February 19, 2025 – Love at the Hanging Bridge

    We slept soundly in the middle of the night We enjoyed our morning and went for a hike down to the hanging bridge. We took pictures, and we laid down beside one another on the hanging bridge. We cuddled for quite some time and spoke words of love to one another. It was so sweet to cuddle (fully-clothed of course) by my sweet Butterflyhanna. We are still growing in love. Every day with her is so refreshing...like a fresh spring rain. We cause each other to soar like butterflies, but we are like love-bugs also. Both of us love physical affection, maybe a little too much for this particular point in our relationship. More on this later.

    After cuddling on the hanging bridge, hugging a native tree, hugging bamboo groves, hugging each other, and taking many pictures, we headed back to the cottages to pack our belongings. We packed up and Johanna washed off. There is no shower in the bathroom...there is a shower head connected to the toilet water inlet. You simply wash off in the bathroom and there is a drain in the floor of the bathroom. It's a pretty neat way to do it, although, you have to bend over to wash your upper-body and hair. From there, Marvin, Johanna, and I went to the Ten Commandments monument and the lookout to take pictures. Kuya Marvin took our pictures, we enjoyed the sights and beauty of God's miraculous creation, and then we headed to Antipolo City to eat some lunch. We went to McDonald's. There menu is very different from an American McDonald's. Their menu consists mostly of fried chicken, believe it or not. We all got a two piece fried chicken combo with white rice. My combo came with white rice and french fries. It was a scrumptious meal that got us ready for the adventure ahead. We drove from McDonald's to a mountain overlooking the entire city of Manila. I believe we were close to Pintong Bocawe. We went to an adventure getaway that had a bicycle zip line, a swinging bridge, and a great big tower with a 360 degree view overlooking the city of Manila. First, we enjoyed and were thrilled on the bicycle zipline and the swinging bridge. Then, we went horseback riding. I was riding on a black stallion named Zorro, and Johanna was on a brown and white horse named Applejack. Two guides led us up a mountain dirt road on the horses. You kick with your feet and relax the reins to make the horse go. You pull the reins to the left to make the horse go left, and you pull the reins to the right to make the horse go right. You pull back on the reigns to make the horse stop. Johanna had a blast and she learned how to control the horse on her own. My horse, Zorro, was in a bad mood so the tour guide held onto my reigns so as not to buck me off the horse. Overall, we had a fabulous time, and afterward we went up the tower to take in the views of Manila and have a Bible study as well.

    It was during this time that I approached Johanna with a little concern. I felt that we were being too touchy feely, since we are still not married yet. I think we should be careful not to get too close because that will most definitely lead to sexual desire...at least on my part. I feel it is ok to hold hands, and to hug each other every now and then, but to hold each other like we did on the hanging bridge was taking it a little too far. She respected my wished and agreed not to be too intimate with one another until after we are married. This was a delight to both of our spirits, and then we continued along with our Bible study atop the tower.

    We were able to view the most beautiful sunset atop the tower. We made sure not to get too close, but we savored every moment we were looking out at the fiery setting sun behind the Manila skyline. We descended the tower after sunset and our Bible study. The lights of Manila were like stars in the everlasting night sky. Twinkling stars in the dark night. We ate outside at a restaurant at the adventure center. We ordered a pepperoni pizza and a cowboy burger (by accident—Johanna thought it was a cowboy burger pizza). When the order arrived, it was a burger (a very delicious burger, indeed). Marvin ate with us underneath the covered tiki hut. We all shared the pizza, Johanna ate a bit of the burger, I had a berry shake, and Johanna had a mango shake. Throughout the whole time at dinner, Marvin and Johanna were talking in Tagalog. I didn't understand a word they were saying. They did this on the drive home to my condo in Taguig as well. I overheard my name a few times in their conversation, but I really wasn't sure what they were taking about. This lasted for about two to three hours from the adventure zone to my condo. For some reason it didn't bother me too much. I enjoyed listening to them and hearing them laugh. Even though I wasn't a part of their conversation, it was an enjoyable evening nonetheless. At the end of the day, I ran out of money. I gave Marvin my last 2,500 pesos, and then I retired for the night.

    Thank you Jesus for this most wonderful time to bond with Johanna and her family. Thank you for using me to reconnect both Marvin and Johanna and to bring joy to their life, smiles to their faces, and laughter to their hearts. Thank you. Please forgive me for hurting Johanna's heart. Some of the things I've done to her (neglect her, break up with her, and not communicate regularly with her) are despicable and I pray that you, oh Lord, Jesus Christ, can forgive me. I also pray that Johanna can forgive me as well. I'm not sure why we waited so long to get married, but here we are, finally under your guidance and your leadership. My sins are oh so terrible, but I know through the blood of Jesus Christ and by the power of his resurrection, I am redeemed. Please alleviate all my doubts, and allow me to serve you wholeheartedly, sharing and showing the love and the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all people I meet. Thank you Lord, for the wonderful day with Marvin and Johanna. May we cherish every moment. Amen!