Week in a Lifetime Chance

Chapter 30

"Goodevening, church! Are you ready to worship the Lord tonight?" bati ni Louie nang umakyat na siya sa stage kasama ang buong music team. Pagkasabi naman nun ay sumagot ang audience ng "YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" na may kasamang palakpak at ako rin ay tumalon nang bahagya.

This is something beyond my control but above anything else I know that God will make a way. Isa pa, I went to church not for Adam anyway. Yep, wala pa rin siya. Hindi na ata siya makakarating. 

Gumaan ang pakiramdam ko pagkatapos naming kumanta at sumayaw. Pagkatapos ng music umakyat si Pastor Rai (pronounced as RAY) for a short exhortation and prayer.

"2000 years ago, the Word became flesh to be the salvation and hope of the world. We even welcomed Him and shouted praises to Him and called Him the HOSANNA in the highest."

"It is written in Matthew 21:9- (binasa niya yung verse na nagflash dun sa LED) The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, 'Hosanna to the Son of David!' 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!' 'Hosanna in the highest!' ..."

"HOSANNA means to save or simply 'savior'. And indeed, He is the Savior who gave Himself for the redemption of our sins."

"The crowd who worshiped Jesus at that time was the same crowd who crucified Him. You know what's so good with this Savior? He still gave Himself knowing that we may not love Him back."

"And another thing, don't you realize? The Gospel is the only story that the Hero died to save the villains—His very own enemies."

"I don't know about you but encountering this hard-pressed, unconditional and amazing love of God for us, He truly deserves all our praises. He is the HOSANNA in the highest. Right?"

C'mon, church. You can do better than that!!! Give your all for the One who deserves it the most!!! Yes, Lord!!! Our Savior, our Redeemer, our Rock, our Shelter and our EVERYTHING. Thank You so much, God. That we are here, in You there's no more condemnation. We can freely sing and dance for Your glory. Continue to reign in our hearts and we need Your grace as we submit our hearts to Your Lordship. In Christ's name we pray, AMEN. (Audience: AMEN!!!)"

"So goodevening everyone! (Audience: GOODEVENING) Welcome to the 6PM English service, our last but not the least service for today. By the way I'm Rai Calderon, one of the Pastors here in Fort Bonifacio and if it's your first time to join us here, I personally welcome you and I pray that you would find a family here as you start your journey with Jesus."

"Now before you sit down, smile and tell the person beside you, 'You look good tonight!'"

Hindi ako nagdalawang isip na batiin kaagad ang mga kasama ko at nakakatuwa dahil bukod sa I'm really good looking, char lang!, binati rin naman nila ako pabalik. Paupo na sana ako nang may bumati pa ulit sa likod ko,

"You look good tonight..." napatulala naman ako ng makitang si Adam ang kaharap ko. Buti na lang nagsalita si Mommy.

"Anak, pasensya na ha, ngayon ko lang din siya nakita eh." napatango na lang ako at pinaupo na si Adam dun sa seat na nakareserve para sakanya.

"Sorry, if I'm a bit late." sabi ulit ni Adam. Totoo ba talaga 'to? Andito siya? Nakarating talaga siya? Pero hindi ko naman siya pwdeng hawakan ulit sa magkabilang pisngi niya para mapatunayang siya talaga 'to. 

"Hehe. It's okay."

"So this is your church, it doesn't look like one." naku buti na lang talaga at may nagpe-play na video sa for tithes and offering right now, naku talaga. So anong ibig nyang sabihin?

"No, I mean it's a nice place. I'm expecting for a temple or rather those tall and ancient building I see in television and even at home. Somewhere quiet and you can do mediation or yoga, something like that and with many statues." Yes, tinaan ko siya ng kilay kaya todo explain siya sakin. Akala ko naman kung ano yung sasabihin niya, yun lang pala. Hahaha.

"Ah, I get it. It's okay and thank you for the compliment!" 

"Hahaha you're welcome and thank you too. What's this for, by the way?" pagkuha niya nung offering envelope namin na naupuan niya na.

"You'll know it from her." pag turo ko dun sa sumunod na umakyat sa stage to share about tithes and offering. I think her name is Ianne.

Pagkatapos nun ay umakyat na ulit ang music team to sing an offering song habang pinagpapasa-pasahan ang offering bag. Habang naglalagay na ako ng pera at isinusulat ang mga details na hinihingi sa envelope at sinasagot ko rin as much as I can yung mga tanong ni Adam.

"I don't have peso bill anymore. Is Won okay?" so eto talaga yung nagpaangat ng ulo ko. I'm busy writing habang nakikipag-usap siya sakin.

"Uhhmm.. hahah... I think so, all the riches of heaven and earth, whatever currency it might be belongs to God anyway. What matters is your heart." dahil dun at nangitian ko siya ulit. Good job kasi siya!!!

"What is 'prayer request'? And 'answered prayer'?" 

"The church always lead a prayer meeting once a week and they will pray for the things we ask them here in the envelope — whether financial, school or career breakthroughs, anything you need to ask to God. You can write it there. The 'answered prayer' on the other hand is more like an update to what you have ask them to pray for or anything you're asking to God and He gave it after a long wait. Something like that." isang maliit na 'ooh' ang naging tugon dun ni Adam at kahit medyo matagal bago niya na-process sa utak niya at tingin ko nakapagsulat naman siya dun.

We listened earnestly to the Word. Tumawa kami ng tumawa pero at the same time marami kaming natutunan sa powerful message ni Pastor Jude for tonight. Mas lalong nagulat si Adam kasi as usual, hindi ganung set-up ang ine-expect niya. Pambihira, ano bang nakain neto sa eroplano at kung anu-ano ang nabuo sa utak niya? Hahaha.

"Is this really the last thing you want us to do together?" bulong naman sakin ni Adam.

"None other than." simpleng sagot ko. Okay na okay sakin yung mga adventures na pwede pa naming magawa together but this one's different. Hindi lang 'to parte ng to-do list ko sa buong linggo, kasama dito ang puso't kaluluwa ko. This is something very sacred for me and I want to share it to people, including this celebrity in front of me.

Matiwasay kaming nakalabas ng simbahan at masaya naman ako dahil nakahabol si Adam. Hindi man niya naumpisahan, ang mahalaga naman dun ay nakarating pa rin siya. Atsaka, just like what we have promised, walang gulong naganap kahit sigurado ako na maraming nakakilala sakanya.

"If you would ask me, this isn't just the last one thing I want us to do together." akala ko tapos na yung usapan namin kanina sa loob. Alam ko this is it na eh, actually nawala na sa isip ko na tapos na. Nagawa na yung dapat magawa this day.

"Then what else do you want to do? We end here now, right?"

"Ouch, you don't want to be with me anymore?" pagpout sakin ng lalaking 'to. Pwede ba! Ang cute niya!

"I thought..."

"I want to take you out for a dinner, one...last...time..."