Sunday 16th March, 2008: It was raining lightly...or drizzling.The long journey was compensated by the beautiful scenery. Never in my wildest imagination had I thought that the journey would be a sight for sore eyes. The trees, the contrast between rain & shine, the paddy field, open field, village houses...Oh My! This was supposed to be an Ulu (remote) area! Yet all I can see was beauty and not the dreary, dense jungle as many thought it would be.
At some point, I was really surprised to find that I've actually 'been there' - in my dream. Call it what you want...deja vu?...but I've seen this place somewhere before. It's new yet familiar!
Before this trip we faced so many obstacles.
My nephew Shawn Davies fell ill & refused food. Then there's no Air Asia main office in Bintulu town (as far as this 'ex-Mirian' knows) and we had to purchase the sky-rocketing air ticket from the travel agent, costing each of us (me, Mom & Dad) RM181 each, one way. Due to this expensive air fare, I decided not to buy return tickets coz I'm afraid Dad would grumble coz we all know that he's the thrifty one (sorry to say this, but it's true).
We once planned to journey via land, but it will be troublesome to Dad who has weak bladder. So in the end, I thought the most economic way is to purchase the return air tickets on our arrival @ the airport that same day we flew (yesterday afternoon) since we were supposed to reach Kuching @ 1.30pm. But that was what could be perceived by the mind; what we never thought was that our plan went askew!
Our flight scheduled at 12.30pm was retimed to nightime @ 9.45pm. I thought the next plan was to buy the air ticket in the morning on the next day, but the journey to Simelatong took most of our time.
Despite all these obstacles & difficulties (including suffering from cold for 3 hours being stranded at the Bintulu Airport, after I carelessly left my jacket in the car), the journey & trip itself was a smooth one. According to my brother Anil, the last time they came (about a month before) they had to park the car & walk a good distance to the miraculous place, and there were throngs of people. Hundreds & hundreds of visitors.
This time when we arrived, thankfully the drizzle had stopped. The sky was bright blue and from afar I could see the coconut tree where the sightings occured. It was miraculous to think how on a Palm Sunday morning like that there were less than 10 people hanging around that vicinity. In fact we parked the car just a few metres away from the tree. Sweet.
God, knowing that I & my old aged parents couldn't afford to walk far - has made the path easy & walkable for us.
I could locate the CROSS easily, at the topmost part of the branch where the leaves formed themselves into the divine sign. It shone radiantly in the morning sun. I took photographs of the tree, the place like other visitors too.
Then I lighted the candle & prayed for healing.
I prayed for myself & my family, including my sick nephew back in Bintulu (He was healed a few days after we got back to Bintulu).
Lord, I know that I'm not worthy to witness Your Holyness or Miracle.
I just hope for a little faith.
I admit that I couldn't see Jesus, unlike some others who did.
I just want to keep trusting My Lord despite everything.
The journey itself was enough evidence, that the Lord was with us, Emmanuel.
It reminds me how narrow is the path to righteousness, and how easy is the path to destruction.
But He was with us all the way. PTL!
P/S: We went back to Bintulu on Monday i.e 17.3.2008. Fare - much cheaper i.e RM141 each person, Kuching International Airport Counter.
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