The Beginning
HE SAID
It started simply enough. Fr. Dan, the pastor at our parish, encouraged me to join a pilgrimage he was leading. I didn't want to go — cost was a prohibitive factor.
He insisted one Sunday, and he did it in front of my Mom. Mom had been on a few pilgrimages herself and loved them, so she said I should go and added, "I'll pay for it!" That's all it took.
Well, it took a couple of tries. The first time was before COVID, and of course that trip never happened. Fr. Dan approached me again in early 2023, Mom promised to pay again, and I relented. Plus, what's not to love about a paid European trip?
This would be my first time in Europe. I was in my mid-50s — about time. I readied my gear because I wanted to document everything. Cameras in hand, even my GoPro.
The flight would take me from Manila to Dubai to Lisbon. I'd never been to the Middle East, even if it was only a two-hour layover — still cool. I flew Guam to Manila, spent an overnight wandering the city before my 10pm flight out on Emirates — another first — eight hours to Dubai, then another eight to Lisbon.
(Passport stamp photo here)
While gathering and waiting for the rest of the group, that's when I first saw her. There were no butterflies — you know what I mean. I just scanned the group and most looked to be retirees enjoying their best lives.
Our first stop was Igreja de Santo Antonio de Lisboa. We parked by the main street and walked up cobblestoned roads to the church. That walk was our first real encounter. She was helping her aunt, who was in a wheelchair. When we hit the cobblestones, I volunteered to fold up and carry the wheelchair while she assisted her aunt through the winding streets.
Her unyielding focus on helping her aunt, compared to my wide-eyed awe at actually being in Europe — in Portugal — was something. I was giddy about the experience. She was locked in on her aunt. If she was impressed by the surroundings, it didn't show. Maybe it was in that moment I decided she was someone I wanted to get to know better.
SHE SAID
My aunt is a devout pilgrim. When she went to the Holy Land, she traveled with my brother, Prince. For this Marian pilgrimage, she was supposed to be accompanied by my other brother, Jryl. But fate intervened, and I found myself chosen to join her on this all-expenses-paid European adventure. Who wouldn't seize that opportunity? I eagerly signed up.
Europe was captivating, but my primary motivation was to strengthen my relationship with God and to support my aunt. Her knee was in poor condition, so she would mostly be in a wheelchair. I wanted to be there for her. Most of the pilgrims were incredibly helpful and thoughtful, but one particular pilgrim stood out with his unwavering persistence and kindness throughout the entire trip. To be honest, I didn't notice him until we reached Spain, where he fell ill. We went to a pharmacy to get him some medicine.
Even before our story unfolded, I sensed the miracles that occurred during this pilgrimage. I pushed my aunt's wheelchair through the cobblestone streets of Lourdes during the procession, and I felt an incredible sense of weightlessness, as if floating. I was deeply moved by the devotion of other pilgrims who finished the procession despite their declining health. And then there was this — a profound love that blossomed between me and this pilgrim. At first, I tried to suppress my feelings. But it was hard to deny that I wanted to get to know him better.
That pilgrimage gave us more than we expected. We went looking for something spiritual and found each other. This blog, this channel, this journey — it all started on those cobblestone streets.
We're Hank and Lyn, and this is just the beginning.
