"I Am a Buddhist"

Bali, Indonesia
July 21, 2005


I arrived in Bali at 2:45 p.m. from Kupang. I went outside the airport and waited for someone to say hello to me. An hour passed and no one came. I sat on a bench and waited. No one came. I prayed the rosary. A man sat beside me. Seeing that I’ve finished my prayers, he asked me if I speak Indonesian. I said no but I speak English. He speaks English too and we started to talk.

Sister Esther assured me that someone will come to the airport to pick me up and bring me to a welcome house where I will spend the night. The following day I will be flying back to Manila. I have to take the international flight in Bali. It was my first time in that city and my sisters were so busy that they had no time to furnish me with the necessary information of the place and the people I am supposed to meet.

The man asked me a lot of questions and the last was “where will you stay?” I said I am waiting for someone I do not even know who and whether that someone will come. He asked me for contact number and address but the only address I had was that of my sisters in Kupang. He got the telephone number and called Sr. Esther through his cell phone and they were talking in Bahasa Indonesia for long. Then he dialed another number and talked for sometime.

Afterward he told me “no one will pick you up, keep watch of my bag”, and he left in a hurry. When he came back he showed me a taxi ticket and got all our things. He said “follow me and I will bring you to the taxi that will bring you to the welcome house”. He got one taxi, showed the ticket, placed my things inside, and explained to the driver where to bring me. Afterward he assured me that the driver will bring me to the welcome house where I will stay for the night.

I hurriedly got my wallet to pay for the ticket but he told me “No, that is my gift to you. I should even be grateful to you. You are in need and it gives me opportunity to help. Today you are a blessing to me. I am able to do something good and I am so happy about it. I am a Buddhist. In our belief we are grateful to people who allow us to do good.”

I got my pen and paper and ask for his name, contact number and address, someday I might be able to return the favor but he said “No, any good thing done should not be repaid otherwise it will lose its merit, just write this event in your diary. That is enough for me”. Then he closed the door and told the driver to go. I bade goodbye to him forever, I didn’t even know his name.

I wrote that event in my diary but I carry the story in my heart. On that day I experienced a miracle of love. He was there when I was in need and I didn’t even know who he is except that he is a Buddhist.