During our diaconate ordination last year, our superior announced our mission assignments. i was assigned in Gapok, Sultan Kudarat while my companions were assigned to other places. some in the island and mountain areas and one in Thailand. Our assignment was no big deal. we were young and brave so we were really fit for any mission assignment. after we had our vacation with our families, we were then set for our mission.
I arrived in Gapok last April 15, 2 days before the Holy Week celebration. i was never assigned in Gapok before so i had little expectations for any welcome celebrations on my arrival. It was drizzling outside and the weather was not so good as a welcome. When i took off the van, one of the passengers pointed to me the huge Church uphill and said that it was the Gapok Church and the convent is at the back. So with my heavy bag i started to walk going to the Church. after few steps, i happen to meet 3 people whom i believed were parishioners. they were carrying some plates and bowls with food. i greeted them and smile. but when they saw me, they never uttered any greeting in response. instead, they hurried to go to the convent. i just smiled of what happened. "Who am i that people will greet me?," i thought.
then i saw the convent. i sensed that there were many people inside. i then thought that they must have prepared some welcome party. when i was already inside the convent, the people were silent as if they were dismayed. i thought that it would be best to confirm their sad feeling.
when i was asked to introduce myself, i said to them, "Because of my name, I am very sure that you thought that i am a foreigner - Rockmoore Saniel, but when you saw me you must have said, "opps, he's just like a native." They were laughing. Then i said, "I know you thought that my skin complexion is white, but not really. They were still laughing. You must have thought that "opps, he's not really white, in fact he's skin is dark." And they were laughing. "And finally," i said, "you must have thought that i am tall, but when you saw me, you were dismayed because i am not. You must have said, "Oh, i thought he's tall. now i know he's petite, like a dwarf." they were laughing in roars.
on one hand, sometimes, too much expectations can make us desperate and discouraged or dismayed. it's better therefore to always expect the worse so that whatever may happen you will not be caught off-guard. on the other hand, every encounter of discouragement and failure can always turn into a triumph.
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