Answered Prayer Across the Seas
“Thank you for your generosity, may God return the blessing a hundredfold” we read these words often, written in “Thank You” letters or solicitation letters. But we never really take these words seriously. We just brush them off as just one cliché. In Rotary we don’t really expect anything in return for the “work” that we do.
But a particular incident in my life brought these words to life.
March 4, 2008, during our club meeting I got a call from my sister that my brother Alfredo a.k.a Jhun who was on a company tour in Gold Coast, Australia had an accident. I thought it was just a minor accident until I was told that Jhun was given a 50/50 chance of surviving. He was hit by a speeding car driven by somebody under the influence of alcohol. Everybody in the family panicked because Australia is far and there’s very little chance of ever finding a relative or a friend of a friend unlike if it happened in the States where somebody knows somebody anywhere.
In my moment of desperation I emailed three Rotary clubs in the Gold Coast area asking for any form of assistance. I also tried other organizations even religious organizations in the area. And within a few hours I got a call from Mr. Ken Gosney (Rotary Club of Surfers Sunrise RI District 9640), who got the announcement from their Club secretary Mr. Geoff Croad. Ken, drove to the hospital that same day to check on Jhun. Then he emailed and updated me of Jhun’s status. He even assisted in sending documents to the Australian Embassy here in Manila just to expedite the visa processing for Jhun’s wife. Then he introduced me and family to a Filipino-Australian friend who took my brother-in-law Antonio (also there for the tour) under their care. Other Rotarians like Catherine Bonifant (Rotary Hope Island Inc.) and Karyn Joyner (Rotary Club of Parkwood) also answered the plea for help but Ken already took care of everything.
Ken made it a point to visit Jhun in the ICU everyday. He would drive from his Volvo dealership office just to check on the development in Jhun’s situation. The weekend when Jhun’s wife was scheduled to arrive in Gold Coast, Ken who was also scheduled to visit his farm was so apologetic that he can’t be there for Jhun’s wife. But he sent his office manager Dennis (an Australian) to meet Joanne at the airport.
The Filipino-Australian family is Mr. and Mrs. Colleen Ralp. The wife, Zoraida, is originally from Masbate. She graciously welcomed Antonio and Jhun’s wife Joanne. They even hosted dinners for them, like a barbecue cook-out to make them feel welcome, drive them to and from the hospital, even provided pack-lunch for them everyday.
Somehow word about this accident got out and reach the Filipino-Australian communities. Now Jhun gets lots of visitors almost everyday, Rotarians and good Samaritans. They are all strangers when they went into the room but left as if they were good friends. One even lent Jhun and Joanne a portable DVD player just to help them pass the time.
It will take months before Jhun will be well enough to endure the long flight home and it may take that same length of time before I could see my brother in person. But knowing a Rotarian is on his side right now, I feel comforted and assured that my brother and my sister-in-law are in good hands.
In this time of email scams, it’s hard to find somebody who will reach out and help a stranger.
When I joined Rotary all I wanted was to share my TIME, TALENT AND TREASURE to the less fortunate in our community. It never occurred to me that one day I will be at the receiving end. That I’d be the one asking for help. Now it is my turn to tell Mr. Ken Gosney “thank you for your generosity, may God return the blessing a hundredfold”.
SP James G. Bosch
Rotary Club of Paranaque Southwest
Comment
Commenting is closed for this article.
Classmate James,
Friendship, caring and sharing really exist in Rotary everywhere.
Praying for your brother early recuperation.
SP tito
— SP Tito Penaredondo · Saturday March 29, 2008 · #
Classmate,
Just started browsing through the emails after co hosting the PETS.
I would like to share what Fr. Rocky said in his homily to the PEs. He joined Rotary because it is the answer to what Christian love is “service above self”. Yes, classmate, in this troubled times, true rotarians stand out becuase of their love to give and to serve.
I pray for the speedy recovery of Jhun.
SP Rico
— SP Rico Ocampo · Monday March 31, 2008 · #