School of Mission

On Nov. 22, we started having Saturday eve classes at B2b. We invited youths (high school & college) from the UCCP and New Life Church to study about Missions. We have a total of 12 teenagers eager to learn about missions.

Their first mission activity was to show the love of God on Christmas day by making Christmas cards to be given to a specific child in the House of Blessing and Welcome Home in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand. They were very eager and excited that their messages will be given to an orphan child in another country.

Is it possible to reach out to someone even if you don't speak their own language?

Well, let's find out after our trip to Thailand...

Christmas Outreach

San Gabriel is one of the barangays in the hinterlands of Maydolong. We choose this village for our outreach because it is one of the needy communities in this municipality. Together with the students of ESSU, and through Meli who was teaching in the elementary schoool there, we visited the barangay on Dec. 6. We hired 2 open top tricycle. This type of transport is used in going to the uplands. Thank God it was not raining, neither was it too hot!

We gathered the children inside the barangay hall. Wow, it was so crowded! It was good that it rained the previous day... so the place was a little bit wet and cooler.

The students lead the children in singing some action songs and learning Christmas songs. They were very attentive as they listened to the Christmas story. They joyfully made Christmas cards. Then rushed to line up for the hand-me-downs that they would give to either their father, mother, brother or sister. Finally, with the support of friends and donors we were able to give some papers, notebooks, pencils, and snack items (juice, bread, hotdogs & candies). Thanks to the many friends who supported this activity.

It was raining heavily on Friday afternoon but on Saturday morning it was very bright and sunny. The rain poured down again when we were already back to Maydolong & the students were already going back to their respective homes and boarding houses. Thank God for controlling the weather! Indeed, He wanted us to go there and reach out to the children of San Gabriel with His message of love and salvation on Christmas day...

I'm not ready!

Here's a devotional that speaks to what I'm going through now. I received it today from Prime Time With God...

I'm not ready!
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman
11-08-2008

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness'" (2 Cor 12:9).

If there is one thing that is consistent throughout scripture, it is this: God calls people when they are not ready. God will never call you into service when you think you are ready. This is intentional on God's part.

And, you can be sure when God calls you, you will have similar responses as Saul did when he was called to be the first king, or Gideon, when he was called to take down the idols in his nation, or Moses, when he was called to deliver his people from Egypt.

Saul answered, "But am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you say such a thing to me?" (1 Sam 9:21).

"But Lord," Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family" (Judg 6:15).

But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" (Ex 3:11).

When God calls, you will most likely be in the most unlikely circumstances to receive that call. You will be in the midst of a crisis, you will lack resources, you will not have the skills you think you need. This too is the way of God.

God does this because He wants you to know your call is only based on His ability, not yours. When you think it is based on you, this is a false humility. And, it is unbelief and disobedience on your part.

Has God called you to something you have failed to do because you felt you were not ready? Repent before the Lord and let God accomplish great things through you.

Birthday greetings

Friends greeted me on my birthday by sending the following sms, email, & mesages:

"Te advans happy b-day gret ko daan mentras lapa kawata ako lod. hehe"
(Maris gan cot, 01 Nov 08 14:52)

"Happy birthday sayo Sharon tomorrow. May you have a very fruitful year. God bless you."
(Vhal A email, 04 Nov 08 14:18)

"Dear God, the lady reading this has a beautiful heart & I love her & today s her bday. Help her live to the fullest and to be happy alwys. Amen."
(Jane natan, 04 Nov 08 07:43)

"Happy bday, sha! I am so blessed by ur heart to serve God. It s an honor 2 b serving d Lord with u."
(K Dan N, 05 Nov 08 09:19)

"Happy happy birthday. Have a fruitful year ahead. God bless."
(T anj 0607, 05 Nov 08 12:21)

"Hi te, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! hain man kamo yana nagcecelebrate?"
(House, 05 Nov 08 14:11)

"Am I late? Iniisip ko kasi kung ngayon ba o sa 15. (kidding) how old r u te? Happy happy birthday deaR ate Sha! Wish 2 greet u personally but can't afford pa. 4ward nlang ni God wishes ko 4u... I'll kip u always n my prayers! Love u ate sha. Have a birthday filled w/ happiness & love . Mis u much!"
(Aden 0808, 05 Nov 08 16:52)

"happy birthday sharon"
(Gaye @ Facebook, 05 Nov 08 6:42 PM )

"Happy Birthday Sha!"
(Merlie @ Facebook, 05 Nov 08 9:36 PM)

"Let d love of God lighten ur lyf, Let His kindness mold U in2 His presence, Let Him b ur guide as u travel d road of life! Happy birthday and gud evening!"
(Enoy 1108, 05 Nov 08 22:00)

"Sha, happy birthday. Continue to shine for Christ! c u in dec"
(Jigsz @ Facebook, 05 Nov 08 11:16 PM)

"Belated hapi birthday!"
(LA 0508, 06 Nov 08 07:17)

"D hands of Jesus draw u clos, hold u near & mbrace u 4revr. May ur hart b asurd 2d of how precious u r 2 God. GOD LOVS U; SO DO WE. UR SPECIAL 2 US. HAPY BDAY!"
(t Ana V, 06 Nov 08 17:21)

Belated Happy Birthday Sharon! Keep up the good work! "God is not unjust, He will not forget your work and the love you have shown HIm as you helped His people and continue to help them." Hebrews 6:10

Love,

Ron, Glo w JJ, JI, Jed

(t glo saguit email, 06 Nov 08 04:25)

"Te sha, belated happy birthday!
(Meli 0907, 07 Nov 08 18:03)

"Te sha gud eve! blated hapi bday. wish u gud health olwyz."
(Fecel 1108, 07 Nov 08 19:26)

"heLo ate sha. belated belated hapi bday. more blessings 2 come and gud health. God bless."
(Joanine 1008, 08 Nov 08 14:32)

Pyatigorsk

Found today the following info from a website on Pyatigorsk...

Our Pyatigorsk Online

Pyatigorsk = "Five Mountains Town"

- a town in the South of the Stavropol region in the middle of the Caucasian Mineral Waters area


Mountains and waters...
this is now a part of my interests as a result of my specialization in Integrated Watershed Development and Management during my 3 years studies at AIT.

My Bachelor is in Animal Science but now I am also concerned with mountains and waters.

Has God planned all of this all along those years? Ten years ago, I never planned to go to Pyatigorsk because of its mountains and waters. And five years ago, I never dreamed of studying about mountains, waters and watershed...

Now, it is becoming clearer to me that somehow my Maker and creator of this universe has arranged the events of my life so that where I go and what I do are in harmony - there is a reason and a purpose... it's a pleasure to discover!

Goals in the coming days, weeks, months...

While lying in bed this morning upon waking up, these thoughts went through my mind: that among my goals this year and in the next few years should include to be able to discover and train young people here to whom I could pass on the ministry when I leave and whom I could also train to go and make disciples in other nations. Please pray with me about this...

Russia dreaming

I'm not yet really sure with whom (people group) or where (area) I will be working with. But during the summer exposure I had 10 years ago I was in Pyatigorsk, the southern part of Russia near the Caucasus region. A very strategic place. We were with a mixture of students (white, Slavic, Orthodox and minorities, Muslims, etc.). I'm considering visiting or going there again someday maybe short-term or longer... not yet clear. As a teacher now in the field of Agriculture & Environment, I believe God trained me to be with students, either working on campus/university setting or in the field, farming areas/communities.

Learning the language is not a problem for me. It's surviving the cold weather, that was my greatest struggle there. During our time there, we were not required to talk to students in Russian because we were there to teach them English, so we have to talk to them in English so that they will be forced to speak to us in English also.