God's Plan

 11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

To some of you who don't know me yet, you can go back on my first introduction post and you will see and know more about me. And for those who already know me and my background here's the continuation of my story.

Today is the day back in April 2, 1999 when I literally got lost in Montalban Laguna. It was a memorable one for me because it was my cousin's birthday as well. It was the day when God's plan was fulfilled. For 14 years I had been away from my birth place in Guiuan Eastern Samar and to my family as well but God planned it all along when was the right time for me to go back and see my family again and it was then during my 4th year college December 27, 2013, a month after the Yolanda's devastation. For some people it was a very painful experience for them but for me it was a very blessed experience. We had a mission trip done by our school to help out and share God's love to the people especially to the kids. Gave out school supplies, slippers, medicines and more. We went to different places in Leyte and Samar. One of the goals for this mission trip is to find my long lost family. 

December 26, 2013 we started travelling from Iloilo to Cebu then Cebu to Ormoc until we reach to different places in Leyte and Samar. December 27, we travelled going to Guiuan which is my birth place. It was December 27 at night when I almost lost my hope to see my family the following day. We prayed for what might happen the following day because knowing the place were all new to me due to Yolanda's devastation and for 14 years there's a lot of changes for sure. But we entrusted everything to God that night. December 28, 2013 when I had the privilege to see my family again. It was an amazing, mix emotions experienced and more on my part because I cannot remember the place anymore. Reminiscing the place until I saw the old bank beside the old church, where a memory were left by my older sister there when she grabbed my foot and I fell. :) My heart was beating so much, can't explain the feeling inside of me, can't talk straight because of the excitement with mix emotions and negative things came up, a lot of "if'" what if they are not there, what if they move, what if they won't recognize me. 

My 2 classmates came with me and checked the place, and I saw my school where I used to go during my 1st grade. Guess what??!! A lot of houses lining up in front of our school. Everything changed and I said, Lord, there's only few minutes left before we left the place and go to different place. We asked people and suddenly an old woman recognized me but I don't recognize her at all. :) She said, I recognized you, your looking for your father, he's at the back. Heart's beating so fast and I don't know what to say. I saw my 4 siblings from my father's side. Right in front of me was my father and I can totally recognized him though we didn't spend much more when I was young. He asked me, are you my daughter? He cannot even recognized me at all until I mentioned the names of my brother, sister and grandma. Lord, thank you, I saw my father again!

And there's a bonus one, I saw my older sister and nephews even just a couple of minutes. My brother and sisters.

Last May 2014, I went back to Tacloban and met my grandma again after 14 years that we never seen each other again. I owed my life to my grandma because she took care of me when my mom left us when I was still 2months old.

Last April 2014, I got a privilege to go back to the place where I got lost and see my cousin. And April 2015 was the month and year where I started my life in Cambodia. A lot of questions to God before but later realized that everything happened for my own good, for God's purpose and plan. A plan not to harm me but to give me a future. Sometimes we thought our plans are better but we tend to forget that God's plan is always the best. Thank you Lord!                                                                                                                                                                                                        

                          Thank you for the time to read my post! To God be the glory!                               

                                                                         @gracealone