AMONG the long lines of vendors along the roads of Nivel Hills in Lahug, I spotted Adelaida Labajo, a 60-year-old woman working non-stop until all her vegetables and charcoals were sold out.
At her age, she should be at home instead of working all day long under the heat of the sun. However, she even doubled her efforts in finding financial means by doing more than just selling along the road. Adelaida would also go around the neighboring places, as far as her feet would take her just to sell all her goods.
At her age, she should be at home instead of working all day long under the heat of the sun. However, she even doubled her efforts in finding financial means by doing more than just selling along the road. Adelaida would also go around the neighboring places, as far as her feet would take her just to sell all her goods.
Being a born and active member of the Iglesia ni Cristo, she revealed that she was enthusiastic with the church’s 95th Founding Anniversary in the country on 27th of July. This was in the same month but seven years ago (in 2009 to be exact). She even planned on preparing a little gathering for the celebration. This was her inspiration and the mere reason why she never got tired of selling vegetables and charcoal everyday.
“I will really strive harder at work for the preparation of the church’s 95th Anniversary, because I’m really thankful that God has never forsaken me,” she said in a plain Visayan vernacular.
Adelaida was married to Amateo with twelve children, and with such number of children, life was not easy for her and her converted husband. Moreover, when financial and health condition seemed shaky before, she would find herself slipping away from her faith and courage.
Furthermore, with too much struggles for their everyday survival, she would even feel her spirits weakening then. Everything even worsened when an illness struck her in 2008. Due to lack of sleep and rest from selling vegetables and repacking charcoals as their only means of income, Adelaida’s health declined for more than two weeks, which made his husband took over their small business.
Because of her illness, she was forced to stop attending church worship services twice every week for a couple of months. Moreover, despite her silent protest, her relatives took her to a faith healer. “I was so depressed when I have to stop attending church services. I didn’t believe I’d get healed by the faith healer. I just prayed at that time,” she said with teary eyes.
However difficult the situation was, Adelaida made it through the painful trials that life had beset upon her, and because of those challenges, she became stronger in her faith and regained courage in life. She went back to attending church services in the House of Worship in Tisa, Labangon in January the following year together with her husband.
“I will die within the church’s flock because this is where truth is. I am just very thankful that despite the hardships I have experienced, God never left me,” she proudly said. (Jasmin Vailoces)
No comments:
Post a Comment