A servant's heart

In loving memory of Ferdinand “Don” Roque

August 18, 1974 - January 29, 2010

He loved kids. But most of all, he loved God.

Let me just share to you a story of a man whom I was so privileged to meet.

His name was Don Roque, a regular volunteer at our church. I would always see Kuya Don helping out at the kids church and just cheerfully serving wherever help was needed. I remember seeing him carrying akid in his arms, while holding the hands of 2 more kids, while a line of more than 10 kids were holding hands and following him. That was Kuya Don, always making sure the kids would get home safely and learn about God. Seeing him with this passion always inspired me to help out at the kids church.

Sometimes after serving, we would spend time and eat at KFC. I would never forget the day Kuya Don taught us how to play 7up. We were so noisy at KFC but we really had fun. He would never hesitate to share God’s word. I have learned so much from Kuya Don… like the importance of having the heart to serve. He taught me that we should always make sure our heart is to serve for God and not for men… and he did live by what he preached. He was a man with a servant’s heart.

Last night, we attended Kuya Don’s necrological rites at Areflor Memorial in Makati. It was heart warming to see hundreds of people from the church to pay their last respects to our beloved Kuya Don.

Kuya Don’s older brother shared a story that really touched our heart. There came a time when he was diagnosed with lung cancer and did not tell his family. He went to the hospital by himself because he did not want to be a burden to them. It came to a point wherein the cancer had reached stage (terminal stage) and that was the only time his brothers were able to know about it.

His brother shared to us Kuya Don’s big hope and faith in God at that time of trial. He remembered seeing Kuya Don holding up his chest tube bottle attached to his chest, going from bed to bed, sharing God’s word with the other patients. There was also a time when one of the patients tried to commit suicide by jumping of the window, luckily, Kuya Don was able to grasp his foot. He was able to share God’s word with that patient.

There came a time when they couldn’t afford staying at the hospital anymore so they decided to go back to their province in Pangasinan. It was a leap of faith.. one of his lungs had already shrunk and the other was starting to get the cancer.. but by faith.. and a lot of prayer…. God was able to cure him. Kuya Don was a miracle. His lung regenerated, and after a year of medications and prayers… he was healed. The power of faith is so strong!

We all ask how someone dies… when the right question is HOW DID HE LIVE, and this man lived in God’s word and in his simple ways, he was able to plant millions of seeds in our hearts especially in those children he shared with in his life.

Kuya Don, you have touched my life, and have inspired me to be who I am today, as God’s servant. We will continue to share your love to the world. I’m sure you are happy with God right now up there. Thank you