Pastor Mojica Visits from the Philippines
Once again our family is hosting our friend Pastor Rodolfo Mojica from the Philippines. We first met the Pastor in 1997. A Filipino doctor friend brought him to our church and left him.
We formed a friendship that has been going on now for the past 16 years. In this time period my family has traveled to the Philippines, and spent a couple of weeks doing mission work. I have also sent staff members and others there to do mission work. While there I preached in churches, camps, and to the Manila Police Officers. My family witnessed the Filipino poverty, but yet also the genuine kind spirit of their people.
I spent two weeks traveling and preaching as many as seven times a day. I have driven cars, buses, and motorcycles all across the United States and in Jamaica (on the wrong side of the road). Often times I have stated that driving in New York City and Atlanta had to be the worst two places to drive or ride. After going to the Philippines, I changed my mind. I saw my life flash before my eyes many times, including riding down the side walk with my driver beeping the horn and yelling out, “Man of God Coming Through!”
At every intersection the people beep their horns, and this can be quite annoying to me. Pastor Mojica came here one time and he borrowed our doctor friend’s Mercedes for a trip to Walmart. He had only been gone for a few moments and I looked up and he was pulling back in our driveway. He got out of the car and was clearly rattled. I asked him what was going on.
He said I came to a traffic signal and I was behind another automobile and I began to beep my horn. Suddenly the car stopped a man got out and started cursing and holding his finger up in the air at me! I told him, my friend you have just experienced American road rage. Do not blow your horn!!
We both have stories to tell about our adventures both here and there. I love to BBQ and one of my goals is to make a sauce that will set you on fire. I have some friends in Walton County who it seems as though nothing spicy bothers them.
I was sitting outside, overlooking the Taal Volcano on the island of Luzon waiting for my next appointed time to preach when I noticed a bush with small peppers on it. I asked some of the natives about it, and they explained that three seeds from a pod would set a large pot of beans on fire.
Immediately I began to think of my friends in America, so I got me a handful of peppers and placed them in my pocket. I preached the session and came back outside for an hour break under the Mango tree.
Let’s just say that 100 degree weather and peppers in your pocket do not go together. Suddenly my leg was on fire and I ran down the trail taking my pants off, while trying to find water to cool the burn. Over two hundred Filipinos were watching the big giant from America running and taking his pants off. They were all real concerned at the time, but after seeing I was okay they began to laugh and still bring it up every time we speak.
Pastor over the years in coming to America has experienced so much of our country’s culture and especially our southern cultures. He loves the outdoor southern sportsman. He has learned to fish with a rod and not a net. A few years back he killed his first deer, rabbit, squirrel, coon, and dove. He cleaned and ate some of each of his kills. We even took him Snipe hunting! I felt sorry for him standing there with the bag in the middle of nowhere so I went back and got him. His statement about snipe hunting was, “Them boys in the Philippines don’t know it yet, but there is Snipe in the Philippines, just wait till I get back.”
It is strange how God works things out and places people in our life. I am forever greatful that He has allowed me to meet, and fellowship with the wonderful people of the Philippines.