Loving a Believer

Chapter 36: His Will Be Done (The Last Chapter)

S T O R M

Pastor Philip whom I'd first met at the camp before invited me to their beach outing with the pastors of their churches from different branches because he wanted me to introduce to them. Philip was still studying at a Bible school with my guidance, especially my financial support. He seemed very proud of me that was why he wanted me to meet his co-pastors in their church.

We went to a huge house near the beach resort that had rooms available for us. The owner of that was a friend of their Bishop. When we went to the dining room, there were a lot of wines on a huge cupboard on the side. We could drink all we desired. Some pastors with us got some wines and drank those, but I didn't taste any of those.

"Pastor Storm, ayaw mo bang tumikim?" Pastor Willy asked me. I shook my head. "Sige lang, pastor. Tikman mo lang naman," one told me. Some of them urged me but I kept refusing.

"Sorry, I don't drink wines nor any alcoholic drinks anymore," I told them.

"'Yang si Pastor Storm, dating beterano 'yan ng alak," Philip told them.

I just smiled while some just tittered.

"Totoo ba 'yon, pastor?" one asked me.

I let out a chuckle and nodded my head. "Palagi po kasi akong laman ng bar noon dahil tumutugtog at kumakanta ako roon."

"Kaya pala..."

"Hayaan ninyo si Pastor Storm. Respetuhin ninyo ang paniniwala niya..." sabi ng isa.

Afterwards, I and the other pastors stayed in a one room, we would sleep all together here while some pastors who weren't with us were in the other rooms. There were single beds here.

"Bakit ayaw mong uminom kanina, pastor? Wala namang masama sa kaunting pag-inom ng alak minsan." Pastor Willy asked me while I was sitting on my bed and leaning against the backrest of the bed, taking a rest. I looked at him whose bed was just next to mine.

"Matagal ko na pong iniwan ang pag-inom ng alak, simula noong baguhin ako ng Diyos," I replied.

"Sinasabi mo ba na mas matuwid ka sa amin dahil hindi ka umiinom ng alak?" he sounded a little bit sarcastic, which made my brows furrowed slightly.

Nang ibaling ko ang tingin ko sa iba pang pastor na kasama namin, nakita kong nakatingin silang lahat sa amin.

"Hindi po ganoon ang ibig kong sabihin, pastor," I defended politely but I later looked at him seriously. "Ang ibig ko pong sabihin ay hindi ako aso para kainin muli ang sinuka ko at hindi ako baboy para bumalik muli sa putikan na pinaglubluban ko," I explained.

He fell silent.

I don't wanna go back to where God has already rescued me, I thought.

Kalaunan, lumapit ang isa sa akin, si Pastor Jo. "Pastor, pwede bang ipag-pray mo ako? Hindi ko kasi talaga maiwanan ang alak kaya ang ginagawa ko, bago ako matulog, umiinom ako ng kahit isang baso lang ng wine."

"Ako rin, pastor. Pagpray mo ako." Lumapit din ang isa sa akin. "Sa mga okasyon, minsan napapainom din ako dahil gusto ko lang naman makisama sa kanila..."

"Sige po, pastor, ipapanalangin po natin 'yan," tugon ko.

Napatingin ako kay Pastor Willy. Malambot na ang ekspresyon ng mukha nito. Kalaunan, sinabi niya sa akin, "Isama mo na rin ako sa panalangin..."

I just nodded my head. Then, I prayed for them.

***

It was evening when Fara called me. Kinukumusta niya ako; kinumusta ko rin siya. Naiwan siya sa mansion. Hindi ko na siya sinama dahil kabuwanan na niya. Anytime she would give birth. Binilin ko na lang siya sa mga tao sa mansion.