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...