Lot of things to cope up with, new people to deal with, new relationship to establish, another place to make yourself known, a lot of expectations to meet – things that keep rushing to my mind as I feel the plane heading towards the ground, to the final destination of my journey. I roamed my eyes outside the plane's window and told myself, "So this is the what-so-called 'Dubai'. Not bad.
"When the plane's wheel stopped moving, predictably we are about to abandon our seats, so I gathered my hand carries and stretched my joints. "Ouch!" I cried in pain for it was a 9-hour travel from Philippines, that made my whole body feel numbly painful. Holding my things, I stepped forward and walked towards the door.
As I entered the first door of the Dubai airport, I silently observed the behaviors of the people that I first encounter. "People here aren't that friendly", I secretly informed myself. "They should smile and greet us rather than kicking my cart to show which direction I should go. Is this the kind of people here? Sick ones?"
Heading towards the baggage area, my eyes widened in surprise. I saw Bro. Mel Magdaraog, Bro. Resty Reyes and few of the Church members patiently waiting for their baggage. "So it's true! One plane really brought us here together! I can't believe it!" My heart pounded merrily as I walked to where they are standing.
"Hi, Bro. Mel!" I greeted happily as I approach them. They all seem serious, surely because they are all tired. I'm also tired, but when I saw them, adrenaline rushed into my veins that gave me extra strength to grin at that moment. "Bro. Eli's medicines are inside my bag. I'd like to give it to you now so he could take it as soon as possible", I uttered to Bro. Mel as if sounding like a concerned doctor for Bro. Eli.
When I get my baggage, I immediately opened it to get Bro. Eli's medicines. Really it's an unexplainable feeling to be a carrier of that essential thing that would make my beloved preacher feel well. But when I looked at my back to fulfill my craving curiousness of the people around me, bang! There is Bro. Eli, standing with a serious face, looking at the surrounding as well. I want to jump, but I can't. Do they arrest extremely excited people here?
Gathering tons of courage to approach him, I breathed deeply and walked to where he is standing. "Bro. Eli, Bro. Christian wanted me to give you your medicines", I softly informed him, stretching my trembling hand to give him his medicines. As I was expecting, he lowered his eyes to me that almost melted me like an ice under the heat of the sun. Those deep eyes of the minister of God, the instrument of God unto my salvation, right there staring back at me. It almost knocked me off but I have to be open-minded; he's tired and I don't want to cause him annoyance while talking to me.
"How did it happen that we rode in the same plane?" He asked me in great astonishment. "Oh no… I am not on the enemy's side; I'm an ally of the truth. Please don't suspect me of giving you a poison instead of medicine", I pray in secret as I try to open the built-in dictionary in my brain and searched for words to answer him back.
"I left Philippines at 11:00 am and reached Hong Kong at 1:30 pm, Ingkong (Kapampangan for grandpa). We had a stop-over there and perhaps we were incidentally booked on the same flight so we happened to ride on the same plane," I replied almost not looking directly in his eyes for I feel my whole body trembling.
After that simple answer, I want to talk more while he's beside me but I can't find the word to say. "Damn fool, silly, Lissa! Why don't you start a conversation? He's right there standing beside you and you can't even look at him!" my mind shouted at me with my teeth biting my lips. I want to start a conversation so badly, but I feel so numb.
I hate to leave but I have to. When it's time for me to go, I waved at him with a merry smile, showing that I felt so happy for that short talk with him. Still he's not smiling. He's really tired. So sad…
As I walk to the final door heading outside the airport, grins of merry brethren slowly unraveled to my view. They are so happy, well I know not because of me but because of Bro. Eli's arrival, but still I'm happy to see them happy. This is the first time that I saw most of them but I felt warmth of satisfaction in my heart and I felt so at ease. "So they are my brethren here", I told myself as I drew closer to the waiting area.
Not long enough, Bro. Eli came into the view and as I was expecting, brethren were so excited that they can't help but to scream. Our excitement captured all the attentions of the people around us, with their stares obviously asking, "Who is this famous person arriving?" We didn't dare to care. All we know is we are happy!
That was the short story of my arrival here in UAE. Time flew rapidly that I almost didn't notice I am now staying here for half a year. Wow! Many things happened after this event but I can't tell them all now. So many adjustments, ups and downs, laughs and frowns had taken place, but God Almighty held me carefully in His strong hands to survive them all until this day. It's tough yet satisfying. But I miss my old friends. I miss the overcrowded thanksgivings. I miss the green grasses, the tall trees, the rain, and most of all - my Ingkong.
June 18, 2006
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