Endure trials with patience. That is something I like to think I do pretty well most of the time. Some have asked me if I ever get angry. Little do they know. When the right button is pushed, yes, I can be mad. It is frustrating at times because I think that after I have cooled off, that I could have done better if I would have just suffered a little longer or turned the other cheek. And then I read about our Lord being led like a lamb to the slaughter. Not one single word to confirm His innocence or to retaliate. That's when I know I should have done better.

      A few weeks ago, I had to rush off to the mainland to renew our visas five days earlier than planned. I had to go in on a Friday instead of the usual Tuesdays because of the Fiesta of St. Augustine shutting down the office for two days. If I didn't renew now, I would have to pay a huge fine. So, I left the house on Thursday and rushed off for the port. Then came the trials.

I decided to take Samuel (6 yrs) since we were not able to fully celebrate his birthday earlier in the month. We got to the port thinking we could make the 2pm ferry. We made it at least 15 minutes earlier except that the schedule had changed for all afternoon trips to now leave at 5pm! “Ok, ok. Three hours is not that big of a deal. I got my little buddy here. We'll find something to do,” I thought to myself. We waited and waited, watched some fish dart in and out from under the pier, walked around awhile, and waited some more. We finally boarded the ferry and headed to the mainland with very few passengers on board still. Thank God a few big cargo trucks came on at the last minute or else we may not have left until the next day.

      We got to “the other side of the pond” and were very hungry. We had only munched on some small snacks and hadn't had anything to eat since breakfast. We also had a two hour bus trip left to reach the city so we bought our dinner and ate. We waited another 40 minutes and Samuel was starting to feel tired. I prayed that he wouldn't fall asleep so that I wouldn't have to try to carry him onto the bus. He fought off the sleep and we got a front row seat. Yes, I said seat...singular. “Two hours is not that bad. Maybe the guy next to me will get down sooner than the city anyways (he didn't),” I thought. There wasn't much room for both of us to get too comfortable for too long. Still, I was glad that I hadn't brought Abram (8 yrs) also. Finally, we arrived at 9pm.

      We hopped on a motorela but had to stop at an internet cafe to email the mission base a request to have enough funds transferred to our account to cover the cost of the visas. When we finished that, we finally made it to the Convent at the Cathedral. After a long day I still wasn't ready for bed...neither was Samuel. I wanted to complete all eight forms for renewal to save time at the office the next day. I only got a few lines done on the first form when the pen ran out of ink. Grr. Oh, well. This will have to wait til the morning. Prayers, then bedtime.

We woke up early, ate breakfast, and borrowed a pen to finish up. We stopped by the ATM and withdrew some money. Everything was going great. We got to the office a little earlier than planned and passed a room before the visa office where we usually get copies of our passports. It was closed and I had forgotten to get copies. “No big deal. I'll just go find another place.” It gets HOT in the Philippines early in the morning. So, we found a place and sweated getting there and back. Everything all set up and still we were the first in line. This will take no time.

      We turned everything in and waited to pay. When it was my turn to pay, I handed over the money and got back more than I expected in two ways. One was that it was a lot cheaper than we figured and the next was a bombardment of rudeness, anger, and frustration. “Whoa! What's up with this guy?” I thought. He was raising his voice in this small office that had quickly filled up. After a little break, I finally understood what he was trying to tell me. He was mad because I had not completed the process for this thing called an I-Card. It didn't take too much longer for me to lose my cool this time, and I began to reply with the same anger. “Why as a paying customer was I being treated this way?” I thought to myself. It seemed like everyone in the room disappeared and it was just me and him. Back and forth this went on for a few minutes. As a Christian, I knew I failed. Then, a very patient soft-spoken lady offered to explain the situation.

      Back in April, I was told we “needed” the I-Card. To my understanding, this card is for foreigners that want to open a bank account or for other official business. That was part of the reason for the high cost that month. Anyway, I was not told then that I needed to do anything else to get this card except pay for it-which I did. By the end of June, however, I returned to renew our visas again, and was told the I-card was not available because I didn't turn in the family's pictures or have copies of the receipts with it. “Ok. I will have to do that next time because my family is back at the island.” Since I rushed off this last time I totally forgot about bringing those things. I think what made me angry this time is that another item was “missing”-- I also didn't have a copy of the application. So, even if I had brought my items, the process would have been incomplete. When I calmly asked to make a list of everything that I needed to bring for sure next time, the man refused and started his rant. I knew that a new trial was beginning. I knew I should have stayed calm and not retaliated. I knew that I should have waited just a few more seconds and turned the other cheek. But I failed. Though the whole thing lasted just a few minutes, it seemed like an eternity. Also, while I was firing back I heard a little voice that sounded like Ms. Genie's saying, “Our enemies are not flesh and blood.” That's when I knew that I lost the battle against the evil one. I gave in and gave a bad example to the faith and to our Lord.

      Forgetting all about the blessing of how much we had saved on the visas, Samuel and I headed for lunch. We had been at the office waiting for 3 hours. He picked McDonald's as his treat for being patient. We took our tray over to our table and set it down. I don't know how it happened but the table was kicked or bumped from underneath by either Samuel or me and the drinks went everywhere! All over my shirt. All I could do was smile and laugh to myself. “The devil HATES missions!” Ms. Genie said again in my head. It was true. No matter how small the mission is, even if it is just to enjoy a nice meal with one of your lil ones, the devil will do whatever it takes to break it up. Not this time!

      Immediately, I started to replay everything that had happened since we left. I quickly forgave the man at the office and prayed for whatever was bothering him that day. I also asked for forgiveness from our Lord for failing to be a light for Him. Why didn't I just do that there at the office right away?

      When I got back to the island, I told Stacie what had happened. I told her that I felt like I was being called to go back the following week and turn in everything for the I-card as well as formally apologizing to the entire office staff. I did. Just before entering the office I said a quick prayer to have everything go smoothly (and that I wouldn't get arrested - -j/k). I turned in all the required paperwork and noticed the man talking to someone. There was a temptation to say, “Oh, well. He is busy. I'll just go on my way.” I shrugged that off and sat down a few more minutes until the opportunity opened up. I felt a peace all around me as I got up and walked over to him. I asked for forgiveness and apologized to him for raising my voice that day. He seemed like a totally different person as we shook hands and he accepted my apology. I also stopped on my way out to apologize to the soft-spoken lady as others watched on. I told them all that it wouldn't happen again.

I left the building feeling like a ten ton boulder was lifted off of my shoulders; the same as when I leave the Confessional. Our enemies are not flesh and blood. 

 

"For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:12

 

 

"Be sober and watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experience of suffering is required of your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, and strengthen you. To him be the dominion for ever and ever. Amen."--1 Peter 5:8-11