Meeting Alex

(They call these mountain shapes the sleeping giant because it looks like a nose and a big stomach lying down. This is the backdrop to the town of Sabang.)


(Danelle writing)

Just under the “Sleeping Giant” and at the gateway to the world’s longest underground river, there is a sweet little restaurant called Panao in the town of Sabang on Palawan. Kevin and I had been restaurant shopping earlier that day to check out menus and prices. To each we just wanted to see a menu and maybe to return for dinner since we had just eaten lunch. We decided to come back to this one. And little did we know that the staff at this place was wondering if we were coming back, and knowing it was close to our anniversary, wanted to do something special for us. They were going to set us up a special table right on the beach, but they weren’t sure we’d be back. But we came back and when we did, we officially met Alex. Earlier that day, she informed us that some of the meat options would not be available that night, but we said sigilang (no problem, its ok) we were vegetarian anyway.

She easily and skillfully changed some of the menu choices to make us a delicious meal. And, on top of that, knowing it was our anniversary, prepared us a delicious chocolate crepe with Happy Anniversary spelled out for no charge. This was incredibly thoughtful and sweet of her especially since she just was getting her restaurant up and running and needed the business. Alex just graduated with nursing in Manila, but living expenses in Manila were more than her monthly income and a job as a new graduate nurse right now couldn’t even pay enough to live. So she came to Sabang to start a restaurant and make some money.


(These are the wonderful chocolate crepes that Alex made for us as our special treat for our anniversary)


Later that night, her follow up question to our vegetarianism was, “So are you Adventist?” It ended up leading into what we were doing in the Philippines and being able to talk a little bit about what we believed. What a divine appointment it was to meet Alex. We talked about why we were vegetarian and why we were different in some of the other ways. She has some friends that are also Adventist, but not really practicing. She wasn’t unfamiliar with some of the beliefs. She is Catholic right now.

Talking with her was natural and pleasant. She said that we were very encouraging to her, although, we weren’t doing anything in particular. It must have been the Holy Spirit. She was also very encouraging to us. Especially since we feel so strongly right now about our beliefs and we were able to tell her our story of truly searching out truth for ourselves. We told her how important it was to search for truth, wherever it leads. We told her we found it in Adventism and really were convicted, but that each person truly does need to search for themselves.



(This is us coming out of the underground river. It's like a huge cave with a river going through it.)

She was encouraged by our conversation and we set up a date. Her words were strong and sweet. She said, “Maybe I’ll check out your religion…no, I will check it out.” Next week we will be back in Puerto Princessa for Sabbath, and she is going to be there too. We agreed to meet up for Sabbath and to go to the church there. Maybe we can go out to eat at Imas, an Adventist run vegetarian restaurant. Alex said she would like that so she could get some ideas for her own restaurant.

This is an example of something Kevin just listened to in a sermon by Nathan Renner. In the sermon, Nathan Renner told of a situation where he went into a hardware store with a fellow church member. He was appalled and surprised by the way he witnessed his fellow church member act toward the salesperson. He saw him be very impatient and rude. He explained in his sermon that the guy missed it. He missed the point of being a true light bearer for Christ. Didn’t he know that they were going into the hardware store to be a light and a witness of Jesus Christ, and to be an encouragement for somebody who was potentially lost. If they got the part, that would be great too.

I just goes to show that even when we are on vacation from being “missionaries” we are always missionaries. Every opportunity that comes our way should have a nest in which the opportunity can grow into what the Holy Spirit leads. It’s a good reminder to keep the chance for opportunity forefront in our minds. Everything else is secondary.

During Kevin’s Avalon years, the Adventist school in Port Hardy, his principal, Mr. O, always reminded them of this. Remember who you are, where you come from, and what you represent.

Alex, if you’re reading this, thank you for the wonderful dinner and the thoughtfulness of the delicious chocolate crepe. Thank you for the much needed encouragement while we were on vacation. We look forward to meeting you again.