I’ve never really liked social media… to me, it doesn’t tell you the truth about a person. So because of this, I try as much as possible to stay away from it. However, on a particular day in November, that changed for me. I had been on holiday for some time and had spent countless hours watching movies. Boredom began to set in and I decided to browse on my phone. I opened my WhatsApp and started viewing people’s statuses. While doing so, I noticed that Bate, a relation of mine, had posted a pretty girl on his status, wishing her HAPPY BIRTHDAY. Though I didn’t confirm, I assumed she was related to us so, I moved on. Hours later, I received a message from my big bro, Kelvin. He had sent me a picture… it was the picture of the pretty girl Bate posted earlier. The message that followed the picture said, “Bring ya small thing make I send you e number”. [Translation: give me something and I’ll give you her number]. I replied saying “Na wona family sister nor” [Translation: she’s our family]. He went further to ask if I knew the girl and I said No. I told him I had seen the picture as well and we both laughed. He told me her and I were from the same tribe and he was going to get her number for me. I gave him my okay and by 11 PM that same day, he had forwarded the girl’s name (Mary Besong) and WhatsApp contact with the message: “Try ya Luck and No forget ya small”. [Translation: good luck and don’t forget me] Because I was preparing for an interview at the time, I didn’t conceive the thought of texting Manyi that same day. I wanted to get done with my interview first before socializing. Three days after he sent the contact, Kelvin called. He wanted to know if I was in communication with Manyi, the reply was obviously no. He told me he’d started talking to Manyi on my behalf. I learned from him that she liked dancing and was also a fan of our culture and tradition. Hearing this made me happy as we had something in common. But I was also nervous because I thought she’d think I wasn’t courageous enough to talk to her. It was after my conversation with Kelvin that I texted Manyi. It was before I was ready to do so but I had to gather the courage to talk to the pretty girl. I typed up a message and sent it to her. Because I wasn’t ready, I made a couple of spelling mistakes.To my surprise the mistakes didn’t bother her. She politely corrected me and the conversation went on. My first impression was that she was well mannered, calm, well read and funny. We became friends there after and wanted to converse more with each other. Before we knew it, we were texting and calling consistently daily. Some months after my first text, we met for the first time in Venice and the rest is the reason why we are on this page. In my wildest dreams, I never thought my better half would come to me through social media but as we know God works in mysterious ways.
It was my 26th birthday. My friend in Cameroon, Bate, posted me on his WhatsApp wishing me a happy birthday. His posts were always appreciated as Bate and I had known each other since 2012. His house was across the road from my grandmother's in Mamfe. When we were there, he would always come over to play cards. I saw Bate's post, told him thank you and went about my day. Later on, Bate said someone wanted my number and asked if he should give it to them. I thought about it quickly, and told him not to go ahead with it. That same day, I received a message from someone named Kelvin. He told me he had gotten my number from Bate. I was like, "Ah, no be I tell di man no give ma number?" [Translation: Didn't I tell this man not to give out my number?] I was so annoyed with Bate but decided I should at least entertain the conversation. After all, it wasn’t Kelvin's fault Bate couldn’t follow instructions. I responded to him and we made small talk... unbeknownst to me, behind the scenes Kelvin was doing matchmaker for his brother. Three days later, another WhatsApp message. But this time from someone named Ayuk. E shock me. I really did not want to reply but I said to myself, "Sista, don't block your blessings." And so I replied to his message. On first impression, he was easy-going, gentle and polite. We discovered we had a lot in common which made it easy to connect to him. He liked to dance, I liked to dance. He liked cracking jokes, and I liked laughing. Before we knew, we were on the phone 24/7. Months later, we met in person and the rest is history. I would have never guessed that playing cards over 12 years ago would lead to me to my husband. I am so grateful to God for His grace and how he has been moving in our relationship. And ladies, remember... don't ignore your WhatsApp messages!