I was preparing for the 7:30 mass at Mchini Parish when my phone rang. I was excited in picking it since there was no name that registered on the screen, only call, which means that it was overseas. I was right, it was my cousin in the US who requested for my phone number a month ago. I was so happy and if somebody could see me, my smile was up to my ears. We exchanged the usual “kumusta ka”, how is life treating me in Zambia and the same way I was asking her about work and life in Florida. I could say that since she left in September 2007, we have become closer, making sure that we communicate regularly through yahoo messenger and through chats, we are able to share things which we could not normally do back home in the Philippines. After a few minutes, she asked me if I was alone and I said yes. Then, my heart skipped when she told me that she has some news from home, that I should be strong since I am alone. This line I knew meant something bad happened. My guess was right, one of my cousins has died in an accident. My dead cousin was in a bicycle to buy something for breakfast and as she was making a turn, a speeding motorbike came and hit her. She died on the spot with broken arms and purplish back probably due to hemorrhage and the impact as she landed on the concrete road. Hazel, her name is a cousin of mine who got no parents anymore. She is the youngest and still young to die. Only 26 years old and I know that she could have been enjoying a good life if not this tragic accident happened. One of her sisters, live with my mum at home. Because of this, I had the strength, courage and trust to come to Zambia to volunteer. Her family I would say is the most deprived among our family in so many ways primarily because of the early loss of parents. Her life has always been challenging so I thought that maybe this is God’s way of making her life easy. Being reunited with Him is better than being on earth and suffer.
When I got the news, the moment my cousin Tin-tin dropped the it, I was already crying. Both of us were asking why things are happening when we were not there. In less than four months, she is the second cousin I lost, when I go home, I wouldn’t find two of my cousins anymore. I remember Tin-tin telling me to be strong because I am alone here in Zambia when she heard me crying. It sunk into my mind, yes I am alone. Being away from home at this side of the earth was really difficult. And receiving such news is the last thing somebody alone and away would want to receive. I contemplated of not going to mass, but then I still went so I could pray for my cousin. But while I was walking, I was asking God why He is allowing these things to happen when I am here. My director (priest) told me when I lost my other cousin; would it have made a difference if you were there? And I said no, but being in this situation makes you say that life is not fair. Another priest told me that things happen for a reason, adding that my experience and what are happening have reasons. I thank God for having friends around me that include priests, and fellow volunteers who came to see me and gave me big hugs. It helped so much because I needed them most in this trying time in a volunteer’s life. I have made big sacrifices when I decided to come to Africa, I am not expecting prize for what I did but I am hoping for reward that will come my way when I complete my service here.
