Another Answered Prayer in the Making

I don’t want to sound presumptuous. But this early on I just can’t contain my excitement. I think another prayer of mine is in the process of being answered . . . .

This time, I think God has seen it fit for me to have my very own Nikon D80 digital SLR.    

Photography, I think, was my very first love. Starting from the moment my uncle, Noli, gave me a compact camera (using 110 film) way back in the late 70’s or early 80’s. At that time, I knew nothing of art and composition and all other things pertaining to photography. I simply knew how to load film and click the shoot button. 

My second camera (I can’t quite recall any in between), was also a gift. One from my uncle Ecy’s wife, aunt Malou. She gave me an Olympus IZM300 Quartzdate. I still have it. But it no longer works..

 Olympus IZM300 Quartzdate

The next camera I had was still a gift. My dad’s Canon AE-1. I loved this camera. It was my very first SLR camera. Unfortunately, it fell to its eternal (?) brokenness when my friend accidentally dropped it from about 4 feet above the ground. 

The last camera I’ve owned is a digital one with 2.1 megapixels, the Olympus D-510 Zoom, a gift from my aunt Aida when she came over for a visit from California. It was from this moment that I began admiring Olympus digital cameras. Compared to other digital cameras with the same megapixels, mine produced better quality pictures. Better colors too. I haven’t used it since our return trip from Boracay last July. There appears to be something jammed inside. 

Going back to answered prayers, several friends of mine have been encouraging me to get a DSLR. It’s been a long time since I’ve considered going back to a more serious type of photography (not that I’m even half as good as most). I’ve been praying about it. And I think the Lord in the midst of answering my prayers regarding this. 

Out-of-the blue, my aunt Mimi and then later, my mom, offered to buy me one. Also, out-of-the-blue, my cousin’s husband, Wilbert, buzzed me on Yahoo! Messenger and inquired if I would like him to buy me a camera in Japan. He’s been working there for about two years now and he occassionally sends Balikbayan boxes here. He said he offered to buy me one since he couldn’t fill up the next box he was sending. 

We discussed matters. He sent me the quote of the Nikon D80 kit. With a 4GB SDC and a Lowepro SlingShot 200 AW, the package costs P48,000 he says. A very good deal since the cheapest local stores around Hidalgo Street in Quiapo (Mayer’s and Henry’s) offer just the Nikon D80 kit with a 1GB SDC and a small camera bag between P45,000-46,000. Jerry Tieng offers a similar package as the one I’m getting from Wilbert for about P56,000. He calls it Jerry’s D80 Safari Special 1. I’ve asked friends and other photographers and they all say I’m getting a very good deal from Japan through Wilbert. (The Lowepro SlingShot 200 AW bag alone costs P4,500 here.)

Plus, it’s got a 5-year warranty. The con is that it can only be used in Japan. However, Wilbert says he intends on staying in Japan for at least another 5 years and promises to take care of any repairs I would be needing.

To top things off, Wilbert offered his own deal–I can pay him on installment! P48,000 if I’ll pay within 3 months. P50,000 if I pay up within 4 months.

Wow. I’m excited because I’ve asked around (and even tried looking around myself) and there’s not a better deal to be found!

So I can only conclude at this point that these are all of God’s doings. And these are all part of God’s blessings to me. I am amazed at how generous God is with me, in spite of all my imperfections and shortcomings. Thank God for that!

Is this another answered prayer in the making? I certainly hope it is! And if it is, then by the second week of March 2008 (at the latest), I’d have my very own brand new Nikon D80 to have and to hold–til death do us part! (I hope!)