Where is my love and passion for the Philippines?

I dropped off Wayne at the church for his language class. I parked the car nearby and decided to just walk around the area to find 2 things- a Starbucks that had wifi, and a BPI (bank) to withdraw some cash. As I drove to the church earlier, I saw lots of BPIs, so I was cheering silently that withdrawing money can easily be checked off my list of things to do. So I started my walk around the neighborhood (more like financial district). The first Starbucks said their internet is down. I frowned even though they were very apologetic. I walked out. Then I saw a BPI - as I walked up, I saw the sign, "Offline". Grrr... Ok, go on. The 2nd Starbucks I walked into, was charging P60/hour for wifi. (about a little over 1 Canadian dollar) That's ridiculous, I thought and walked away. (Yes, I am cheap!) Of course, I was planning to buy a coffee, so that should merit my getting free internet, I was telling myself. Then, I continued discovering the area. Aha! BPI, yes, as I climbed the steps towards the ATM machine, I saw a flimsy written note, "Inquiries only, no cash dispensing". Hmmm.... Is there any machine that has cash in this supposedly financial area? Along the way, I'd see people walking, street sweepers cleaning, security guards standing around. I paid no attention to them. No smiles, no hellos, just muttering inside - "Where are those silly bank machines?" "Is there anywhere I can get free wifi?" I finally saw another BPI and heaved a sigh of relief when it actually gave me the mulah that I needed. Thank you! I walked back to the first Starbucks and decided to just get a coffee. I casually asked them how much they charge for wifi had it been available. P90/hour, egad! Oh well, I guess that's how things really are here. The lady who served me was really nice. As I sat down to enjoy my coffee, I realized I was so concerned in "accomplishing" my goals this morning, that I had no passion, no eyes, no heart for the people around me. How easily I was caught up with my things to do, I failed to stop and chat with someone or even talk to our Father for the people in the neighborhood. Help me, O God to feel as You would feel, to think as You would think, to act as You would act.

As I was with Moses, so will I be with you (Nu. 1:5)

Wayne's reflections:
While reflecting on God's charge to Joshua to lead Israel into the promised land, I found myself asking the question: Why would God entrust himself to Joshua? It is because he has shown himself trustworthy to God. Joshua was faithful with the many smaller assignments and could therefore be faithful to the bigger things. Joshua's faith had stood the test on many occasions. For example, what made Joshua and Caleb stand up against his peers when they instigated the people to rebellion after returning from spying the Promised Land? All 12 tribal leaders had shown leadership in the past but here when the rubber met the road, 10 cracked up under the pressure of the task at hand. Did these 10 have a form of spirituality but without the commitment and follow through? Why did they have more faith in the giants than faith in the Lord? Was their leadership all show and no go? God reveals the answer to these questions in Numbers 14:24 "But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly."

Like Joshua, I also find myself over my head wondering if my level of faith matches my assignment at hand. Like Joshua I am also feeling fearful and feel my faith shrinking as I compare it to the size of obedience required for the task at hand. And God says the same thing to me as he said to Joshua  "...be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn to the right or the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night so you may be careful to do everything written in it. Do not be terrified and discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go" (Jos. 1:7-8). As Joshua followed God wholeheartedly up until this point, today was just another step in his lifelong commitment to follow God. The big steps of faith is always made up of many little steps. God entrusts himself to us in greater measure with each step where we entrust ourselves to the present task he has assigned to us.

The Spirituality of Jogging

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come (Apostle Paul's first letter to Timothy 4:8).

While I have held to Paul's instruction to Timothy 4:8 for prioritizing spiritual disciplines over physical exercise for as long as I can remember, a recent invitation to a morning jog from a friend has transformed my understanding of the interrelationship between body and spirit. As I started the discipline of early morning jogging 3x/week, I began to notice reduced stress, anxiety, muscular tension and at the same time being more mentally and emotionally present during the day. Now, physical training has some value for me in that "...when I beat my body and make it my slave" (1 Cor. 9:27) the release of endorphins does energize me so I can love God with my whole being, mind, heart and strength. It is true that my body is weak and fallen (Ps. 51:5). However, I now have come to believe that I can follow Jesus more closely when He has more of me to work with. I am praying that my weekly physical training will help me stay spiritually fit over the long haul.  (by Wayne)

Lesson #1

A month or so ago, I offered to help a lady in her late 20s, review for her ALS (Alternative Learning System) exam. This test is administered by the government for those who were not able to finish school for one reason or another. Lalaine was in third year high school when she figured in a car accident which left her in a coma for a while. She did eventually recover but not without some physical defects. It might have also affected slightly her mental faculties. She is, however, determined to take the test so she can be considered a high school graduate.

After meeting with her for a few times, I can tell that she will have to do lots of diligent studying in order to pass. Thankfully, the students are given a reviewer to take home and practice. She worked on it, and I checked her answers. I soon discovered error upon error in her work. So I asked her how she got the answer. (It was a Math probem.) She replied with a smile, "hula" ('guess' in Tagalog). I smiled, but was a bit disappointed with her answer. We moved onto the next question, still in Math. Her answer was wrong again, and I asked her again, "how did you come up with the answer?" She answered proudly, "hula"! It was at this point that I felt my "N. American saviour attitude" rise out of nowhere! I said to her in Tagalog. "Are you serious? Because if you are serious, I am serious. But if you are not serious, then I am not going to be serious. Do you really want to pass?" I explained to her that she is not going to pass by guessing the answers. She replied saying if she doesn't guess, she will never be able to finish the test. We continued the review.

I shared this incident with a colleague and found out a bit more about the learning process for some of the Filipinos. They were taught to copy down questions word for word, and memorize the answers. Sometimes they were even taught to just look for something that's close to the correct answer. Understanding of the problem was not even taught! Here I was, bringing along my pre-conceived notions of Western teaching, and expecting them to work in this small barangay (village). I didn't even consider this lady who had to stop school for over 10 years because of her physical disability as well as financial limitations.

So much for ...  being a light to the world.

Second chance, Lord?

Encouragement!

This week we received different forms of greetings from our friends in Canada! Two of them were handwritten cards which were mailed to our ACTION Canada address, and then re-directed to us. One of them is an e-card with a very thoughtful message of encouragement and prayer. The other one is a simple email sent to exhort us to keep on, keeping on. These brought tears to my eyes. When you're far away from "home", and you receive these heartwarming notes, it really tells us that our Lord is real, alive and everywhere! Knowing that people are praying for us as we adjust, thinking of us at the mention of Philippines, and taking the time to write us - indeed are very obvious signs of God's love, and of people responding to the Spirit's prodding. Because of these, we are encouraged to face each day with renewed joy. Now, I am literally "pumped up" to meet with a lady from the neighborhood to help her with her math lessons. Now, I am eager to homeschool Jouren. Now, I find meaning and purpose in our life here. Of course, tomorrow will be a different story, when I wake up and ...maybe find the light is busted again, or discover new 'droppings' in our kitchen counter, and wondering is this from a cockroach? lizard? Or when I hear stories of how kids choose to 'beg on the streets' rather than go to school.

But, I will remember the prayers of my brothers and sisters from Canada (and elsewhere), who are waking up and lifting us up to Jesus, who in their weekly prayer meetings are mentioning us as we adjust. Thank you for the fellowship of believers!

Living Water

After almost 2 weeks, we finally have water here at Second Mile Compound! Yippee!!! The two weeks have been truly a time of learning... to be patient (with each other), to understand how others feel (just think of Africa and even the flood affected areas right here in the Philippines), to be creative (we put out buckets to collect rainwater), to be thankful (that just outside our compound, we can get water), and many more. It even showed man's kindness - as I went to the nearby sports club and was able to get a free shower. =)

It also gave me a real appreciation of this resource - water! A lot of our everyday life is dependent on water - washing hands, cooking, laundry, shower, and more. Basically, cleaning - water cleanses us of the filth that we acquire everyday. It reminded me of the Living Water that washes away all my complaining attitude during this time... and in the future. Thank you, Jesus.

H2O

We woke up Monday morning and found out we don't have water coming out of our tap. We thought it was the usual breaker problem, and Wayne went outside to check it out. That's when he learned that the motor pump of our water system in Second Mile was broken. After some 16 years, it finally gave in. Not bad for a motor pump. But, then that means we won't have water for a few days! Yikes! It's good that we still have the 'filtered water' that we buy for our drinking water. Wayne also put outside whatever buckets or containers we have, to collect rainwater. As much as we had prayed for the the rains to stop, what with the recent floods, I must say, the rainwater did come in handy. It is inconvenient, I  admit. But, nothing of course, compared to what the rest of the Filipinos who suffered from the recent floods are experiencing.