Life's passion.

Borongan, Samar 2007

Apart from working with children, one of the things that I could probably do for the rest of my life is to be a researcher.

Here was a picture of my first out-of-town trip as a documentor for a non-government organization. With my good friend, spearheading the early childhood education arm of that organization, she invited me and another friend to fly to Samar to facilitate a training for Day Care workers.

Our team was composed of the consultant and two facilitators (one coming from Pangasinan and my friend). As a documentor, I had to take note of everything that happened throughout the training. This also meant bringing the laptop (which I borrowed from my cousin's and mind you, it was so heavy) wherever we went (whether we were taking that bumpy jeepney ride to another barrio or touring this quiet yet captivating province.
We went wherever my dearest friend would take us-from the nearby plaza to the remote island in Samar.

Whenever I think about that trip and look through our pictures, I am always reminded that I met great people, who with the meager resources available to them, still find a way to make teaching Filipino children a meaningful experience. It was an adventure that stirred in me the love for my own country and the challenge of transforming lives- one child at a time, one parent at a time, one teacher at a time, no matter how impossible it seems to be.

It will always be one of those trips that assured me that I could go beyond my comfort zone at least once in my lifetime.

It paved the way for me to discover my other life's passion.

P.S. Special thanks to Teacher MCA for inspiring me to be a life-long researcher. I first met T. MCA in U.P. where we collaborated together for a preschool outreach project. I then worked for T. MCA as her research assistant. She then became my thesis adviser, prayer partner and mentor.

Deeper.

The deeper you get, the sweeter His grace
-John MacArthur during his sermon on
"Blessed are the poor in Spirit"

The beggar. We see their hands wide open on a lonely street. We see them very persistent
just so they could grab a coin from us or some of our leftovers.
We avoid them. We run away from them. We pity them.
But never do we admire their attitude of patience, of intense persistence and utmost
optimism that they will survive for now, for a day.
I wonder how and where they derive their willpower to do so.

John MacArthur likened the poor in Spirit to a beggar. He points out that a person who is poor in Spirit is someone who thinks less of himself, who is in constant wonder of blessings in his life, who recognizes that everything happening to him is because of God's grace and love for him.

I honestly believe that we tend to forget. Just one blow of circumstance or difficulty, we shrink. Just one unfavorable situation, we lose sight of God's faithful track record in our lives. I easily forget.

I thank God for these gentle thugs in my heart.
Simple yet life-changing reminders.
Truly, as one digs deeper into his soul,
he begins to realize the wonder of being alive in this unpredictable and challenging times.

Dash!

I miss my running buddies...

Glendale Downtown Dash Marathon 2009

Till we all run again...:)

A step of faith.

For I know the plans that I have for you,
declares the Lord,
plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.
Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me,
and I will listen to you.
You will seek me and find me when you seek me
with all your heart.
I will be found by you
Jeremiah 29:11-13

What I love:)

One of the things that I enjoy doing either during early mornings or late afternoons.

Running.

It's best time to commune with God.

I would definitely do this until I get old.

P.S. I don't live near the beach, though. This is just a picture of my dream running haven:)

:)

Love is patient.
It always protects, always trusts,
always hopes, always perseveres.
1 Corinthians 13

Joshua Harris reiterated in his book, Not even a Hint, that "God has made men and women gloriously different, We were made to complement each other. We have different strengths" (p.84).

The past 2 years and 7 months have been the best times of my life. Three years ago, I would have probably seen life in a narrower perspective. Three years ago, I would still be in my comfort zone. I'm glad that I trusted God and His plans for me.

In the span of three years, God has enabled so many opportunities for growth, for discovery and for steps of faith. He has chiseled me and molded me so I would appreciate life and the individuals He has given me to the fullest.

I would love to write about every individual that I have been with all these years but for now, I am drawn to dedicating this post to someone who has walked with me through moments of friendship and relationship.

To Mike,
Thank you for the amazing adventure.
Thank you for inspiring me to take steps of faith,
to embrace life's challenges with courage and humility,
Thank you for the little things that you do that make me smile.
Thank you for leading me and loving me well.
Most of all, thank you for walking with me as I discover God's heart
day by day.

Lake Merced
San Francisco, California
February 2008

The sense of wonder...

There are only two ways to live your life.

One is as though nothing is a miracle.

The other is as though everything is a miracle.

-Albert Einstein

Wonder. I remember seeing my toddler students' eyes light up every time they see a bug crawling on the sand.

Wonder. I remember hearing the five-year old boys in my class screaming excitedly when they see the raindrops dripping on our school window pane.

Wonder. I remember peddling the bicycle while my three year old student sat on my lap and she later exclaimed, "Wow. Look at the water flowing from the side tracks."

It's saddening that as we grow older, that child-like character slowly fades.

Have we become too busy that we no longer recognize the beauty of His creation?

Have we become discontent with the simplicity of life that we crave for more "exciting" things?

Stuff bought, stuff invented, stuff that limit our attention and box our creativity?

Do you still wonder and gaze at His beauty?

My hope is that we would never lose that sense of wonder in our lives.