Dash Between

Dash Between

In the year 1990, a precious baby from one of the 7,107 islands in the Philippines couldn’t be stopped to kick her mother’s womb to indicate the most awaited time for her to see the first ray of light from Mr. Sun. A time ordained for this cuddly creature to first time gasp air thru her God given frame. That’s how the story started.

Her very presence brought forth her mom’s creativity on how to name her in a way nobody could ever think of. Combining her dad and her mom’s syllables name, Robert – Robe and Conchita – Con guess what, here’s Robecon. Wait, there’s more, further challenging her creativity, Gabriela was in her mind, as an act of gratitude for the woman who helped in this baby’s delivery she took the last 2 syllables iela, hmm… how to read this? Well, that’s not a problem, mum thought (yeah on her own) that she’s a pronunciation teacher she pronounced it as /ʌɪlʌ/. So, the full name is Robecon Iela Chakiton. It’s unique! Isn’t it?

Growing up as a child, curiosity and queries created confusions in this little kid’s mind. Keeping them all deep within her and taking every opportunity to at least make sense of every unknown. At first, she dreamt of becoming the best agriculturist in their town, she pretended to experiment putting organic stuff to fertile the land she valued in their small backyard garden. Awesome, what’s more, surely you can ‘t picture her delighted heart when she first saw the bud, the flower, the green to pink to scarlet red strawberry that she couldn’t wait to give to her loving mother. How did this happen? - A fruit from a plant? Miracle? Science?

As time passed by her aspirations started to change- from being an agriculturist to a passionate teacher. Oh yeah a teacher but with no specific major yet (she’s too young to think about that). Enjoying games with imaginary roles, she used to be a “teacher”, so she had to study her books to teach her playmates even if it was just a game. She even practiced alone in front of the mirror to the extent of writing on the walls that she had to clean before mum got home. But still marks were seen, too bad mum got angry because of that.

Studying in high school, all the more kindled her heart to be a teacher. Then, she thought of a major as motivated by her English Teacher. To add to the fact that English is not that connected to Mathematics her water loo. Driven to push her dream she took her test and given a chance to pursue the field.

Before her day of graduation, as excited as she was she applied to a school with amazing record in town, guess what she was taken to be part of the faculty with awesome and excellent individuals who were ever passionate to help her in every way. After 2 years the journey had to end for another open door waiting to enter in. A school for Asians like Koreans, Japanese, Chinese and even Arabs was opened for this little fella to see life beyond what she thought was. Acceptance of the truth that people come in and go was impossible lesson she “had” to learn. It took her more than a year to go through this said process but still work in progress.

Another undated travel to Cambodia was at hand. She flew to Singapore to Cambodia alone. She experienced God’s grace – amazing grace! In her very mind were her prayers and cries for the nation that she’s heading to – believing it’s the perfect time for her to step on the land. She heard about this country Cambodia when she was in middle school and started to pray for it until she finished university. When she started to work as if this thought was no longer part of her priorities and plans. Well, it still was. I would have to say that it was just a pause to prepare her to face what’s ahead. There in Cambodia , she applied for teaching job and granted part-time in two schools and later full-time in one of the two. Teaching with the vision and heart to share what genuine love is all about. “Genuine love that is only anchored in Jesus’s Himself.” More than 3 years of learning and giving one’s heart. Opportunities were given to demonstrate Jesus’s love. That’s what motivated her to wake up each brand new day. In her mind is the thought that she’s just a sojourner in the land - so making the most of it matter’s the most because she never knows when to say “It’s time to go.”

Now, she’s in her new school teaching primary – teaching Math, a thought that never crossed her mind, but then the reality kicked in. “Just enjoy the present and learn as much as you can.” At the moment, she’s still in the land of her prayer. Meeting and spending time with diverse people around the world who are constantly coming into this country is such an awesome season for this fella. Season worth cherishing!

2 or 5 years more, still unknown, but one thing is for sure – she has a mission to accomplish before the next chapter of this note is to be written.

• Note: Photos are not mine.