger all over again but my heart still felt the same for him.
His stare had has lost that passion I used to see in them, the innocence and gentleness. He
looked at me like I was some kind of freak and it hurt so much.
After talking with him for a while he stood up asking if he could go to his house which he told me
was in Foxdale.
I felt my eyes get wet at the thought of him leaving me all alone. ” Of course, I will drive you there”
l offered gaining courage and swallowing hard to make the tears go back.
” You have done enough, if you don’t mind, let me go alone” he suggested.
” No, am sorry I might sound possessive, but it is almost 22 hours in the night. If you can’t spend
another minute in this house, allow me to take you so that I can make sure you are safe” I told him.
Driving him to his home was the most painful drive ever. I had hopped he stayed in with me that
night and may be try to get to know me and staff like that, but he insisted he had to go find his
family.
I hooted twice at the gate and a teenage boy came to open the gate. ” uncle Ben!” He shouted
upon seeing Benjamin.
He went out hugging the boy I could see they were close. We were ushered inside and a tall and
slim woman came to see us standing shocked after seeing Benjamimn.
” Honey! ” He shouted walking towards her and hugging her as she stood without hugging him
back. I could bet she didn’t look excited nor pleased to see him, instead I could sense some
disappointment in her face.
” Where have you been?” She asked looking at me.
” lt’s a long story honey. Where is our boy? ” He asked .
” Excuse me I must leave now” I stood up not liking the awkwardness I was feeling.
” Am sorry” he sighed turning towards me.
” Honey meet Jennifer She’s the woman who saved my life” he turned his wife towards me.
She looked at me from head to toe and I felt a big lamp on my throat.
I couldn’t stay anymore so I said my goodbyes and Benjamin told me he would see me later. I
don’t remember if I responded, l just drove away my face wet with tears.
I closed the door to my house and shut my eyes allowing the tears to flow out freely.
” What was I thinking?” I sniffed.
I knew I had to understand the fact that he had to get back to his old life but that didn’t stop it from
hurting so much. Sinking in my couch l cried myself to sleep.
To be continued…