A Love Letter

Dear you,


It is a Friday night. I only see dark outside my window.And then, in my effort to recount the weeks that went by, you crossed my mind. 

Since I got here, you constantly visit my morning thoughts. I had imagined what it would be like being here but nothing prepared me for you. I had written many unsent letters but I never thought I would be writing you.  Indeed, things happen when you least expect them. I like how God puts humor in my life!

From that day I figured out how your schedule works, I knew there would be no escaping you. I tried. I tried walking to work at different times just so our paths would not cross. But, by some unexplainable phenomena, you’d always appear in my horizon. I also tried walking fast to the point of running when I see you a few meters away, but, to no avail. You’d always be faster than me and your presence would always brush me by.

And you know what’s the hardest thing about seeing you every day? You leave your scent in the air and sometimes, I am afraid, I’m catching it. You have no idea how it feels to walk into the office, with flushed cheeks, panting (from fruitlessly trying to avoid you), and, smelling like you!

However, because I know this must be one of God’s ways of training me to hold my emotions, I have resolved to be quiet about it. Though, honestly, I have ranted about you to a few.  Everyday, I catch my heart wishing you’d not appear but my mind tells me you will. And everyday, you do. Consistency defines you. Lately, I catch myself laughing inside when I see you from a far. I wish I could describe how much of God’s humor I am seeing.

I am convinced it would take a miracle to ‘not see you’ everyday.

That, or a re-routing.

Dear  Heaping-Bacolod City-Garbage-Truck, you inspired this post!

Heaping like this!!!! source from here

~ x~

I praise God for how he has gifted me to find humor and amusement in uncomfortable situations. This every day meet-up with the Garbage Truck that unforgivably leaves an unforgivable odor that my clothes catch was an everyday irritation. Lately, I have learned to live with it. 

This thought struck me: Somewhere in the world, that smell is home to many people.

Beauty in Silence

May breezed through. Fast. I did not even have the chance to write about the Super Moon. I have a fascination with the moon and everything that lights up the night sky.  Psalm 19: 1-4 says

The full moon in Roxas City, Capiz. Taken in October of 2009.

The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 

Day after day they pour forth speech;

night after night they reveal knowledge.  

They have no speech, they use no words;

no sound is heard from them. 

Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,

their words to the ends of the world... 

What beauty they have!!! No words, yet they resound the Lord's glory down to the crevices of this fallen world. If only half of that beauty can be ascribed to me, I  would have already lived a life worthy of my maker. 

No speech. No words. No Sound! How powerful!!! Oh, the beauty that silence magnifies!

It is silence that reveals how much peace we hold in our hearts. It is when God is silent that we reveal how much of our heart is really surrendered to Him. 

In the month that went by, I had my quiet moments with God. It is amazing (and embarrassing at the same time) - the things he brings to my attention! I now live in the school compound where most nights are spent listening to the crickets and the startling sounds of mangoes falling on the roof. My mind wanders between scary thoughts and how I hate sleeping alone. Thankfully, I doze off to the thoughts of "I am with you always" on repeat. 

God is encouraging me in my job. I am surprised at how much I could learn new things, new protocols, new routines! Indeed, when God calls you, He will enable you. I have a wonderful team of co-workers too. And well, entertainment is out of question --- we  have three adorable kids living in the same compound! 

Tomorrow is the first day of our academic year. As I am writing this paragraph, I can hear the chatter and the laugh-screams of the girls above my room. ( I am housed in a small room on the ground floor of the dormitory.) That, alternated with the croaking of the frogs. Silence is slowly becoming a luxury. 

~ x ~

Here are some scenes in my new 'home'. 

The school building that houses the library and classrooms.

That 'rocky road' from the building you see on top to the dorms.

Three of the men who are training to be pastors. Happy, aren't they?

The usual afternoon feast of sour mangoes under the, well, mango tree :D


Again, thank you for including me in your prayers. The Lord bless you! :D