Aventure with Greeny!

When Divine & I were newly married, we prayed for a car. Many of our friends in the ministry advised us to have one for convenience & mobility, especially with the nature of our ministry & the pollution in this Metro Manila. Whenever we're in the malls, we would see and inquire on car promos with payment schemes. We kept praying then.

Dana soon arrived. As an expectant father, I would want to give the best for my wife and the child on her womb. I would see myself driving and bringing them to the clinic for immunization, follow up check ups, going out of this urbanized city and take a deep breath in the green lash nature of nearby provinces. I would see myself bringing my family in some occasions that Divine and I are attending like family retreats, church and campus ministry functions. 

Then came a very moment. A couple fellow missionaries were leaving for good to US, asking us to buy their car. Thank God for the wisdom in saving up resources that's an answer also to our prayer. With a friendly payment scheme of 50% down payment and the remaining 50% payable in 10 months, we were able to own a second-hand car. I call him Greeny. But the irony of it all, I didn't know how to drive yet. So I enrolled in a driving school and finished the actual driving lesson in 5 days for a total of 10 hours. But I sensed that I'm still not confident in my driving. I needed to gain more confidence as I got to know more about the road culture - how the drivers respond to one another, how to give way and "have-a-feel" with them on the road. 

Anyway, after a month of perseverance and rist-taking, I finally was able to drive alone in the main roads. My first long distance driving was going to Pangasinan for a team retreat. That was a thrilling experience, learning how to maneuver along the curves, ups and downs of the high-ways. It wasn't easy. I forced myself to take the risk because of the need for my family and the people God called me to serve in the ministry. I remember those times when I was going to campus or any appointment, I would check first if the parking space in our apartment was not crowded with cars and if there were nobody parking close to the gate. I was hesitant to bother our neighbor, so I would decide to just commute, leaving my car behind. As I kept driving, I learned to love it and I keep learning even when emergencies arise. 

It has been 6 years already. Driving has been helping me spend time with God alone in my car, listening to a christian radio station 702 DZAS. Driving has been convenient for me to go to any appointments that would really save my time than commuting three times or more before I reach my place. It has been helping me and my loved ones go to places where we could relax and enjoy God's creation. As Greeny gets older, repairs come his way which means another budget to consider. For five years, its maintenance, should I say, was minimal. But just last year, there were series of repairs I had with Greeny that challenges me to tighten my belt. There came even a point wherein I thought of selling him and considering to buy a new one, but the budget doesn't permit. And as I weigh the situation, I resolved with God that I love this car and should He provide for the maintenance, I would love him to still serve my family and friends as long as he can. 

The latest adventure I had with Greeny was just last week. I was driving all the way to our office when I felt like he is heavy to drive and even when I put more pressure on the gas, he still moves slowly. The break is quite becoming hard too. So I stopped near the stop light, in a u-turn slot going UP from Ateneo. When I started the engine, it did not work. So I thought, "here we go again, Lord, please help me." I kept starting the engine, still nothing happened. I remained inside the car and just pressed the hazard sign. Ashamed, I just remained inside my car, so far I was calm, thinking and praying what to do. I called the towing but they were still in Makati and it will take an hour for them to help me and Greeny so I called my mechanic and he immediately responded to go to our location. I remember praying, "Lord, didn't I pray for your protection today? For my car to be okay? I did! Why are you allowing this to happen?" That was me in the middle of a stressful situation, having all those cars around me, changing lanes because of the scene that I created. After about 30 minutes of restarting the engine, it worked! Haha! I was happy to drive it until I reached the office. I called my mechanic to just see me at the office. 

In this journey with Greeny, I am so thankful to God. Indeed, He has been protecting me, my family and all those who ride with us. There were a lot of "what ifs" that entered my mind, but I see the hand of God in those situations. For 6 years, I see God's abiding presence! 

Thank God for Greeny. He is a great help as I (and my family) obey His command to "19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." - Matthew 28:19-20. 

And like a psalmist, I continue to pray, "Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord ! I run to you for protection." -Psalms 143:9