THE END TO A BEGINNING

Hello there dear gist partner. 

How are you doing this Lord's day? It is my prayer that you are fine, and that if you aren't, God fixes whatever it is that ails you. 

Welcome to today's gist. 

Yes, I know today's not our usual gist day, but I wanted to gist this gist today because today's my last day on Campus and I didn't want to leave without one last gist. 

As I write this, I'm filled with so much melancholy. I'm glad, really glad, to be done with Law School but leaving has me feeling a little out-of-sorts; for the last 10 months, my life has been primarily focused on being in law school and getting my B. L degree and now that I'm done? It's going to be such a switch in my reality again. Plus I'm thinking of the friends I've made, the people I've been blessed with here and the growth I've experienced and I feel sad leaving all of that behind, but will that stop me from going? At all! I'm out of here before 6 am tomorrow morning and on my way to my father's house. 

But thinking about this journey through the Nigerian School, all I can say is that God has been faithful, God is still faithful! I remember the trepidation with which I began this Law School; how for the first one month, I didn't understand what I was doing here, classes weren't making sense, I couldn't read and when I did, I wasn't understanding, I was having constant headaches every single day…. I even began at some point to doubt the things God has said to me concerning this Law School matter because it didn't seem possible from what my reality seemed to be.

But God showed up! And boy did He show up!

When He came, there was no doubt that He had arrived and that He had come to change the story. I remember very clearly the first day I understood what was happening in school; it was 11th March 2024, coincidentally exactly 8 months today. I was in class and suddenly, I understood what was happening! The lecturer was teaching and I could assimilate, I could even remember things that I'd read on the topic that she wasn't even mentioning! I cannot tell you how glad I was that day. And that was the beginning of my Law School education. Now of course I was late to start, people had started long before then, but my God is the One that gave Elijah speed to outrun Ahab's chariots so wetin I no go fit cover? When God showed up, He came in such a mighty way, it's like the song my mum sang a lot while I was growing up; "when it seems like God is coming too late, He's coming in a big way!" Because that's what He did, He came in a very big way!!

But even more profound than the academic aspect of this journey has been the spiritual growth I've experienced this year. Just a couple of days ago, while I was writing my exams, I just realised that a vast majority of the strides I've been praying to God to achieve in my walk with Him came this year. I entered into deeper fellowship with God this year, I experienced new realities in Him, things that I'd only imagined happening with me happened, the ones that I'd never even imagined, they happened too. God, in leading me through this Law School journey, took me to places in Him that blew my mind!! This Law School journey has helped me become a better Christian and a more devoted child of God and if I won't be grateful to this campus for any other thing, that's one aspect I'll forever be grateful for. 

And then there are the people that God blessed me with here on this Campus: friends that I made in the most random of ways who love me so intentionally, people who I may not be friends with like that but I know they love me and have me at heart, people that have been so sensitive to God concerning me that God has given them messages to me, even when we "randomly" met. Then there are the friendships that I came here with that have deepened beyond what I'd ever have thought possible. God was extremely intentional about the people He brought me in contact with in this season; just this evening I was thinking to myself "you sha take style know people and make friends for this place oo", and my heart was glad at the fact. 

And then during the exams!!! Omo just forget!! You see this God? Nobody can ever be Him! He does this being God thing so beautifully and perfectly, no one else can ever. God's hand rested so heavily upon me in this exam season, e for shock me for say I been no pray for Am to come down; times when I'm answering a question and God will just remind me of something that I need to write in a question that I had answered that I didn't write, or for a question that I had not yet gotten to. I'd always said that remembering cases and sections were not my strong suit but you see this exam? I was remembering them so speedily, I was amazed, God was everything I needed Him to be in this exam, and more! I was not left bereft of help, God helped me. 

I hope I get to tell you a more in-depth story about all that God has worked in me during my time here at the Nigerian Law School, but till then, just dey help me thank God everyday for what He did in me in this place and the things He started with me here that I know will transcend this place. GOD IS SUCH A FAITHFUL GOD!!!

And now I look to the rest of my life as it stretches before me. Am I ready? Not exactly. But is God ready? Yes! He's already on top of the matter. Am I excited to see all that He has in store for me? Most definitely! His thoughts are of good and not evil after all! 

So tomorrow I journey back home and begin to prepare for the next phase of my life, confident that God will lead me as He wants me to go. 

NLS HOT GIST: It's our final NLS hot gist 🥹(except of course when I bring it back when the results are out). The gist is that I'VE FINISHED MY BAR FINALS!!!!  Since the last time we spoke, I had a grueling 8 days of back-to-back reading and barely having any rest, sleeping on the chair in common room so that I don't get too comfortable and forget to read, hearing my roommate sing "rise up, wake up, now determines your future" 😂, setting alarms to wake me up after a 15 minute nap, all of that without my health failing. When I tell you say God dey faithful, just leave the matter for Am! I remember the last day of the exams, on Saturday, after submitting my paper, thinking to myself "na the Bar Finals be this wey I don write finish oo!" Omo! God is too good! 

Well that's that about that as far as that is concerned. Our blogversary is this Saturday so that's when next you'll be seeing me in your faces.

Till then. 

Love,

Achenyo wey don finish Law School. 

PS. It's 55 days to my dad's 70th birthday. 

PSS. The gratitude challenge is already on, hope you're writing three things you're grateful for each day.