Bombings in Mindanao

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After buying some stuff for plumbing, I went home.  While in the car, a friend of mine who works in the intelligence service received text messages that in Gen. Santos City two bombs exploded. Another worry as I will be leaving today for GenSan to facilitate the church administration workshop among the Indonesian lay pastor. 

I arrived in Kidapawan past 6 pm, while walking towards home and near the City, I heard a big explosion.  Thinking that there was a midweek prayer in the church, I rushed home to check if all the kids are home and specially Paolo who sometimes hang out in the church till late in the evening. I was relieved to see Paolo taking off his shoes and everyone is home. A little bit curious, I decided to see for myself the incident against Diday’s disagreement. Fortunately the incident is not similar to what happened in Makilala last year, and decided to go home. I saw Pastor Rueben Genotiva in the church and told me that one of the victims is our church member, and  ask for Paolo.  Mark Rivas, one of the wounded is Paolo’s close friend were together that night  before they part ways for home in different direction after the choir practice. The were buddies in the Christian Youth Fellowship organization in church as leaders.

He is also my godson in his baptism. Mark  was hit while walking home after the midweek prayer and choir practice in UCCP. The bomb was placed near the police outpost and he was a few feet near the bomb when it exploded a hundred meters from the church.  Three of them sustained wounds  but Mark get the worst. He sustained a fractured bone just below the knee cup, shrapnel in the hip, small particles in the belly and arms. Wounds  were mostly at his legs. So far the x-ray shows no vital organ hit but still needs to be observed. 3 procedures will be done, 2 operations to clean-up the wounds to prevent possible infections and later the surgery the mend the bone fracture. So far, the boy is conscious which is a good sign. We’re just hoping that he will not succumb to any infections. Please pray for him and his family.

I will be away from Kidapawan for the weekend with heavy heart, while my godson is at the ICU of one in the hospitals here in Kidapawan.  Continuously hoping and praying he will be out of danger. This is unfortunate, but it seems that events like this happens specially when elections or budget hearing is in the air. We can only be conscious of the events and keep safe as we continue to be committed for peace.

Thanks for your continued support and the prayers.