CHAZ AND OMIE

Pastor Chaz Yandall (tall American-Samoan guy on the extreme right holding a bass guitar and the mic) is not just my Pastor in the Philippines but one of my closest friends possibly the first American Best Friend I have ever had. Chaz spent the whole night last Saturday watching over my best friend Omie's frail condition inside the I.C.U. where Omie is confined. I asked Chaz a few hours earlier if he could tell Omie whenever he had a chance how much I loved him (Omie) coz' I never did have the opportunity to say it to him before he succumbed into a state of unconciousness. I had planned to call Omie during the weekend but I was overtaken by these sudden twists of events. Chaz sent me a text message last Saturday evening (Saturday morning in the United States) informing me that he was doing an all nighter for Omie and that he had a chance to tell Omie that I loved him very much and that we were all praying for his recovery. Omie at the time was semi awake and after hearing these words from Chaz he squeezed Chaz's hand and nodded his head not only that ... Omie smiled! My very dear childhood friend and brother in Christ is not out of the woods yet and the prognosis is not good at all. But through all of these otherwise difficult situations Chaz has done a pretty good job at taking care of Omie in my absence. He is truly not just my Pastor but my friend and my brother in the Lord whom I can count on at this time of adversity.

Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave. Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom to many.

Matthew 20:26-28