Uncle Olong

God knows better-Uncle Olong

My prayer was this morning: “Lord, let your will be done, today.” Not knowing what the day will bring, I was asking God to protect us and give us New Hope and encouragement to do our work for Him and Him alone.

After asking the Badjaos about the whereabouts of uncle Olong, they said that he was still in hospital. Why so long? He just went there for a simple infection and should have been out already. I was worried. On my way to the hospital, I made a quick stop at MMC and got a telephone call from Toinette, telling me I need to go to the hospital, cause uncle Olong is not doing good. Because I know he only have a simple infection, I was not so worried about it.

My worst nightmare came true when I walk into the ward and see all the Badjaos standing alongside his bed and doctors struggling for his life. “What has happened”, I asked. “He is dying, off course”. Yep. I can see this, but why? He got Hospital Acquired Phenomena, which is really hard to treat!! Sjoe, going to hospital to get better and you die of a disease inside the place that they cannot even treat, where is the world going too? “

There I was, just in time to close his eyes for the last time, not even said a word. No saying goodbye, silence only. This is how we ended our 5-year relationship. He was one of the few we knew that did not just look out for his own clan, but never hesitated to help us help others. If there was a Badjao patient is the hospital that had no bantay (caretaker) he would send someone from his family. He also never begged from me. It was a sad ending but also a happy one. God planted eternity in his heart. It was easier to say goodbye, cause I know he was a child of God. Now he and his old friend, Durasi can have a good talk in heaven. What a place that will be for them. No more days of no food, endless walking to sell pearls and stomachs crumbling of no food. Tonight they can have a feast with God and eat as much as they can without even to worry about tomorrow. Maybe God wanted a couple of good jokers in heaven and so uncle Olong and uncle Victor are at His side now.

Toinette was praying,” God thank you that we could have the privilege of knowing uncle Olong . We are privileged to be called his friend. Tonight he will not be a poor and neglected Badjao but a Prince in heaven, where there is no language barrier, no cultural bridge to cross, just perfect unity and fellowship with Jesus.”

And Jesus said to him, Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in paradise.(Luke 23:43)