My name is Jun Sagcal.
Jun Sagcal
My wife Christie and I went on a vacation last September 22, 2009, Tuesday, until September 25, Friday. I had a great time being with my wife 24 hours a day for four fun-filled days.
When we got back to Manila on Friday, September 25, at 11:30 in the evening, there was heavy rain and, on September 26, Saturday, the rain was still heavy that I decided not to leave the house anymore and just make up for my absence in the GLC 3 class. At 2:00 pm, the rain continued to pour relentlessly. I texted a brother in Christ, Jess Fajardo, who lives not too far from us in Marikina, to check how they were doing. I was shocked to know that the water was already neck deep inside his house. Imagine, his house is 6 feet elevated from street level, and to think that Jess is a six footer! I then looked at the window and, for the first time in 17 years, our neighborhood was flooded. We started moving our appliances and furniture upstairs as the water has started to enter our house. For the next 3 days, the Lord has taught me what it means to love like Jesus, and he made me realize, how much he loves us.
As the flood continued to rise, a husband, carrying his wife at his back, waded through the flood to get to us and asked if we can accommodate his wife, who just gave birth a month ago, and their 2 children at our house. We immediately welcomed them and directed them to go to the attic. Then a mother with her special child, and another mother with young children, came to us asking refuge. All in all, 11 neighbors, including a month old baby, were accommodated in the attic. We gave them beddings, food, candles, medicines, whatever we can possibly give.
After all the hard work of carrying heavy things, helping out the family and neighbors, my heart started to palpitate, I was so dead tired, and I couldn’t breathe normally. I wanted to go to the hospital, but it was just impossible because the roads were flooded. I prayed to God and I said, “Lord, I can only do so much, I know you won’t quit on us, please let the rain stop, and heal me”. After some time, by God’s grace, the water slowly receded by early evening.
My wife later asked me how I was feeling and if I can talk to our neighbors about the salvation that God offers through Jesus. After praying to God for strength, my wife helped me get up, and assisted me to go up to the attic. There, my wife and I shared the love of Jesus to our neighbors, and by God’s grace, that evening, we led our neighbors to pray to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Jun Sagcal with Dgroup
Sunday morning, I woke up and realized that there was no flood anymore, but thick mud and garbage were all over the place. I can just imagine the tremendous effort needed to clean the house, considering that I am not completely feeling well yet. I have a brother whom I have differences with, as much as I tried reaching out to him, but efforts seemed to be all in vain. Eventually, I stopped reaching out to him, and had not talked to him for quite some time. But when I came down to the ground floor of our house, I was shocked seeing my brother, cleaning my house, together with his wife and their children. I was really humbled. By God’s grace, we started to talk to each other again, and from that moment on, our relationship was restored. I received love from someone I least expected from, and that humbled me because, as a Christian, I should not have given up on my brother.
The next day, Monday, at 3 in the morning, we were awakened by loud shouts coming from outside the house. Our neighbors woke us up because that there was a big fire in the neighborhood. I went out, and as I walked through thick mud, there I saw a huge fire engulfing a big house not too far from my place. There were no fire trucks, neighbors tried to call the fire station, but the landlines weren’t working. I called upon the Lord again, and said to him “Lord, you have saved us from the flood, save my family, our house and our neighbors from this fire. I know Lord you love us, and you won’t quit on us”. Then, by God’s grace, one small fire truck arrived, then another, and another, and another. After an hour and a half, the fire was completely put out.
Jesus saved us from the flood, restored relationships in the family, and saved us from the fire. All of these happened in just three days. These experiences reminded me that God loves us, that he doesn’t quit on us, and that we should not quit loving others, regardless of the situation and circumstances. To my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, thank you so much. To God be the glory.
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