Apostolic Visit Update: Love Overflows

Coming to the third week of our apostolic visit to CLSF churches in Canada and the USA, the Lord has supplied the amazing strength and grace to Bishop “Kuya” Dan A. Balais, the CLSF Senior Pastor and Spiritual Director, together with his wife and CLSF International Elder, Ate Tanette, and Ate Myrna Fetalvero, the Ministry Administrative Coordinator of CLSF churches in the Northern Hemisphere, to cope with a rigorous travel itinerary for the long, two-and-a-half-month travel and ministry schedule. Welcomed by Ate Liza Serrano and the CLSF Mississauga leadership, they were driven to Markham at the beautiful house of Kuya Ed and Ate Vel Padua, the brother-in-law and the older sister of Ate Tanette, respectively, their home-away-from home where they always stay while in the Greater Toronto area. Kuya Dan, Ate Tanette, and Ate Myrna need two weeks to shake off their jetlag. With barely a week of their arrival, their first engagement was to preach and minister in the Sunday Worship service of CLSF Mississauga last July 5. The following week came the most awaited wedding of Kuya Robin Azarcon and Ate Dannah Diarios, both youth leaders of CLSF Mississauga officiated by Kuya Dan and Ate Liza Serrano last Tuesday, July 7 held at the beautiful Royal Ambassador Event Place in a garden wedding by the lake. After the wedding reception, Kuya Dan and Ate Tanette went back to Markham, while Ate Myrna went back to Mississauga to rest for a while and prepare for their flight to Los Angeles, California on July 10 for the first phase of the USA leg of the apostolic visit. Landing at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) in a 5-hour flight, the team was met at the airport by Kuya Noli Hipolito and Kuya Strauss Dimaranan who drove them to Anaheim, California, a one-and-a-half-hour drive to the house of Ate Ciely Nation, pastor of CLSF Long Beach. Kuya Dan preached at the Sunday Worship service of CLSF Long Beach last July 12 located at Cerritos, California.

After a day of rest, Kuya Dan and Ate Tanette went to Burbank, driven again by Kuya Strauss, to the luxury condo of Ate Josie Quidez, who is living with her daughter Katrina and granddaughter Phoenix. They slept there for the night and together with Ate Josie, they flew the following day to Spokane, Washington via Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) in Utah, to visit Mom Lil Tinsley and her youngest son, Jesse Tinsley. Kuya Dan and Ate Tanette this time were accompanied by Ate Josie to visit their spiritual mother during the Jesus People days in the ‘70s. It was Kuya Dan and Ate Tanette’s long desire to visit Mom Lil and Jesse during their trip to the USA. Ate Josie was instrumental in making it happen through her extra-ordinary generosity. They arrived last July 14 at Spokane, excitedly met at the airport by Jesse. They decided to go straight at Mom's place at North Point Village Care home, some 20 minutes’ drive from the airport. Kuya Dan and the team had a sweet fellowship with Mom in her room 405 at the 4th Floor of the nice 50-room building. North Point Residences is a modern facility for the old people. After a short, 45-minute meet up and fellowship with Mom, Jesse drove Kuya Dan and Team to his vintage 120-year-old house where they stayed for two nights and 3 days.

The second day with Mom was a full schedule. After waking up at 9:00am, taking a bath, and eating breakfast prepared by Jesse, with Ate Josie helping, Kuya Dan and team headed to Mom again. This time, they gave Mom Lil the beautiful photo album of their last visit to the Philippines in February 2020, just before the COVID lockdown. The picture album was beautifully made by Kuya Arthur Realubit of KE Paco of Ate Yolly Alonzo. Mom Lil and Jesse love it as memories after memories flooded the room! Kuya Dan and the team had a whole day of fellowship with Mom and Jesse. They went around on a tour of Spokane City after they picked up Mom at Northpoint Residences with Jesse, with his vast knowledge of the city, acting as their driver and tourist guide. After an hour tour, they took Mom for lunch in a nearby convenient restaurant. While eating, they had lots of stories reminiscing their time in the Philippines. After lunch, at 1:30pm, they took Mom back to Northpoint Residences to rest for 3 hours. Ate Josie arranged a zoom meet with Jesus People (JP) old timers in the Philippines to have a special meeting with Mom while in her room. Love overflowed in this zoom meeting as everyone expressed their affection to Mom Lil. After an hour or so of fellowship, the online meeting was followed by JP brethren living in the USA. The same love overflowed. They finished well over past 9:00pm, too long a day for Mom, as they had her rest for the night. After saying goodbyes, Kuya Dan and team drove back to the house of Jesse to rest and sleep for the night.

The following day was their third and last day. After breakfast prepared by Jesse, Kuya Dan and team went to Mom for the last time. This time, Mom Lil hosted lunch for them at the dining hall of the Northpoint Residences at 1:00pm. More stories and fellowship again over lunch. At 2pm, Kuya Dan and team brought up Mom to her room where fellowship and more stories ensued. At 2:30pm Kuya Dan, Ate Tanette, and Ate Josie had to say goodbye to Mom Lil as Jesse took them to the Spokane Airport after a brief drive to the city. They flew back to Burbank, California via a brief 55 minutes layover at Salt Lake City Int’l Airport. Arriving Burbank Airport at 7:00pm, Kuya Dan and Ate Tanette were picked up by A. Check and K. Benjie Velarde and their son Benjairo, together with A. Myrns who stayed with them while Kuya Dan, Ate Tanette and Ate Josie were at Spokane. Ate Josie was picked up by her daughter Katrina while Kuya Dan and the team was driven to Anaheim again at Ate Ciely's place. Next stop Oxnard California. Kuya Dan, Ate Tanette and Ate Myrna thank everyone for their prayers! GLORY TO GOD!!!