BENEATH…

Summer is my favorite season of the year. I love the sun, and though it can be really hot, it can also be really heartwarming. I don’t hate the rain, but I feel lonely when the rain comes. The sun is a great friend of mine, because when I walk alone, I always talk to the sun. Alright, I can hear “Here comes the sun” at the back of my mind now,  and I always greet the sun with that song. “Sunlight” would be another favorite. So when the weather was acting weird at the start of April, I always screamed: I WANT SUMMER BACK. I thought Summer would be taken away from me, but God is very good and He loves me so coz I still had the activities that made this Summer a memorable one.

I do not only love Summer because of the sun but because of the excitement it brings.

• HOLY WEEK VACATION IN BAGUIO.  (April 6-11) So what else is new? Haha. Yes it is Baguio, but the greatest news about that was it was a whole week. Honestly speaking, I experienced very stressful situations at church, and I almost came to a point that I would lose my sanity. My time with the family was rejuvenating. There is really no place like home; although that’s not really our home- but the family which is my home.  When I was about to go home on the 11th, I was surprised I can’t buy tickets anymore because there were a lot of people on vacation going home too. The next trip would be Sunday afternoon and that was crazy for me since I had to be back for Sunrise service for Easter; but God works in amazing ways, I got a ticket- an amazing seat that wasn’t taken and I got back at 3:30 am before our 5am service. Cool God.

• NAZARENE DREAM ACADEMY. (April 13-16) The District Sunday School Ministries conducted a creative workshop for kids and I was invited to do the dance workshop. It was cool to see children use their different talents for the Lord. Though the expected number of children didn’t come, I believe that the children that came were all very important to the Lord. I pray that the Lord will continue to stir their hearts to be used by the Lord as they grow up.

• THEOLOGY OF WORK SUMMER MODULE. (April 18-25) Dr. Fletcher Tink came to APNTS to share his rich experiences about life and just about anything under the sun that would motivate us and help us understand how work should be the way it is meant to be. I can’t deny this is one of my favorite classes. The way I came to attend the module was really God’s providence, since I wasn’t suppose to take this class. Our DVBS was scheduled on the same week and I enrolled on a different module, however, the professor of the Holistic Ministry Class made adjustments to the sched leaving me no other option but to take another class. I was mad at first, little did I know that God had so much in store for me. We also had a field trip. I will be blogging about my thoughts on the lectures soon.

• MIRACLE CHURCH DVBS. (April 22-27) While the Module was happening in the evenings, We were having our DVBS in the morning and doing the preparations in the afternoon. It was a crazy week for me. The challenge was, there were only 4 of us working with 60 kids, unlike before when we had around 20 youth working. Most of our youth had grown up and are now working;  and some have summer classes- but God’s grace helped us have a fruitful and meaningful DVBS. I don’t have pictures anymore because I accidentally deleted them all.

• SITIO ITAAS DVBS. (April 29- May4) The following week, we had another class which was done at our outreach area. Sitio Itaas is a depressed area and when 90 children signed up, we were very thrilled. It was their first time to have DVBS in their area, and here’s the catch: we didn’t have a building to stay, even chairs to sit on. We requested each child to bring a stool, but most of them didn’t have a stool. I was holding back my tears the first day when I gave my white board so they can sit on it while some of them was cool with sitting on the ground. It was a little muddy too and the small kids didn’t care. It was a different sight, and my heart was really breaking at the time. God’s grace was working through them before we even came, and they accepted Jesus. I loved my class- the preteens. At first, they were grumpy, stressed and restless kids that became really responsive to God’s love. The change was evident and until today, we are still having Sunday School with them. A challenge for us would be the rain, because when it rains, we can’t push through with the class, because we don’t have a building to stay at. The houses are very small too. Would you pray for us and this ministry? We want to plant a church in their area and share God’s love to them all.

• THE “F” FACTOR CAMP. (May 5-8) While the DVBS sessions were happening, the NYI Council and I were very busy with the preparations for the camp. Thank you for all who supported us. I am an advocate of youth ministries. The youth camps are a big part of why I am serving the Lord today; that’s why I believe in how camps work in the young people’s lives. I was able to do a workshop on Small Groups and I really praise God that this is creating a desire in the youth leaders for strong discipleship in their churches. This is a part of my vision for our youth- that we would have a strong discipleship strategy and I know God will help us with this. This camp was very different in the sense that most of our plans didn’t happen because a storm hit the area where we were staying. During that moment, God really spoke to me about how He is the one who is in control and that our response everyday is just to trust in Him. I praise God because I know that the young people were still able to have a great time of fellowship and worship time and most especially, they were able to learn about Faith- our faith foundations, faith focus, and faith journey as our speaker Ptr. Jesse Dedel shared them. As I reflect on what happened that week, our relationship with the Lord is actually like that- we walk each day with Him, seeking where he leads and being ready to do what he wants us to do- whatever it takes, be it a storm; He will never fail and He is there. Also, a bonus happenedd after the event and the storm. The NYI Council praises God for that.

• GALLIVANTING IN DAVAO. (May 11-20) This trip was very spontaneous. When one of the APNTS graduates, Ruel, was about to return to Davao and we were bidding goodbyes- he mentioned about Kuya Glen and Ate Ilde going there for ministry and a medical mission. He told me I should go with them and visit Mindanao. Now I was thrilled when I found out that I didn’t have a summer module during that time so I said yes- because I haven’t been to Mindanao. The trip was a great one because I already know some of the people from Davao from Nazarene Youth Congress 2007. All I can say is the people there are lovely and are really hospitable. It was a vacation for me- because normally during my escapes, I am still working on papers. This time I was free from that. Though it was a vacation, I am glad I was given an opportunity to be an instrument of the Lord when I spoke at the TEACH Coordinator’s meeting on one of their devotions; Share God’s word at the Praise and Worship Team’s fellowship, and be a part of the Medical Mission Team. I felt like a missionary that was trying to learn the language and reach out to their culture. I had fun having Tea Parties in the different cafes and just hanging out with the youth. The highlight was the Island hopping which happened twice: Samal Island and Talikud Island. What else beats a fun time of snorkeling and just enjoying God’s creation. That ten days was full of blessings indeed, not to mention how they always filled my tummy with delight. I’d love to return. I should return. Right? I hope soon.

• PASTOR’S RETREAT. (May 20-22) When I got back to Manila, I went to Rizal Recreation Center, straight from the airport and arrived at 1 am. I am crazy I know. haha. This pastors retreat was memorable and I renewed my covenant with the Lord once again. Three years ago, it was on a Pastor’s retreat that I confirmed God’s call for me to pastor our church. Cool right? It’s been three years. God is faithful. It was cool hanging out with pastors and sharing with each other our burdens. The plan for the small group trainings is being talked about now at our district and I am really excited and hopeful that this will push through.

• SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY2: CHRISTOLOGY MODULE. (May 25-June 11) I am currently in this class with Dr. Diane K. Leclerc. I am appreciating everything about our doctrines and most especially knowing more about our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.  Each day makes me excited to teach all of what I learn to our church members and preach about this. Cool huh? This is our last week and I am missing it already. Dr. Diane is also cool. I wanna teach someday like that.

• RIZAL FAITH FELLOWSHIP YOUTH CAMP. (May 23) While I was on summer module, Aven invited me to do a dance workshop at their youth camp. It was fun. haha. I also saw people I know and some people from the past. I should be good. bow. haha.

• GOD’S PROVISIONS. I am forever grateful because the Lord’s grace and provision never fails. I will proclaim it to all and nobody can stop me. I am a living testimony of this- I don’t know how to continue with Seminary and all that I do, but God uses people and I am really in awe of Him. Thank you for all who are supporting me and are praying for me. You are all in my prayers.

So there’s my April-May update.
As the raining season has come- I am thankful for it. Have you heard about how the raining is God’s grace with H1N1 virus spreading? I just think that’s cool. The rain reminds me that God is in control.

Thank you Lord for this summer.
I know you’ve got more surprises even in the rainy season.
Rain, bring it on.

P.S.

My parents celebrated their 25th anniversary.
I would like to thank Pines Church for surprising them with a party.
Too bad I was in Davao