31/03/2023
THE WHY
Like most people, we too were caught off guard when Covid-pandemic scammed the world. We’ve got locked down the four corners of our home and all plans got messed up.
But it wasn’t as if we can’t do anything at all. We can’t let time just pass us by not making any progress. It wasn’t as if we were robbed of all the access to the outside world. We have the advent of technology and social media, why not take advantage of it, right? Hence, we’ve thought of doing something worth giving a try—sell our coffee (that’s scored 5 stars by family and friends) through online ordering platforms. It was really just for fun, after all, we had too much time and energy to spare, why not earn some bucks out of it? No pressure.
Lo and behold, G&G was a blockbuster! 5 stars coming from customers no longer our family and friends; unbelievable, incredible feedbacks we couldn’t wrap our heads around; regular customer keeps growing; and the list goes on. It became a hit we weren’t prepared for the demands. Once again we’ve been caught off guard, only this time, in a good way. It was a good problem we enjoyed solving ‘till one day we found ourselves having an established coffee business. To sum it up, we thank God that it was a success story. However, in every story is an inevitable ending. Not all ending is sad though.
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:… a time to plant and a time to uproot (Ecclesiastes 3:1,2). The Lord is now uprooting us from Cabanatuan. Although from the get go of this venture, we knew already that we’re not gonna stay, we’re gonna move eventually, the only question then is when? And that is why having that in mind, we never invested to put up a dining area, why we maintained the pickup & delivery system.
As covid restrictions have almost totally eased and almost everything has started to go back to the old normal + the developments in our personal lives = is the answer to our question. The when is now! We too, after much deliberation, weighing all considerations, must go back to our old normal in a different location. Time to leave.
Did you know that your baristas in this coffee shop gig are a sister and a brother tandem? And the brother is a medical student. G&G became his breather from the tedious and daunting tasks of med school, but now it’s time to fully concentrate again on pursuing his medical career to which the whole of his student life trajectory has always been leading to. His barista stint has come to an end.
The Lord is now bringing us back to where we undoubtedly belong. Every ending is a new beginning. Time to pack our bags…… and our espresso machines because we’re bringing G&G with us to Manila! Lord willing 🙏🏻 It’d be the new main branch. (Who knows? We might open a satellite here in Cabsy.)
By God’s grace, we’re bidding farewell on a high note. It may be fleeting but we’ve learned a lot not just in doing a business such as this, more so, we’ve learned so many life lessons we won’t ever acquire from school or other things but exclusively from our G&G experience that’s been engraved in us. Short but sweet.
This may be a closing of curtains for good or perhaps a pause, we don’t know what tomorrow brings. If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that (James 4:14,15) Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand (Proverbs 19:21). For now, we are just truly grateful for the wonderful G&G Cabanatuan memories serving you our coffee for past 2 years (my eyes are actually welling up as I write this concluding post) 🥹🥹 it has been God’s amazing providence like a serendipitous discovery of an oasis in a desert. Thank you, thank you, thank you so much, Grind & Ground loyalists, from the bottom of our hearts. The pleasure is all ours. We love you! ❤️
We would like to thank the following:
Our family, especially our parents, for cheering us on and for praying with us.
Our friends who helped us promote the business.
Our suppliers, delivery partners, kuya riders, staff, bookkeeper, and shoutout to our Ate Nora who has been our all-around support since day 1.
Our inspiration, my daughter (with special needs), who taught us how to appreciate baby steps, not to take for granted the little things in life, and to celebrate small achievements. We see in her that life is hard, but equally true, we see in her that life is beautiful.
To our Almighty God, the Lord Jesus Christ, in Him alone do we find true hope, everlasting peace, gracious forgiveness, and eternal life.
Lastly, we would like to leave you with these five encouragements as our parting gift.
• Life is a journey. Every station is ordained by God and whatever He ordains is right. Time and again, we are confronted between choosing either to stay or to go. The best way to know which one to take is to obey the Lord, not follow our hearts. Again, to obey the leading of the Lord according to His Word. That’s always the best way.
• “If you could have chosen your own circumstances and conditions in life, you could not have made so wise a choice as God has made for you.” – Charles Spurgeon
• "Wealth is no mark of God's favor. Poverty is no mark of God's displeasure." – J.C. Ryle
• “Suffering brings out graces that cannot be seen in a time of health or prosperity. It is the treading of the grapes that brings out the sweet juices of the vine; so it is affliction that draws forth submission, weanedness from the world, and complete rest in God. Use afflictions while you have them.” – Robert Murray Mc’Cheyne
• “Contentment is not by addition but by subtraction: seeking to add a thing will not bring contentment. Instead subtracting from your desires until you are satisfied only with Christ brings contentment.” – Jeremiah Burroughs
SOLI DEO GLORIA!
So long,
☕️ Grind & Ground Team
