Silver Linings Amidst Series of Unexpected Quarantine Events
Amazing! The first half of the year is almost over, and I have never had to live by faith, as much as I have had this year. We all have our own journey and I am doing my best with mine. Someone once said that to have faith is much about living with hope, knowing in your heart that the best is yet to come and that things always work out. We go through our lives practicing this and we never really know when this is put to the test.
My husband Toby and I left Manila on March 15 for Los Angeles where we planned to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary with family there. Toby and I love the adventures of traveling together. We usually have a 50/50 travel plan where half of it is what we are certain of and the other half, we just go with the flow. Well, nothing could have ever prepared us for the latter half that we were going to experience on this anniversary trip - the world started to change practically overnight.
With Father David at St Therese Parish.
The first part of the trip was relatively easy even if we were already hearing growing numbers of Covid19 cases on the news. We were grateful that the beautiful St Therese Parish still accommodated us to renew our vows on March 20, and by March 21, we were already off to Arizona to spend three weeks with cousins there. At least that was the plan, but as soon as we left California, the “Rona” numbers, as they call it, started rising rapidly and my family advised us that it is best to stay in Arizona.
St. Therese Parish in Alhambra, California (Parish photos by Mai Geronimo)
Reunited with cousins in Arizona
That was three months ago. Our April flight for Manila got cancelled and it is now July. Father’s Day and my dearest mom’s birthday were over. If I choose to be emotional and negative about this situation, I would be moping around sad and depressed. But that’s the thing - there is always a choice; an exercise of your free will where you can choose to subscribe to worry or have faith that things will work out.
I decided to make the most out of the situation. First, I quickly realized that this “forced vacation” was what I had been praying for especially since I just recently got out of 21 years in corporate. Vacation time was limited and not always easy to take, plus, we did not have a proper honeymoon because we happened to get married during our team’s peak period. I am not complaining but simply saying that if in the past I chose my career, now, I choose my calling.
Second, I decided to do what I can which meant that even as I pushed my online coaching services, I also was presented many opportunities to help those I met on this trip. I have made wonderful connections with many who have thanked me for being here to coach them. I doubt we would have met if we did not get “stranded” as we were. This made me realize there is really a reason for everything, and we shine where we find ourselves in. Every one of us has a place in this world, we just have to find the confidence to live it and give glory to God who blesses us through life.
On the way to the White Mountains with cousin, Samantha
Finally, the biggest challenge was the loss of my hand-carry luggage in LAX. It had my laptop, two iPhones, jewellery case, a prized leather bag and sentimental items, most notably, a replica tilma of Our Lady of Guadalupe that came from the apparition site in Mexico and that my mom gave me. I contacted everyone I could but to no avail.
Excuse the drama but imagine feeling like the world was really caving in especially at the point of realizing my valuables were all gone. My dear mother taught me that when all is lost, excuse the pun, one kneels and prays the hardest. So, that was what Toby and I did. I even posted a Facebook message asking for prayers!
Unfortunately, everyone connected to LAX and the Lost & Found section, whom I spoke with contacted me to say that they regrettably had no news about my missing items. I had all but given up hope when this voice inside would always say, “Keep the faith.” And so, despite the doubt of ever finding it again, I just said, “Mama Mary, please come back to me.” and prayed the novenas to St. Anthony, St. Rita (the patron saint of the place where we stayed in Vail, Arizona) and of course to my guardian angel.
Two and a half months passed and in mid-June, St Anthony’s feast day, I received a message from a fellow Filipino who worked for PAL in LAX - “Ms Kai, we are still closed this week but please call our office next week to make arrangements for your bag which was surrendered to us.” I almost fell off the bed when I read those words! I contacted everyone who was praying with us. It was the miracle I hoped for. When I finally got the bag back, everything was intact. I realized that this was a hand carry luggage that had no lock. Simply said, we celebrated!
Enjoying the sunset at Gates Pass in Arizona
So yes, these are just the tip of this three-month trip (and counting) but it has been another adventure reconnecting with beloved family who have generously opened their homes to us and to new friends who have made an impact in our lives. This trip is not how we imagined it but surely how God had intended. There are many lessons now that I see and appreciate even more in my every day and as Toby and I still wait for a flight going back home, we enjoy where we are and remain open to all God has in store for us, wherever in the world it may be. One thing is for sure, we are trying our best to live for heaven, the ultimate adventure and destination for us.
