After the man had directed me to the bathroom, I stayed for some seconds staring at the mirror that was fixed on the bathroom wall. What I saw in the mirror was not just my tattered face and dusty body, but a man who seemed to have been stripped of everything familiar. My mind was still battling with the reality of being in a land that was not my own time.
The water in the shower was cold at first, then later it became warm. As I allowed the water to run through my body, I felt a bit of relief. The pains from the long journey through the heavenly portal began to ease gradually. While still bathing, I could hear faint voices coming from the living room. It was the man and his wife discussing about me. The voices were low but because of the strange quietness of the house, it was as though they were speaking close to my ears.
I overheard the wife saying; "are you sure this man is safe to stay with us? From the look of things, he seems suspicious." Then the man replied her saying; "I can't explain why, but there is a kind of peace within me each time I look at him. I know he may look strange, but I don't think he is dangerous." Hearing those words calmed my heart a little, because I felt that at least someone in this strange place trusted me enough to give me shelter.
After some minutes, I finished bathing. The man had already dropped some clothes outside the bathroom for me to wear. They were simple but neat clothes. I wore them and stepped out carefully, still trying to observe my environment. The house was not so big but it was well arranged. On the wall of the living room, I saw pictures of the man, his wife, and the two children. It was at that moment I realized the family was not just ordinary, they were a closely knitted family who loved themselves dearly.
The man then called me to sit at the dining table. The smell of food was already filling the atmosphere. His wife had prepared rice with stew, and the aroma was so pleasant to my nostrils that I felt my stomach groan in hunger. I had not eaten since I was teleported to this strange realm. As I sat down, the man introduced himself properly. He said; "my name is David, and this is my wife, Grace. Our children are Lydia and Esther." Then he asked me again for my name, and I replied; "my name is Alfred."
When I mentioned my name, Grace looked at me suspiciously and said; "that's a very common name, but something about you is uncommon. You don't talk like people from around here." I tried to smile but the smile was weak, because I knew that if I opened up too much about my mission, they might think I was mad.
We began to eat. Every spoon of rice I took in was like medicine healing my tired body. I was so grateful for the food that I almost shed tears. After the meal, David told his wife and children to go into the inner room while he and I remained at the table. Then with a serious look on his face, he leaned forward and said; "Now Alfred, tell me the truth. Who exactly are you, and where did you come from?"
I paused for a while, thinking of how best to answer him. Then I told him everything, though not with too much detail. I said; "I am from another time. I was sent here by a messenger of God to deliver a warning about things to come." David looked at me keenly, his eyes fixed on me without blinking. Then he asked; "what kind of things to come?" I replied; "the end of all things. A time when the heavens will be opened and the trumpet will sound."
On hearing this, he leaned back slowly, trying to process my words. He did not speak for a while. Then he finally said; "this is strange. Very strange. But somehow, I believe you." His words gave me courage. I felt that at least, I had found someone who was willing to listen.
That night, David and his family arranged a small space for me in one of their spare rooms. The room was not very big, but it was neat and had a bed where I could finally rest. As I laid down, I thought of everything that had happened within the past few hours. From my office at church, to the terrifying sight of angel Gabriel, to the journey with angel Uriel, and now lying down in the house of strangers in the future. It all felt like a dream, but it was real.
In the middle of the night, I was woken by a bright light that filled the room. My heart began to pound. I sat up on the bed quickly and looked around. Standing at the corner of the room was the same angel Gabriel, but this time he was not in his full heavenly glory. He was in the form of the man I had seen in the farmland earlier, dressed in simple white garments. His face carried a calm expression, but his eyes still had that piercing glow.
He spoke in a gentle voice and said; "Alfred, fear not. I came to remind you of your mission. The days ahead will not be easy, but remember that you are not alone. The people of this time will test you, mock you, and even fight you, but stand firm. You are here to be a witness of the truth." Then he stretched his hand towards me, and immediately, I felt a surge of strength flow through my body.
Before I could speak, he vanished. The room returned to normal darkness, only lit by the small lamp at the corner. I laid back on the bed, trembling but also comforted. That night, I could hardly sleep again. My heart kept pondering over the words of the angel.
By morning, David came to wake me. He said; "we will be going to the farmland again today. I want to show you around so that you can see the people of this land and understand them." I agreed. After breakfast, we all entered his truck, this time without any trouble in starting it.
As we drove through the village, I noticed that the place was more advanced than the time I came from. The houses were built with modern designs, the roads were smoother, and the people dressed differently. But one thing I noticed was that their hearts were just like those of the people in my own time—filled with worries, struggles, and desires.
While on the way, David said to me quietly; "if you truly came from the past as you said, then God must have sent you for a reason. I don't know how others will take your message, but I will give you a chance to speak to some people. Maybe they will listen."
When he said this, I looked at him and replied; "thank you. But remember, it is not me they are listening to, it is God who sent me."
The journey to the farmland was about thirty minutes, and when we arrived, I saw other workers already there. David introduced me to them as a cousin who had come from far away. They accepted me with suspicion at first, but later some of them smiled at me. I knew within me that this was the beginning of my mission.