The next morning came with the sound of roosters crowing from the barn beside the house. The air was fresh, carrying with it the smell of moist soil and early dew. I opened my eyes slowly, adjusting to the new surroundings. For a moment, I almost forgot I was in a strange time, but the unfamiliar room and the memory of last night quickly reminded me of the mission I carried.
I sat up on the bed, rubbed my eyes, and whispered a prayer for guidance. Afterward, I stood up, straightened the small blanket that had been given to me, and walked to the wooden window. When I looked outside, I saw Samuel already in the field, holding a hoe on his shoulder. Grace was at the side of the house, feeding some chickens while Ruth and Mary played near her. The sight was peaceful, and my heart felt warm because it had been long since I experienced such ordinary family life.
After some minutes, I stepped out quietly. Samuel noticed me from afar and waved. I walked toward him, and when I got closer, he said with a smile, "Good morning, Alfred. I hope you slept well?"
"Yes, I did. Thank you very much for the room and the bed. I slept peacefully," I replied.
He nodded. "That's good. We don't usually get visitors around here, but it seems you are settling in well. Come, let me show you around the farmland."
I followed him as he pointed out the different sections of the land. There was an area already tilled for planting yam, another part where maize was growing, and a corner where vegetables were being prepared. He explained that the land was big, but because it was only him and his wife working, they could not cultivate everything at once.
As he spoke, I felt an urge in my spirit that I would be here for more than just a few days. This family was meant to be the beginning of the assignment given to me by Gabriel. I needed to build trust with them before I could openly share the deeper things about my mission.
When we got to the edge of the farmland, Samuel leaned on his hoe and looked at me seriously. "Alfred, I don't want to rush you, but you must understand that your story is still very heavy for me. I'm willing to give you shelter, but I need to know if your presence will not bring danger to my family. I have two little girls to protect, and their safety is my first duty."
His words were full of sincerity. I paused for a moment, then replied, "I understand you, Samuel. Your concern is right, but I assure you I was sent here not to bring harm but to bring warning, guidance, and hope. My mission is connected to God Himself. Last night when I prayed, I felt peace, and I believe your family is chosen to be the first to hear and to help."
He looked at me for a long time, then sighed and nodded. "I don't fully understand, but something in my heart tells me not to reject you."
Just as he said that, Grace's voice called from the house. "Samuel! Breakfast is ready!"
We walked back together. The children were already seated around the table when we entered. Grace had prepared hot porridge with milk, and the steam rose pleasantly from the bowls. As we ate, Ruth suddenly asked, "Uncle Alfred, will you stay with us for long?"
Her innocent eyes looked straight into mine, and I hesitated for a moment before answering. "I don't know how long, Ruth. But for the time I'm here, I promise I will be a good friend to you and your sister."
Her face lit up with joy, and Mary clapped her little hands. Grace smiled faintly, though she still observed me cautiously.
After breakfast, Samuel suggested I rest for the day since I was new, but I insisted on helping with work. He finally agreed and handed me a cutlass. Together we cleared part of the farmland while Grace tended to the chickens. The work was tiring, but strangely I felt strength beyond my natural body, as though an unseen hand was helping me.
While we worked, Samuel began to ask about my past life. I told him about my position in the church, about how I was in my office when the angel Gabriel first appeared, and about the dazzling light that filled the room. I described the terrifying but glorious sight of the angel's crown, his golden eyes, and his voice that sounded like a flowing river.
Samuel listened in silence. From time to time, he paused from his work and just looked at me, as though he was trying to picture the scene. When I mentioned the second angel, Uriel, who transported me at a speed faster than light, Samuel dropped his hoe and shook his head.
"This is too much for me to imagine," he said. "But you tell it with such seriousness that I cannot dismiss it as mere fantasy."
I replied softly, "You don't have to understand everything now. Just know that the days ahead are important, and your role in them is not by accident."
The words came out of my mouth without full premeditation, yet I knew they were guided by the Spirit of God.
By evening, we returned to the house. Grace had prepared another meal, and this time she seemed more relaxed. She even laughed lightly when Ruth spilled some water and Mary tried to clean it with her small hands. The joy in the house reminded me of the mission's weight: to warn this generation of what was coming and to prepare them for the time that was near.
After the meal, Samuel asked me to sit with him on the porch. The night was calm, with the moon shining brightly. He looked at me and said, "Alfred, you said your mission is to prepare people. How do you intend to begin? Because if you truly came from the past, then surely your time here is not for idleness."
I thought carefully before answering. "Samuel, my first step is to live among the people and speak to them one by one. My presence must not cause alarm. But when the right moment comes, I will speak openly about the signs of the end and the nearness of the trumpet."
He nodded slowly. "I will support you, but we must be wise. People in this community do not trust strangers easily. We need to find a way to introduce you without raising suspicion."
At that moment, Ruth came running to us with excitement. "Father, Mother says tomorrow we will go to the town market to sell some produce. Can Alfred come with us?"
Samuel looked at me and smiled faintly. "Yes, he will come. That will be your first chance to meet the people."
My heart skipped because I knew this was no ordinary trip. The market would be the first place where my mission in this future time would begin.
That night, as I lay in the guest room again, I could not sleep quickly. I thought of Gabriel's words, of Uriel's speed, and of the strange farmland where I had landed. I wondered what awaited me in the market, and how the people would react when I spoke to them.
Before my eyes closed, I saw again the image of Gabriel's golden eyes in my memory, and his voice echoed within me: "Fear not." With that, I finally drifted into sleep, ready for the next chapter of the journey.