The Diary of a Teen-aged Christian by Beryl Andoh - HTML preview

The Voice in the Opposite Cell

It was exactly two weeks since I became a prisoner. And I was still not used to the environment. Why try getting used to, anyway? It was never one of my ambitions. In the cell opposite mine, there was no one there. But sometimes I was very certain I heard a voice. Sometimes singing. Sometimes reading. It freaked me out most times. But the guard assured me that there was no one there. This went on for many days. For weeks. Sometimes I could hear some the words he was saying. Jesus. Accept. Everlasting life. And some other words. But these three rung in my head most often. I told Junior about it when he came to see me with Mrs. Peters. Apparently I was the only one who could hear the voice.

So one night, I mustered courage. And I called out to the voice. “Who are you?” I was certain whoever it was chuckled lightly and said, “That doesn’t really matter, but I was waiting for you to make a move.” And that started our daily conversations. I was often sent to the hospital for checkup. The guards were convinced I had lost it. My sense of reasoning, that is. The results always came out negative indicating I was perfectly in my right mind. Nobody understood. Well, I didn’t, myself so it wasn’t that strange. But strangely enough, I found out I could really talk to Voice (By the way, that’s how I named him). I could really open to him. Share with him things I never shared with anyone. This went on for months. The cell always felt warm whenever I talked to him. Every evening he would ask me, “Say, someone agreed to take your place in this cell and be a convict on your behalf, how would you feel towards the person?” Then I would say, “I would probably owe him my life.” Then he would say, “Perfect answer.” Then we would wish each other goodnight. But he doesn’t sleep immediately or probably doesn’t sleep at all. Because I always hear him read till I fall deeply asleep. Sometimes it felt as if what he read was putting me to sleep.

Once he told me a story. He told me it was in the book from which he read every day. The story really sounded familiar but I was so blank. I tried to remember. But I couldn’t. Voice said to me, “Don’t worry Janessa, in due time you will remember, in due time.” He spoke like he really knew me.

Junior often visited me and I was happy about that. I was happy he didn’t turn out to be me. Ignoring everyone. Not caring. And Mrs. Peters was a good person. I was very happy she was looking out for Junior.

On my first birthday in jail, Mrs. Peters baked for me an apple pie. We had a nice celebration though we were in prison. That night, Voice told me another story. He said that was my birthday present. Again, the story sounded very familiar. But I couldn’t remember.

As the days went by, I became closer to Voice. It felt as though we go way back. One night I had a dream. In the dream I realized something about the stories Voice told me. They were all talking about one particular man. When I told him in the morning, he said, “It’s good, you are starting to remember.” Time flew so fast. In a few days then I would be an ex-con. In exactly four days actually. My moments with Voice were coming to an end. Because of that we conversed for longer periods than we did before. I was really going to miss him. Even though I never saw his face. Two days to the day of my release, he said, “Janessa, please tell me all the stories I have told you. Tonight I want you to be the one to read but without looking into a book.” I actually was able to remember all the stories he had told me. And as I began to tell him, I realized all that he had been doing all this while. He had been reading the Bible to me. And throughout my years in prison, he had read the whole Bible to me. I now got the picture. Tears began to flow from my eyes when I got to the story of the cross. I choked while I was saying it. Voice then said to me, “Are you ready to bring to pass your perfect answer?” “Yes” I responded. For the question he had been asking me every evening was a symbol of what Christ did on the cross for me. And my answer every night was the perfect answer. Voice then prayed with me. Then he began to sing the song he normally sung every night. The song had grown on me, for I began to sing too.  I sung the whole night till the next morning. I didn’t hear from Voice all day. I was seated at the same spot I was the night before. In the evening, I began to sing the song. Then I heard Voice say, “Pick up your birthday present in the morning, before you leave.” And then I closed my eyes………….

New Life

The sun looked so happy to see me just as I was happy to see it, for it shined so bright. Mrs. Peters and Junior were waiting for me outside. I had picked my birthday present from Voice’s cell. It was neatly wrapped. I waited till I got in the car before I tore it open. It was the book from which he read to me every night. It was a Bible. In the bible was a note. Neatly written, it read, “Today you are born as a child of God, never forsake My voice and I will never forsake you. I am glad I found you, my daughter.” “I am glad You found me.” I whispered.

Now I am a new creation. I am no more bound. Literally, spiritually. I have a new life. I am a new being. Junior turned to me when we reached home. He stared at me and smiling, he said, “I am glad you’ve come back home.” Both of us were teary-eyed while we hugged. I didn’t lose my brother. Rather, I found a friend. I found love. I found peace. I found joy. I found satisfaction. I found Jesus. I found His voice.

That night, while I sat on my bed I could still hear clearly Voice reading to me. I lay on my bed, then I heard Him say, “Goodnight child, I am always with you.” Then He began to sing to song………..our song. And I smiled and began to sing too. I closed my eyes and smiled and sang…………………….

Dear God,

I had a wonderful day at school, and I thank You for it. Be with me for the rest of the day and grant me grace and mercy. See You……………….