Have you ever met individuals in your dream who are unknown to you but are known to others when you related the dream? When a friend fell and broke her leg, I decided to stay at her house until she was able to manage on her own. She allowed me to sleep in the adjoining  room across the hall from her bedroom. That night I had a weird dream in which I met people unknown to me. We were comfortable with each other but something was odd. I remembered their names when I woke up and asked my friend who they were and what they wanted from me.

"Oh, they won't do you anything," my friend assured me. "They are happy that you came to stay with me."

Although I was aware of their presence in the room, they never manifested themselves again in my dream. After my friend recovered and was able to live independently again, I returned to my home.

Another group of persons I met lived in the era of my great-grandmother. Mommy, my great-grandmother, wore dresses to her ankle and always had an apron with pockets. In my dream, I saw three women who were dressed like her. They were in the backyard in a circle. I stood in the back door. The area where these three women stood gushed a liquid. At first it was black and gooey; and it flowed. Afterwards, it began to clear and spouted like a fountain. My first response was that it was oil; but I dismissed the idea. The women disappeared and left a clear fountain. Then I awoke feeling like a millionaire.

What has been your wildest experience in a dream? My knowledge of German and French  is minute. It is limited to vocabulary I have seen and which are common in English. But in my dreams, I have spoken both German and French fluently. When I awoke I tried to write some of what I had said phonetically; but German and French remain foreign.

However, this is not true of Spanish. In one dream, I was a lady who wore a mantilla and spoke fluent Spanish. In fact, I wrote poetry in Spanish in my dream! Although I was taught Spanish in high school and studied the language in college, writing poetry never entered my mind. I wrote eleven poems in Spanish; and on waking, I recalled and wrote them as quickly as possible. I have shared these poems with native Spanish speakers who like their musical quality.

In another dream, I met a midget - barely three to four feet. He spoke fluent Spanish and engaged me in conversation.  I spoke Spanish fluently too. Although I have seen movies with midgets and met a few of them in real life, this midget seemed alien to the planet. However,he lived in a house, which I did not enter ; but I recalled its location. On rising, I shared the dream with relatives. My father was keenly interested in it. He revealed that the people who lived in the house at that location long ago did speak Spanish. Considering that he was a knowledgeable historian, my father provided me with relevant historical information. Such moments with my Dad I will savour forever.

Dreams can be literal or symbolic. Sometimes, they have a hint of both. In some water dreams I have been an observer; and in others, I got my foot wet.This dream mysterfies me still.

The occasion was a conference, seminar or convocation. Professionals were gathered; and I saw many of my colleagues. But, as is normal with such occasions, breaks are essential. Everybody does not need to take a break at the same time. Since more females attend these meetings, the lines at break time are longer. When I took my break I started down a dry hallway. Then the floor was wet as if someone had splashed water accidentally. Further down the hall, the water was higher and required caution. Did a toilet overflow? As it turned out, when I saw a turtle swimming in the hallway in midcalf deep but clear water, I knew it was time to turn around! I woke up.

The water in that dream was like a puddle to what I saw in the next ones. At first, the water was rushing over boulders, carrying branches and people with it The scene reminded me of the Thompson River in the Colorado Rockies as there are no rivers in my country. Then the scene changed abruptly.

I saw people swimming with the sergeant major fish. The depth of the water was at least seven feet. Although the scene changed, I saw more water. During Hurricane Noel,,water was everywhere. Two men abandoned a truck and had to swim to safety. One man drowned in nine feet of water. On Long Island, Bahamas a news team had to turn around because the water was too high. Crossing Boggy Pond in Church Grove,Crooked Island,Bahamas prove disastrous for me. The engine of the  car cut off and my brother, the driver, advised us to get out.. I had to abandon my camera, which got wet, and step into water above my knee. I am about six feet one inch. Together we pushed the car to a dry area then waited for the engine to start again. When we headed home, it felt like we were riding ocean waves.The engine sputtered several times but we made it through the water.

The water lasted for several weeks; and residents cooperated with each other. Noel provided a memorable experience.

According to traditions in the culture where I live,dreamers are to exercise caution in two areas. Do not answer when you hear your name in a dream. Why? It may be a sperrit! Now sperrits are spirits; but their intent is to cause you to wander and get lost in the bush. Countless stories are told of people who heard their name in a dream or during waking hours and followed the voice. They became lost and even Police dogs and helicopters could not find them. Days later, some of them found their way home and told a bizarre story. They heard the searchers, helicopters and dogs; but they could not be heard. Unfortunately, some people have not been found yet. In the dream world, it is difficult to distinguish the caller, especially if the voice sounds familiar.

Twice, during Easter Week 2009, I heard my name call while I was sleeping. The first time, the voice sounded like a former male student who used to live in my neighbourhood. But, I did not answer because I knew that he would never call me by my first name.The second time I heard my name in a dream, it sounded like a female; but I did not answer.Wisdom advised caution. But, there have been variations on the name calling.

During one occasion, I was seated in a crowd and I heard my name called for an unknown reason. When I responded by going to the dais, a short, petite, blond gave me a cheque for twelve hundred dollars! There have been other calls to receive cheques while in an audience but the dream ended before I could see the amount. Several years ago, someone who enjoyed the newsletters I published sent a cheque for eight hundred dollars! I used the funds to assist with the purchase of my first computer.

The most remarkable variation on the gifting theme puzzles me still. Beings in long white robes, with what looked like shoe boxes in their hand, formed a queue that twisted and turned, ending in a pinpoint. Each of the beings presented me a box filled with money! What did these beings look like who brought money gifts? Their face was blotted out as is done on a Police television show when the identity of the person has to be hidden. What is the purpose of the money? Ministry. Presently I am involved in an AfterSchool Program at the Public Library in my locale which needs funding. But my heart throb - a real and bigger dream - is to establish Camp Ebenezer with a Prayer Garden. I know I am in the right locale; and I am eager to get started. However, I believe like George Mueller did in Psalm 81:10, the text found on a calendar for the day and year I was born.

After reading the story of George Mueller, I know that Psalm 81:10 has been embedded in my destiny. By choice I believe it. In the fullness of time, God will activate and manifest what he has shown me. I hear Him calling me to write and be faithful to Him.

Some dreams linger in the memory for its own reason. One dream offers wisdom to all. Although Grandma, my paternal grandmother and I enjoyed a good relationship and I was the one who discovered her corpse, I never dreamt about her until one night. She was sitting in a chair in the living room. Was that really Grandma? I went over to discover the truth for myself; but she was encased in what seemed like a hard plastic bubble.

"Where's your Daddy?" she asked.

"He is not at home," I replied.

"When he comes home, tell him to get the papers straight," she said sternly.

A man who looked like my Dad filled the doorway and Grandma disappeared. The dream ended.

The next morning I shared the dream with my Dad. He smiled knowingly. I asked him who the man was who looked like him and why Grandma disappeared when that man appeared. Dad and I had a long talk that day.

That dream was not only accurate but critical. The admonition is for all people everywhere. Get it straight - your life, your will, all the papers that are incomplete - before you cross over to eternity. Do it before it is too late!