@ Camp Palm Springs

I had a wonderful time at Camp Palm Springs, Coronon, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur during the Summer Youth Camp (batch 1) last April 26-28, 2009. It was participated in by young people of the Foursquare Gospel Church, Central Mindanao District, whose age range from 18 years old and above. The theme is Empowered for God’s Service.

Today (April 29)up to May 1, the second batch (18 years old and below) will attend in the said camp.

during public service...

There were seminars, public service, table games and ball games.

Mitchelle and I joined the Bible Drill and Bible Hunting. We got the second and third prize respectively.

I also joined in the Extemporaneous Preaching when our youth coordinator told me to do so. I was hesitant because last year, I joined and I won the second place. Since it was a pastor’s command, I followed. As what they said, “Obedience is better than sacrifice.” And I said to myself, “I’m not so good in public speaking. So I have to develop it.”

Hmmmm…..I had to expound the verse in Romans 8:29. I was so nervous then because I knew that I did not fully grasp the message in the said verse. I told my seatmate named Lhester of the Myrtle (or Cypress?) Divison what I felt. He told me, “Maayo man nang makulbaan ta kay buot pasabot wa tay mahimo kung wala ang Ginoo.” I was thankful for his encouragement. When I stood in front, I was not able to explain the verse clearly. I did not win.

Embrace, Rissa, Kristine and I played volleyball under the scorching heat of the sun. It was not a challenging game. As what one of the spectators said, “Wa may lami.” Well, I could not blame him for giving such comment. My pride was touched and I wanted to tell him that we were not after of winning the game, we just wanted to enjoy but I just kept my mouth shut. In the fist half, our team got three. Hehehe…The other team got 25. In the second half, if I am not mistaken, we got 14 or 15.

I also played scrabble. I was defeated again.

Lester, Tepen, Boyet, John-John, Cocoy and other men of the Sycamore Division played in the championship game in basketball. It was an exciting game because they played in the open ground even if it was raining. Some of them fell in the grassy court because the ground was wet and slippery. They lost in the game.

The championship game...

@ the basketball court

REFLECTION

In the said camp, I had my taste of triumphs and defeats.

(Let me continue this next time)

Let’s talk about Gideon…

I have just arrived from Davao City. Here I am now in the internet cafe of our neighbor. I pass by here because I want to share what I learned before the fire within burns out. I have not yet went home. Anyway, let me think aloud.

I decided to entitle this article with the one stated above because Gideon’s life was the focus of the two-day Youth Leadership Training held yesterday (April 23) and today (April 24) at Davao City Foursquare Gospel Church, Lopez Jaena St., Davo City. The speaker of the said training was Rev. James Tan from Malaysia. The training was participated by youth leaders from different districts in Mindanao.

Rev. Tan (standing in front) talks about the life of Gideon.

At first, Rev. Tan told us to read Judges 6-8. He gave us the following questions:

1. What is the main focus of the passage?

2. Who is going to fight with whom?

3. Who won?

4. Why? How was the battle won? What made the difference?

For you to answer the queries above, I suggest that you also read that passage.

Gideon and his 300 men won in the battle against 135, 000 Midianites. Imagine! 301 against 135,000! Impossible in the sight of man, right? But why did they win? How? The answer: It was because God was with them.

While we medidated upon the Word of God, Rev. Tan emphasized the following:

1. The key to winning every battle is whether God is in it.

2. God is the leader, we are the followers.

3. God plays the major role. We play the minor role.

So, what were the turning points in the story? The first turning point was “cry”. Their “cry” represent their turning away from idols. Idols are things that we put our trust more than God. The second turning point was the “call from God.” Then, the fire…altar…fleece1 …fleece 2…the dream.

But, when Gideon was at the summit of success, he was not able to handle it correctly. Try to discover it for yourself in chapter 8 of Judges.

REFLECTIONS:

I really learned a lot from the two-day training. I came to know more Gideon. I heard his name in the past but I haven’t reflected more than what I did in the training. Above all, I had an encounter with God.

While listening to Rev. Tan, I chuckled…I laughed…I got teary-eyed… He was able to convey the message in a vivid manner. Though he used powerpoint in presenting the topic, his best visual aid was himself—he cracked jokes related to the theme. He shared anecdotes that even made the training more interesting.

I have been reminded with this passage of the scripture…”Be careful how you think, your life is shaped by your thoughts. (Prov. 4:23)” Yes, whatever we feed in our find will surely affect our lives.

Just like Gideon, I have also my share of success and failures. So many times, I fell. I talked to God that I wouldn’t do again another terrible sin, but there were really times that I failed. I rose up. Then, at times, I failed again. I thank God because I was refreshed in the training. How great is our God! How great is His love!

Let me end this with the following sentences that we read at the end of every session…

MY GOD IS A GREAT GOD.

GREAT GOD DOES GREAT THINGS.

GOD DOES GREAT THINGS THROUGH ME.

——————————————————————-

P.S. Nenen, Cocoy, Embrace, Rissa, Sarah and I represented Digos City Foursquare Gospel Church. The church paid for our P 100.00 registration.

Hmmmm….I met Michelle of GenSan Foursquare Gospel Church and Princess of Maitum. (hehehe…I don’t want to forget their names that’s why I also mention them here.)

Garage Sale! Extended!

The Foursquare Youth (FY) of Digos City Foursquare Gospel church conducted a garage sale last April 19, 2009 from 11:00 AM-5:00 PM. The purpose of the said activity was to raise funds for the upcoming Summer Youth Camp on April 26-May 1, 2009 at Camp Palm Spring, Coronon, Sta. Cruz, Davo del Sur.

Some of the items sold were bags, books, blouses, pants, shirts and toys. These items were donated by the youth of the said church. I donated two small bags.

A glimpse of the garage sale...

I bought skinny jeans worth P 100.oo only. Its brand is Bobson. Oh, di ba, mura lang? I also bought a blouse for Laudy. Moreover, I bought two books authored by Philip Yancey for P50.00 and P 60.00 only. The title of those books are Soul Survivor and Rumors of Another World. Take note! bago pa ang mga ‘yon…Sinimulan ko na ngang basahin kanina ang Soul Survivor.

Sina Rissa at Limay ang nagbantay sa mga itinitinda. Marunong din silang makipag-usap sa mga customers. Actually, isa rin ako sa mga na-convince na bumili. Kung sa Isang dramatic play pa, ang “director” ay si Nenen (Maschil). She knows well about this kind of activity. Siyempre, future CPA eh! Sila ni Mitchelle ang mas nagkaakintindihan kapag inventory, gross sales at iba pang mga acoountancy terms ang pag-uusapan.

Rissa (nakatalikod), Nenen and Limay...

After the garage sale, we, the officers of the CY held a meeting. We were thankful that we were able to raise funds. On the other hand, we found out that kulang pa ‘yong pera na kinakailangang ma-raise. Kaya, this coming Sunday in the morning, we have to extend the garage sale…Sana, bumili po kayo…isipin n’yo na rin na makakatutulong pa kayo and at the same time, makakabili kayo ng mga gamit sa murang halaga.

Salamat po sa lahat ng mga bumili at sumuporta sa garage sale namin. God bless you and your family!

Cuarenta Dias

“Cuarenta dias” means forty days. This tradition is observed among Catholics—wherein there is a prayer offered on the 40th day from the day when a person passed away. I cannot thoroughly explain why it is being done. But, last Saturday-April 18, I went to Banate to attend the Cuarenta Dias of my late Lola Inday.

When I reached our home in Banate only Ruvy Jane was there. Ma, Pa and Laudy already went to the farm. Benjay was still in Cebu and Aries was in General Santos City.

Ruvy Jane and I hiked going to the farm. She did not want to ride on a motorcycle because the road going there is steep. We took pictures along the way–on the hanging bridge, on the steep road…

My cousins, uncles and aunts were already there in the “purok” where the tombs of my lola, lolo and a cousin were located.

That day served as a reunion of Baguio Family. We ate lunch there. I and my cousins also played Bingo. Aries arrived after lunch.

My cousin Pinky, few years younger than me has already a baby. Tilay another cousin of mine, who is also younger thanme is getting married this coming April 28. “Kaw day, kanus-a man ka maminyo?” My aunt asked. I answered, “Wa ko kabalo te.” Hehehe…marriage is always an issue.

It was drizzling when we went home. My mother, Jane and me passed through a muddy and slopy area. Some of our relatives passed also the trail where we hiked but others used the wider road—the one where Jane and I walked in going to the farm. We washed our feet in the river.

We ate dinner at the house of Ate Bebot, the sister of my father.

@ the farm

25 Random Things about me

I read this kind of article in the blog of my friend Karina. I also read this once in the blog of Bianca Gonzales. Let me tell you too about 25 random things about me.

1. I love to eat “ginataang gulay”or “law-uy”.

2. I don’t know how to ride on a bicycle.

3. I like to watch Filipino movies. (heeheeheh..jologs man, bahala na!)

4. I HAD only one boyfriend.

5. I want to visit mall of Asia, Zamboanga, Surigao, Basila, Vigan, Tagytay, Palawan and Baguio City in the next five years.

6. I collect letters from friends, students,etc…

7. I regret that i burnt all the love letters given to me when my bf broke up.

8. My favorite color is blue.

9. I’m praying for my future husband and children.

10. I haven’t used a washing machine yet. I don’t even know how to use it!

11.I have a box with more than 20 notebooks of various sizes which contain diaries from 1996 up to the present.

12. I am really exerting effort to gain weight.

13. I always said to myself that I must collect books but I have only a few collection up to now.

14. My friends call me “bagoy”, “Che_anne”, “Che”, “Anne” or “Cheng”.

15. My parents call me Rie-Anne or Day Rie Anne.

16. I want to visit Hongkong, America, Japan and Europe with my future family in the next ten years.

17. I don’t like to eat the meat of a goat.

18. I don’t like dogs.

19. My most expensive purchase is my Neo laptop.

20. I bought a tambourine from my first salary.

21. I was admitted to the hospital due to hypokalemia in Dec. 2004, Dec. 2005 and November 2006.

22. I love watching babies—sleeping, crawling, eating, smiling, laughing…

23. I am a nature lover.

24. I like the idea of enrolling in a gym. (maybe this summer…)

25. I love buko salad.

On Holy Thursday

1.  I spent my day at home (in Banate)

2.  I watched three movies, namely; Twilight, Seven Pounds and Baler.

Some comments/reflections:

TWILIGHT— For me, the movie shows how Edward practiced self-control…He was so attracted to Bella but he was able to control himself. In real life, this may also apply, especially among lovers.

SEVEN POUNDS– The main character in the movie donated some of his body parts just to make others happy. At the end, he committed suicide because of his willingness to donate his heart to a woman.

BALER-– It’s a love story in times of war. Celso and Feliza fought for their love. I was touched at the later part of the movie because Celso was caught when he was about to escape from the hands of the Spanish military. Huh! He was killed. He was not able to see his baby.

3. I read some of the pages of Philip Yancey’s “What’s so amazing about Grace’ and “Prayer: Does it make a Difference?”

4.  At first, I was not able to sleep well because my stomach was so full.

Mama’s 51st bday

My mother celebrated her 51st birthday yesterday, April 6. All of us: papa, aries, laudy, benjay, vyjane and me were present during the dinner in Banate. It was my papa who prayed for the food and for my mama. Hmmm……'”tinolang manok” was served.

Love me

I’m currently listening to Collin Raye’s “Love me” through Youtube. It’s a love song that I used to play in the cassette tape player when I was in college.  I used also to borrow the cassette tape from a friend.

I love the message of the song. Here is the lyrics…

I read a note my grandma wrote back in nineteen twenty-three.
Grandpa kept it in his coat, and he showed it once to me. He said,
“Boy, you might not understand, but a long, long time ago,
Grandma’s daddy didn’t like me none, but I loved your Grandma so.”

We had this crazy plan to meet and run away together.
Get married in the first town we came to, and live forever.
But nailed to the tree where we were supposed to meet, instead
I found this letter, and this is what it said:

If you get there before I do, don’t give up on me.
I’ll meet you when my chores are through;
I don’t know how long I’ll be.
But I’m not gonna let you down, darling wait and see.
And between now and then, till I see you again,
I’ll be loving you. Love, me.

I read those words just hours before my Grandma passed away,
In the doorway of a church where me and Grandpa stopped to pray.
I know I’d never seen him cry in all my fifteen years;
But as he said these words to her, his eyes filled up with tears.

If you get there before I do, don’t give up on me.
I’ll meet you when my chores are through;
I don’t know how long I’ll be.
But I’m not gonna let you down, darling wait and see.
And between now and then, till I see you again,
I’ll be loving you. Love, me.
Between now and then, till I see you again,
I’ll be loving you. Love, me.

Church Officers’ Retreat

The Digos City Foursquare Gospel Church conducted its Church Officers’ Retreat on April 5-6, 2009 at Vonzana Resort, Matanao, Davao del Sur. The host pastors, Rev. Dario G. Bohol and Ptra. Delia G. Bohol led the said retreat. Church deacons and deaconesses, church council, church officers and members of the Praise and Worship (PAW) Team attended in the said activity. I was one of the participants since I am a member of the PAW team.

Graduation Day @ JRAES

The 4th Closing Exercises of Jolencio R. Alberca Elementary School or JRAES (in the school where I’m teaching) was held this afternoon. Supposedly, it must be started at 1:00 PM but due to some unavoidable circumstances, the program was started at 1:35 PM.

Our visitors were Mr. Rosito L. Asarak (Education Supervisor in Filipino), Mrs. Soliie Oliver (Education Supervisor in English), Dr. Marilyn A. Jairal (Digos Occidental District Supervisor), Hon. Michael Latasa at Hon. Antonio B. Jariol.

Ten boys and fifteen girls were officially declared as graduates in our school, this year. Congratulations to all my students!

The 25 graduates of batch 2009...

I’m glad that almost everything went well. Ma’am Jo was the master of the ceremony.

To God be the glory! He answered our prayer that it won’t rain. It’s because if it would rain, we would not able to hold the ceremony under the mango trees.