Psalm 27

Tonight's reading was Psalm 27. I can almost hear King David singing the song....well, a modern version of it.   Then, I remember my favorite Stuart Townend song (which I just found out was a hymn based from Psalm 27).


Buy "You Are My Anchor (the Father's Embrace)" from iTunes

I could sing/play this song over and over. The lyrics remind me:

- that my hope and salvation belong only to the Lord

- to be confident, because God leads/teaches the way to those who the faithful

- that all the troubles and waiting in this life will definitely be worth it because one day, I will dwell in the house of the Lord and see His face, forever.

Achi Perl and Jakarta

It was a very sad news that made me and my husband hurriedly searched the net and booked our way to Jakarta. One of our ninangs in our wedding, Achi Perl was diagnosed with Stage 4 bone cancer earlier this year. And so, with our tickets secured, leaves approved, Eldee, Dan and I found ourselves on a flight en route to Jakarta to visit Achi Perl.

I met Achi Perlita thru Dan 3 years ago (we were just bf-gf then).  She is a picture of strong and independent woman.  She is confident, smart and very funny. Many could be said about her (not to mention,  people love her! very evident during our wedding...hahah!), but there are two things that I really admire about Achi Perl - her passion for God and her passion to seek and save the lost.

Achi Perl is a missionary in Indonesia.  Even before I knew her, her heart was already set for the Muslim. She'd also been a missionary in Palawan (where she evangelised to Tagbanua tribe) and Davao. Her whole life was devoted to God and His people. Before,  I thought she was insane - to leave her family/friends just to go to a strange place ALONE (she's still single by the way) to teach and spread the Good News. But now,  I really admire her courage and sacrifices to follow and heed God's call. 

Soooo back to our visit, these are the things we did with Achi Perl when we went to Jakarta (apologies for the blurred iPhone pics):

Ate some Peranakan dishes 

Tried some not usual local dishes

we also did some local shopping. Above are colorful batik shirts

did more window shopping...(ooooh!! look at those Japanese fluffly ube and pandan buns)

back to regular eating :) - ate those yummy kueh

Tried the #1 bottle drink (yes! more famous than Coca-Cola) - Teh Botol

treated ourselves with A&W's waffle and float. Both taste too sweet!!

We also got to visit Achi Perl's local church

Regarding Achi Perl's condition, we were so relieved to find her okay, and very well loved and taken care by her peers! :)

Previously, I had this notion that if you are in the mission field, you live in tacky, old, dirty place. And with Achi Perl's illness (which was not so obvious because she even walked faster than me and Dan!!! >.<),  it might be too much bear.  But that is not what we saw. Achi Perl lives in a condo (with a swanky pool). Her place is just a tumbling away from the mall,  near the taxi stand, laundry shops, restaurants, etc. Everything was so convenient. 

We also learned that she has colleagues living within the condo so in case something happens, there are people she can call. In a way, we were relieved, and thankful to God for being so gracious to Achi Perl. To me, it's a testimony that God provides and is faithful to those who trust and obey Him.

We were also blessed to visit the Achi Perl's school, where she is the chaplain. I had the opportunity to share my testimony with the primary school kids and it was really nerve-wracking (my stage fright kicked-in!!). All in all, it was a good experience! :)

new student or new teacher ang peg?

loitering new students...

With the school chaplain

Though our 3-day visit to Jakarta was too short, I want to thank Achi Perl for taking care of us (instead na we take care of her).  May God take care of her, and use her as a vessel of God's love and grace to people around her, in sickness or in health.

Half a Year

We survived! Woohooo! We made it thru 6 months of being husband and wife!!

The road was bumpy. There were arguing, forgiving, compromising and adjusting. But at the end, we are still together... bounded by love and forgiveness (yes, cheezzzyyy!!) and by God's grace and sustenance (lots and lots of it!! :) ),

From the beginning, I knew that marriage is not a bed roses. And I want to thank my husband for not making it a bed of thorns either. hahaha!

Lemme share our wedding SDE (I know it's been long overdue!)


I still get goosebumps and kilig every time I watch it (even hearing the music). Sometimes, we wonder, was it really us (on the vid)? Did it really happen? It was such a fun and blessed day. And I pray that whenever the going gets tough, I will remember that day, all the kilig, promises, love and hope. :)

3-28-13

Before the clock hits 12 midnight, and the whole universe screams that this year will be my last of being 20-something years old (ooohhh nooo!), let me look a bit back and a little forward into the pages of my life.

 ...enters melancholy music :D

I realised how funny things turned up because I've never been that kind of girl who plans (even my husband can attest!). There are people who have their whole lives planned out - that they should be this or that at certain age....and I am absolutely not one of them! I never planned to be a DLSU graduate at 20, a mainframe developer at 21 and an OFW here in Singapore (still now, I cannot believe this) at 24. I never imagined knowing God and His People at 23!

And because of this unplanned life, that I am thankful to God. Every moments and every stages in my life seem accidental to me, but for God, they are certainly not. He has everything planned out! He is the Author of my life (His promise and also my hope). Sino ba naman ang di maghohope kapag ang Author ng life mo ay yung the best and out of this world/universe (the One that time and space cannot contain, the Alpha and Omega)! :)

Now I am finding a hard to look forward coz I don't plan nga.. :)  But lemme just enumerate some of the things that I wanted to do and achieve (with God's guidance and blessing) , at the least on my 29th year on earth:

1. Adapt on my new roles and responsibilities at home, career and ministry.
2. Be more productive - less time on social media apps and more time for Bible-reading, blog-writing...anything that would nourish my mind, soul, and body.
3. Exercise more :)