"...anak, ituloy mo ung flight mo. kung will ng Lord na makita mo pa ang lolo mo pagbalik mo, mangyayari un..."
text message ng dad ko last april sa akin habang ang lolo ko naman ay naka confine sa ICU ng isang ospital sa qc. sepsis. medyo kinabahan ako sa diagnosis dahil medyo delikado ang sepsis lalo na sa lolo ko na na-stroke a year ago and medyo may edad na rin (he's 74). May kaunting takot ako nung time na un kaya ayaw ko ring umails.
Couple of days before my flight, God gave me His words, "...so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.." (Is55:9). then i realized, it's not just a matter of me, going to jeddah or not e. it's a matter of faith and trust na kay Lord. that's when i received my dad's message. In that instance, i prayed and I asked God that I still want to see him again when i get back but whatever He wants and needs to do for my lolo, I'm accepting it.
and you know what? just a few days ng pagkabalik ko ng jeddah, good news agad. nagrecover ang lolo ko. he was able to breath without machines attached to him. he was able to raised his hands and even gave a salute to his doctors. I just knew God is working and doing something.
a week after kong bumalik from jeddah, i went to my lolo's house to see him. yeah, he recovered pero after what had happened to him, it really took toll on him: he can't speak properly and no voice is coming out from his mouth, he can't move his legs anymore, he can't move his hands as well. I hold his hand and ask how he is and I just knew that God has kept his promise to me. I asked my lolo to listen as I pray for him. I told my lolo how special he is to God and how we love him. I asked God to work in him, in us, in our family and let His will be done so that He may be glorified whatever it may be. After that prayer, I bid my lolo goodbye
Six days after that, God has answered our family's prayer. My lolo went home to our Creator. my dad and my tito from the US went here to attend to my lolo's funeral. some of my tito wasn't able to go because of work. it was really difficult to accept but what comforted us is that we know that, in during those times of unbearable events sa buhay nya, we know that he was able to see himself, who he really is, in front of God. I just know that, during those times of his "breaking", my proud and stubborn lolo accepted that he needs a saviour and he needs God. You see, though he is the reason why nakakilala ang side ng dad ko kay God, he has always been stubborn accepting the Lord. God did not gave up in reaching my lolo.
He kept His promise. He kept His promise to me and our whole family that He will reach out and work for my lolo's salvation. alam ko, hindi Niya pinabayaan ang lolo ko hanggang sa huling sandali ng kanyang buhay na nde nya maparamdam ang pagmamahal Nya sa kanya. Buti na lng, His thoughts are higher than our thoughts and His ways are way beyond our ways. If there's anyone I would put my trust on, it would be God kahit hanggang sa sandali ng buhay ko, tanging sya lamang ang sasandalan ko.
to my Lolo, thank you, for the lessons you've taught me, for raising a family and giving me the kind of father I have. good job! till we meet again. may you rest in peace. we love you
all my bags are packed and i'm ready to go! yup! you heard (or read) it right! i'm going back to the land of sands and deserts. land of camels and mosques! the middle east! hehehe balik Saudi Arabia po ang inyong likod pero this time, sa jeddah ako magstay. since i left about 7 years ago, nagtransfer na parents ko from riyadh to jeddah. so medyo exciting and at the same time nakakakaba. hindi kasi ako faimliar dito e. hindi na rin ako familiar sa mga tao. at hindi na ako bata so basically magiging iba na rin pakikitungo sa akin ng mga tao. kinakabahan ako! hahaha parang first time! =)
ten hours and 30 minutes ang travel time. about 30 minutes longer compare to riyadh. i'll be spending the rest of my vacation dito. hopefully makapagpahinga ako and makapagrelax. as usual, asa sa magulang hehhe bahala na. importante lang din magkakasama kami lahat at kumpleto. i don't think i'll be able to go back to saudi arabia after this trip so kailangang i-enjoy ko na to and make the most out of it. 
