Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Christmas Banquet

Last Sunday, we had our Christmas banquet after our church service. The kids in my Sunday School especially the girls were dressed up for the first time. I told them that we will have a picture taking during that day. They girls were pretty and some were wearing their sandals. I could tell they were so excited. The boys sang special song during the worship service followed by the girls. Then we listened to the message given by Pastor George. It’s all about Christmas of course. After the service we had our lunch inside the church. The tables and chairs were arranged to accommodate the pots of rice and different foods. I cooked chicken adobo and white beans. One of my uncles cooked pinakbet as I requested. It was so good. There was ginataang gabi, monggo, ginisang upo, lumpia, dinengdeng, etc. The kids were served first and then the adults. They like my chicken adobo. It was all gone. I was so full that day. I gained weight this holiday season. I hope to lose it soon.

We had parlor games after lunch. But before that, I asked the kids to recite all the verses that I asked them to memorize since we started Sunday School. There were three who were able to memorize but the first prize went to the 7 year old girl named Melissa. She has s fantastic memory. I gave the 2nd prize to a 9 year old girl and the 3rd prize went to an 11 year old boy. Then we started the parlor games. The kids and the adults participated. I gave out prizes to the winners and I distributed chocolates and candies to all. The kids and adults had a blast that day. We went home exhausted but I enjoyed it.

Youth Camp

Our young people will be going to attend the youth camp this coming 27th to 30th of this month. It will be their first time to attend and I’ve been helping them raise funds for their registration and fare. Most of our youth come from a poor family and so it’s really a burden for the parents to send them especially one mom has 3 kids who wanna go. I have 2 friends who already promised to help. I hope and pray that God will provide our youth’s financial need so they would be able to attend. I’m sure they will be greatly blessed with all the preaching, activities and also meeting new Christian friends from different Baptist churches. I’m planning to go with them as their counselor and chaperon.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Practice Today

The girls in my Sunday school had their practice today for their song number on Sunday. They will sing the Christmas song “Joy To The World.” I thought all of them know this song but to my surprise they don’t know it. I asked them what Christmas songs they know or what Christmas songs they learned from their school teacher and they said none. I was dismayed to hear that nowadays, public school teachers don’t teach their pupils some Christmas songs unlike during my grade school years. My teachers taught us Christmas songs during this season. The kids don’t even know the tune of “Joy To The World” so I have to teach them, sigh! I thought this is a very popular song that even young kids can sing but I was mistaken. Maybe the kids in that village where our church is have no radio or don’t watch tv very often. Maybe they don’t have CDs to listen to. Whatever. Tomorrow It’s the boys turn to practice their song and I hope they are better.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Wrapping Gifts and Prizes

Been busy buying gifts and prizes yesterday and today for our Christmas party in our church. We will be having parlor games for the kids as well as the adults. I already wrapped the gifts for the 2 kids who memorized most of the memory verses that I gave them. Also I wrapped the gift for the girl who always give her time to clean the church and arrange the chairs when hubby and I can’t make it. I wrapped a few of the prizes for the parlor games and I still have a bunch to wrap. I do it myself and I’m enjoying it.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Christmas Preparations

Yesterday I asked my youngest brother to drive for me. We went to the grocery store and bought prices for our Christmas party in our church on Sunday. I bought mostly junk foods, chocolates, candies and lollipops for the kids. We will be having our Christmas banquet after our service on Sunday, December 19th. Then we will have parlor games for the kids and adults. I will wrap the prices that I bought. The kids in my Sunday school will be having their exchange gifts too. I’m pretty sure they will enjoy our Christmas celebration.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Film Showing Ministry

We will be having a film showing tonight in our church. It was supposed to be last week but since we were busy with all the moving, we postponed it. The kids and the adults thought it was last Friday night and they were all there waiting. It was really a miscommunication. Today, we went to invite people for tonight’s film showing in our church. We will be doing it outside the building since it’s just small house and it won’t accommodate a lot of people. We will be showing the movie, “The Burning Hell.” Hubby will give a message after the film showing. I just hope and pray that people will be convicted and get saved.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

A Place To Stay

For almost two years since we arrived here in my homeland, hubby and I were staying in our family home with my brother, his wife and their 2 year old baby. My siblings and I were born and raised in that house and it’s my sister and I who spent for the renovation when we were still single and working. My aunt was still alive when we arrived January last year but she passed away last February. My aunt was the only sibling of my late mom so she inherited the house from their parents. Since she has no kids the house is automatically passed on to me and my siblings. My late sister and her family has a house and also my youngest brother and family. My other brother and I have no house of our own so we stayed in our family home. Hubby had been wanting to rent a house but I objected because why rent if we have a house to stay for free. Besides, I missed my siblings, nephews and nieces especially my aunt so I wanted to be with them and have bonding. I also wanted to help my brother because he was unemployed that time. So hubby and I spent money for the expansion of our bedroom and put a built-in cabinet for our clothes.

After my sister Violy passed away last September, I’ve been so lonely and every time I go to their house which is just next door, I can’t help myself but cry. Their house brings back a lot of memories of my sister and I just sobbed and sobbed alone inside their house while sitting at the couch where she used to sleep when she was sick. Hubby had seen me many times crying and he told me that it would be better to move out and find a house to rent so I will not be missing my sister but I said no until last month that my brother and I had a misunderstanding and it made me cry because I was hurt deeply. I then realized that it’s not good to stay in a house with two families. I told hubby that we will find a house for rent and move out of the house. I know it’s just normal for siblings to have some petty quarrels and misunderstandings but I had sleepless nights and my chest was heavy. My brother apologized and said sorry but I didn’t forgive him right away because I was hurt. Hubby told me to forgive him and not delay. So I talked to my brother and forgave him.

After a couple of weeks, the Lord has blessed us and we found a nice house to rent just a 5 minute drive from our family home. It’s a 2 bedroom bungalow house, 1 1/2 bathroom, nice porch, spacious land with lots of fruit bearing trees and it’s situated in a peaceful and not so crowded area. Neighbors are far, that’s what hubby like. In front of the house is a bamboo hut and that’s a bonus. Hubby and I were so excited! We just moved in here December 1st. We love the place and we thank the Lord for all the blessings and provisions.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Glad to be back...

…after over a month of no internet and blogging. The phone cables going to our area were stolen on the last week of October so it’s been a long respite from the computer for me. My eyes had rested and my fingers too but the bad thing is, I missed a lot of blogging opps. I could have earned money for Christmas for me and my loved ones. Hubby and I decided to apply from another internet service provider and we just got it tonight. It’s more pricey but there’s no more phone cables for the thieves to steal and it’s faster. Now I’m back to my blogging business and boy am I glad!.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Very nice Vernice!

Hubby and I went to the mall with my 2 year old niece Vernice today. She was so behaved and didn’t even cry or asked for milk. She asked hubby to carry her most of the time though especially in going up and down the escalator. We went to eat in the food court and I ordered lunch for the 3 of us. I ordered spaghetti and macaroni salad for her but she ate some of my rice with the beef soup first then the spaghetti. I ordered a value meal consisting of rice, chopsuey and beef adobo. Hubby got rice, fried chicken and beef adobo. Iced tea and beef soup was included in the meal. While we were eating, Christmas songs were being played and Vernice was swaying while eating to our delight and she was drawing attention from people in the other tables. Hubby said he noticed that people kept staring at him and then to Vernice. They might be wondering whether Vernice is hubby’s daughter or not because she don’t have American features, LOL! Vernice calls hubby “daddy” and she calls me “mommy”.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Sunday School

We had a great day yesterday. I taught Sunday school and the kids always inspire me because they are so interested. One 7 year old girl really amazed me because she can recite all the memory verses that I let them memorize since April without any mistake. Also she can recite the Our Father and the Ten Commandments by heart. Some kids can recite the verses too but had some mistakes. I gave chocolates to the kids who memorized the verses but I gave more to the 7 year old girl because she’s the best in the class. She beat the older kids when it comes to memorization. I also taught them a new song with action yesterday and of course I told them Bible stories and gave them coloring pages.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Latets Ministry Update

Last Sunday, we started the rice ministry in our church. A couple who are dear friends of ours from the states who attend our church are the sponsors. They told me that they used to do this in their church when they were in another province and their attendance really increased. So last week, we went to buy one sack of rice and we put in a plastic bag, 2 kilos each. During our service last Sunday, it was announced that we are giving away 1 plastic bag of rice per one household but only to the parent/s who attended our service. Most of the people who attend our church come from a poor family so 2 kilos of rice which is equivalent to 4.4 lbs is a great help to them. So after the service, Pastor George (my hubby) gave the bags of rice to the parents. There were 10 bags of rice which were given away. We hope and pray that next week our church attendance will go up when other parents will learn that our church is giving away rice to parents. By the way, last Sunday, there was one mom who attended our service for the first time. I think she learned about our rice ministry because I told it to 2 mothers when we had a visitation last Saturday. Well, we gotta do what we gotta do just to attract people to come to church. I tried to invite some people many times and they said yes but they didn’t come. We’ll see if our rice ministry will be effective to increase our attendance.

A million thanks to our dear friends who have the heart in helping God’s work and voluntarily sponsored the rice ministry in our church and also donated money in buying some Bibles. Thanks also to one of my Facebook friends in the US who donates money monthly through Paypal for my Sunday school kids’ supplies and snacks. I hope and pray that God will touch more people to help our church so we can buy a lot and later on build our own church building.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

It’s Gloomy

The super typhoon Juan had devastated the country and damaged a lot of crops, trees, properties and also claimed some people’s lives. I was watching in the news a couple of nights ago and I’ve seen how the typhoon had swept away a tricycle. They played it over and over in the tv. Now as the typhoon leaves, another storm is approaching. Oh my gulay! I hope it will make a U turn and not come here. We don’t need another storm. It’s still gloomy and raining here but my nephews went to school now. It’s been 3 days that they didn’t have classes. What I like about this weather is that it’s cooler and we don’t need to turn the AC on. But I don’t know why this weather reminds me of my late li’l sister. I’ve been missing her so much. Gosh, I still can’t believe she’s gone now. Before I go to bed at night I remember her, when I woke up in the middle of the night I think of her and when I wake up in the morning she’s still in my mind. Too many memories to remember and I haven’t recovered yet from losing her.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Raining

It’s raining this morning when I woke up. This is now the effect of the super typhoon that’s been in the news the past few days. They said it’s expected to landfall in the northern part of the country this afternoon. I just hope and pray it will not be that bad so the people there will not be greatly affected. My two nephews next door didn’t go to school. They said it’s signal #2 here in our town. It’s so gloomy outside and it feels good to sleep all day. Hubby is cooking pancakes right now in the kitchen for our breakfast while I’m here blogging. Hubby’s pancakes are the best. He cooks better pancakes than me. Love it

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Goodbye Violy (Part II)

Last August 9, 2010, Violy had palpitations that lasted a few hours and it made her weak and at the same time she had stomach pain. She thought she was going to die that time and she was just waiting for heartbeat to stop. She even said goodbye to us and told her husband not to take her to the doctor no more. She told us to let her go. She said she already suffered too much and she wanted to rest and see Jesus Christ. We were all crying that time. Violy told her hubby what clothes she wanna wear when she dies. She said it’s in the other room, her clothes that she wears when she sponsors a wedding. She also told Jhun to put her coffin at the carport so it has more space. I wasn’t able to stand that scene, I went to our house which is just in front of Violy’s house and kneeled down in our room and cried out to the Lord to heal Violy. Moments later, hubby came in and told me Violy was feeling better and I was so relieved.

As days and weeks went by, Violy’s health started to deteriorate. She became weaker and weaker and was unable to eat. She even lost her voice. Still we didn’t lost hope and we kept on praying. We were asking God that she will get well before her birthday. Then her birthday came and that was September 23rd. Her office mates called and asked if it’s okay if they will come and visit her and they will bring foods to celebrate her birthday. I said that sounds good and so they came around 3:00 PM that day and they brought pancit and roll cake. Her friends bought softdrinks too. Before they came, I fixed my sister’s hair, applied face powder on her face and put her earrings so she will look presentable. I was there entertaining my li’l sister’s visitors because she can’t talk no more. Violy was not able to eat the foods they brought. She got no appetite to eat and it was hard for her to swallow foods. The next day I was with her in their house and I was rubbing her back to ease the pain. This time she was already almost skin and bones. I wasn’t able to hold back my tears and I sobbed and cried while I hugged her. I told her how much I loved her and I thanked her for all the things she has done for me. I should have not cried beside her but my heart was really torn into pieces seeing her condition that time. Her two kids were just looking at us. My heart goes out to them.

Then on September 27th, I was sitting beside Violy on their couch in their living room. The couch was like her bed. She slept there sitting down because it’s hard for her to breath when she lie down because of her asthma. She slept like that for a couple of months. Then during late afternoon that day, three of our relatives came to see Violy and one of my aunts can’t help herself but cry when she had seen Violy’s condition, weak and very skinny. While we were talking, around 6:55 PM, I noticed my sister took a deep breath and so I said “Violy” but she didn’t respond. I tapped her hand and when we raised her head upwards, she was already gone. I cried and bawled like a little kid. My brother was crying too and also my relatives. Moments later I called Jhun, Violy’s husband who was at work but no answer. I tried many times but failed to contact him. My nephew called his cellphone too but no answer. My youngest brother and my husband tried to contact him too but still no answer. Later on we found out that his cellphone was on his desk in his office but it didn’t ring. All our calls didn’t register in his cellphone and until now we are puzzled.

My li’l sister’s suffering has ended. She is now in heaven where there’s no more sickness, no pain, no more tears and sorrow and although we know where she is now, we can’t help but feel sad because she’s no longer here with us. I can’t see her and talked to her everyday as I used to. Only her memories remain in our hearts forever. I lost my bestfriend, confidant and my one and only beloved sister whom I dearly loved. It really hurts and until now I haven’t gotten over it yet. I know Jhun and their 2 kids are still grieving. They may not say it but I can see it in their eyes. In due time, God will heal the wound of losing my li’l sister. We miss you Violy ading ko and we love you very much. Goodbye for now but see you in heaven someday.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Goodbye Violy (Part I)

It really hurt to lose someone you love. This year I lost 2 people that I dearly love. Last February, my beloved aunt who took care of us passed away. I cried so much because of that. Then last week September 27th, my beloved sister passed away. It hurt me deeply to see Violy go. I have 3 siblings but Violy is the closest to me because she’s my only sister. We prayed to God to heal her for more than 4 months. I lost count how many times I shed tears and cried out to out to God to please heal her for the sake of her 2 kids who are still young. I encouraged her many times and advised her to put her trust and faith in Jesus Christ. Our entire family had been praying together asking God for a miracle. I requested a lot of people from around the world to pray for her healing. We didn’t lose hope and Violy kept fighting for her life. Everyday I see her suffer and it broke my heart to pieces seeing her health deteriorate and I can’t do anything but to give her hope and pray. My sister was a very strong woman. She maybe petite and shorty but she can endure the pain without the aid of pain reliever. I’ve seen her suffer and she didn’t complain. Little by little her body slowly succumbed to her illness and how I cried every night to God to heal her miraculously. She fought the big C courageously and lost the battle. She had also heart trouble, asthma, gastritis and peptic ulcer. These illnesses really made her life so miserable during the past months.

I told my sister many times that I love her very much and I wasn’t ready to lose her. Since she lived next door, I was with her everyday when her boys and husband went to work. Hubby and I went with her in the hospital twice when she was hospitalized last June and July. She requested me to pray for her many times. I read a lot of healing verses to her. I took care of her during daytime and attended to her needs when she became weaker. I sang hymns to her and a few days before she passed away, she requested me to sing to her the hymn “When We All Get To Heaven.” I know it was very difficult for her husband and 2 boys seeing Violy suffer for almost 5 months. It was so hard for us her siblings too. Violy is a very great woman, a loving sister and a very compassionate person. It broke our hearts into pieces seeing her suffer and in pain everyday.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Goodbye Violy (Part I)

It really hurt to lose someone you love. This year I lost 2 people that I dearly love. Last February, my beloved aunt who took care of us passed away. I cried so much because of that. Then last week September 27th, my beloved sister passed away. It hurt me deeply to see Violy go. I have 3 siblings but Violy is the closest to me because she's my only sister. We prayed to God to heal her for more than 4 months. I lost count how many times I shed tears and cried out to God to please heal her for the sake of her 2 kids who are still young. I encouraged her many times and advised her to put her trust and faith in Jesus Christ. Our entire family had been praying together asking God for a miracle. I requested a lot of people from around the world to pray for her healing. We didn't lose hope and Violy kept fighting for her life. Everyday I see her suffer and it broke my heart to pieces seeing her health deteriorate and I can't do anything but to give her hope and pray. My sister was a very strong woman. She maybe petite and shorty but she can endure the pain without the aid of pain reliever. I've seen her suffer and she didn't complain. Little by little her body slowly succumbed to her illness and how I cried every night to God to heal her miraculously. She fought the big C courageously and lost the battle. She had also heart trouble, asthma, gastritis and peptic ulcer. These illnesses really made her life so miserable during the past months.

I told my sister many times that I love her  very much and I wasn't ready to lose her. Since she lived next door, I was with her everyday when her boys and husband went to work. Hubby and I went with her in the hospital twice when she was hospitalized last June and July. She requested me to pray for her many times. I read a lot of healing verses to her. I took care of her during daytime and attended to her needs when she became weaker. I sang hymns to her and a few days before she passed away, she requested me to sing to her the hymn "When We All Get To Heaven." I know it was very difficult for her husband and 2 boys seeing Violy suffer for almost 5 months. It was so hard for us her siblings too. Violy is a very great woman, a loving sister and a very compassionate person. It broke our hearts to pieces seeing her suffer and in pain everyday.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Grieving

I’m still grieving from the loss of my dear sister Violy. It’s hard for me to accept it. I’ve been crying at night, when I woke up and when I sit alone beside her coffin or just looking at her lying cold there made me so emotional and can’t control my tears. I miss my sister very much. Oh God, I need your comfort right now. Also please comfort my sister’s 2 boys and husband. Strengthen our family oh Lord and heal the pain of losing my sister whom we dearly loved.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Visa Renewal

Hubby and I went to the immigration office in San Fernando, L.U. last Monday to renew his visa from probationary to a permanent resident visa because it will expire on the 11th of December. The lady there told us before that 3 months before his visa expires we have to renew it. The filing fee was Php2,620 and when it will be amended, we will pay Php7,000. It didn’t take long to file it because I already filled out the form and attached all the requirements before we went there. The drive was two hours from our house. Hubby did the driving you bet. There were no other customers there except us. We were done before lunch. We were told to call their office after 2 months to follow up.

Then hubby drove to find a place to eat lunch. I suggested to him to go to the restaurant in the beach resort to enjoy the fresh air and nice view. So we drove to Nalinac Beach Resort where hubby and I stayed for a a few days more than 7 years ago. We were disappointed that their restaurant is not serving foods these days. So we went to the nearby resort, the Long Beach Resort and we’re glad they are serving foods and they don’t have many customers. Their restaurant is just by the beach so hubby and I enjoyed the view and the cool breeze. I don’t care if the foods there were pricey because you can’t beat the nice view and the fresh, cool air there. It was so relaxing.

I wanted to take some photos but I was so disappointed that I didn’t bring the memory card of my camera. I left it in my other purse when I had some of the photos developed. So we just used my camera phone but then the photos were not as vivid as that from my Canon digicam. Oh well, at least we had some souvenirs. By the way, hubby and I ordered fish steak (tanguigue) with buttered vegetables and a choice of either fries or rice. Hubby chose fries and I chose rice of course. The meal was good, it cost us 560 pesos, pricey compared to fastfood restaurants. Hubby had iced tea and I had water. We didn’t order dessert because we don’t want to gain any more weight, lol!

Visa Renewal

Hubby and I went to the immigration office in San Fernando, L.U. last Monday to renew his visa from probationary to a permanent resident visa because it will expire on the 11th of December. The lady there told us before that 3 months before his visa expires we have to renew it. The filing fee was Php2,620 and when it will be amended, we will pay Php7,000. It didn’t take long to file it because I already filled out the form and attached all the requirements before we went there. The drive was two hours from our house. Hubby did the driving you bet. There were no other customers there except us. We were done before lunch. We were told to call their office after 2 months to follow up. Then hubby drove to find a place to eat lunch. I suggested to him to go to the restaurant in the beach resort to enjoy the fresh air and nice view. So we drove to Nalinac Beach Resort where hubby and I stayed for a a few days more than 7 years ago. We were disappointed that their restaurant is not serving foods these days. So we went to the nearby resort, the Long Beach Resort and we’re glad they are serving foods and they don’t have many customers. Their restaurant is just by the beach so hubby and I enjoyed the view and the cool breeze. I don’t care if the foods there were pricey because you can’t beat the nice view and the fresh, cool air there. It was so relaxing. I wanted to take some photos but I was so disappointed that I didn’t bring the memory card of my camera. I left it in my other purse when I had some of the photos developed. So we just used my camera phone but then the photos were not as vivid as that from my Canon digicam. Oh well, at least we had some souvenirs. By the way, hubby and I ordered fish steak (tanguigue) with buttered vegetables and a choice of either fries or rice. Hubby chose fries and I chose rice of course. The meal was good, it cost us 560 pesos, pricey compared to fastfood restaurants. Hubby had iced tea and I had water. We didn’t order dessert because we don’t want to gain any more weight, lol!

Monday, September 13, 2010

Hubby Cooks

My hubby cooked our dinner last night. He said he missed his cooking so I let him take over in the kitchen. He prepared his favorite potato salad and he made fish patties from two cans of canned mackerels. After he finished cooking, he prepared the table and called me to eat. Hmmm, he did a good job! His fish patties were so good and also his potato salad. They’re so delicious and nutritious. Yummy, yummy and it filled my tummy!!!

Monday, August 30, 2010

Our Ministry

Our order of 40 Bibles arrived last week. We got it at the Bible League at a much lower price than PCBS. We bought 20 Bibles last month from PCBS and gave it to the kids in my Sunday school and the rest we gave it to the adults who were attending our worship service. We mentioned it to one of our pastor friends and he was the one who suggested to us to buy Bibles at the Bible League. So hubby ordered 40 so all in all we bought 60 Bibles already. Hubby has a vision that more and more people will attend our church and we need Bibles to give out to them.

Right now, we are so thankful that our ministry is growing. This past Sunday, we started Sunday school for the adults with my brother-in-law, Jhun as the teacher. There were around 9 adults who attended and there were 20 kids in my Sunday school. During the worship service there were 16 adults who were present plus the kids, praise God! Two young moms whom I’ve been inviting a few times already showed up finally. I was so glad to see them. We gave them a warm welcome. Jhun played his keyboard as we sang worship songs. Then time for the special song. Lat week it was Jhun who sang. Guess who did it this time. Would you believe I rendered a special song for the first time with no practice at all? That was the first time I did it, singing solo in the church. I told the people after wards that I don’t have a good singing voice but I just want to glorify Jesus through a song.

Hubby gave the message and I was the translator. I’m so amazed how God gave me the courage, wisdom and confidence to do all those things, witnessing to people and inviting them to church, teaching Sunday school, message translator and singing solo. Wow! Truly the Lord is amazing. If He will use you, He will equip you as long as you are obedient to His calling. “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” Isaiah 6:8

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Trip Postponed

Hubby and I decided to postpone our trip to Texas next month. I know it’s been set six months ago and hubby’s kids are already expecting us to go there in September but then we just can’t leave our ministry here. Our ministry is growing and we need to stay here for a while and do the work of the Lord before going on furlough. Nobody will take the place of George to preach on Sundays and also my Sunday school kids need me. I need to train somebody to take my place in teaching the kids. Also my sister needs me here. She has some health issues for the past few months already and I just can’t leave her like that. The work of the Lord comes first.

We plan to go to TX next year and visit our family there and also raise some funds for our ministry. We would like to buy a land and construct a church building. I know our plan looks big but I believe the Lord will bless it because it’s for His kingdom. Our church attendance is increasing and the place where we hold our worship service is getting crowded. It’s just a small bungalow house with a small living room own by one of my uncles. The other Sunday we had a full house. Some were even standing outside. We’ve been visiting and inviting people to come on Sundays and join us. We’ve been passing out tracts too. We hope and pray that our vision of having more people come to church and having our own building will materialize.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

It’s past midnight…

…and I’m still awake. I’ve been busy preparing my lessons for tomorrow for Sunday school. I also printed memory verse for the kids to memorize. On top of that I also read my hubby’s message for tomorrow because I am the translator from English to Tagalog. Most people who are attending our worship service are from the village and they can’t fully understand English preaching especially from an American preacher because they said it’s too slang. I have no choice but to translate it so they will understand hubby’s message. I’ve been doing this for more than a month already. I just pray to God to give me wisdom because I’m not really very good in Tagalog translation. I’m just doing this to further God’s kingdom and for His glory.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Ministry Update

I’ve been meaning to write an update about our ministry a few weeks ago but l’ve been too preoccupied with some other things. The enemy is attacking one of my loved ones and we were down on our knees asking God to intervene. We entrust everything to Him. Now, I’m here in front of my computer and so I might as well write about our ministry updates. My Sunday school class is still on-going every Sunday. Hubby and I drive there as early as 8:15 AM and Sunday school begins at 8:30 AM. I have 15 kids who attend regularly in our outreach ministry and sometimes the attendance go up as high as 22. I love teaching those kids and they really inspire me because they are so interested in learning the lessons I teach every Sunday. I have taught them Christian songs, gave them Bible verses to memorize, told them Bible stories, taught them how to pray and talk to God, taught them not to speak bad words and not to quarrel to their fellow kids and lately I taught them to give offerings to God. Those kids started at my VBS class last summer and until now they continue attending my Sunday school class. Ten of them got saved and accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. They enjoy doing the coloring pages that I give to each of them on Sundays. Our church bought crayons for each of them to use in their coloring. I gave incentive to those who did a good job in coloring. I also told them before that if they will attend Sunday school for 4 consecutive Sundays, I will give each of them a reward.

The Lord has blessed our effort in doing His work. One of my co-blogger and friend in Facebook had read my post about my VBS class and she had seen the photos of the kids that I posted. The Lord had touched her heart to help the kids in my Sunday school and she promised to give financial help every month. She started sending her help last May through my Paypal. I was so amazed how the good Lord provide what we need by using other people. Imagine, I didn’t even ask my FB friend nor solicit her, she gave voluntarily. It’s not that much but every little bit helps. Then, a couple who are friends of ours based in the US were talking with us online the day before we started VBS. I mentioned to them that we will be starting VBS the next day and I told them I was so excited. The next day I got a text from her telling me that she sent money to me through Xoom as their help for my VBS. Oh my, that was really an unexpected blessing from the Lord! He blessed the work that we’re doing for Him. Then the next couple of months, the couple had sent us financial support for our Sunday school kids. I didn’t ask for their help, they just sent it out of love for the work of the Lord. I was so amazed and touched by God’s faithfulness! If He will send you to do His work, He will equip you. We were able to buy a total of 120 notebooks, ballpens and pencils for my Sunday school kids before the school started and it helped their parents a lot. Thanks to our faithful friends who have the heart to help the work of the Lord.

Now, our next project is to buy Bibles for my Sunday school kids. None of them have Bibles yet. We went to PCBS in Urdaneta and inquire the prices but they ran out of stocks as of last week. We are still waiting for the arrival of the Bibles that I ordered. We also want to buy Bibles for the adults in our Bible study class next time when we have enough funds. None of them have Bibles too. We are trusting God that He will provide what we need to further His kingdom. He touches and uses people as instruments in a way I never imagined. To God be the glory!

Friday, June 25, 2010

Water Baptism

I praise God for His unending blessings and provisions. As I mentioned before, we have an outreach and I’m teaching Sunday school. The kids that I taught at VBS are now my Sunday school pupils and ten of them got saved and accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. They were baptized by George at the beach last month, praise God! We invited their parents to come and witnessed the water baptism of their kids, There were three parents of the kids who came. My 2 siblings and there families went with us too. We hired a jeepney, cooked some foods, went to picked up the kids and off we went to the beach. It was a hot morning and the beach was full of people. Most of the cottages were occupied and the rate had skyrocketed. It’s a good thing that we found a vacant cottage and though the rent was pricey, we took it. That was Sunday morning of May 16 and we held our service there.

After the service, I gathered the kids and talked to them that we will go there at the water at the same time. So hubby baptized each of the 10 kids at the beach. Most of them were so excited. We took some photos as souvenir of that wonderful day in their lives. Then it flashed in my mind when I had my water baptism at the same beach 22 years ago. The thing is I didn’t have a photo as a souvenir of my water baptism. Di pa uso no’n ang digicam. It’s such a joy to see people get saved especially those young kids. After the water baptism, everybody went back to our cottage and savored the foods that we prepared. Then all the kids went swimming.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Father’s Day

It’s Father’s Day today and I want to greet all the Fathers in the world a Happy Father’s Day! I just wish that my dad is still alive so I can greet him and tell him how much I love him. It’s been more than 10 years since the good Lord took him home. Whenever I think of him I just can’t help myself but feel sad because he’s not with us no more. He didn’t see me and my two brothers got married. Among us siblings, it’s only my sister Violy’s wedding that he witnessed way back in 1996. Then he also had seen his two grand kids from my sister. Two years after he passed away, I got married. My dad would have been so happy had he seen me getting married to a a good American man. He would have been very proud of my hubby. My two youngest brothers have now their own family and both of them have one baby girl each. It’s their turn to be a father and today we celebrated Father’s Day with a simple meal at home after our church service. We bought 2 roasted chicken and a half gallon double dutch ice cream and we cooked some veggies too. Happy Father’s day to my hubby, my 2 brothers and my brother-in-law. You guys are the best!

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Busy With Our Ministry

I’ve been busy preparing gospel tracts that we gonna give out to people when we go out soul-winning on Saturday. I spent the whole day cutting, folding and stapling it. We reproduce our gospel tracts by having it xeroxed. We save money that way. I pray that people would be moved and convicted once they will read the gospel tracts that we will give out. It is titled “Ito Ang Naging Buhay Mo.”

By the way, the kids that I taught at DVBS are now attending Sunday school. I am still their teacher and I enjoy being with the kids and teaching them songs, telling them Bible stories, giving them coloring pages and asking them to memorize Bible verses. Tomorrow, hubby and I will be buying more stuffs needed for my Sunday school class like crayons, notebooks and ball pens. We already bought a white board last time.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

VBS Teacher

When I was I kid I used to attend DVBS (Daily Vacation Bible School) during summer. I enjoyed listening to Bible stories and doing some activites like coloring and game competitions. That was many moon years back but I still remember the stories I heard and the songs we sang at VBS. Many years had passed and now I’m a VBS teacher. Yesiree!!! I taught VBS this past week and I tell you I had fun. I am a licensed secondary school teacher major in Math but I never dreamed that I would be a VBS teacher. I believe that it’s all part of God’s plan that instead of teaching Math, I would be teaching the Word of God to the kids. Who would have thought that I would become a missionary’s wife and start a ministry here in my homeland? But God chose me and I would have to be obedient to His calling.

Last week I went house to house in one of the barangays here in our town about 2 miles away from our house. Most of the people there are my kinfolks and most of them are not yet saved. So hubby and I decided to hold a DVBS for the kids in that area. There were 22 kids who signed up but only 19 completed the course and received certificates. On our 1st day I asked the class if they had attended VBs before but all of them said NO. All of them were first timers. Hubby and I were the only ones available to handle VBS but we managed anyway. It would have been better if there were other teachers so I could have divided the class according to their age level. We started our class at 8:30 AM until 11:30 AM. Every morning when we arrived there, the kids were already out there waiting on us. They were so interested and it made me glad. Our VBS theme was Champions For God and our theme song was of the same title. I told stories of characters from the Bible who were considered as Champions of God like David who defeated Goliath, the apostle Paul, Noah of Noah’s Ark, etc Hubby was my assistant in handling the kids. He helped during game competitions and he assisted me during snack time in giving snack to the kids. For one week I stayed up late at night preparing the lessons and the materials for their crafts. I had to learn some Christian songs for the kids and taught it to them. They love the song “Ang Mga Ibon” which I taught them with matching actions. Some of them volunteered to sing it in front of the class. When hubby started to take some photos, almost everybody raised their hands and wanted to sing in front so their photos would be taken too. It really made me smile. I wrote memory verse for the kids to memorize. Hubby gave rewards to those kids who were able to memorize the verse in John 3:16. It’s amazing how kids learn and memorize so fast but there were also slow learners. The oldest in my class was 13 but he’s only in the 4th grade and the youngest was 5.

VBS lasted for a week and the kids graduated yesterday and everybody were so excited. They received a certificate of completion. I thanked them for attending VBS and hopefully next year I would see them again. I asked them to attend Sunday school in the same venue. By the way, we held VBS at a vacant house own by one of my kinfolks. I plan to have a Sunday school there every week as follow-up for the kids who attended DVBS. I pray that God will bless our ministry and that those kids will grow up into a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Film Showing

We had a film showing of the movie “Jesus” according to the book of Luke the other day. We had shown the same movie last year during the Holy Week in our carport and we invited our neighbors to come and see the movie. We got a good response and lots of people came. They even thanked us for showing the movie because it reminds them to get things straight with God. Then on Good Friday Friday last year, we had shown the same movie in my kinfolks village and lots and lots of people came to watch the movie. At that time we haven’t bought a projector screen yet so just used a plyboard painted white.

We already have a portable projector screen now and that’s what we used last Thursday during our film showing. There were more kids than adults who came to watch the Jesus film. At the middle of the movie something happened. The movie kept stopping, a result of scratches of the DVD. We just burned that copy of the movie and because it’s been shown many times, there were already scratches so we decided to change the movie and showed The Rich Fool instead. Both movies were dubbed in our native language so the people understood it better. Film showing is also our ministry and it’s one way to reach out the lost and share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Goodbye Auntie Aning

I’ve been meaning to write a post about my dear auntie Aning here a few months ago to honor her for what she had done for us but it was postponed and my laziness set in until I forgot about it. Now, I can’t help myself but cry whenever I think of her. Auntie Aning went to be with the Lord yesterday around 1:20 PM due to cardiac arrest at Baguio General Hospital. She’s 78 years old.

My auntie Aning is the only sibling of my late mom and 3 years her junior. She was an old maid and she was the one who took care of me and my siblings (we are 4) when our mom passed away in 1978. My father had no permanent job so it was my grandma who was receiving her monthly pension and my aunt who supported and raised us. Auntie Aning cooked for us, took us to the doctor when we were sick, borrowed money from our neighbors when we needed money for our tuition fees when were in college, everything we needed she and my grandma provided. When grandma and my father passed away she was alone in taking care of us. When I was stricken with the big C, she was my prayer warrior and she went with me in the hospital when I had the surgery and chemotherapy. When my youngest brother had undergone knee replacement surgery 7 years ago, she went to watch him in the hospital. She was there during those lowest moments in our lives and when my siblings and I got married, she was there to witness and celebrate with us. When I left for the US in 2003, she told me on the phone that she missed me so much. I told her not to think of me so she won’t be missing me but she said she can’t help it. Until about 3 years ago that I was told by my siblings that auntie had Alzheimer’s disease and she can’t do the things that she used to do like cooking and washing disease. I cried and bawled like a baby after I learned that. Last year when my hubby and I finally came back here in my homeland, auntie can’t remember me no more. She don’t know my name nor my siblings names. Her memory had left her, it’s the effect of Alzheimer’s disease. But one thing that amazed me about auntie is that she didn’t forget her name and to pray. Everytime before we eat, she always said the blessing. I’m thankful that I was able to spend a year with her before the Lord had took her home.

If I were to write everything that my auntie Aning had done for us, this space is not enough. Auntie Aning, I love you, I told you that many times when you were still alive and you just smiled. Forgive me if I did something wrong doing some care giving duties to you because sometimes my patience became short due to your child like attitude in your later years but deep inside I really love you and I appreciate all the things that you have done for us. I thank God for giving you to us and for all the times that we shared together. You’re the best auntie in the whole world, you spent your life taking care of us and your loving memories will always stay fresh in my heart and in my mind. Auntie, I know you are saved, see you in heaven someday where there is no more pain, no Alzheimer’s, no more tears and no more problems. Until then…