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His Kaydet Girl Part Deux

The moment we were finished praying, I tried to give Jedd a tickle to know if he's doing fine.  He then whispers to me, hawakan mo siko ko. (hold my elbow.) I understood that he meant me to hold his arms, and so I did.  Without looking back at the (good to look at) cadet, we entered in, my hand grasping his arm.  Of course, I got kantsaw from the girls.  I was smiling all the way, feeling a little flattered but was in control.  Grace is under pressure, literally.  We headed out, shaking one another's hand.  When it was my turn to shake Al's, I felt a little tug towards him but he was polite enough to release my hand instantly.

Jedd was telling everyone that I got something in my hand.  Oh yeah, the diary in a box.  The girls were very kilig for me, but honestly I don’t feel the same.

 We headed out for photo opportunity.  One cadet requested to have his picture taken with us.  Al saw it, and he ran towards us to request for a picture, but not with the group of princess-y ladies.  He wanted it with me.  

I have to admit, I find him cute for being shy but determined. And not just that, he is just literally cute.  Hihi

The girls could not help but gush, but inside I'm all anxious about the anxious boyf and cannot consider befriending the handsome admirer.  Woah, I instantly felt pretty. lol

I invited him to first have a picture with us girls, but afterwards, they insisted on taking our picture together.  Still carrying his Bible, he went beside me and Glay took our picture on Stacy's phone.  I don’t know why I don’t have anything to say afterwards, that I had to regret it quite while writing this blog post.  I felt the urge now that I should have made friends instead of becoming awkward.  I might have tried to befriend him, but hey, the guy should do that.  Not me.

I felt the need to console the boyf, so this shot was taken with utmost will. Hehh

We said our goodbyes to the newly found friends, then we headed to the house where we're checked in to settle again.

My roommates took hold of the rare token, and gushed when they saw a cellphone number left at the last page of the book.  They put it to a tease, as usual.  Paloadan mo na nics, and etc. lol

Oh well, it will stay there as remembrance only.

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This we all do incessantly and we wonder why we lose our focus.

feedmill 

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Kaydet Girl

I think it romantic when a cadet courts his kaydet girl.  HIHI.  But I did not expect I would get a glimpse of the thrill. 

While the program is being set up we had a little chat with the cadets.  Their leader introduced the guy cadets one by one, and he relayed that a man made rock that was recently dedicated to PNP General Bato amidst a mini park just below the elevated hall is where guy cadets bring their lucky (or not) girls, to initiate courtship.

We just giggled about it, and further teased my sister who was approached by a cadet the last time we were in Baguio.

After the worship we got the chance to interact with a few cadets. And this was the intention of all the singing, to make connections with them.

We talked to Glay, to Stacy, and to Al.  They had much to share as we had much questions to ask.  I was loitering around, taking a few shots as they share their stories.

My loitering extended outside, where our guys converse with another cadet.  And it was such a good sight to see that we were able to reach out.  I was inspired too, by the selflessness of these would-be soldiers in choosing what they are now destined to be.

I managed to pull Romina out of the busy crowd to take a few portraits of her.  She was delighted as I was, not knowing that some happening was going to delight me even more.

We were called again to gather unto prayer.  I was the last member outside, and as I headed for the hall, Jedd offered his hand to help me at the steps.  Just as he does, a cadet approached me and asked permission if he could introduce himself.  He was brightly smiling but I can barely remember his name from our interview minutes back, and so he did tell his whole name.  Oh, it’s Al.  Jedd stepped back and then eventually turned about me towards the praying crowd.  I blurted out my name and asked him how old he was.  Dude.  That’s like, the most important question hahaha!  I felt awkward by the question, and awkward by my situation with the two boys.  Though feeling giggly I became polite still. He handed me a box which contains a PMA diary.  As a remembrance of him.  And right now, I’m in love... with it.

Part deux coming right up...

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Follow up efforts coming up

It was not a couple of months that we travelled to the mountainous city of Baguio for rest awhile and labor opportunities.  By the initial efforts made, we were invited to return to sing for the graduating PMA cadets who are ministered- financially and spiritually by the SDA community there.  A concert then was set on the Sabbath afternoon of April 21st at Masigasig Hall, PMA Grounds.  You guessed right, that it was an unusual audience for us.  I couldn’t help but be nervous, so I resorted to prayer, that our goal may be accomplished well.

The SDA cadets we met last time invited fellow cadets to worship with them on the Sabbath.  They too, have a burden that these friends of theirs should know the truth.  Brethren from Pines SDA Church, Health 100 restaurant and Tuding Church also endeavored to come to fellowship with us.  And so the little hall was filled with eager worshippers.  Praise God, for he did not fail our prayers.  We’ve been singing our songs for several times already in numerous efforts undertaken by the team, but the Holy Spirit still gives them power to move the hearts of our listeners.  We were all grateful and filled with praises to God.  It is the Holy Spirit’s working that prejudices were erased and a warm acceptance from these dear souls was imparted to our ministry.  They were eager to raise funds for us to come back and sing for them again.  

We were given PMA customized ticklers (it was my first time to encounter the term for what should refer to as little note pads) as tokens of gratitude from the Peemayers.  We also gave them Sabbath booklets for them to read and to be established in Sabbath keeping.  Brethren there also gave them reading materials to enrich their spiritual life while in the academy.

Health 100 Restaurant sponsored the merienda, and we had time to interact with the cadets.

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Summer ministry

It's vacation time for the restless kiddos of Hillcrest Street. Time to take a break from all the puzzles of the classroom to unfold the pages of the Bible for the understanding of the most simple yet strikingly important doctrinal lessons contained therein.

Children can easily perceive, so their education must be constantly guarded. For their own benefit and for the people they are surrounded with, the parents must be able to distinguish what mental food they would allow their young to feed upon. Unruly children have been a constant problem of our society. They are sure to cause more problem when they are grown. This is the result of parents being unfaithful to their entrusted duty. Those parents who would seek to implant to the young minds of their children the lessons of the Bible do them greater good than enrolling them in renowned schools to seek applause. A high college degree that is desired by not a few does not guarantee a high and well-formed attitude, which is more essential in the real world.

Vacation Bible School, VBS in short, is dedicated for the purpose of educating young students in life's real matters; in the saving truths written in the Bible . This year's theme is geared to make the growing minds understand the fundamental doctrines of the Adventist church.

Topics consequently discussed were “What Jesus Said About” the:

Bible, Origin of Evil, Salvation, The Ten Commandments, Sabbath, State of the Dead and Christ’s Second Coming; teachings that the SDA church are known for.  With a topic a day; the lesson proper would hold for 7 days.

We were assigned to lead in teaching the children songs and memory verses, nature and health nuggets, and bible stories.  Afterwards, they have coloring and activity sheets regarding the lesson they took each day.

The practice room was converted suddenly into a lodging house, as we teachers from afar spent the nights there, folding out mats for us to sleep on.  Sometimes, it turns into a movie house during free time.  We had color code each day.

I was too lazy to tag with me my bulky camera so I didn’t get the chance to take pictures of the graduation that happened on the last day.  But just to describe them, they wore their cardboard crowns which they decorated themselves, and VBS ribbons.  The girls wore skirts and dresses while boys their pants and shoes.  Graduation vibes were really felt.

We had to flash our wagi faces after we have done our duties at that place.

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Your smile is your most important ootd.

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We were strangers turned to best of friends. No doubt of hoping that this may last forever <3

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Quezon Visit

“You don't choose your family.  They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them.”

You will take every sacrifice, for the love of your family members.

Good deeds will not even be sacrifice, it will be your innate joy. 

Kitchen life gives me a lot of fulfillment, especially if my loved ones find my dishes worth coming back for.  Fortunately I was able to go through this quite intimidating task throughout our stay in Quezon quite successfully.

Godwin blew his birthday candles there; and a simple merienda to go with the occasion was prepared. 

After eating, we packed our things for our one night stay in a nearby resort.  Dad and his classmates organized a reunion there so we got the chance to check in. 

My brother obviously enjoyed the place despite the stormy weather.  He got to try a lot of amenities while I take his pictures, and sparing hope that the sun would shine.  But to no avail.  We have to enjoy ourselves amidst the weather’s bipolarity.

The sea is not serene in any way.  But God’s artwork is all worthy of sight.

Breakfast-ing by the seaside, and not without the strong gushing winds and drizzling rain.

When the rain stopped, I immediately brought out my camera for the opportunities.

And then,,, the rain started falling again. Bum.

When it stopped again, I knew I had more pictures to take.

If I may cap; for moments like this, spent with family and with nature; God’s precious gifts to us, I will be forever grateful. :)

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Reaching Out to Loved Ones

Above all missionary work that I’ve engaged in, this one was most challenging. But when the efforts bear fruit, it imparts the most heartwarming feeling.  This special effort, under divine instruction, was pursued by God’s grace, and through the efforts of my father who has been very diligent and earnest to share our beliefs to our beloved ones.

It was our first time not to join the congregation in Sabbath worship.  Our Sabbath was allotted for the nurturing of the budding church in Infanta, Quezon.  We appointed our land trip on Friday, which was something that we are not used to doing, since it is the day of preparation for the Sabbath.  We got there by 2pm, hurriedly ate our late lunch, and started preparing our food which should last until the next day.  Thank God, everything was prepared sufficiently.

The Sabbath started with gathering everyone together for worship.  We had to get settled with our things afterwards.  Staying again at our ancestral home was kind of nostalgic.  I did find myself longing my late grandfather, and the emptiness of the house brings me to quiet tears.  If only he was still here with us.

Then came the Sabbath morning, when we invited Tita Mercy and her family to worship with us.  With the barren family room converted to a worship hall, everything was set up accordingly and conveniently.  By the Holy Spirit working upon their hearts, they willed to listen to the Sabbath lessons tackling on why sin was permitted (morning Sabbath school lesson), on the lessons of Matthew 6:33 in relation to Sabbath keeping (second service), on regarding the atmosphere of the home as vital influence to the growth of the younger members of the family and on how God regards our bodies as His temple (afternoon lesson).  It was definitely the Lord’s wisdom that every lesson was connected with the next.  And praise God, for using us, because there is an inward happiness that cannot be described while we do His bidding. 

(My lola is definitely happy to have experienced Sabbath with us again)

We closed the Sabbath with a wonderful satisfaction in our hearts.  This is just the beginning, and I do believe that we will have to return soon.  May the Lord bless our efforts in due time.

The next day we headed for a mini road trip to an adjacent town where I managed to capture a lovely family picture of the Cadermas by the giant waves of the Pacific.

Lola also came with us.  Though she is truly healthy, she suffered from stroke which paralyzed her limbs.  Daddy had to carry her to the van so she’d not miss out the company.  And very much unplanned, she was able to meet again her inaanak who resides at Nakar.

Dad and Tita Mercy brought us to their childhood picnic grounds before we went home.  I did love the sight, and the dramatic weather went along with it. 

I invited my cousin for a photo opportunity.  He is undeniably the most avid textmate I’ve ever had.  And I cannot deny a picture!

Truly there is no replacing of reunions.  I’m a fan.  I am a practicing objector of social media, of communicating through the screen of our phones, because we tend to be lazy in our connections. 

Part 2!

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Resting Awhile

March 1-5, 2018.

It was a memorable and worth cherishing rest awhile for the team… by far the best for me. Not only was it spent for recreation, but for opening of doors for labor, and bracing us for future work.

We spent the cold nights in hot seats. Principles were laid like fired bullets striking deep. But the hard lessons were all worth praising God for.

We are genuinely blessed to be surrounded by people who would make us understand more and more the solemn position we chose to be in, who would hurt our tendencies to have our own way, and would inspire us to live a life of service and full of faith; for only through this life can innate happiness happen.

May God bless the work that He gives into our hands. May this be our business, that we may not fall into the trap of idleness and eventually to spiritual blindness, as did those who were gone out from among us. May the love of our Saviour be the measure of our love for one another. We are accountable for the privileges we are receiving. Then let us be found faithful in His vineyard.

“Today there is need that God’s chosen workmen should listen to the command of Christ to go apart and rest awhile.”

Following the divine admonition, the members of the Evangelistic team took time to rest awhile from their missionary endeavors. Through the zigzagged roads they travelled to the city of Baguio and remained there on the first five days of March. Not only was the time alloted for bonding and recreation, but also to strengthen the personal devotion of each worker and to open opportunities for further missionary labor.

“This is the effectual preparation for all labor for God.”

Rest that is admonished by the Lord is given for the contemplation of His Word, and for the “new endowment of both physical and mental strength.” ChS 249. It was the chance of Pastor Dave to administer to the members of EM lessons of faith, love and regard for fellow worker that shouls sufficiently arm them against discouragements and deceit from the enemy set to hinder the efforts to win souls to the truth. May God be praised for the wisdom that is able to fortify our decision of choosing to be coworkers with heaven above all other worldly employment.

Alongside receiving firsthand lessons from the pastors was the opportunity sought to labor for mainstrean SDA communities in Baguio. Through the efforts of Sis. Jem and Bro. Brent, the Evangelistic Minstrels were invited to sing to a fellowship of SDA’s gathered at a vegetarian restaurant. The listeners included doctors, teacher, pastors, church elders and cadets studying at Philippine Military Academy. By the Holy Spirit’s power through the songs that were sung, the listeners expressed that they were blessed and grateful by the rare company that was in their midst. May the singing efforts on that memorable Sabbath day work our ultimate goal; to prepare their hearts to receive present truth.

EM spent the remaining days in “nature walk”, in touring the city, in instilling more lessons, and giving out Sabbath leaflets and booklets. More than a thousand tracts were distributed. The “rest awhile” was concluded serving well its purpose. Bringing home not only those coveted strawberries but more importantly the labor experienves and lessons, the team is once again fitted up for the upcoming duties in the field.

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Ever set the Lord before you, if you would not lose precious hours in uselessness

Ellen G. White

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In Search of A Space

_Landed again on tumblr after xx years in search of a writing space

Maybe, just maybe. I found my planet.