My latest apostolate... (we consider receiving guests as our apostolate as there is no other form of outside apostolates the monks are involved with, but receiving guests like receiving Christ with our whole hearts and souls)... are two separate groups of Pinoys from Baltimore and California.
Mary ann and Cecil are sisters from Baltimore but with Filipino roots and origin in Catanduanes, Bikol -Yes, they are my 'Kababayans'. I met them two years ago as transient guests and from then on, we became friends. They came over on the day I Professed my Solemn Vows in August 15th of year 2006.
The latter is also a Pinay who was hailed from Cebu and Naga City (another Kababayan of mine!); an elderly, amiable and sweet Violeta. She came to know the monastery thru her married son Eric who works in United Airlines for 12 years now and is currently assigned at the luggage reception in Albuquerque International airport here in New Mexico.
The story of how I met Eric is like this: when I left the monastery last January of this year for my Philippine homevisit, i got myself reserved in United Airlines by my travel agent(my first time ever to take United airlines). And so, timely enough when i came over the counter to get my boarding pass, Eric was the one who assisted me as the one who's usually assigned to the boarding pass section was off that day. The rest of the hours while I was waiting for my flight to Los Angeles were spent with him talking and exchanging pleasantries and whereabouts.
And before I left the reception area, i told him to visit the monastery sometime when he is off from his work and also to invite his mom (who's so religious, according to him) to come to the monastery. That was it. Since then, we never heard from each other anymore.
We lost contact as I lost the paper he handed me where his email address was written. But then last Sunday, during the cookies time with guests (shortly after the Sunday Conventual Mass), i was introduced to an elderly lady named Violeta as the mom of Eric my friend from United Airlines Albuquerque...
and so,the rest of my freetime from the days in which 'tita' Violeta was here were spent with her... and with the two sisters(Maryann and Cecil) as well.
Cecil on my left and maryann on my right during the Sunday Cookies time with guests.
The sisters, with Dom Gerard (Indian) during cookies time with guests.during the work period: working at the newly built hermitage with the sisters and a cousin named Marlyn.
'Tita' Violeta during the silent Sunday Light meal:
3 comments:
the pics are really nice. the 2 sisters are identical, and they are preety ha. ganun talaga bro pag mabait. you will meet many friends along the way. :) its actually a testimony of your kindness that's why you are not that difficult to befriend. :) more pics to post...
PS. I would reply to your mail as soon as the fiesta here is over (pyesta ngayon dito sa amin at dami ako bisita! :) I just went for a quick surf while having a rest...
hehe typo errors: its pretty not preety. :)
thnks army boy, si cecil pala ay bikolanang nurse at si maryann naman ay doktor- wow...saan ba ang inyo? miss ko ang mga ganyang pista pista dyan sa ati- kasi sa dami ng barkada ko sa isang lugar pagnag pipista ay kaliwa at kanan ang bisita ko at saka sympre ang jamming sa inuman sa gabi at umaabot hatinggabi ay kaliwat kanan din .....miss that bro.
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