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God was on Her Side! 10/12/2007 9:06:28 AM
This is a true story about a mother and daughter who dreamed the impossible, faced insurmountable hurdles, and challenged the world … with God on their side.
The year was 1985. Benita Mureka was a lithesome beauty from Zaire, Africa … a country overwrought with poverty, and ruled by a vicious dictator. She had overcome incredible odds to represent her country in the Miss Monde pageant that was held in London, England. Now she stood on the world’s biggest stage in Miami, Florida, in the Miss Universe Pageant.
Her present journey began one month ago … when she and her mother arrived in the US. They thought all expenses were paid. And discovered, to their horror … only the airfare was covered. Consequently, they had to fend for themselves. Her mother was an industrious lady with limited resources. She paid for one night (with her depleted funds) in a skid row hotel. However, the pageant would take thirty days before the final winners were selected.
They went to the Miami Convention Center and were in awe at the opulence surrounding them … and beautiful contestants representing seventy-nine countries. Many of the ladies had attendants for cosmetics, hair styling, clothing, manicures, and pedicures. They had only each other.
After the first day, they returned to their room with no hope or money to continue. Her mother prayed for a miracle as Benita lay crying on her bed. She called their embassy for support only to be given a bureaucratic shuffle. She then placed a collect call to a friend in Africa who told her to contact Miko, a businessman from Zaire (who was in America at the time). Once she pleaded her case, he was incensed with her predicament and offered assistance.
He arrived the next day. Those who knew his reputation, called him an entrepreneur. Benita’s mother called him “an angel from God”. On top of all their other trials and tribulations, they did not have a flag for representation in the pageant. They contacted their embassy only to be told no flag was available. Miko rushed to find a small flag in a local shop.
This is the last day of the pageant. Benita is terrified, frightened, and overwhelmed. More than 600 million people will be watching the televised event from over forty-five countries. She said to her mother: “How can I compete with so many obstacles? Look at the extravagant gowns and large entourages … we have nobody on our side!”
The pageant required contestants to be intelligent, well-mannered, and cultured. Benita had inherited these qualities from her mother … who also had an abiding faith. She called upon it with all her conviction … to confront their daunting task. She said: “Child, look at me, look into my eyes … look at me! You can do this, you don’t need anything else to compete, you have me … I have you … and we have God on our side!
An immediate transformation occurred … Benita majestically walked onto center stage with poise, courage, and confidence. Against overwhelming odds, she finished second runner up. Years later when asked how she found the inspiration and fortitude to compete; she said, without hesitation; “I had my mother … and God on my side!”
