Closure

Two days ago I recieved an extremely moving text message from my best friend's (the late Omie Sola) widow, Gina. She offered to give me Omie's watch because in her words "Omie loved me very much and that she knew that I loved Omie with the same degree as well." I told her to just keep Omie's watch as I have more memories of Omie stored in my heart and in my mind to last me a lifetime. Yesterday morning I travelled to Kabankalan City along with my girls where Omie's body has been laid to rest at the City's Memorial Park. Upon seeing his gravesite I paused and tried to remember the good memories we both had together then I broke down and finally said goodbye. In retrospect I think the most memorable event in my friendship with Omie was the day he was baptized and when I saw his face as soon as he emerged from the water after I dipped him. It was the most joyous face of Omie's that I have seen in our entire friendship. Before I left the gravesite I realized that he is now at a far better place than where I am right now. Only because I obeyed God's call to share the love of Jesus to a friend who was at the time willing to surrender his life to God's will.

Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual hould restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:1-2

Crunch Time

One more day before travelling back to the Philippines and its crunch time. Almost everytime I travel, the pressure of packing things and making sure you have everything covered can be extremely overwhelming. But such is the nature of preparing for a trip, no matter how much I try to travel light I always end up bringing a tonne and a half. This reminds me of how Jesus before His ascencion to heaven while appearing to His disciples made it an imperative that they understood the importance of making sure everything was covered in so far as bringing the good news of the gospel to men and women around the world is concerned. His death alone covered a multitude of sins let alone the everlasting life that He is offering to anyone who opens the doors of their hearts when He comes knocking.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.

Matthew 28:19-20

Countdown Begins

Five more days to go and I will be flying back to the Island in the Philippines where I come from. There is so much for me to look forward to about this trip. A reunion with my father and the rest of my clan, seeing my only surviving aunt (on my father's side) who by the way is already going through her second childhood. She asked me to buy her a stuff doll for a present, then there's the opportunity to visit my best friend Omie's family and his burial place. The "Omie" part will be somewhat hard for me, last year when I first returned from the United States Omie would always make it a point to pick me up from my parents' house and bring me around. This year however I won't be having my best friend picking me up and hanging out with me. I look forward to seeing my church family down there and having sweet fellowship with them. But most of all I am curious as to what God's purpose is for my return this time around. It's exciting, it's bittersweet ... The Countdown Begins.

And Mizpah; for he said, The Lord watch between me and thee while we are absent from each other.

Genesis 31:49