'Boracay island' and 'Manila Bay' boodle-meals...

Last saturday afternoon, we (finally..after much debate on the-who,what,when,where,how,why,..and after about two months..) had our mlc treat. As usual, waiting took about a fourth of our time - the scheduled 1pm became 3:45pm (at least hindi 4..), and we went to the Seafood Island (suggested by ate rachel..and we had no choice! dotaaaa..hehe) without roxy - she texted us at 3pm and told us that she will be late and was just about to leave her house - in bulacan..

we could have waited for her for another 2 hours, but our stomachs dictated our minds and we decided to continue with a "lunch" treat (lunch..4pm..lunch..(o_0) )..of course, we were desperate to eat because we didn't eat lunch to 'prepare' ourselves for the much awaited treat..

we left the gateway foodcourt, boxed out everyone who came our way, and walked outside the mall a couple of times to find a decent (and mlc worthy..) restaurant. again, the snares of decision-making was mediocre to the growls of our stomachs, so we decided to eat at seafood island, ate rachel's first suggestion.. at first, we wondered why there were just a few people eating inside, and doubted if the place serves good-food - but then, we looked at the time and it was 4:15pm..all of us except ate rachel wasnt familiar with the menu, so it was ate rachel who ordered the food..boracay island, manila bay, sisig, kinilaw,.. argh.. the taste still lingers on my mouth..

the 2 specialties (bora and manila bay..rein commented "manila bay, madumi siguro to..") were served in a large, uh, wooden board covered with banana leaves..

>>> life is so unfair: waiting for each other to show up, walking around gateway and araneta center, waiting for others to decide what to order, waiting for the food - took longer than devouring the neatly arranged boodle-meals (they were the first neatly arranged boodle meals i saw in my entire life..) on the 2 large wooden boards.. life is so unfair..

roxy arrived when all of us finished eating..we saved the tilapia, some squid, kinilaw, porkchop, a piece of lumpia, and about 3-kilos of rice for her..we even wrote her name using our left-overs..how sweet of us.. (n_n)

i was concentrating on digesting the food in my stomach when i suddenly saw ate jam pass by.. i texted her, she texted back, but i was unable to read her text that she would come back to say "hi"...she came back, entered the restaurant, and she said not only "hi." but, "Hi!! ako po si Jam, from esbi diliman... =)"..surprised - but aww,i was touched.. hehe (n_n)

then we went back to gateway to watch a movie - after another chaotic decision making moments, we (or ate rachel..? hehe =) ) decided to watch Enteng Kabisote..i wont tell the details of the "story" of the movie, lest id just decide after typing a few words to stop writing this blog and sleep..

after 'it' (n_n). we went back to the foodcourt to talk..after the crazy moments (which included playing with the tables, going back to Wendy's because their 'Large' fries were labeled 'Small', and other stuff not suitable for public consumption..), we shared concerns and prayer requests with each other..included with what i shared was my academic adventures and the CBC youth ministry.. it was nice, and humbling, on my part at least - to be able to hear each others stories, to be updated, to know who the person talking is (maybe at the moment..) and what he/she is going through, and know some of what is behind those smiles and enthusiasm everytime we meet.. i was blessed and saw how much God works differently in our individual lives. and after everyone shared, we prayed together, in the middle of the gateway foodcourt, oblivious to the noise and people around us..

i dunno..but during the sharing time, i suddenly had my eyes open to what was around us - different kinds of people, caring about their own agendas, and so..but i had a [burden: cant think of any other term..],. i saw them. and i wondered, how about them? what are they going through? who are they? what is behind those smiles and enthusiasm and staying up late in a mall?? maybe my pakialamero side showed its head at that moment, but i just felt it. and it occured to me that they were young people too, just like us..but they were different (or just in my judgement..), they didnt have have Christ. I felt that i should add them to my prayer concerns, but i already had my turn to share. it was not because i didnt enjoy being with the mlc (an unenjoyable-mlc is like a flying-platypus..) but i felt i was staying too much in my comfort zone - with Christians, who would accept me for involving Christ in my daily life, and would not laugh out loud when i share that i desire to live for Christ. i felt a little guilty, that they outnumbered me - outnumbered us..what have i done that afternoon to share Jesus to them? during the day, awms i able to see a world without Christ, hearts that need salvation, and my responsibility to share God's love..?

it actually bothered me the whole night, until sunday..i was even able to wake up at 4pm to have my quiet time, focusing on my late reflections, maybe because it made me so disturbed..i had different thoughts when i got home, until i had my quiet time..

"maybe they were just having a good time, just like us..", "do i even have to care for them?," "how could i care for them? to what extent?," "how could i share Christ to them?," "what is going on in their minds? will they listen?," "what if i just let it pass away? maybe i just ate too much shrimp (im allergic to crustaceans..but i enjoy eating them..=) haha)..", "am i my brother's keeper?"

they are young people too, just like you and me..maybe not all of them go to school, most of them have plenty of friends to turn to, or a number might be well-off we in financial standing - we are in the same phase in life and we undergo almost the same thoughts, situations, and concerns..we act and respond almost the same..what is the difference? Christ in our hearts.

who will stood up? why??
they are also included in the 'all the nations' we HAVE to go into..