PART ONE
While returning from the University of Uyo (UNIUYO) Main Campus, I boarded an almost empty bus. However, more students boarded the bus as we waited for it to fill up.
Earlier that day, I had been using my phone to transcribe a sermon by Pastor Ita Udoh, so I decided to continue while waiting, even though my phone’s battery was at 10%.
I brought out my AirPods to connect, unaware that two ladies sitting at the back were also trying to connect their AirPods, which happened to be the same brand and type as mine. Upon connection, I heard the usual “Connected” prompt twice, which I initially dismissed as a glitch.
Shortly after, I realised the two ladies were laughing and complaining about hearing a sermon through their AirPods instead of their intended audio. Embarrassed and unsure of what to do, I considered disconnecting. But then, I remembered something a brother had said during our God’s Army Mobilizing Fellowship (GAM-F) recently— about the importance of using every opportunity to divert people from secular content.
Instead of stopping the playback, I let the sermon continue, pretending I was unaware of their complaints.
PART TWO
Every time they tried to disconnect or reconnect, their AirPods reconnected to my phone. They fiddled with their settings, which sometimes caused my phone’s AI to activate, but I discreetly pressed play again to keep the message going. Seated two rows ahead of them, I remained unnoticed.
Eventually, they gave up, and the bus started moving toward UNIUYO Town Campus. At that moment, the sermon took a direct and confrontational tone, and Pastor Ita started addressing the issue of Christians attending churches that promote false teachings instead of embracing the truth.
When the sermon ended, I was tempted to disconnect, but my attention was drawn to the Nahum 1:7-9 Memory Verse, which is only two minutes long. I decided to play it, and put it on repeat. After a while, I heard one of the ladies echoing the verse, and I smiled, I think.
By this time, my phone had only 1% battery left and should have shut down, but it miraculously kept playing until we arrived at Town Campus, where I got off the bus. A few seconds after I stepped down, my phone finally switched off. Thankfully, I wasn’t the only one who alighted; otherwise, they might have realised I was the one responsible for the interference.
PART THREE
Reflecting on the experience, I struggled to consider it a testimony since I did nothing extraordinary, just being in the right place at the right time, doing something normal. Yet, God still used the moment to reach out.
This incident reinforced the truth that God works through any effort we put in, whether intentional or not.
Upon researching later, I discovered that Apple devices save AirPods to iCloud during the first connection. So, whenever an iPhone within range is Bluetooth enabled and is in the process of pairing AirPods of the same brand and type, the devices synchronize, causing unintended connections.
This means that my AirPods and the ladies’ AirPods were automatically syncing due to a technical feature and timing, rather than by chance alone.
Notwithstanding, it was a beautiful experience. The ladies were able to listen to the Word of God and learn a memory verse through this unusual experience, which was truly amazing. Everything aligned so perfectly.
