From Selling Popsicles, Metal Junks, Animal Bones to Retirement
Before I stepped into the grade school, I was already out of our house selling popsicles, metal junks, bottles and cans, and anything that I can make money from… I had fun. I have to do anything and anyways I can so I can have some cash to buy what I want, and go to a cheap movie theater. Back then, the tickets for the theater were just .50 cents.
Here are some of the sources of income I had as a kid, until I was a teenager. We picked up shellfish at the seashore and sold them. I gathered some aluminum, metals, and dextrose bottles from the hospital next door, and sold them to the junk shop. It was so gross, especially when I see blood or something that you usually see in the Emergency room or hospital rooms. It's just so inappropriate to elaborate. I used to sell paper bags, sweepstakes tickets, newspapers, and I did shine shoes. At night, at the night clubs and tennis court; I was a 'watch car boy', I washed cars, and in the early mornings before heading up to school, I picked up plastics and animal bones in the market, and sold them to the wealthy Chinese. Ohh, the stinks.
I'm not ashamed to tell you that I scrubbed toilet bowls, and was the messenger of a prostitute. I became a Tennis Ball Boy, and Tennis trainer. I worked in a Bakery, and I tried a janitorial job. I know what it meant to sell candies, Tennis balls and Tennis rackets, and clothes so I could have something to eat at school or go to watch Bruce Lee's Movies, and some Filipino Movies.
I've worked with my older brother- pastor Samson helping him paint cars.
I was offered to sell Marijuana, but I refused, but ended up a user and addicted to the weeds. So unfortunate. I was taught by my parents to work hard and do 'Clean Jobs' as they called it. They wanted us to get an education. That's the reason why I refused to sell Marijuana although I knew there was good money on it. That's also one of the reasons why I hate stealing, and I hate what the thieves are doing. Growing up, I began to realize the reasons why my father didn't want me to hang out with my friends who are robbers and thieves was because of his principles in life.
"Always fair and square" was my motto. But in my blindness, I desired and planned to organize a team to rob a Bank, and after its successful operation, I will invest the money in properties or business. God did not allow it to happen. Praise God.
I worked in the Disco House as a dishwasher, bus-boy, then became a waiter, and was promoted to Disc Jockey. There are other things that I tried to generate some extra income from grade school to high school that's unnecessary for me to let the whole world know.
I sang in Night Clubs for wine, beers, good dinners or small amount of cash. I sang at parties, graduation, and special occasions or events.
When I came to know the Lord as my Lord and Savior, I did a janitorial job in a church while I was in my Seminary days. I was in 'Buy and Sell' when I was a pastor in Subic, Zambales, Philippines. My wife and I sell peanuts, and groceries that we delivered to Manila and Bulacan from Subic (US Military Base) Stores. We sell sweet potato chips, cornik, milk, and underwear for all ages and sexes. Yes, I assumed some of you might ask if I was selling panties and bras- I did, and I was criticized for doing so.
I was called to pastor a church in Makati after my almost one and half years in the Bible College. I was called to pastor a church with just 25.00 pesos a week allowance. I would sometimes have to walked from the Bible College in Mandaluyong at 1:00 PM in about 80 to 100 degrees temperatures to go to my church at Asiel Baptist Church in Makati; so I could be there with my Christian Workers for a meeting, and distributions of people to visit, updates of what's going on in our church, briefing on children extensions, and in preparation for our Prayer Meeting and choir practice. On my way back to the Bible College, I have to exercise my faith on that, but in case, I would ask a driver from International Baptist Church of Mandaluyong who passed by EDSA to pick me up. Only if money would not come in for me after the Prayer Meeting of which I could use for Bus fare.
Getting back to the Bible College (International Baptist Theological College) in Mandaluyong after walking back at night- if I had hot food on the table, I was fortunate. But I was grateful to have a cup of cold rice, and milk fish rather than being homeless, and I did not know where to get my dinner when I was in the world.
When I was called to pastor in Subic at the time Mount Pinatubo was exploding, it was a total step of faith. The church was leveled to the ground, with just the Karaoke machine, and the pulpit left standing. The members either left the place due to mass evacuation or some were in the hospital, helping their dead loved ones or relatives, but some unfortunately did not make it. On my first day, I had to walk from Olongapo with my backpack all the way to downtown Subic. It was raining and flooding. Two reasons why I walked: I have no money for jeepney fare. And there was not much public transportations picking up passengers at those times. It justified my purpose of just walking for miles and my dilemma of not having money for jeepney fare.
I became the pastor of the church who was very supportive of me, but sending my children to private schools with transportation services will drain my pockets.
I'm proud to say that my children grew up with nannies every day, their clothes are cleaned and ironed out for them by someone. They don't work to feed themselves, and they went to American Based (ACE) Accelerated Christian Education. By the grace of God, we did every means we could to have a decent life. And it was all because of the wisdom and the strength God gave us.
Here in the USA, when we started our life here as new Immigrants with my family; I started as the assistant to the Senior pastor. But it did not make me an office man. I mowed the lawn, I removed snow all over the parking space, I cleaned up the church, I made coffee, I was the choir director, Sunday school teacher, and on weekdays was doing Bible studies with the intention to plant a church.
I also drove for people who wanted to come to church, and at the same time I took an extra job as Security Officer on weekdays. I took it as an honor, and a great privilege to be of service to our King even in that capacity. There is no word for me to express my gratitude to the church that adopted me, and made me do the best I can for His glory.
The opportunity opened up to work in a Record Company as a Records Specialist was actually a time grabber. At the same time when I was working at a Record Company, I was also doing buy and sell on Ebay and Craigslist. Amazon came over and my business slowed down.
Sickness made me quit all the sources of income I had during those times, although I was still very active on my new church plant. And I was already a Self- Published Author. With that, came the blessings of speaking engagements, and of course love gifts.
After a few years, I tried Uber when it was new in Michigan, and I loved the good income although it was not very pleasant to be in for me, because some passengers were using it to transport something that is against my spiritual convictions and Bible belief, therefore I quit at the request of my wife. My wife and I had the longest discussions on the table, and in the car talking about me going back to work, and buying a new vehicle. She won. She just wanted me to keep on writing, and drive her to her work. It seems her idea was working good for us. I should say, "We Won!".
At the time of this writing, my wife is at work, and I am writing this with the plan of retiring in 3 Months.
While my wife and I were having breakfast, my wife Vem was complaining about getting tired of chewing. We had rice, boiled eggs, turkey bacon, coffee, and french toast. My wife suddenly stopped chewing and said; "I get tired chewing this bacon…" I jokingly asked; "Do you know why old people lost their teeth when they passed the senior years, and some lose them earlier?" She said; "When we were young, we're dependent on milk, we could crawl and were unable to walk, we were dependent on everything and to everyone. And we are going backwards or something…" I said those are all right. But I said the reason why God allows it to lose the old people's teeth was because He knows that in our old age, we will have all the time to chew our food. When you're retired, you own your time and days. So just keep on chewing, we have all our time.
Why do we eat? We eat when we feel hungry. We wanted to ease the calling of our tummies to fill the empty stomach. We ate because we wanted to try the food. We eat because we have to with friends or loved ones.
We rushed to finish our meals for various reasons: 1- We're late to our appointments. 2- We need to go or finish something. 3- We don't want to lose in our games with our gadgets. 4- We are watching a movie, reading, or doing something else while eating. 5- Social Media and phone calls. And many other reasons. But did you try eating and really taste the goodness of the food you ate, and smell the aroma of your food? Try Chewing!
After years of hard work, learning at schools, living a life with positivity and positive value, working hard and with work ethics, and helping my children succeed; it's time to lay down the baton, and live the rest on what we love the most of which we think we might really enjoy doing. Our time together with God, and spending time for Missions, and the work of the Lord matters most for Vem and I.
Our goal was to retire without any single debt, with money in our Bank enough to support us for 6 Months without any money making job or business, and just live with our retirement. And be supportive to the Ministries either by our time or finances.
I shared this to you because I know this may be of interest to you. And I believe this will bless your heart, and be grateful. I want you to read part of the book I'm writing to give you a short Preview. Watch for it! "Debts, Deaths, and the Day of the Lord". Soon!
Ely Roque Sagansay
Minister/Author/Editor
Most of All- Honored to be The Servant of the Lord
