Something More

A New Disciple

Monday morning

Imee Therese's POV:

"And you know, Father! Though she is sick yesterday and lied in a bed, I still saw her outside the church and she even offered me an advice about dealing with herself! Imee has make another miracle!"

I heard Anthony happily telling Father Jean about what happened yesterday.

"Hmm...is this bilocation?" Father Jean explains his side. "She can appear in two places at the same time."

"Hmm! Anthony! I let you slide with the Eucharistic miracle because more people have been going to church than before!" I pouted and scolded my assistant. "But about what happened yesterday, please don't tell everyone else about it, okay?"

"Ehehehe...of course, Imee." Anthony assures me. "I protected you last time so I need to keep your secret as payback, just like I promised to you."

I take a deep sigh of relief...as Anthony and Father Jean will keeping their word to hide my secrets...the two miracles God has given through me that have slowly and surely changing the city. I hope that else will able to hear...and selfishly tell to others. Oooh...please don't call me a witch...I'm just doing what God is telling me to do!

"Umm...excuse me?"

"Eeek!" I was startled...because a unfamiliar voice was heard on my room. It's not Anthony's...nor Father Jean's...nor the nuns who take cares of me! Who is it?! If that person hears my secret...I'm screwed!!!

"Oh! Hello, milady." I heard Anthony greeted the newbie. "Are you the new helper that Father Jean is talking about?"

"Yes, mister. I've been oriented by the nuns about what I am supposed to do." The lady replies to him. "By the way, where is Madam Imee right now."

"Well, she's here in the bed. Let me introduce her to you." Then Anthony turns to her. "Imee, this is Catherine. She would help me of taking care of you."

"Oh...I see. Nice to meet you! Hehehe!" I smiled and introduce myself to her. "My name is Imee Therese Villaflor, I'm a cathecist in this church. I hope that you will help me and Anthony in our duties. Nice to meet you!"

"Thank you for accepting me, Madam Imee. I am Catherine Jimenez. Bu-but...there's something I want to tell you, madam..."

"Oh, sure! What is it? But before that...please don't call me madam? I don't like being called as senior or something."

"Yes, I understand." Catherine then lowers her voice. "It's just...I am one of the people who insulted you yesterday. I begging you to accept my deep apologies for what I've done to you. I'm so sorry, Imee."

"I have forgiven you for a long time, sister." I smiled to cheer her up. "I know that your anger and insults towards me are just an outburst of emotions that you have kept inside your heart because of your encounters with God. Tell me then, what could have the reason why you forsaken God?"

"Umm...that's because...He didn't let us prosper in life." Catherine explains. "I was born and raised in an impoverished family...my parents and me have been trying our best to prosper in life...my parents work in a decent job while I study hard and make part-time job at the same time so I could graduate...I even prayed to God that to lift us up from poverty...but...our work doesn't pay off. Despite of their hard work, my parents was laid off from their jobs because of retrenchment...and worse...a strong storm have destroyed our home. We have suffered long enough of being thirsty for a week, hungry for a week...I have hoped that God lift us up...but He didn't kept His word. From that day on, I started to hate God...I despised God..."

"Can I ask you...have you really work enough for God to hear your prayer?" I simply asked Catherine after her story.

"Hu-huh?! Wha-what are you talking about?!?!" Catherine starts to broke down. "I me-mean...sniff...I bring out the best that we can...sniff...I did my all...sniff...but...sniff...but...why...sniff...why does it seem to be not enough!"

"Catherine...don't overwork yourself. You're working so much that you forgot to pray to God." I explained. "God is your guidance to everyday undertakings of your life...and without Him, your ambitions won't be happen. Based from the tone of your voice...you don't focus so much in praying to God more often. You should remember that God has a plan for you...you just need to pray to Him and allow Him to enter into your heart. I know that you seems confused by what I am saying right now but...all of the things that happened in your life is because of God. This happens because God wants you to stop and listen to Him...perhaps that's the reason why you are chosen to be part of my cathecism class last Sunday...the reason why my assistant Anthony knock some senses on you after you insulted me...the reason why you are here..."

"Yes, Imee's right." Anthony added. "Look, could you tell me why you had a decent clothing right now? If you have impoverished, you might have wore something worse."

"Yes, Anthony. My father has just got a job yesterday."

"See...God guided your father. Nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa. Work according to the best of your ability...and God will reward you, don't broke off from God if everything seems to lost...don't lose hope...don't you know that God is sad if you lose hope? He has emotions...He cares for you...and He wants to make you happy. Trust in Him...believe in Him...pray to Him...and you will be enlightened."

"I see...I knew that you will gonna help me in my problem." Catherine seems to be happy now with my advice. "Thats the reason why I wanted to repay you with my service to you. I want to learn more about you. As a matter of fact, I'm so amazed by the way you interpret the Gospel...and the way you smile at me right now...despite of your disability."

"I smile because I love God and everybody of you...despite of my fate." I explained myself. "Thank you for trusting me. It would be very grateful to show you how God will change your life."

"Yeah. Good choice, Catherine." Anthony compliments. "Don't you know that she's already doing wonders that has already changing my life?"

"Anthony!!! I told you not to tell everybody, remember?"

"Ehehehe! Hey, Imee. Your face is blushing right now." Catherine giggles at me. "May I ask...are you two are couples right now?"

"Wha-whaaat?!?! Of co-course not!"