“Gardening” Stories – AE
– Tilling the Soil –

I went to the mall with my dad and the kids. I was thinking, “ok. Let’s just make this a quick trip. We’ll get on the tricycle, grab what we need and then go home.” I wanted a new dress because mother’s day is coming up and thought it’d be nice to have something bright and new. There it is! I saw a bright blue dress at a storefront and pretty much B-lined it. As I took the dress off of the hook, a store worker approached me. My dad could tell it was going to take me some time, so he took Amos with him to the mall indoor carousel.

I asked the worker in my broken Filipino, “ Po, palihog … puwede ibutang mo ni sa sulod ng dressing room?”. (Ma’am, can you please put this in the dressing room?)

She said, “Ilongga ka ba!?”. (Are you Ilongga?)

“Oh yes! How can you tell?? My nose?”. She laughed and said it’s because I spoke Ilonggo. OOPS! My brain totally meant to say it in Tagalog but my tongue still jumbles . She proceeded to tell me she was also an Ilongga from the city just 30 mins from my mom’s hometown. “What’s your last name?” is a common local question after we establish where our roots come from.

“I’m Amy.”

“I’m Raquel*.”

We had a fun conversation from how she thought Toto (Amos’ nickname here) is so cute roaming around with my dad to how she thought my American accent was also cute. Haha! She asked if I was a video blogger? Of course I laughed.

“So what are you doing here in the Philippines?” was her direct segway into furthering our conversation. Mind you, I was just strolling in the store and she proceeded to shadow me.
(In this culture, store attendants really attend to the individual shopper. It used to make me feel pressured and claustrophobic, but we’re acclimating to it so much better.)

I started to stumble using my Filipino vocabulary. She asked if we could speak in English because she used to work abroad and it had been a while since she was able to communicate in English.
I briefly shared about our family and how the Lord is working in our daily lives to pour into the community.

“Oh! You go to church?”

“We love Jesus.”

“I go to a Baptist church.”

(Mind you, I have yet to even try on the dress. Haha)

“How about you Raquel? What brought you back to the Philippines?”

She gazed at me for a second and I could tell she was trying to figure out if I was a safe person to talk to … Raquel then proceeded to open up. “There is something about you that makes me feel like I can talk to you. I have children. I used to work in the Middle East for 7 years. My youngest son is 10 years old.” Her eyes began to water up. “I don’t have anyone to talk to. They have no idea what I’m going through. He doesn’t see me as his mom and he even asked if I was leaving yet. My sister who has been raising him is his ‘mom.’ He doesn’t even want me, so I’m here and decided to stay.” She couldn’t hold back the tears any more and pretty much shoved me in to the dressing room where that dress hung.

“Lord. God, Raquel. Please help me to hear with your heart and speak with your love.”

“Raquel, I’m done! I love this dress and will wear it for mother’s day.”

Her eyes were dry but still a bit red from crying.

I strolled again in the store and dilly dallied a bit, touching fabrics, colors, patterns …

“So you’re staying? That must be a financial sacrifice.”

Raquel’s eyes filled with tears again and she told me she felt safe to open and then she shared with me how her strained relationship with her son is a bigger sacrifice. She endures the pain every day since she returned. Raquel proceeded to open up more and more. I just listened.

“Tama na. I’ve talked too much. Let’s walk to the counter so you can pay.”

I asked Raquel to escort me out the store. I held her two hands, thanked her for her assistance and said, “God sees you and knows your heart.” I pulled her in to give her a hug as an extra thank you, then began to pray in her ear, “ Lord, you are good and your mercies endureth forever. I pray for my sister, Raquel …”

It was no mistake we met. God has a purpose and a reason for everything. Her demeanor was lighter when I left the store. I looked back one more time and with a smile she waved goodbye ❤

Lord, I come before you humbled as I reflect on my encounter with Raquel and share about it with my brothers and sisters. I pray, Lord, that we always be ready and willing to see others not as projects but as souls that need you. Whether it be someone who has never heard the Good News or someone who needs reminder of you as our Loving Father … let us love with the love of Jesus and point them to you.

*name changed.

Proverbs 12, Mark 4