Masaya pero malungkot din (Happy and yet sad)

After a brief moment of silence (blogging I mean), I have returned. I am now in Bandar Seri Begawan waiting for my flight which is at 10pm. I have been in the airport for almost 12 hours. Slept all the time at a day room rental located at the ground floor. The past 24 hours have been hectic, starting from Sunday morning Sunday school to this seemingly endless waiting, with the Islamic prayers as my background for I think it's their prayer time now at 8pm.

Yesterday was tiring but very fulfilling. We carried a lot of packages of mixed rice, sugar, oil and clothes for both men, women and children. These are sold in a charity sale to benefit both Sunday school kids and the orang miskin who bought the goods at a very low price. Many were pessimistic at first that the project will fail but like any works done in the name of God, the Holy Spirit proved to be the best marketing agent, the sale was full of people.

I had to leave at 5 to prepare myself for the mass at 6:30 and also to continue packing which I started Saturday. The mass was attended by many familiar faces, some of them where BBM me during the day inviting me to have a despedida dinner, but I was resolved not to take any for I had to pack a lot of things. Honestly, I wanted to go out with them but I can not go out will all of them so to avoid jealousy I tried to restrict myself. However, at the site of people whom I have been with for almost 3 monthsalmost made me cry on the spot. I was particulalrly struck with the Sunday school teachers who work in the morning and attend mass in the evening. The special kid I always meet after the mass who always gave such a soothing flying kiss. The families who literally opened their houses to us, treating us as one of them. Luckily I had the strength to hold my tears although some were already out.

Just before being at peace with my bagage, some friends invited me for a late nightice cream, es puter singapura, which I could not resist specially now that I am famished after all that packing. We had smoothies instead at Bali Cafe in Oasis. After some picture taking, we were ready to go home.

I did not immediately sleep because people kept on BB me, and just when I was already enjoying my sleep, Romo Andrei woke me up at 4am otherwise I will be left by the plane. We fetched Ci Jo, Ko Luki and family because Ko Luki was going to singapore for his eye operation. After praying for our safe trip and for the successful recovery of Ko Luki, Ci jo started crying, tears I never expected. I asked her while we were walking to the airport why she cried, and I too started to pray that it was nothing serious. These two couple where the ones who fetched me from the airport three months ago and now we are together again as I am about to leave. Ci Jo went with me when checked in my baggage and paid for my excess, she invited me to join them in the lounge to eat breakfast which by the way was my first time. I said I was malu because of all these but Ci Jo only said that I should not be because I am with Kuya pointing at Ko Luki and Ate pointing at herself. It was my first time to hear her speak in tagalog and they were words that touched the heart. Truly I found a family in Surabaya, they are all the poeple who have touched my life and in a way I have likewise touched. I hope to come back for them and for the mission entrusted to the Church. A mission and ministry to take care of family members no matter what and to remind each one that Jesus is the great brother and friend who binds us all together.