While browsing over my hotmail account I again passed by the update of the Database for high school reunions. Right there in the category of related interest I again saw the name of my beloved Marilene. It was there that I started posting some e-mails to reconnect with high school friends of the Cabatuan National Comprehensive High School that I met Marl sometime three years ago. We started communicating by e-mails. I was then a Benedictine Monk and I have an office where I am provided with a computer for my use. I became a part of Marl's life and she became a part of mine. In the beginning she will open up private matters of her life, her family and her work asking for some friendly support, especially during those times when she has some difficulties caused by the various pressures of her life. Being adept in matters concerning helping those who are trying to find meaning and direction in their lives, I will write back and give my guidance and encouragement for her. Things progressed from there joyfully for us. We exchange set of pictures, lots of hellos and hi's in a friendly casual manner. Then, one day, while we were having our usual chat conversation I honestly expressed my love for her and she responded gladly with love too. One of the most beautiful moments of that cyber love connection was when Marl sent a cd of her songs with her pictures on my birthday. I was so thrilled and happy to receive such a token of deep and sincere love from her. Then came a period when I decided to refrain from communicating with her to focus more on my life and work as a monk and to listen some more to my feelings of love for her. In the book, Fire in the Belly on the masculine psychology it is written that, "when a man truly loves a woman, he has to say goodbye to her." I did exactly just that and I found out that in that space, in that silence, in that hollow and uncertain moment in time,...that I truly love her and I want her to be a very significant part of my life in this world. To make my presence felt again in Marl's life I sent her a package gift for her birthday which she received just before Valentines Day. From then on, we started communicating again on a regular basis by giving updates and concern for each other. I was scheduled to go to Ghana, Africa last year for a new mission assignment when I heard the news that my mother got sick and I needed to go home to help in taking care of her. I went home last August, 2007 and I called up Marl as soon as I arrived home in Cabatuan, Iloilo. I asked her if she can come home for the town fiesta on September 10,2007 which she did. She said she will go home so we can meet and see each other. I met Marl for the first time ever since we communicated via internet at the new Iloilo Airport last September 8,2007. It was a very beautiful and memorable meeting. We both gave our gifts and there was heartfelt reluctance because I was still wearing my monk's robe. She brought her two year old grandson, Kiel who became our love's cupid during those four days of our tryst in Cabatuan, Iloilo. Marl went back to Manila after the town fiesta to continue her work at UMC Manila. We exchanged text messages every day. On September 30,2007 I went to Manila and joined the birthday party of Isah, Marl's daughter. I brought as my gift and "pasalubong" the famous "Tinuom" dish of chicken cooked in banana leaf from Cabatuan to the delight of everybody in the family including her son, Gabo who is finishing Mass Communication in Perpetual University of Las Pinas City. On October 22,2007 I solemnized the marriage of Jay and Bel Alere in Cavite. During the moment when as a celebrant I asked for prayer in silence for our personal needs, Marl who was there in the crowd whispered a prayer to God to have me as her husband. It is very true that God answers prayers. The very next day I decided to leave the priesthood and monkhood and proposed to marry Marl. In that mysterious yet deeply profound twists and turns of events, God's love and design for my life and that of Marl merged like a beautiful completion of a jigzaw puzzle. We both decided to get married on December 8,2007 in the Dreem Haus restaurant along Taft Avenue, Manila. Our wedding was a joyful and successful testimony of our love for each other. Guests included family members, friends and co-workers and everybody went home stomach filled, contented and mesmerized. I stayed for a while with Marl doing some fixing of the house and accompanying her to work everyday. I was with her and her kids and grandson for Christmas. We both celebrated her birthday at home with her brother Ed Lusaya as our special guest last January 24,2008. We dated on Valentines Day by Manila Bay area. Then I left Manila on February 17,2008 to go back here in the U.S. to continue my work as God's servant and minister in a new community called the University of Mechizedek, an online Ascenscion School and Retreat Center located in Glorieta, New Mexico. I continued my daily contact with Marl through the internet chat medium. Our spiritual group has decided to relocate to Mt. Shasta, California on April 21,2008. I hope to get a better income earning job there and petition Marl to come and join me here. Once again I am into a new adventure of faith and life. This time I am not alone responding to God's greater calling to holiness and love because Marl is one and united with me as my wife. I look forward to reach Mt. Shasta and be worthy to stay in that sacred mountain of God with Marl soon to come. The psalmist in questioning who shall climb the mountain of the Lord wrote the response, "he whose heart is pure..." Lord, my heart is pure and I am ready to go. Watch and care for my beloved hun Marl while I am on my journey to your holy mountain. Bless our love and devotion to each other as husband and wife. You are truly love oh Lord and you have given us the key of love which opened our hearts from the inside. We praise and we thank you for creating us for each other to love, to cherish and to be happy together in this life and in the next. Bless our love and married life as we journey along and serve you and and your people. Amen.
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