It was a funny yet fulfilling trip. I’ve been thinking a lot of what to do so I can contribute in creating memories with my family. I’m sure I cannot join them knowing I’m still on duty. Well, I’m really grateful to the team for helping me what to do best and just there and then, I packed, ride the waves and took the bus going to the familiar place—that same wind. It was an eerie feeling.

Oftentimes, it’s in those seemingly walks of life that we get to experience the direction we had to take to get there. Time was not my ally. It was against me the whole time. But one thing is for sure, I know what I want. All I thought is that I can join them on the road but I ended up going there by myself. Thanks to that, I got to know and meet beautiful people who helps and makes the travel not so boring at all. I got to know their way of life and stories that despite of the unfair life they had, it’s their family that keeps them moving.

I’ve been encountering the word prayer these past few weeks a whole lot more. And it brings me back to the story I was told during the 1 hour travel to Safari by my own. He was the only less fortunate among his siblings, according to him. He was talking about how his life was so difficult making ends meet. What I learned is that his desire to have a child gave him the reason to keep up with the world. About 9 years ago, they had their prayer answered. And the way he shares and talks about that victorious moment in his life is far different when he talks about his demise. It was like the story of Sarai and Abram, I mentioned and he then agrees, since they are on that age already when they had their child. Funny thing is that all their names are from the bible since their father’s name is Jesus. You see, it was not a one time prayer. But they pray fervently, and I was reminded of how my prayers were answered ever since. And his excitement of sharing gave me an urge to pray for even the little things that I seem to neglect at times. I was rebuked for that, no matter how short, deep, concise, a love letter kind of prayer is that, we have a Creator, whose power is big enough to cater, you just have to ask and receive it in His time. Although time was not really my ally, it challenges me to own it and get hold of it while I still can. I’m hoping that the seeds planted into the hearts of the people I talked comes into fruition one day that even on those ordinary day, it will be extra.

When I arrived, I bought my ticket, gave me the map. I called my sister where they’re at. They were waiting at basecamp. They didn’t start unless I came. They waited for more than an hour. I honestly am frustrated because I was tired and they cannot pass by me just to avoid the traffic. They were just very sure that I’ll get there. No consistent communication at all. It felt like I can’t move forward because the wind is in my face. But, the wind is only in your face if you walk up the mountain alone. The wind is on your hand if you are in Him. Like someone traveling in a car, with their hand out the window enjoying the wind, then instead of me pointing out what we should have made, refreshment makes it all go away. It encouraged me to not look at the ones we missed yesterday, days ago or so on.

People mostly gives us direction on what to do and I’m happy to have those people around. But there are destinations we don’t allow people to direct us, because it’s just like that. We tend to be guided by our feelings and learned the hard way that feelings are unreliable guides.

And while walking through the woods and trail, not knowing what kind of attraction I’m seeing because it excites me not knowing at the same time concerned, but it was in those pauses of not taking a step where we chose to either fill it with worry or prayer; the latter rather gives me an assurance and peace since God has our best interest at heart.

I remember someone and I thought I have to figure it out, but I learned it’s not just me who haven’t figured out what they want in life. One thing’s for sure, we’re not going backward; we’re going forward!

Same wind. Same mountain. Same city. Same people. A different way of traveling.

Let us not be afraid to slow down and wait.