March 13, 2017

God Works in Mysterious Ways

In 2010, I was in my late twenties, working an okay job in Atlanta and wondering whether I should move back to Nigeria. You see, I left Nigeria at 15 years old and I didn't know what it was like to experience Nigeria as an adult. Lots of young Nigerians like me had moved back and seemed to be having these great, awesome lives. I really wanted to find out what opportunities there were out there for me, so after praying for a bit, I made the decision to move back right after my sister's wedding and my birthday in 2011.


Part of my reason for moving back was to sign up for and complete the NYSC program. Because it seemed like such a hassle trying to find out easy and pertinent information about the process, I decided to start a blog about the whole experience at The Aje-Butters Guide to NYSC. I had never blogged before, but I thought it would be a good way to share information and give snippets of NYSC to my family and friends outside Nigeria.
Chei, see body goals :(
When that year was up, I had fallen in love with blogging and couldn't see myself without a blog. Hence, this blog was born. Through the Berry Dakara blog, I have met a lot of people I call friends. One such friend is Atilola, who owns the brand, African Naturalistas. I commented on her blog a lot, when she was the only person blogging there. Eventually we grew a rapport and she asked if I wouldn't mind writing for her blog on a regular basis. It's been maybe 4 years now since I've been a contributor on the African Naturalistas website.
See when I used to be HAWT!!!!
Early last year, Atilola told me she was getting married or wanted to get married by the end of 2016. I'm all, "Yeah, sure, whatever, congratulations." Then she tells me I have to help her. ME? HELP? HOW? She said if I couldn't hook her up, I could at least help her be more outgoing and have a fuller social calendar. I kinda begrudgingly agreed and asked one of Cakes' friends if he wouldn't mind meeting a friend of mine. We went on a double date, where they were both late, and long story short... they got married in December!

I've joked about how God used me as a vessel for this awesome work, and demanded they name all their children Berry. But jokes aside though, every now and then, I wonder - what if I hadn't moved back to Nigeria? What if I hadn't decided to blog about NYSC? What if Atilola had never blogged about natural hair? What if I went to a different church in Lagos, instead of the one where I met Cakes? This marriage would most likely never have happened! We think our lives are just being lived on a whim. But in retrospect, different things happen to you because God is working something out - either in your life or in someone else's life.

He works in mysterious ways, innit?

For Atilola's very detailed, but mostly unreal chronicles about the whole saga, click here. Okay, it's not mostly unreal - just the parts where she said I gave up on them, and left her to her own devices.

P.S. They are the second couple to meet through me that got married. 200% success rate (my sister and her hubby are the first)! And it might be 300% if things work out between a certain blog reader and Cakes' friend. *my lips are sealed*

P.P.S Oh yes, and I wrote a tongue-in-cheek article about Successful Matchmaking on Bella Naija. Unfortunately, quite a few people thought I was serious and reached out to me about my fake matchmaking business. I was too embarrassed to respond to any of them *hides face and runs to Jupter*

32 comments:

  1. Dear Berry, thank you for your words of encouragement via this blogpost. Have a fantastic week :)

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    1. You're welcome and thanks Dew! Have a pretty week!

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  2. Hello,Mrs Berry...I have been reading ur blog for a little over a year now(if I am not mistaken)...I just to let you know that I love u to pieces ...You are kind,loving,down to earth,warm and caring...May the Lord continue to bless and increase you and may he give u and ur husband the desires of ur hearts before the end of this year (2017)...

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    1. Awww, you are making me blush this early morning! Thank you so very much. I'm just going to be smiling all day long. Amen to your prayer! God bless!

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  3. Lolz... Kai!!!! Berry o.. If things work out between that certain Blog reader, would you consider starting a Match making firm?





    CONSENT IS SEXY

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    1. Ermmmmmm. LOL! No o. It's not when something goes wrong that they will come and look for Berry plixx.

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  4. Awwww... See how I grinned from ear to ear! God's way are truly phenomenal! Chai!
    I'm so glad things worked out for Atilola. I'll read up her story right away.

    Thank God for a heart like yours too. You're all shades of lovely!

    I'm finally back. :) The LOUD Introvert's Blog

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    1. For real. It's when things fall in place and you look back in retrospect that you realize how God placed things strategically. Awesome God aye?

      Thank youuuuuuuuuu

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  5. Well said Berry. I couldn"t agree more.

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  6. So cool- God is amazing! :) Berry, you still look great and fashionable. That scarf and belt technique caught my eye and I need to try that out myself!

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    1. Lol I didn't even see the outfit o. I was looking at my NYSC body. I used to wear scarves and belts all the time. I miss wearing scarves :(

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  7. Hahahahahahahhahahahahahaha! Eemmm....eeehhh, see... what I am trying to say is that Berry, I want to get married on March 20, 2017. I am giving you a very specific date. Don't dally!!! ;)

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    1. Erm see what had happened was... wait, I'm coming... Just wait.

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  8. Lmao...fake matchmaking. Well, just as you helped people achieve love, your love journey with cakes will never die off. Fantastic evening post.

    www.liveinibadan.blogspot.com

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    1. AMIN JESU!

      And free me and my matchmaking skills o. The evidence is very clear :D

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  9. Awwwww, I've wanted to know the story since I saw her tag you in the post where she found out she was going for BBN Wonderland. Running over to read her post, whoop!
    Oshey, Madam Matchmaker ;)

    Tuke's Quest

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    1. *curtsies* It was such a task, but I knew I could do it. I'd like to thank God first, and next the Academy... :p

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  10. You better realise your calling and run with us. Lol! I just saw a movie about match making yesterday, so there might be something in there. Plus you know how people have been clamoring for BN to start some sort of match making. Maybe it's for you. Lol! (And I'm kind of serious)

    Read all of Atilola's story and loved it! So I already knew you were the match maker!

    www.KacheeTee.com

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    1. BUAHAHAHAHAHA @ calling. Plixx o. My friend actually started something similar but it was only females that showed up, and the guys weren't all that serious...

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  11. I love your post and your story! I really think God works in mysterious ways, I am sure about it!

    Neslihan xx
    www.stayclassi.com

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  12. God surely does. And He orders the steps of the righteous. Reading this post was fun! Have a wonder filled married life!

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    1. Amen to that! Thanks for reading and commenting.

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  13. I was already excited that I have finally found a match marker until I read the last paragraph..lol
    Like Kachetee said this might be your calling.. hehe
    God indeed works in mysterious ways.


    How to Monetise your Blog: 7 ways to turn your blog into your business
    Taking Stock | March

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    1. LOL, don't look for me to make matches o. In fact, it's time for me to run away.

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  14. I really enjoyed this heartwarming post. Indeed, God orchestrates things so that they fall into place beautifully and favour us and ours. :-)

    Lmao @ "fake matchmaking business" People actually mailed you?! I read the Bella Naija post, after I'd read Atilola's post so I understood the tongue-in-cheek tone.

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    1. Thanks Nedoux. Honestly, I felt really bad when I started getting emails and I was thisclose to begging them to delete the post :(

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  15. How the universe works is beautiful in most ways. How lives and activities get twined. I wish they all have beautiful marriages

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