Chapter 6 (Lets Get Ready) 

For the next couple of weeks, Teri is totally involved with the group, prayer, and reading the bible.  Daily Teri is reading her bible and praying to God and going to church to meet with Sister Kelly and the various groups.  She knows that she needs to be prepared. With her new found energy Teri is able to work and get things accomplished in record time at work, allowing her to leave on time and go to her meetings with her mind on God and not lingering on work.  Her attitude is positive because she is better.  Even her stamina is able to withstand all the various scattered meetings at work.  Before, Teri did not think she would have time to accomplish everything but now time is on her side.

Two months prior to ‘The Coming’ everyone is sitting waiting for Sister Kelly to come in.  Last week Sister Kelly commented that people will start coming in this week so everyone needed to get prepared.  Although everyone knew and understood, when Sister Burney came in with Sister Kelly wearing her traditional Eastern clothing everyone still looked shocked.  Not only is she not a native, but she did not really speak any English.  So no one understood how the two of them met or is able to communicate.  But as they watched the two ladies seemed to have an understanding. 

Sister Kelly told the group that Sister Burney’s daughter will be coming in the next few weeks to help interpret.  It is amazing how both Sister Kelly and Sister Burney spoke in their own language and the other is able to perceive what is being said. Even though Sister Kelly has spoken about this special type of communications, it is still astonishing and shocking to actually see it happening.  LaQueia nudges Teri as they silently share their amazement. 

Sister Kelly who is sitting in the front of the room next to Sister Burney finally gets up and begins.

“Okay group, we have 59 days left until ‘The Coming’ is upon us.  I would like to stress the importance of everyone getting even closer to God to make sure that whatever skill sets he has predestined for you is perfected.  Therefore, I would like us to use this time to commune with God and each other. 

This lovely lady up front as some of you already know is Sister Burney.  Looking at her beautiful attire it is obvious that she is not from here.  Nonetheless, she has traveled for three days just to get here.  She will be here for close to three months and her daughter will be here for 1 month.  Sister Burney is a doctor but retired a few years back.  Now she is using all of her time to get closer to God.  Actually she can share her own personal testimony.  I am trying not to tell too much so that Sister Burney can share it all in her own words, when the time allows.  As always if there are any questions please come up and we can talk.”  Sister Kelly looks around the room to see if anyone has any pressing questions, concerns or problems.  Everyone seems ready to pray, so she turns around and sits back down next to Sister Burney.

Sister Kelly is so happy that Sister Burney has been able to make it.  They first met at an airport several years ago.  It was a routine one hour layover that turned into a full day affair.  Although they were going to different destinations, it was only God that had them both arrive at the same time at the same spot.  They acknowledged each other by nodding their heads and smiling as they sat down next to each other to wait for their connecting flights.  However, it wasn’t until they both pulled out their bible to pass the time that the dialog between them flourished. 

When Sister Burney’s daughter saw them speaking, she rolled her eyes and quickly came over to interpret between them.  Sister Burney’s daughter has been doing this all of her life, therefore, she jumped right in without being asked.  As soon as she realized that the conversation was regarding God, she immediately tuned them out.  She didn’t proclaim being an atheist, but she lived like one.  Not wanting to have anything to do with anything spiritual or as she called it “out there.”  She was studying to be a brain surgeon therefore she was more into what she called ‘science rather than science fiction,’ she was known to respectfully say to her mother. 

It wasn’t until she noticed that Sister Kelly was answering her mother before she had a chance to fully complete her interpretations that she stopped and asked if Sister Kelly spoke their language.  Sister Kelly did not miss a beat in her conversation with her mother as she turned to look at her and say no.  Then she put her full attention back to her mother.  More engaged with their conversation, Sister Burney’s daughter automatically continued to interpret for her mother but not always for Sister Kelly.  Watching their interactions intrigued her even though she thought Sister Kelly was lying.  The two ladies spent the rest of the day talking. 

They exchanged information and began writing each other.  The daughter would write the letters in English and interpret Sister Kelly’s responses.  Sister Kelly feels very close to Sister Burney.  She is one of a handful of people that Sister Kelly will actually bounce ideas off of. 

LaQueia tries to read and concentrate, but she can not help but to watch Sister Kelly and Sister Burney.  It intrigues her to see how Sister Kelly responds to Sister Burney.  They seem like sisters sitting up there.  They are both so happy.  Teri nudges LaQueia trying to get her back on track.  LaQueia quietly laughs and stands up, asking Ginny and Teri if they want to go outside for some fresh air.  Both agreed to go, knowing that this is really a way for them to basically ditch class and mess around a bit.