After three years, the lives of Mr. Mabu and his wife Ngozi had completely changed. Their way of living was now entirely different from the rest of the community. They rarely attended the great festivals of Karu, Satara, and Majuka—celebrations that were the pride of the land.
The Karu Festival, held every 20th of August, is to honor the great Karu, who is believed to be the protector of the people and the giver of victory in battles. On this day, dogs are sacrificed in his name.
The Satara Festival, observed every 10th of November, is in reverence to Satara, the so-called god of provision. Human blood is demanded as a sacrifice. Many in the community detest this cruel practice, but none dare oppose it for fear that their needs will not be met. As the elders say, "When the goat follows the man with a knife, it does not know it is going to the slaughter."
The Majuka Festival is yet another ceremony dedicated to Majuka, the goddess believed to grant children. Barren women and their husbands flock to her shrine seeking fertility, while those who have received children return to offer thanksgiving.
But Mr. Mabu and Ngozi can no longer stand such practices after their encounter with Jesus Christ. Mabu often says to his wife,
"If only the eyes of the villagers could open and see that these so-called gods have nothing to offer. They keep us in bondage, while true protection, provision, and children come only from the Living God.
"Their change in attitude puzzles the villagers, especially because Mabu—once a poor hunter—is now living like a rich man. This matter has become the talk of the town.
One day, Kare, one of the greatest gossipers, says to her friend,
"See me, see trouble! Who doesn't know Mabu, that poor hunter, the useless husband of Ngozi? Now he lives like a rich man! My friend, do I speak to the air?"
Her friend (Chidima) laughs and replies,
"Kare, you can never stop amusing us with your gossip. You truly inherited this from your grandmother."
Yet, deep down, the whole community is surprised. Everyone knows that Mabu and Ngozi no longer attend the festivals. Kare responds angrily,
"How can that poor fool get rich and still abandon Satara, the god of provision? Something is wrong somewhere, and I must find the answer. If he is stealing, I will uncover it. Surely, I will get to the root of this matter."
The villagers cheer her on, "We trust you, Kare! Your parents truly gave birth to you!"
One morning, as Mabu prepares to go hunting, Ngozi draws closer, kisses him, and says,
"My darling husband, do you not see how good God has been to us? Everything is working out for our good. If only the king and his people would accept what we have accepted, the land would change. But since the king has decreed that no other religion should be brought here, our hands are tied."
Her husband smiles and replies,
"I know your heart longs to share the testimony of Christ, but one day the gospel will break through. As the elders say, 'No matter how long the night, the day will surely come.' They will leave their darkness and embrace the Light."
Ngozi laughs when Mabu promises to bring her an antelope. "Yes, my lord, catch one for me. You know I love antelope meat."
As Mabu raises his gun in the forest, an old man appears before him.
"Do not be afraid," the man says. "I am the same one who once told you that your wife would bear a glorious child. The time is near. Your wife shall conceive, but know this: the birth of this child will bring terror to the kingdom. Guard the pregnancy well and never yield to the king or the priests. Today, some people are watching you, but do not fear—your God is with you."
Then the man vanishes.
Mabu kills a large antelope on his first shot and is overjoyed. On his way home, he notices someone following him. Hiding, he discovers it is none other than Kare, the gossip. When Kare loses track of him, she mutters angrily,
"If only the gods had favored me today, I would have caught him. But no matter; if I lose him today, I will not lose him tomorrow."
At home, Ngozi noticed that her husband was disturbed. After serving him his favorite meal, she gently placed his head on her lap and asked, "My dear husband, what troubles you? Please share it with me."
Mabu sighed deeply. "Do you know who I saw today? Kare, the town gossip, following me closely. She muttered that if the gods gave her a chance, she would expose us to the king so we could be killed."
Ngozi comforted him, quoting Scripture, "Do not be afraid. If Christ is for us, who can be against us? The Lord is our light and salvation; whom shall we fear? He is the strength of our lives; of whom shall we be afraid?"
Mabu breathed a sigh of relief. "How do you know such powerful words?" he asked. Ngozi smiled, "As I thought of how to comfort you, the Holy Spirit put them in my heart."
Then she whispered with joy, "My husband, I have missed my period. God has kept His promise. I am already pregnant!"
Mabu was astonished. The next day, he prepared to hunt again, but this time an angel appeared and said, "Blessed are you, son of man. Your wife indeed carries the promised child. Guard this child with all diligence, for the king and the priests will seek to kill him. As for the antelope, it waits yonder, but hurry home and stay with your wife."
Mabu obeyed and returned home early to celebrate with Ngozi.
Meanwhile, in the palace, the priest spoke in riddles. The king demanded clarity. "My king," the priest declared, "a child is about to be born in this kingdom—a child whose birth will bring calamity. He must not live! The woman carrying him must be destroyed."
The court trembled. When pressed to reveal the family, the priest replied, "It is none other than the family that has refused to partake in our festivals—Mabu and his wife."
The king immediately sent guards to arrest them. But that very day, an angel had warned Mabu to flee. He hurried home, gathered Ngozi, and they escaped into the forest just before the guards arrived.
There, in the thick forest, they comforted themselves with the Word of God: "The Lord is our Shepherd; we shall not want. He makes us lie down in green pastures. He restores our soul and leads us in paths of righteousness. Though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we will fear no evil, for He is with us."
When the time came, with no one to help but her husband, Ngozi gave birth in the forest to a baby boy. They named him Paramodice, meaning Child of Destiny.
As the elders say, "When a child is born, the world does not remain the same."