It is no secret that many people would like to travel to other places if only they have the means to do so. People would save their hard-earned money to be able to achieve their dreams for travel to distant places even just once in their lifetime.

Unfortunately, not many are able to travel on account of hardship and difficulties in life. I have learned from many of our brethren living in other provinces who were able to keep the Feast of Tabernacles in Iloilo.

Many have expressed their deep appreciation and gratefulness for the opportunity given for them to go to a place outside of their respective places. A lot of our brethren say that if it were not for the help of the Church in extending them the opportunity to observe God’s festival, perhaps they could not experience seeing other places until they die.

I could see the truth in what they say, for I had been in the same situation before. I had my share of living in, and dreaming of traveling to, other countries outside the Philippines—if possible, knowing that it is just a wishful dream. Life then was a struggle mainly on how to meet daily needs to stay alive, abandoning the dream of travel.

Today, by God’s grace and mercy, with His undying love and purpose for our lives, things have changed. It seems travel to other places outside our own is no longer elusive for us—not only within our country but also sometimes to places which still remains a dream to many.

In the work that God has given us, travel is a necessity, but it is not the kind of travel that we have dreamed of before. It is a task with a purpose greater than we thought, greater even than life—for it is not for the purpose of pleasure, but one of accomplishing the task God has given us, to serve and nurture people whom He called and those that will be called later in the future.

With the four congregations in the Visayas and one in Semporna, Sabah in Malaysia under our care, we find that there’s a need to travel. Three times in a month, we have to travel to Leyte province to serve the three congregations in Tacloban, Isabel, and Baybay. We also travel to Sabah, Malaysia at least twice a year to visit our spiritually hungry brethren. We only have one Sabbath in Bacolod to serve our brethren.

What once was remote and impossible for us to travel to before our calling becomes a normal routine. But travel is not always what we would like to expect, that is, something you would enjoy. Travel has its share of hardship and difficulties. I remember one time in our trip from Sabah, we were not able to eat until we reached Zamboanga because of foul weather that caused big waves to rock the boat. On another time we were on board the boat from Ormoc, which was supposed to leave at 10 in the evening. We slept soundly thinking that the following morning we will be in Cebu, only to find that we were still in Ormoc the next day because the coast guard authorities won’t allow the boat to leave the port because there was a storm signal. We were stranded for a day. I remember the experience of the apostle Paul in many of his journeys. Knowing that it is part of our commission in preaching the word of God and serving the spiritual needs of our distant brethren, we look at it as just a stepping stone in the accomplishment that is set before us.

Every time my wife and I reach home after each journey we look back with satisfaction and smile with joy in our heart knowing that we were able to serve God and His people in the small way we can.

Once we dedicate our life to the task God has given us, we don’t mind the hardship and difficulties, because everything will just turn into joy and accomplishment.

Present events may try to disrupt our goal. But let’s be reminded of what Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take courage. I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

If we’re determined to pursue the greatest quest in life—eternal life in God’s Kingdom, no difficulty can stop us. “Who can separate us from the love of Christ, shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?” (Romans 8:35)