To Walk with God in Peace (Ang Lakad ni Pastor)

I am so amused with stories of people risking their lives for a cause. Physically fit as he is in his past 50, this pastor is going to trek from Davao de Sur (Mindanao) to Aparri Cagayan Valley in Luzon. It is a long walk to dramatize his plea to stop extra-judicial killings of journalists, suspected criminals, and the destruction of our natural resources. It’s a walk for a cause, considering his age and physical limitations, can he do it?

Pastor to walk for end to killings 

By Eldie Aguirre, Orlando Dinoy

DIGOS CITY, Davao del Sur, Philippines — A 58-year-old Seventh Day Adventist pastor has launched a walk from his hometown in Matanao, Davao del Sur to Aparri in Cagayan Valley to dramatize his call for an end to unabated extrajudicial killings of journalists, militants, and suspected criminals, plus the massive environment destruction.

Edervin Samson of Barangay (Village) Camanchiles set off alone on Thursday and has been in contact with his family through a mobile phone.

Bringing only an umbrella, some food, and a few clothes tucked in a small bag, Samson informed his family, friends, and associates that he finally reached General Santos City on Saturday.

“I wanted to stop the practice of extra-judicial killings, which is against the law of God, and to encourage people to renew their faith in Him,” Samson told reporters when he passed by here on Thursday.

The trek to Aparri and back is a new endeavor according to the pastor and is the most daring walk he made in his life as marathoner.

But he said his past experience in marathons would surely help him in attaining his goal.

Samson clarified though that he would take ferries when moving from island to island.

On April 7, 1988, Samson joined an anti-drug marathon from Davao City to Manila. They reached Manila on May 26 of that year.

A year later, he and 34 others embarked on a similar activity and reached Manila on May 2, 1999.

For his Matanao-Aparri-Matanao walk, Samson said he estimated that it would last until January 22, 2010.

But he said he was determined to finish the course in a bid to draw people’s attention to the killings and environmental destruction.

“Humans are only stewards of this planet and we don’t have any right to kill people or destroy the environment that God has entrusted to us,” he said.

Samson said he would be stopping by selected areas from time to time to preach the Gospel.

He said he would ask the people to pray for his safety, so that he could finish the course without hitches.

Sa kalagayan ng ating bansa ngayon na nagkakagulo, kailangan natin ang mga ganitong hakbangin upang paalalahanan ang buong bansa na magkaisa para sa kapayapaan at kaunlaran.

Magandang hakbang ito Pastor, lakad ng kapayapaan at pagmamahalan. Ito’y lakad ng pagpapakasakit upang imulat ang mga Filipino na magmahalan, mabuhay ng tahimik, iwaksi ang karahasan, at pag-ingatan ang ating kalikasan na siyang nilikha ng Diyos para sa atin at ang mga darating pang henerasyon ng ating bayan.

Malayo rin ang mararating ni pastor sa lakad na ito. Ang lakad na ito ay isang pahiwatig ng pagkakaisa at pagmamahalan natin lahat bilang mga anak at alagad ng Diyos. Maging ano man ang iyong relihiyon at pananampalataya, iisa lang ang tungo ng ating pagsamba, ang Diyos na tunay na makapangyarihan sa lahat na siyang patuloy na gumagabay at nagmamahal sa atin.

Ako’y natutuwa sa lakad ni pastor, bilang isang manggagamot nais kong magkaisa tayong lahat para panatiliin o protektahan ang buhay, igalang natin ang buhay ng isang tao dahil ito ay pag-aari ng Diyos. At tanging Diyos lamang ang may karapatan na kunin ang buhay ng bawat isa sa atin.

Ito ang isang adhikain ng Klinika Bobonyo, ang gamutin ang suliranin ng bayan, hindi lang ang katawan ng tao, para tayong lahat ay mabuhay nang tahimik, mapayapa, at maunlad.

Alam ko lahat tayo ay may mga paniniwala at paninindigang pulitikal, ang akin lang ay igalang ang paniniwala at paninindigan ng bawat isa sa atin. At sa puntong iyan tayo naman ay magkaisa sa paghimay ng mga suliranin ng bayan at mag-isip ng mga riyalistikong sulosyon para sa ikabubuti ng ating buhay at ang kinabukasan ng ating mga anak.

Let us give peace a chance, let us walk with God in peace. Ito ang lakad ni Pastor, lakad din ng buong bayan.