The Lunch Break Chronicles

Dec 10, 2014

Do you have a lunch break habit? If you work from 8am-5pm on weekdays, you probably get 1 hour of free time to eat or whatever you wanna do! For years, I have treated my lunch break as just a "time to eat" moment, where I would rush finishing my food to get back to work again, or probably to take a short nap. Sometimes even, I would stay in my cubicle in front of my computer to still do work stuff while I'm munching on my lunch... which I realized is not the best thing to do. Until I discovered that I can do more fun stuff during this seem-to-be-short-but-significant 1 hour. A month ago I started to pack up and go out for lunch in Rustan's Alphaland Ayala Ave with my lunch (or sometimes I would buy lunch/milktea from there), my wallet, water and the most exciting part is the Book of the Season, which for now is "The Life You've Always Wanted" (I'm almost done reading it). I have never enjoyed lunch breaks until I learned to eat and read, savoring every spoonful and chewing every thought. I treat it as a date, most of the time with God, when the book seem to really speak to me as if it were God telling me the thoughts.

The reason though that I'm writing this post is not because of my newly-discovered habit but the strange experience that happened while I'm at it. Dec 10 is not a typical lunch break though. There's not much seats in Rustan's and I happened to asked to share a table with 2 seemingly young professionals. I placed my food on the shared table and plugged my earphones and tuned into my spotify playlist. Not so much after, the woman I'm sharing the table with expressed her intention of sharing a conversation, too. Despite the absolute fact that I love to be alone, I'm still open to wonders that could happen when I share time with people, especially strangers. So I closed my book and released my ears from my earphones and we had a stranger's conversation, her and his friend. Jeatte and Earl.

So we talked about our professions and the common denominator is we're all working for the IT industry. I somehow pitched my Microsoft Cloud strategies with them. We touched a lot on hobbies and I discovered these people are wanderlusts as well. I mean, they're the real thing because they really have gone out a lot and plans for their 2015 travels are sure. I, however, am the dreamer wanderlust. So far, they're still all in my head/heart as dreams. It's amazing also how at one point Jeatte said, "Can I ask you something, I'm just curious. Are you a Christian?." I'm really not sure what made her ask me that, I'm not sure if it's the book I was reading because she seemed like she didn't know about it. But it's amazing to have been asked that question again. She, btw, claims to be a Christian too. I have to be back at the office by 1pm though so our conversation ended with a promise to connect through Facebook again.

And this event led me to the idea of creating a blog series called "The Lunch Break Chronicles." Maximize lunch time while the season is still there :)

Lessons from 3 Idiots

Not surprised at how I'm still in awe of the values represented in the Bollywood movie 3 Idiots as I watched it for the nth time. I saw it for the first time 2010 while I was in my Board Exam review season. As someone who had an exciting yet challenging College experience and who still has an interaction with students until now, I highly recommend all students and educators, even parents to spare 3 hours of their time to watch this eye-opener.

I'm moved with how the movie reminded me that we should pursue our passions because I believe that passions are a gift from God that leads us to the discovery and realization of our purpose. I'm even convicted that maybe sometimes, instead of motivating, I impress mental and emotional pressure to students that wouldn't really help them be successful.

If you're a student, don't just study to have a job! But make your school season an opportunity to grow in your character. It's better to fail and learn a lesson than to pass an exam you cheated. When you graduate, your employer wont look at the results of your exam in College but will look at how you handled stress during School. If you cheated in school, most likely you will also cheat in the workplace.

I know there a lot of more experienced educator than me, but I suggest we coach our students in life, not just teach them how to memorize and analyze. More importantly, let's be vehicles for the students to realize their passions. teach them more than what's in the book... but teach them Life! A lot of students may not take our advices seriously because basically they're young to be serious, but treat our words like seeds planted in their hearts that one day would grow.

If you're a parent, we're thankful for your sacrifices so that your offsprings get educated but realize that you're not God who can direct a person what path to take. Parents are significant in guiding their children but not to dictate where they go. Be a support system and motivate the kids in love and not in threat.

Life is beautiful especially the season of studying. Let's keep our focus on what would matter long-term :)

Your Last Day on Earth

Since everything here today might well be gone tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to live a holy life?  2 Peter 3:11 The MSG

My random reflections for the past couple of months have been consistently about how well I've been spending the precious days given to me as a gift. As I look back to the year that is about to end, I see a lot of big highlights brought about by grace... events that consumed a lot of pages in my journals. But as I have experienced these transitions and summits, I am becoming more aware of the things that I want to really do! Yet when I look at the days, even its hours, I see myself doing something not aligned with my heart's passions.

Everyday, we have a list of to-dos and I propose they belong to just 2 categories-- the GET-TOs and the HAVE-TOs. The questions is which list is winning your precious time?

The GET-TO-DO list consist of things you would do if time and money were a problem. I don't know what's in yours but in mine, I have:

• Be an instrument for my family to experience life! I want to bring my parents to places, see many things before a ripe rage makes them unable to do such.
• Have my eyes to see different places and have my heart indulge in many quiet times from these unfamiliar locations.
• Experience different people. I have nothing against Filipinos but my heart just really gets excited to have an exploit of different cultures!
• Accomplish little things in my perspective that will impact the lives I'm doing them with! Probably give as many as I can!
• Spend intimate and treasured dates with friends to share lives!
• Have at least one hour of personal time everyday in a coffee-shop setting where I can just journal, reflect and get my inspirations and corrections from God's Word.
• Just say YES to God whenever He asks me to do something without even thinking of TIME and FINANCES.

But the reality is I'm limited by my time and finances and so I'm stuck everyday with this list:

The HAVE-TO-DO list

• Wake up, share some whispers with God if I still have time but usually I would rush to work.
• 8am-5pm (sometimes even far beyond) of communications, planning, executions as my job requires.
• I got little left for the day and I already feel tired so when I get home I would just browse and sleep.
• During the weekends, I would have to sacrifice my rest day if a deadline is ahead the following week.
• Or even if I'm free on the weekends, I don't have the resources to just take off and be somewhere else.

Just a disclaimer though... It's not like the Get-to is the good list and the Have-to is he bad one. I meant far from that. This is a balance between two GOOD things especially if you know that your heart's desires (Get-tos) and your current responsibilities (Have-tos) are conceived by your relationship with God, and not because of your selfish desires and self-efforts. For some people, these two lists are reconciled because they were blessed with the means. But for most of us, the lists don't have the same items. 

And don't get me wrong, I love what I'm doing at work. I consider it as God's extravagant grace to me that I'm in the position I'm in. I love the challenges and being a contributor to overcome the challenges. I love the people I'm working with directly. I love learning from my boss and being molded into an experienced professional. I love the opportunities it brings me. I'm grateful for my work. But at the end of the day, when it's the end of my life already, I will not say at my deathbed

...I remember those deals I've closed
...I'm proud the 3-digit growth we had in FY15
...I wish I could go back to the time we had that executive meeting
...I'm glad I was able to submit that requirement on deadline

But what I want to reminisce are

...I remember going to Santorini with my Mama, Papa and brother
...I'm proud of the person I shared life in Africa/South America (or wherever) who _____ (fill in the blanks)
...I wish I could go back to the time me and my girlfriends experienced the jungles of Arizona
...I'm glad I was able to GO when God called me to that place... (No idea yet what place though)

See what I'm meaning? All the more that these thoughts are kindled as I read 2 Peter 3:11 from The Message version... Since everything here today might well be gone tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to live a holy life?

I realize that my time here on earth is temporary and that I got to make the most of it before I go to heaven, my permanent home (that confidence rests in God's grace). That calls for some house-cleaning... getting / limiting off my everyday list activities that are not important nor urgent. What's on top of my head is social media and extended work hours. And do something in faith that will align with attaining my Get-to list. :)

So when you work, make sure it's something that you love to do! That even if your dear life gets its period tomorrow, you will not regret that you spent your today doing something not worth it.


Author: Jonai
Setting: November 2, 2014 1715H on the yellow-lit couch of Starbucks Dona Soledad while the Spotify playlist "Sunday Easy Listening is Playing.
Credits to God for the inspiration

Pre-Medan Diaries: Raising Funds pt 2

Sacrificial Giving

The previous week has been a significant test and testimony in my life. I've heard a lot of stories about God providing miraculously to people going on a mission, whether tendays or long term. During the past 3 months of approaching people virtually (thank you God for facebook!), I've experienced a lot of faith-building struggles and opportunities like getting in touch with people I haven't reached out to for a LONG time (yes, this was a struggle considering my not very extrovert personality), hearing NOs from people you expected to understand and have a heart to support my cause, and receiving unexpected YES from people you never even imagined would give generously out of their own storms.

But what I really wanna do in this post is honor God and the person (or family, more appropriately) whom he used to let me experience the last miracle during my MPD season.Well, He used many people for several miracles but this one's simply the best :)

It was already the last day of the deadline and I was still short with 10% of the total funds I needed to have by then. I've been wanting to see God provide miraculously so I didn't wanna ruin the opportunity by trying to figure out a Plan B... something like borrow money. That' so cheap and I feel the Holy Spirit just telling me to WAIT. Even if I try to do something about it, I couldn't as i didn't have the time. It was Monday and my new role at work is very time and attention-consuming. So I was forced to wait and not even think about how to solve it. In short, God wanted me to not worry.

But here's what went through my mind that day: What the? Not worry? I definitely am not pushing through Medan if my funds didn't get completed! It's even a hassle to gather up the funds and return them to my partners and explain, "I'm not going anymore." So, Lord, if you will allow, let me do something about this.

Of course, His answer was still WAIT, DONT WORRY. So I just did.
Then I came home and finally got to check my FB messages. To my surprise, one partner who has already gave me 10% has mentioned she will still give another 10%! All I could do was shout waaaaah, thank you Lord! What's even more a blessing is the way she is giving it. her family is experiencing some difficult storm at that very time, with her husband losing his job and with bills piling up. But instead of allotting money for their food and needs for the coming days, she and her husband decided they would give sacrificially and inconveniently. That's just a realization of how God can work on two parties at the same time! Somehow I wanted to feel guilty because her money could've been used for her family's provision but still, she gave it out. But then I realize, if it was God who told her to do so, who am I to keep her from passing her own test?

I look to God and am faithful to see how He will reward this family for their obedience!

Miracleek

Miracleek - a word I came up with this very minute to describe my week full of miracles :)

I entered this week with a very unwelcoming and ungrateful heart, for some relevant reasons, but I can't even end the same week without testifying about the miracles that God caused me to experience. (I'm excited to reveal about the common denominators of the 3 miracles that I experience this week but I'll hold those horses till the end of this post) :)

First Miracle - A sudden change of heart.

My online for the past couple of weeks hint how affected I am when I lost the Citrix business. Not 'lost' as in haven't 'won' but as in it's no longer mine, being replaced by the new buddy Microsoft Cloud. Since my birthday last July 24, my mind has been wandering with regrets (nanghihinayang, not nagsisisi) as if I'm losing an important person. You can't blame me for being affected much... I have poured out the last year of my life with and for it and now that we're parting, I felt like a part of me is being taken out.

I even came accross August 4, Monday having the 1st ever client call I had for Microsoft in Carmona Cavite. All I ever felt that day is regret also that I went there and wasted time, effort and money.

Tuesday morning, I asked Carmen to pray for me because I wasnt feeling any passion for my new job. There is a number of friends also who were praying for me at this stage of unacceptance.  :) The same day ended with my heart feeling a little peace about the transition.

Wednesday came along with my 1st miracle, I had my 1st business review with Microsoft and that meeting just popped my emo status out! I suddenly felt on fire for my new post! What used to be a burden became a challenge I would love to overcome! The funny thing is, I didn't even do anything but to attend that meeting, do what I have to do with the required presentation that I have to deliver! I'm so grateful for this change of heart because I never wanted to work for something I'm not passionate about. Now that I've accepted the challenge fully, I'm all out for it! In fact I have a lot of planning to do (again!) over this weekend, depriving me of no-work day, but hey! It's a glad choice to work this weekend!

The day I embraced Microsoft :)

Second Miracle - It will be completed!Thursday, 1 more day to go and the raising of funds for my mission trip to Medan Indonesia would have already been closed. I tried to connect to more people online to ask for support and complete the pledges which still lack 11% by that day. I couldn't get any more response and I have ran out of more contacts to approach. However, while I was attentively learning during my onboarding training with Microsoft, I received a message from a friend who expressed his intent to support me with a sum amounting to 10% of my target! That's big, I tell you! Right at that seat, in the midst of the presentations in front of me, my heart was rejoicing knowing that I'm experiencing the miracle I have been asking from God to let me experience! I didn't even approached this person to ask for support! :) I can only credit it to God's hands working! By the end of the day, I only needed 1% which was closed by another friend who expressed her intent to support me :) So happy to get 100% pledges! However, I don't really need pledges, but the money itself. But then comes my 3rd miracle.

Third Miracle - He cares about the details.
Same day, Thursday, I got the news from our Missions Coordinator that our deadline to complete the funds was extended to Monday! A very timely miracle as some of my pledgers have not yet remitted their support! Now I have more time to collect and remit! So grateful that I completely am not in control about that aspect, yet, He took care of it!

3 miracles in one week sounds too many for me, but when I look at the first 12 disciple's life, they encountered miracles every moment of everyday as they follow Jesus! There was no striving for them. They just followed and experienced the miracle. Same as the common denominator with my Miracleek! I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING but to TRUST God.

To God be the glory! Here I go Medan! :)

Letting Go of Something Good (So Long, Citrix)

It's my last day today as the Product Manager of Citrix in WSI and though I tried to resist it, I simply can't fight the reality of change. I've been distracted since my boss made the personal announcement last week, July 23 (just a day before my birthday) that she will take charge of Citrix now and that I'll handle the Microsoft Cloud business of WSI effective August 1. I wanted to complain about so many things like...

     

I poured out the past year of my life for CTX and now it's taken away from me?

I won't even get at least a month of transition?

I didn't even spend 1 year as PM for CTX?

I won't even get a chance to formally say my goodbyes to my dear principals and partners?

How about the big accounts that will close this year that I worked hard for?

I didn't even experience the fruits of my labor because of the long sales cycle.

And what happens now to my goal of leaving Citrix after two years being a stable business for the company?

It's even harder where I'm heading because Microsoft Cloud is pretty new and customers, like me, are afraid of changes.

I feel like all the efforts and invested learnings and time that I've exerted for the past year (1st 6 months as Pre Sales Engineer and 2nd 6 months as PM) cant be maximized anymore. :( 

My established relationships with my partners cant grow further, and could even be discontinued because we have no more business to do together.

So you see why I find it hard to move on? I feel like something good is being snatched from me, like a favorite toy being taken away from a kid! But then I hear my soul, and even God himself telling me to accept it, even embrace it! That as I speak each line of my whining, I hear another voice saying another thing.

I poured out the past year of my life for CTX and now it's taken away from me? It's noble to pour out your life on things you're passionate about but learn not to depend your life on it.

I won't even get at least a month of transition? Maybe you're just being trained for a life full of fast transitions? 

I didn't even spend 1 year as PM for CTX? Maybe many short but colorful seasons are ahead, so you're being taught to maximize your current season?

I won't even get a chance to formally say my goodbyes to my dear principals and partners? Why do you need to?

How about the big accounts that will close this year that I worked hard for? Will not God give you good accounts in Microsoft also?

I didn't even  experience the fruits of my labor because of the long sales cycle. So did you work hard because of the fruits you could get?

And what happens now to my goal of leaving Citrix after two years being a stable business for the company. Doesn't God's plans always prevail?

It's even harder where I'm heading because Microsoft Cloud is pretty new and customers, like me, are afraid of changes. Isn't God's grace enough?

I feel like all the efforts and invested learnings and time that I've exerted for the past year (1st 6 months as Pre Sales Engineer and 2nd 6 months as PM) cant be maximized anymore. :( Can't you carry the most important lessons you learned to your next season? ie, character moldings

My established relationships with my partners cant grow further, even could be discontinued because we have no more business to do together. Maybe there's a way to be relational aside from being business-oriented?

I feel like a schizo talking my own thoughts. But for me, it only  means I know this transition can be good... and can be worked for the good by the God I love. It's just that letting go of something good is just so hard, specially when you don't know what you are letting it go for.

But let me use this post also to publicly acknowledge to myself that God is always purposeful for the different seasons He's putting me through. And I know that I wouldn't be able to embrace my next season until I have completely let go of my previous. So despite the doubts and whining, I'm just gonna step out in faith and be equally if not more passionate about Microsoft as I was with Citrix. 

Well some good things I see... new learnings, new challenges, more people I can practice interaction with, more opportunities for personal growth and development, and more significantly, higher trust in God in times of uncertainties. 

Thank you Lord for a jam-packed and VERY SURPRISING JULY! :)

Thank you for my experiences while with Citrix :) Now I think I'm ready for Microsoft!

DOST Scholar Can Now Fly Outside PH

Been receiving inquiries from my co-DOST Scholars regarding the requirements I completed prior to flying to Vietnam last April 2014. Sorry it took me months to write this long-conceived thought of a referential blog but here it is.. and it's going to take just a short post. ^_^

When I came into my current company last July 2013, I hoped that sooner or later I will be sent outside Ph for a corporate conference or training. So even before my 1st day at work last year, I already secured my passport. It took me 3 years after graduation to be in faith that I could actually go out of the country :) I also checked last year my status from the Bureau of Immigration and found out that I'm not part of the blacklist! That's a confidence booster for me!

The opportunity to actually go out of Ph came last March when by boss decided I should represent the company to Citrix's Partner Bootcamp in Vietnam dated April 2-4. That's 1 month preparation of actually not preparing at all because my expenses were taken care of by Citrix and WSI plus I had also a little pocket money that I could spend while there in VN. So bags packed and ready to go!

Went to NAIA very early because I knew there's a possibility of getting questioned by the Immigration. I checked in and lined up to be checked and indeed, the immigration officer questioned a lot since my passport will have its first ever stamp. Questions asked were: Where are you going? What will you do there? When will you come back? And you have to convince them that your answers are true! So I showed my email invite from Citrix and the itinerary, even the return flight ticket. But the most amazing thing that happened is how God showed his saving hand! I found in my hand-carry bag the contract that my company gave me prior to leaving. I wasn't even thinking of bringing it but I had it in my bag anyway! This contract showed the bond that the trip would cause me, which is equivalent to 6 months of stay in WSI. And voila! I got my stamp! Nothing about being a DOST Scholar was even mentioned in the airport... making me conclude that the ban for DOST scholars has been lifted!

So to summarize, if you're flying out of the Ph for the first time... just remember to bring all possible documents you could show to prove that you're returning. Or if you're not planning to return, dont bring printed resumes or anything that would give the officer a clue that you're planning to work there... aside of course if you have an agency you're working with!

Happy flying! :)

It Will Rain

This post is not related to Bruno Mars' song in any way but the exciting season that God has in store for me as revealed by the Holy Spirit during the last day of the mid-year Prayer and Fasting last July 3. The mid-year fasting has a mark of being a time of God's clear revelation for me starting last year 2013, when He clearly told me about a turning-point in my life that I had to obey. Until now, I'm still in awe and very grateful that He caused things to happen last year though they put me in difficult valleys.

I entered the fasting season very much excited and expectant that God will exceed what He did last mid-year. Remember that my 2014 has been themed by God with Fire? You can read it here. I never entertained the thought though of praying "Lord please let it be over soon," as I have accepted that my entire year will be a year of fire... very challenging, draining and stretching but my character has never been this firm as before :) Although He's turning it around now! At the last day of fasting, during the worship time when we were instructed to just wait to be filled with the Holy Spirit to the tune of Like A Fire by Planetshakers, God just showed me a vision looking up with clouds producing light raindrops that i can feel with my skin. For me it just represented the Holy Spirit "raining down" upon me, until I heard God tell me "This is your next season." At first I can hardly believe it because it's too sweet to be true! Rain has been God's special way to remind me of His comfort as if each drop is His embrace to me, and of His provision as if every raindrop is a piece of blessing. But instead of shrugging it off, I accepted it and still in that moment of worship while Like A Fire was playing, the Holy Spirit started to remind me of what's in "RAIN" because I wanted to have a list of verses/principles that relate to it. 

First thing that He reminded me of is Noah's time in Genesis 6-9 when God sent rain for the first time to CLEANSE the world of its sin. That one was easy to accept as I've been in a season of cleansing and purification during the first half of the year through fire... this time it's gonna be through water. The second He reminded me of is during the time of Elijah when God showed himself off on top of Mt Carmel and proved that He alone is God and the baals are nothing in compared to Him. That moment marked off a time when the long drought that Israel experienced for years was ended by God sending off RAIN! Too sweet to believe that God will let me experience something that I haven't experienced for a long time :') I didn't wanna get ahead of God but right there my soul started to claim that  I'm gonna reach my targets starting this July! Then the worship song ended and I was so filled with God's presence and revelation I had to share it with Lovely and Jen!

Friday the next day, I was so excited to leave the office and head to my favorite quiet time spot: Starbucks, The Columns. I sat there with my mint tea and started to read the verses pertaining to Noah and Elijah's experiences of rain, and now I'm writing here the bulk of it.

God's Personal Revelation to Me About RAIN

1. DURING NOAH'S TIME

We all know the story. God sent rain for 40 days to wipe off the Earth from wickedness and it says in Genesis 7:11 and 8:2 

     "...on that day, all the springs of the great deep burst forth , and the floodgates of the heavens were opened"

     "Now the springs of the deep and the floodgates of the heavens had been cosed, and the rain had stopped falling from the sky."

Did floodgates of heaven ring a bell to you? It sure did when I was meditating on it! It was also mentioned in Malachi 3:10 where is says:

     "'Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,' says the Lord Almighty, 'and see if I will not throw open the FLOODGATES of HEAVEN and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.'"

And right there, God told me that when the floodgates of heaven open up, it's not just the rain that pours out of it. It's also the pathway for blessings! Honestly, my doubtful self wanted to ray, "really Lord?" because I have NEVER experienced having so much blessings that I didn't have room enough to contain it. I give my tithe faithully and I'm already happy that God provides me with JUST enough! So hearing God tell me that He's gonna pour out more than enough took a lot of faith from my heart! 

2. DURING ELIJAH'S TIME

As you may have read/heard before, Elijah was an important prophet whose one of the highlights being able to turn off the rain supply as one would turn off the shower (borrowed Steven Furtick's words there), of course through God's power! So there was at least 3 long years of drought in Israel which is a consequence of the people sin for worshiping other gods. Then when it's time for God to show himself up to the people, He uses Elijah to disprove the false prophets of the false gods by sending FIRE from heaven to consume the offering in front of the people, which the false gods, of course were not able to do. So after the sending the fire, God finally sent rain to the people who long yearn for water. Although Elijah's faith had to be tested once again when he had to check 7 times if rain was indeed coming as he claimed in front of the people and King Ahab of Israel. On the 7th time of checking (which is the number of God or of completion), finally they saw a cloud formation which eventually sent rain!

God already revealed to me on the 3rd day of fasting that He was going to do something that I haven't experienced for a long time just as how the people of Israel haven't experience rain for a long time. But it was when I was meditating on this story that he confirmed to me through numbers that it's going to be about my sales figures. For 6 months I've been trying to reach my quota, just as how many times Elijah checked to see if there was already rain. Now, this July which is the 7th month since I got promoted to the position, it's going to happen! :) Not to mention that July also is my birth month! So could you imagine how sweet it is to hear God promise something so tangible to me? :)

July is indeed a month of surprise to me, answering my request to God which I posted on Instagram.

Also not forgetting that aside from these great revelations, He also answered my 2 faith goals in my list:

-Get teaching load in RTU

-Provision for my Medan Mission Trip

This blog doesn't justify the excitement I feel so if you're my friend who wants to personally hear this testimony of God's sweetness, date me! :D

Ready for the rain!!! :)

Met Cool People through CouchSurfing

Got home so late tonight and yet I don't wanna go to sleep without blogging about this noteworthy day :) 

Turn of events led me to meeting 4 nice people (according to first impression) today and have a great night of learning about their travel adventures. Thao (Vietnamese) and 3 more Kristine, Patrick and Kresta who are all Filino doctors just added colors to my typical work day with their stories, food trip and road trip.

So how did I happen to meet them? Well it's because my Lemon Chili Sauce bottles which I brought from Vietnam got confiscated by the immigration officer due to my ignorance about not bring liquids in my hand carry (this was during my first international flight and I was coming home to Manila from Vietnam). That was April 6 and up until early June I still couldnt get over its great taste and so I had this idea of posting to CouchSurfing.com this one:

And Thao MK graciously offered a stranger to buy the lemon chilli sauce. :) Today, Thao arrived in Manila from Vietnam and we set to meet at Robinsons Place Ermita (one of my least liked places in the Metro). She invited me over to street food dinner (which turned out to be Banchetto in Pioneer) with her Pinoy friends whom she met in Cambodia exactle 1 year ago! First thing that entered my mind is my being reserved of " Who are these people, i don't even know them, why will I join?" But there's something in my heart saying "Give it a try, it's something new!" So the learner and adventurous side of me gave in and it was worth it! So I met Kristine, Patrick and Kresta, too! I love the stories they shared about placed, food and experiences! I'm looking forward to join them in their spontaneous trips!!! :) Goodnight!

Selah moment: Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Friday night. While everyone else are outside enjoying the Hillsong concert maybe or whatever, I was at home taking all the joy in from the rest and break I could get from this weekend. And what I love about tonight is that I'm simply home yet I hear this louder calling of God for my life. Here's how.

I love my Friday routine: go home to my home city Paranaque after a weeklong stay in Makati, watch a movie, browse inspirin photos, and watch a movie. For this particular night, I really dont have much new saved in my laptop but my brother (who by the way has a girlfriend now!) happened to have a copy of Secret Life of Walter Mitty and I see that it has 7.4 rating over Imdb so I played it. At start it seemed boring, without the comedy, action, drama or mind stuff in its concept. But my soul got really drawn into it when Walter started to step out of his office and find Film #25. In short, he travelled! I know that this is just a fiction but it the parts after it were like neodymium magnets (strongest ones) attracting my heart. I even teared up to see him going out to see the world and imagine myself having the same boldness to leave things behind and pursue greater things. 

But you know how Walter really was ablr to fight ride the junky plane with a drunk pilot (and jump from there into the waters), struggle for his life against a shark, meet new people, bike a long road with picturesque scenes, trade a toy with strangers, skate through severl kilometers stretch, escape a volcano eruption, climb the himalayas and glance at a snow leopard? It was all because we was finding someone!!! And right at one monent in the movie when I had to pause the player and practice SELAH that I realize it's the same for us! We get to encounter adventures we never thought we would do as we seek and find or follow the trails God is leading us to follow! 

I love the part where it says that Walter makes Sean's work appreciated by those who look at it. Yeah it's the God and me analogy because God has pictured so much beautiful things that can only appreaciated if developed (by us!)

I enjoyed how passion this movie is, but it's 1am now and my mind is starting to fall asleep. 

I WANNA TRAVEL MORE!!!! Zzzz

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

What's your all-time favorite song? This probably is one hard question to answer because we humans naturally love music and we gain favorites as time passes by. But only a little of them stays as your favorite even when the charts and the FM playlists don't contain them anymore.

This for me is the best song ever... not because of its grand musicality like my other favorite songs, but its simplicity combines reality and idealism. 

Somewhere over the rainbow has been rendered by many artists but this version by a little girl, for me, tops versions of Kylie, Ella Fitzgerard, The Ramones, Tori Amos, and even the original by Judy Garland (Wizard of Oz).

Just the intro makes me close my eyes and be transported into my own sweet picture of a paradise, the beach, the sun in the blue skies, palm trees, flowers and grass, and the mountainous landscape. In short, this song is my excape :)

It also reminds me about the goodness of life despite the trials... That behind every hardship comes a reward if you don't let go of the promises that The One above has given you :)

This version's medley with Rod Stewart's "What a Wonderful World" makes it even sweeter and uplifting, reminding me that indeed, this world is wonderful... so let's explore!

PS. This Ukulele version of this song is my 2nd favorite rendition :) Let me know if Somewhere Over the Rainbow uplifts your soul, too!

Pre-Medan Diaries - Raising Funds part 1

I love how God is using this season to reunite me with friends and acquaintances both from the past and the not so recent past. I've shortly mentioned in one of my previous posts that I'm scheduled to go to Medan (by faith!) for 10-days of full time effort to support the newly planted church there in hope to introduce more people into the knowledge of Christ our savior. And I'm so happy that I have this opportunity to really GO and make disciples of ALL nations, in response to the Great Commission Jesus commanded in Matthew 28. 

I have to raise my funds though until end of July so my qualification to join the team flying this September to Medan can be completed. And I'm just enjoying how I'm becoming more bold to approach people, not to ask for money but to really catch up in faithful hope for an opportunity to share what God is doing in  my life.

Prior to actually raising my support, I used to think, in pride, that I don't have to actually ask people for help. And God totally changed that making me realize that sharing my vision to others is not merely asking for money or support... But rather, giving other people an oppprtunity to be blessed by being a part of what God is doing in other nations... Because not everyone can go, but everyone can give and pray. That has always been my stand since 1st year college. Even as a student, I would spare even Php 50 to support missionaries. I dont know where that amount took our missionaries, maybe a meal for one of them, but definitely I believe that God saw that commitment as seed :)

So going back to catching up... The not-so-conversation-starter me actually started conversations. :) It's a joy to catch up with high school, college, review, and even old church friends. And even if I get NO for an answer to the opportunity-to-be-blessed that I'm offering them, there's still joy knowing that I have shared the goodness of Christ in my own little way. :)

All the more that I am blessed with those who pledges an amount, mainly because that meant that God spoke to their hearts to be generous through my testimony :) and I'm blessed to be used as an instrument to stir faith in the hearts of those committing.

Thank you Lord for I know that You have so much more in store for me this season!

Hundred Islands 2014

Summer will never ever be summer without a sweet escape to the beach!

The Wake Up Call

I've been wanting to update this blog for so long now! But every time I find something I wanna write about, the inconvenience of stress and weariness stops me from having the discipline to sit down, not think of work and just write... and I go to the common alternative which is to sleep :)

But there's one wake up call which I really don't wanna miss to record so even though it's a Friday night tonight, while almost everybody is somewhere else but home, I'm in front of my laptop not to work, but to write :)

The Wake Up Call

Disclaimer: I'm not ranting about my work. I find it really challenging every single day and I love being molded into a more mature lady as I encounter different circumstances and people. There's just some things that need fixing :)

Have you tried staying at the office at extended number of hours (even though not paid) and as you reach your destination, probably your house or some chill-time place, you open up your mobile device and still check your work email? That's me recently! From the course of my 10 months at my new work environment, I've met way too many people and one of those with great marks are my principals from Citrix. Principal means the root company (or employees thereof) of the solution we are offering, and for Citrix's case, they're not Filipino locals. I'm a lot of times interacting with people who are Singapore-based but mixed Nationalities---SG natives, Malaysian, Indonesian, Indian, Australian, Korean and New Zealand(er?). That's one of the things I enjoy a lot---the experience of meeting someone "new" as in not a Filipino. Since they don't currently have local presence in Ph, they would schedule trips to Manila monthly (sometimes semimonthly) to meet my clients and partners... of course to chase deals. And so when they're here, I would join them in the meetings and even in transit to and fro.

You should know I'm not a good conversation-starter unless I'm very passionate about what I'm going to talk about. But since I'm a businesswoman now, in other terms Sales, I have to practice speaking!!! So opposite of who I am! But anyway, one time one of my principals who was Korean broke the silence and asked me what I do during the weekends and it was a struggle to answer it enthusiastically because while his answer to the same question is sports and leisure, my take was... I can't even remember what I made up! :D Maybe I said "working out" and of course, church on Sundays. But the reality is that I was a bit not proud to say "I still work on Saturdays... either doing something pending or preparing for the week ahead, or studying (which is rare now). That part of our conversation didn't bother me a lot until I was asked again of the same question by another principal, this time Australian.. and I said, "Well I used to go to the gym... and then church on Sundays." Of course I started to feel that my life is boring until I made sure it is when I got asked a third time by a third principal and I wasn't so happy with my answer anymore, although I added "travel" which is rare for my weekends because usually, I'm in a coffee/milktea shop blogging, working or FBing (the worst in the list).

So the lighting struck the 3rd time and I believe I can have something more than just to work! I don't wanna get myself overreacting because I enjoy writing and working and churching, and RESTING most especially... but if my weeks is just about that, maybe one day I would run out of reasons to write and reasons to work.

Now I'm thinking of something else I can do over the weekend. Go back to teaching a couple of units every Saturday? Start a new sports? Consume the rest of my 1-year gym membership? Although I still prefer that I can be free on Saturdays without any obligation so it can be my Spontaneous day. Or am I just wanting to tweak my weekend routine because I want it to become more appealing to others? I don't know. Tweak or not, I'm sure I will enjoy whatever I'd do. :)

Saigon Diaries Part 2 - People

One of the things that made my Saigon trip memorable is the people that I met there. Even before leaving Philippines, I have already slightly established some local Vietnamese contacts whom a couple of my Filipino friends have channeled to me. Being a total stranger in a strange country doesn't terrify me but it thrills me to meet new people, especially if the cause is not obligatory :) So in this part of my Saigon Diaries Series, I would like to enumerate and acknowledge the people who have welcomed me with the warmest Vietnamese hospitality :)

Me and my lovely friend Praise!

Praise is First on the list. She's the local whom I've become comfortable so easily. As I write this, I realize she's like my Filipino friend Eca. She's a good conversationalist and we always found something to talk about. She invited me to some of her community's activities so I'd always have an extra-curriculum activities. And what's even warm is that she would pick me up  and drop me down on her motorbike to make it convenient for me to join their activities. I would always look forward to see her in Saigon again or maybe when she visits Manila :) I'm so blessed to know her! She also introduced me to some of her friends and almost all of the names to follow, I got to know through Praise.

Thanks Tessa for picking me up! :)

Tessa  is a silent and gentle lady who happened to showed a lot of kindness to me. She has a very interesting personality in spite of her being silent. We call her "Silent Finisher" because she eats a lot but she's very petite!!! How is that even possible? :) I appreciate her kindness picking me up from my hotel twice. She also bothered to wake up early on Saturday morning just so I would have company to watch the Traditional Vietnamese Concert in front of the Saigon Opera house. She would explain or translate to me if what people are speaking in Vietnamese. I also got a little tour around the City just riding at the back of her motorcycle. 

Jessy is a friendly local who is like a walking google maps of Saigon :) If I need any direction or tips as to the places I wanted to go to, she would always have a good advise. The cheap hotel I moved to after checking out from New World Hotel is actually her suggestion. And she automatically gave me prices of items or services in Peso so I woudn't find it hard to compute! I don't have a selfie photo with her but her memory is marked in my heart. :)

Last but most importantly is Châu. I actually never met her but while I was still in Manila, I would chat with her and she would help me be connected with Praise. I wasn't even in Vietnam yet but I can already feel their hospitality through Châu :)

There were also Filipinos who lives with the same community who definitely made Saigon more like home to me. Lady, Anh Mike and his wife Ate Kim are Filipino citizens who took a leap of faith and left their comfort zones to embrace their calling and the culture of Vietnam. I will always be encouraged with your courage! :)

Attending  life group in Vietnam is so much memorable experience!

Saturday morning picnic with the Vietnamese (and Filipino) locals!

I owe a lot also to my friends Ate Trish and Cyrone for connecting me to these people!

Continue reading:
Saigon Diaries Part 1 Favor
Saigon Diaries Part 3 Food
Saigon Diaries Part 4 Events
Saigon Diaries Part 5 Places and Experience

Saigon Diaries Part 1 - Favor

One week has passed since I came back from the lovely city of Saigon and now I attempt to write a post that I hope will justify the richness of my experience pre, post, and during my stay there. I will try to organize my thoughts through sub posts which describe relevant factors that made my visit significantly worthwhile. Here we go!

Favor
Before any memory-gratifying recollection of thought, I wanna give credit where credit is due. This entire experience will not be possible without God using my work to send me outside my beloved Philippines. Citrix, the cloud-computing company that enable workstyles, being the solutions that I handle in my current position in WSI, organized an annual partner bootcamp in Ho Chi Minh, VN on April 2-4 (Wednesday to Friday) which encourages its distributors (like WSI) and authorized resellers from all over ASEAN to gather and be unified and aligned with their business strategies and roadmap. And so WSI sends me with a Per Diem premium that served as my pocket money which is a big help in sustaining me as I extended until April 6 (Sunday). Citrix has covered for the participants' accommodations in New World Hotel Saigon while WSI paid for my travel expenses so I'm very thankful to God that he provided for this adventure in which I spent no single cent! :)

Aerial view of Ho Chi Minh

I entered the year of 2014 with a reluctant faith goal of being out of the country for the first time! I've never really attempted to pray for that knowing that I have a bond caused by my DOST Scholarship. For those who didn't know, DOST Scholars like me are tied to work inside the Philippines for the number of years in which the agency paid for our studies. So in my case, that's 5 years, and to date, I still have around two years to serve. That means our names were listed in the immigration blacklist and before we can leave the country for business or leisure, we had to secure a Bureau of Immigration Clearance and a promisory note that we would indeed come back. So even if I had no plans of working abroad, I was limited to not dreaming to leave the country until the time is due because of the hassle of securing government documents! But not anymore! When I received the good news that I will be sent out, I chose to trust God instead of worry that I might be stopped from the immigration, because if this opportunity is from the Lord, he has already paved the way! I've read some blogs from DOST scholars who claims that the travel ban for us has been banned and that we were no longer on the blacklist... I can confirm this myself!

So on the immigration desk, I was questioned since this is my first time to leave the country, therefore no stamps in my passport yet. I was asked by the officer to present the conference invitation and company recommendation. Inspite of that critical moment which can either make or break the whole trip, I had the peace showering all over me knowing that God is beside me and will not let me down :) I didn't have the 2nd document that they were looking for but I happened to bring reluctantly my contract with WSI which convinced the officers to let me through! It was a deep sigh and a deep gratitude that entailed... voila! The first ever stamp in my passport! :D

My cute and friendly seatmate :)

Some other mini-favors that I God sent my way were being able to seat on a window side with a Russian family beside me. I realized that not all whites can speak English straight! It's a favor because it's such an experience to speak to people representing a different society :)

Continue reading:
Saigon Diaries Part 2 People
Saigon Diaries Part 3 Food
Saigon Diaries Part 4 Events
Saigon Diaries Part 5 Places and Experience

Please Make me Smile?

It was one of those hard days when I feel the challenges of my entire life (work, family, ministry, finances, etc) are being leveraged by the enemy to dry up my joy and hope. I know that God has given me the capacity to trust and believe him, and I did, that day. It's just that these all can be draining both emotionally and physically. I'm talking about the emotion of not reaching my quota, not being able to support my family to my heart's content, not meeting my Victory Group regularly, not being financially stable by now even as I have planned to be years ago, and other things that could pile up on a lady's spaghetti brain.

So Feb 26, 2014 morning, I sighed to God saying, "Please make me smile," knowing that He has all the power to do something to really make me so. But I didn't expect He would answer in such a grand way as possible. That same day, I received the notice from my boss that she will send me to Vietnam for a conference/training! You can read about my Saigon experience here! How would that not make me smile when the shout of my heart is to really travel??? And this one is a breakthrough because it's my first time to land another country! :) And when I thought that is it, an SMS from the 10 Days missions coordinator hit my phone saying that I'm "chosen" to be a part of the 10 Days Missions team to go to Medan, Indonesia on September! :)

Could not contain the emotions, had to share it to my friends!

Those two news meant to me so much more than receiving flowers or chocolates or even seeing a rainbow as a surprise! I recall how special God made me feel that day, and I can still reduce to tears when I'm reminded how much He loves me and how He can give me anything if only I will ASK :)

So what you waiting for? Ask and wait on the Lord! No one can ever meet your longings more than He does. <3

Turn your Test into a Testimony

Been longing to write about two non-fictional movies I've seen this month called "Conviction" and "12 Years a Slave" but apparently I have to win a battle with my schedule first before I can create another entry to this supposedly diary blog (turns our monthly diary). I always tell myself no pressure, right? :)

When I watch a movie, I always want to relate and learn from it, and these 2 movies seemed as if screaming a lesson or inspiration at me, especially that they are both biographical (based on true stories). Although there are separate lessons I've learned from the individual movie, what I'm writing about now is how both stories relate to give me a more general conclusion.

Movie #1: Conviction
Betty Anne is a typical housewife with a brother Kenny who was wrongfully sentenced to lifetime imprisonment due to alleged murder and rape of a neighbor. The case happened in the 80's so the technology isn't much helpful yet and DNA testing has just been recently discovered. Betty Anne, in full trust that his brother would not be able to do such a crime in spite of his being rowdy, did everything she can to prove that it was a frame up. She appealed to higher courts but still the jury would decide that her brother is guilty. Not losing hope, she studied law in spite of her age and duties as a mother to her 2 kids, miraculously passed the licensure exam and re-investigated about the case herself as her brother's personal lawyer. It has been 16 years since the case was closed her search for evidences and witnesses to the original trial was like a roller coaster of hope. Her efforts came to fruition as the DNA test of the evidence proved that it wasn't her brother's identity at all. It was a dramatic ending to see her brother being released from the prison but after a regretful 16 years of wasted life. Then the movie flashes  this before the credit lines:

Movie #2: 12 Years a Slave
Simon Northup is a free-born African-American in the 80's who was helplessly kidnapped along with his family and sold as slaves in Washington DC where slavery was still legal. My way of summary will not justify the hardships that he encountered for 12 years from different slave owners (so you better watch it yourself) but I'll attempt to describe how heart-crushing the injustice that he experienced was when I saw it. Being a slave is a terrible idea in itself and experiencing a life that is really not life at all is even unimaginable... working to death under the sun, abused by white people, lashed horribly at the back, be separated from the family, belittled in every way and be made to do things against your humanly righteous will. I'd rather die if I were in his shoes! As a slave, your owner can take anything away from you but Simon did not lose the very important thing he has left... HOPE. Eventually, he stayed alive until he met a white man who helped him get his documents proving that he's a freeman and another dramatic ending plays in the picture with Simon getting back to his old house with his long lost family. And before the credit lines roll, the movie informs us that:

Do you notice the similarities between the two movies? I'm sure you see that both Betty Anne and Solomon Northup had a struggle difficult to fight with (unless it's easy for you to be a slave or be convicted for no reason at all). But somehow, they managed to pass through the trial and ended up spending the rest of their lives serving and helping the people who are having the same struggle that they were able to overcome in the past!

It related to me so much as I have been going through really difficult/challenging times consecutively in my life and it's an inspiration to know that these tests can be my testimony and my mess be my ministry. So how do you really get from point A to point B?

Point A = your moment of difficulty

Point B = moment of being a testimony to others

Well the answer should be obvious. Keep the hope and endure Point A! What would've happened if Betty Anne did not pursue Law school? If Simon Northup  chose to just embrace slavery, even death (which seems to be luxurious if you're a slave)? Nothing! 

Your point A may be too hard to endure but remember that you have help in God! Who knows what ministry God can do through you because of your endurance? :)

When troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. -James 1:2-4

When I'm not as strong as I usually am

It's like a challenge-bomb dropped over me this week. And coming from yet another seriously stormy previous week, I feel like I'm starting to have my inner strength knocked out. I guess I'm being tested to the limits as to how long I can hold my breath up from the life-squeezing stresses of my pretty little life. And I wanna be honest, I'm reaching my threshold I need some more buffer or else... 

So how timely I've been learning about this chatterbox, or the everyday thoughts running around our head which greatly affects how we face our day, and eventually our lifetime if we dont crash it. Yeah it's general because basically a human brain thinks of 80% negative thoughts everyday (according to studies, according to Pastor Steven)... And I can so much relate because I can start to recognize the voices in my head which I need to crash.

So this week, I just think that if only...

I could be as relationally smart enough,

as mentally witty enough,

as more insightful enough,

as faster in deliberating things,

as more accurate in making decisions,

then...

I would be efficient enough to do the work I'm tasked to do,

I would be more useful as a tool to help my family financially and emotionally,

I would be more radiant as a light around me,

I would be encouraging enough.

But I really feel the battlefield in my mind is becoming more intense as I feel the real arrows of the enemy hitting my belief about my identity, destiny and value. :( 

Lord, time for you to come in your shining armour. I know I need to hear the right voices so please tune me in and save from myself because the enemy is in me.

How to Move On from Losing Everything (Almost!)

I stood there in front of our burnt house watching the workers as they shovel remained pieces of my family's possessions. I usually don't stay under the sun but its heat didn't stop me from staring blankly as I try to recognize dresses by their remaining cloths and books by their burnt up pages. I dreamt of having my own mini library and started investing in books during my 1st year in college. I have also started to appreciate the beauty of my femininity by investing in clothes. Yes I stood there watching my investments go down the ground covered in black but I feel like I haven't lost them... like somehow My God above can provide in even multiple folds what I seem to have lost.

What's illogical about me is that although my family lost the house where we've been staying in since I was born (25 years ago), I don't feel any remorse aside from feeling sorry that my parents might take the loss too much seriously. From the time I got the news last Monday (Feb 10, 2104) afternoon, I was a little shocked but was quickly able to recover. When my office-mates saw me at work after the incident, they seemed amaze that I was still able to smile after what happened. I've been getting a lot of messages too from people from concerned people who heard what happened asking me "How are you?" and there no other face and response I can show but a smile and startling statement "I'm good," or "I'm fine, really." And even I myself am wondering how I could so easily move on from a loss that others take as tragic. Here's my attempt to put into words how my heart managed to move forward:

1. God promised me. It was in the year 2011 when I got a promise from the Lord that he will provide a house for my household. When I received it, I know it was specific for my family (Mama and Papa and brother). Been 3 years now since that promise but if Abraham was able to wait 25 years for the promise God gave him, I'm sure I can, too. My plea though is for God to send it while my parents are still in their good years, when they can still enjoy a new place. And even as I listed that as one of the top faith goals I have for this year, God sends me a fire to burn up where we are currently living in. I couldn't help but remind God more in faith about his promise now that we're needing it badly. And so I could smile because I know He will provide. I just know.

This reminder that "God has a promise" should carry you through times when you feel you're losing something you should be gaining more. Remember that He who promised is faithful. 

2. Better things are waiting. We celebrate when we receive something good and usually, losing something good calls for a mourning. But in the 25 years of my existence, 8 of which are years that I walked with the Lord, I've learned that we should always be thankful in all circumstances! Which translates to thanking God when we get something, and with the same breath thank God when we lose something! I can only do this by believing in my heart that there's something better God has in store for me. Indeed, in the past days since me and my family lost our not so many but important material possessions, God has been using people to give us items that replenished some of which were lost.

Remember that He is a God who wants the best for you! So if something was taken from, regardless if it was God's hands that did it or He just allowed the enemy to pick on you, be confident that what was taken can and will be replaced by something better if you'll claim it by faith!

3. Your Test can be your Testimony if you respond well. Everything that happens, whether good or bad, can turn to a story that will encourage and lift up other people's faith if I respond in a way that will glorify God. And right at that night after I received the bad news, I resolved to surrender to God the situation and that I may be used so others will know that God is good... hence the genuine smiles and good spirit that I show when people ask me how I am. This is not pretending that everything is okay, but rather your inside peace from the Prince of Peace showing on the outside.

Remember Joseph in the Bible? It was an evil thing that his brothers sold him to be brought to Egypt as a slave. But even this bad thing was turned into a testimony of God's hands working to save nations because Joseph chose to honor God instead of blaming and turning his back on him.

3. I'm Prepared! When I received from God the Word that will describe my 2014 (read it here), I didn't shrug the possibility that it could be a literal fire. Although I prayed that he exempt that, that resolved in my heart to surrender my life this year to whatever he wants to do. And there was it, a literal fire, but the good thing is that I was prepared to face it! I think God has just started to trust that I could make it through a different kind of difficult thing this year. And He's definitely right, I can make it because of well... HIS GRACE!

And so if you've just gone through the difficult time, maybe a loss like mine or a loss of a loved one or a valued relationship, one thing is required of you... TRUST GOD and know that He also TRUSTS YOU that you can make it through alive and better! :)

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. -James 1:2-4

Limping Like Cool Jacob (LL Cool J)

There has been quite a number of times in my walk with God where I could relate or identify with Abraham:

In the long-awaited promises God gives us. (As God promised many offspring to Abraham)
In the seemingly illogical directions God wants us to obey. (As God told Abraham to go to a place unknown)
In the difficult sacrifices God wants to test our faith with. (As God tested Abraham in sacrificing his son Isaac).

But I have rarely identified myself to Jacob's encounters with God. Well there could be times in the past when I would try to wrestle with Him at my stubborn stages but never do I remember that I wrote in my journal "I feel like I'm Jacob." Not until now.

I injured my left knee last Friday night when I jumped a lot in giving all my energy to give God a Hard Praise just like a Hard Rock! :) Later into the night I already started to limp a little bit but still acted normal as much as I can because I didn't want to catch others' attention. I got home and rested faithful that God would heal me right away.

However, I woke up Saturday morning with the same condition but still the same faith. I applied some self-medication but to no avail. Then the enemy's voice started to pitch in lies...

Why would God allow it to happen when you were praising him anyway?
Why would not God heal you right away when you just finished fasting anyway?
What would other people say when they found out that it happened during a prayer meeting?

Huh, this freak thought he would score on me! The more that he threw in those doubts, the more that I'm committing to God my situation. Maybe God bragged about me like He did with Job? Maybe God's gonna use my situation to show me in a different way how powerful a healer He is? Im not sure. But one thing I'm sure, He's in charged and my job is to praise him in every situation I may be in!

So Sunday came and my knee got a little more swelling and I wasn't able to drag myself to church rather to the hospital. I was literally limping like Jacob and I feel like it's a privilege to be assigned with this kind of task: To carry out praise in my lips and mind even when I'm feeling physical pain and facing the fact that I can't go to places faster as before with the manner I'm walking.

But then here comes another assurance that God is in control of all this... When I opened my YouVersion Bible App while I was in the hospital waiting for me to be attended, guess what story appeared in my Bible-reading plan? It's Genesis 32 where it narrates Jacob's encounter with God that in the end made him limp!!!
Coincidence? Nah... Exactly the story of the Bible I'm currently in. Although I did not wrestle with God prior to being limp, I so claim the symbolism that my life will never be the same after the prayer and fasting encounter with God just as Jacob's life has never been the same since his wrestling experience with God.

And what excites me even more is the blessing that God gave to Jacob after He touched his hip. :) So I'm getting myself ready for the blessing God will speak over me in the coming year. I'm beginning to like this fiery year! :)

PS: Pray for my left knee! :)

Letter to Citrix's Callum Eade

I admit I'm mushy. I just need to express myself to these people if I want to work efficiently with them right...

Hello Callum! :) You prolly are wondering what this letter is about so I wanna say first that my purpose of writing this is to help myself hit the floor running as I take my new position.
And you're dearly a big factor for me to achieve that because I'll be frequently working with you closely right. FYI I wrote Mdm Cecille a letter, too. :P

I appreciate so much that you are extremely kind and gentle as how I observe you to be. And thank you for expressing your support as I transition in. I understand how significant Sir Angelo has been during the past year for you and that you're as regretful as I am that he decided to leave the business. I couldn't say that I can be exactly like him because we're entirely different and that I'm just starting out... but I can assure you that my personal vision for the technology will fuel my passion to grow the business in WSI-side which in turn will benefit you, too.  But for that to happen I gotta have a good working relationship with you which I believe will grow naturally :) It's just more enjoyable working that way right?

I wanna address also the gaps that we may have. One is cultural, which I can easily adapt anyway. Another is language gap. I speak and understand English but please bear with me if at times i would be slow to catch your accent okay? Don't lose your patience on me when I ask you to repeat what I could have not understood easily :P No worries about me being a woman as I could be one of the guys anyway ;) Just need some getting used to. There could be times in the future when we would clash in our stand but I know we can deal with that professionally, especially if we have gone to be friends along the way :) 

Hey I would also appreciate if you could tell me in anyway how I can improve as we go along. I love constructive criticisms because I'm a learner. I could also look up to you as a mentor cause I know that you're the best at what you do.
Thanks Callum for expressing your support, it means a lot to me. :) We're gonna have a great 2014. See you soon! Thanks for reading, i think this is a little mushy. :P

PS. Thinking twice if I'll send this to you.

Sincerely, 
Jonai