Catharsis
August 16, 2007<column title>
Miracle Exhange
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Catharsis
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Armon Perez Tolentino
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As the soft gentle winds that roamed around the boughs were to rustle the resting leaves, inside the rough, cement-finished house was the glow of flickering candle. Though not enough, behind that almond-shaped light was the clearly kind face of a mother with eyes agleam after a prayer. Before she hid her tears, her eldest had already seen them. As if the scene didn't happen, she proceeded to her youngest—a daughter she considered a miracle gift from God. She covered her till the chest with a blanket. She smiled. On she went to her workplace. This 4:00 a.m. routine, known to all four of her children, built the inspiration for a familial epic with much courage and ceaseless sacrifice.
In another distant part of the globe, the highways were wide but with very few cars running on. Camels were apparently fearless as they crossed roads by impulse like some sultanate royals. From these lanes, a father arrived at his apartment at 10:00 p.m. Panting like a horse among other Filipinos, he shared his hi's and hello's and headed on to his room. This man might have not knelt in prayer for years but the sighs of his heart's desires were known to God. It was time again to listen to voice cassette tapes. Old ones that never faded. These voices that tickled his ears and heightened his aspirations; especially the one that sounded like an angel—the miracle voice for him—the voice of his "only girl." Oh, it was time again to look at pictures that archived how his children grew. Kissed these pictures. Hugged them. Dreamed with them. After two hours of drowning himself in the sea of "his life-giving curios," the laundry must be started. Twelve midnight was the time when practically life for himself alone would begin.
They were a husband and a wife whose challenge was to build a home, despite the ebb and flow of enormous waters between them. With this plot, the reel of their lives rolled while reading the script that can be described as a miraculous life.
"Tay. . ." A deeply emotional silence followed that syllable of endearment while her hand shook as she held the cellular phone. "Nay, how are. . . you?" Having a hint that a big challenge was at hand, the excitement slowly turned to worry and the loudness of his lungs to a waning voice. He added, "There seems to be a problem. What is it?"
"Aiza. . .," she hesitatingly replied.
"Aiza? What about Aiza? I miss our little baby so badly."
"We rushed her to the hospital." Again, these agonizing halts in her speech. Shivering in confusion rather than pain, hardly could she utter her next words, ". . . at. . . at Sa. . . Saint Patrick’s Hoossss. . . pi-ta-l. I. . . I. . . don't know what to do." Then these sobs that only those who saw could imagine.
"Calm down, Nay. God will help…" This man who last remembered God in time lost in memory had just mumbled 'God.' "What illness? Tell the doctors to do everything! Mo-money is not a problem. Well, I don't really have. . . but. . . there are many sure ways of. . ." He was trying to be composed but it was proven hard.
"Two at a time!" Words were painfully told as tears flowed in their own volition. "DENGUE and TYPHOID! I pity the young body of our six year old! I could get sick right now so she could be well! May God hear this! If you could only see how many needles are forced into her skin right now…." Goodbyes might have not been uttered well when. . .
"Inay, inay," a peevish but apparently hopeful voice looked for a mother. Everyone in that room, man or woman, wanted to rush to her and be the mother she was looking for. Tears and much emotions must be kept and controlled for bravery was indispensable.
Swallowing the sizeable lumps in her throat, Modesta forced her tongue to speak with strength. She breathed. "Yes, anak. Aiza, I love you, anak. What do you need? Is there anything you want?"
With eyes pointing to nowhere, "Inay, can't you see the white clouds before us? It's so nice to see them. I want to play. . ."
Modesta looked at her sister-in-law, Teodora. Teodora just told her by mere lip movement, "Be strong!" She then shifted her eyes to her daughter and said, "Aiza, get well. Fight! Fight for energy and then when you have it, you can play. And. . . and be happy with Kuya Mon, Kuya JR, Kuya Chie, inay, and tatay!"
"Really? But no, inay! He said I should say no. I want to play with him."
"Who is he?"
"He is there in the clouds. Can't you see him?”
Modesta looked at her sister-in-law again,
"Ate Teodora. . . ."
The child continued, "He is inviting me to go with him. He said it is a beautiful and peaceful place. I will not feel pain like now. Will I go with him, Inay?"
Being the mother, Modesta didn't know how to react. She held the arms of her Ate Teodora and kept her cry from getting noticed. "No, don't go with him. Don't give up. You can play with him someday but not now. Now, you just need to get well as soon as possible because many people are waiting for you back home. They will all be happy! Fight for life, ineng. Fight for life." Compelled by the situation, Teodora spoke.
After a little more than a day. . .
"Ate Teodora, Ate Teodora! Come quickly!"
"Why?" "Look at Aiza! Hurry!"
"I'm coming! I'm coming! Calm down!"
"Ate, her. . . her hands are blue-violet and her nails, almost black!" Stuck at this part only, she continued, "I suddenly woke up and saw. . ."
"Oh my God! Her eyes. . . her face. . . . Nurse, nurse, please call Dr. Comia!"
"Yes, ma'am!”
"Mrs. Tolentino, we have to transfer Modessa to St. Luke’s Hospital." "Doctor, will she be fine? Is there any chance? Please. . . "
"We will do everything possible. But we cannot maintain her here. St. Luke’s is the best option. We need your decision." And so many fears wracked her sanity and she couldn't think well now. Modesta was no more than just a breathing piece staring at nothingness.
"Mrs. Tolentino?"
"Yes, Doctor. We will take her. . ." Teodora answered. This, despite her knowledge of a very slim chance to life for Aiza. The speed of the ambulance was the speed of the twisting events in the lives of the people involved. Phones rang in lands apart almost without break and end. Prayers seemed to last forever as uttered without any single count missed. With one thought, "Please save you miracle gift to us," and many promises. Doors of dreams shut and opened. Weak ones in faith strengthened. Sleeping ones awakened. Until more than a million angels' voices were heard saying, "Your daughter is safe. Unbelievably a second life for her. She can go home after all the cleansing is done." It must have been God's hands. It must have been a miracle that saved another miracle!
Arturo and Modesta. Saudi Arabia and Philippines. Two souls physically adrift due to the lands where they were, so much so that a living might be assured. Bound by the promise that God wouldn't take back a gift for the mere reason of forgetfulness. The more than a million angels must be singing again after nine years, now that Modessa Perez Tolentino—the miracle gift, the only daughter, the last child—marched this March 30, 2007 with success to get her high school diploma. Perhaps these parents might have asked themselves, "What is a miracle?" and undoubtedly delivered, "A miracle is Modessa! Dear, dear Aiza who is an instrument on how God grants purging of emotions as He frees us from the intensity of our distresses and makes us completely alleviated!" "Congratulations, ineng! Let's go home, celebrate and give thanks!"
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Miracle stories in short story format.
The History of Monicca Bible Center: Bread Turned to Bread of Life
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P.A.L.S. to Christ
(People Active in Leading Souls)
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Written in Filipino by Elrey Nocido
Translated by Armon Perez Tolentino
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The History of Monicca Bible Center
Bread Turned to Bread of Life
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In January 2005, Monicca Nocido graduated from two schools where she studied making bread, cakes, and pastries. Because of this, the couple Ilrey and Herminia Nocido decided to build a bakery in front of their junk shop on Imelda Avenue in Cainta, Rizal. Perhaps, this was because they would be happy and excited to see what their youngest could do. Moreover, they must have wanted to be with their youngest in a little more time as she is the only unmarried among the four children.
Hence, in a short time, the former storage of steel was replaced by a structure typical of a bakeshop along the road. From here, the fulfillment of a wonderful plan became clearer. They started to put equipment in the store. However, as the day when it was supposed to be opened came nearer, the attention of all was directed to another thing.
One day, one of the brothers of Herminia, Juanito Cleofas, a literature evangelist and elder at Jala-Jala Adventist Church, noticed the new structure in front of the junkshop and learned that it would become a bakeshop. Some weeks passed and he went back with his wife and Pastor and Mrs. Anillo whose purpose was to talk about how the word of God could be proclaimed through the Voice of Prophecy (VOP) to more or less 40 employees of Ilrey and Herminia.
The abovementioned employees were residing inside the compound with their families so that the sharing of the VOP went on smoothly. The manuals were distributed. The subsequent visits of Pastor Anillo and the Cleofas couple to each of the houses opted for the decision of gathering them in one place to give them the chance to share their opinions, personal understandings, or questions about the VOP manuals that they were reading.
At this point, a place was needed where they could congregate and clarify the questions they had about their readings. Thus, the idea of borrowing the place intended for the bakeshop came in the picture.
Many unexpected things started to happen upon the beginning of the sessions. First, it was not expected that the response of the employees to the work started would be warm. Second, the number of attendees was beyond anticipation. Third, they came ready with their answers for questions and ready to ask their well-prepared questions to Pastor Anillo and the others in the panel. Some of them would even watch Dating Daan first so that they would be able to have questions and ideas for the following sessions. It was probably because they wanted to measure the ability of the panel or maybe to make sure that the panel could give them clearer answers. This completely tested the tolerance and fortitude of most of the session leaders.
During those times when the Nocido family was observing what happened to the sessions and Bible study, they were led before God little by little. Each night of the sessions became warm, until one suggested to hold Sabbath School and Divine Worship. Many were happy that day. Apart from the knowledge of many, the Nocido family started to attend church again after a long time. This signaled that Monicca Junkshop would never be opened on a Sabbath.
The meetings were going on, more and more people were being used by God for the good work started. Bro. Eslee Quizon, a layman from Tarlac, visited with his family. He saw the spiritual need of the established church. And so he immediately invited people to help in the new church like Bro. Romulo Gimeno, Bro. Joe Tablada, Bro. Rocky Santos, Sis. Rose Galang, Bro. Nestor Rone, and Bro. Leslie Gagatam from the Radio Ministry.
The people from the Radio Ministry Group experienced things like Pastor Anillo and his group did. However, just like the former, they showed real patience, strength, vigor and love for the work of the Lord, which was the exact experience of each one in the meetings. And just as expected by a faithful farmer, the time of reaping arrived for our Lord God.
On March 6, 2005, eight souls surrendered their lives and faith to God and these included Mrs. Herminia Nocido and Monicca Nocido who both got baptized. The ceremony was held at Jala-Jala through Pastor Anillo. And from that day, the newly baptized started to bring to the meetings their families and those who weren’t baptized during the first meetings.
There was change . . .
The chairs were not enough for the attendees. The place was not enough to accommodate the people who were attending. And so, for the first time, the walls were broken to widen the place for the meeting. Midweek, Vesper and Sabbath services became regular meetings. During these times, somebody suggested to put a sign indicating the schedule of worship services outside the junkshop. And that was followed by the coming of Adventists from far and near who saw the posted sign and heard the news about the Bible Center.
Because of this, some who were visiting or attending the services at Monicca Bible Center consecrated themselves in the work of serving and guiding the newly baptized members. Some of them were Sis. Ana Naag, Bro. Manny Sunga, Bro. Joseph Cleofas, Mr. and Mrs. Antonio and Emer Hernandez, and Marlin dela Fuente together with the Radio Ministry, other regular visitors from different churches in the Rizal District and people from Angono and Novaliches.
The succeeding meetings became livelier when Pastor Adolfo Valenzuela, brother-in-law of Ilrey Nocido, led in the Revival Meeting. And the walls of the building had to be tear down for the second time. Each night became happy and sentimental, still with the help of the Radio Ministry. And when the meeting on November 19, 2005 concluded, 17 souls were led to the foot of our Saving Lord. And at this time, my wife who was a devout Catholic was among those who accepted Christ as their personal Savior.
In continuing the started mission and after more or less three weeks, ten souls composed of the wives and children of those who were formerly baptized also accepted baptism on December 10, 2005.
To date, the Monicca Bible Center has expanded four times and its attendees continue to grow. And people from near and far places continue to express their desire to help and guide the Center so that through it more and more people would be led to our Lord.
God is indeed very kind. From the original plan of establishing a store of bread for physical nourishment, He used the place for the sharing of the Bread of Life.
We at Monicca Bible Center are happy that you graced our fellowship meeting to commemorate the anniversary of our church.
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Feature about a certain group active in ministry.
