Joy

This shows me teaching SHAPE in a camp yesterday in Taytay.

The first time I stepped on teaching (back in 2004), I got an evaluation remark that reads something like this, "He's good to look at, just don't listen to what he's saying." That was really a hard blow on my confidence, especially coming from a fellow servant. I even poured out my wounded soul in a poem. I've realized that these things, ridicule and criticisms are blocks in the road you have to take. Take a stop, learn and repair but in time move on towards your destination. By not giving up you tell God and yourself you really want that and the more you are driven to reach it ... whatever it takes.

For Him.

"From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it." ~ Matthew 11:12

Camp Month

I just came back from Zambales last night. I went to speak in a youth camp (Zambales Section of Central Luzon AG) as a representative of Chi Alpha National Youth Ministries Network. Some highlights of my trip:

• It was an unexpectedly long travel from Manila to site and back. Left Caloocan at 3PM and came to Candelaria, Zambales at 9PM. Left Candelaria at 3PM, came to Olongapo at 7PM, had a quick dinner, took the wrong bus so I went down to San Fernando at 9PM, then came to Caloocan at 11PM.
• Spoke on Tuesday evening service about Accepting God's Will for Your Life and a lecture on Student Mobilization (Chi Alpha) the next morning. Young people, most of them students, are up for revival and had been on fire since day one. Some of them were baptized in the Holy Spirit as we prayed for them.
• Got to meet Ptr. Jesse Dedel, national director of Master's Commission Philippines. He'll be speaking on Thursday and Friday night. He brought his three children with him. Learned a lot about Master's Commission.
• It was a nice beach front resort, with an island a few kilometers off shore. It was really nice. Watched the Tuesday sunset with Ptr. Rick sharing testimonies.
• Spent time in the bus talking and worshiping God alone after a few days of being in the crowds. Felt His wonderful presence and thanking Him for these opportunities to serve Him this way. "I will take you places farther than this..."

Some pictures from the camp last week in Malvar, Batangas with my friend and co-speaker Emmanuel:



Next week I'm off to Taytay, Rizal for another youth camp. Good days.