"I am not questioning God."
Filipino church worker Dennis Larida uttered these words despite the utmost grief he felt when he found out that his wife and son were among those killed during a terrorist bomb attack in Davao City, Philippines on Sept. 2 this year.
The terrorist attack on the home city of President Rodrigo Duterte claimed the lives of 15 people and wounded at least 71 others.
Speaking to CBN News, Larida said the pain that he feels is beyond words. However, he said, "I know it is His will for my wife and son to be in the glory of the Lord. I thank God for the strength that He is giving me."
He recalled that on that fateful Friday night, he and his wife Melanie decided to go the night market to have a massage in one of the stalls, taking their son with them. They were hoping for a nice family bonding time and a restful sleep after the massage.
But it turned into an eternal sleep for his wife and son when a terror suspect left an improvised explosive device inside in a bag which he placed under a table after having a massage himself. After leaving the scene, the suspect detonated the device consisting of two mortar rounds using a cell phone, investigators told Rappler.
Larida said he has realised God's purpose for what happened and is moving on with his life.
"I will terribly miss my family, but I also thank God because of what happened. I am able to spread the Gospel throughout the world because of our testimony," Larida told CBN News.
"If I meet the people who did this to my family, I will share the Gospel to them because who knows? They will be saved," he said. "The death of my wife and son are not in vain. Someday we will see each other in heaven."
Meanwhile, President Duterte warned last week that another terrorist bombing could hit the country, hinting that those behind the Sept. 2 deadly blast here were young Muslim militants who have sworn allegiance to the terrorist Islamic State (ISIS).
"There will be another explosion, believe me," Duterte said during a meeting with survivors and families of the victims in the night market bombing, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
He said he had expected the bomb attack after government troops launched intensive operations against the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu.
