Kids Zone

     Day in and out, there’s not a moment I’m not working around kids. Being a mom is a given; writing a kids curriculum is an assignment; preparing for and leading kids worship is a role; the rest, from grocery to attending lifegroups, I bring the kids along. I’d share a little about those in a while, but first, a testimony of God’s faithfulness.

     Last summer, I was invited to teach preschool in VBS. I readily gave a yes since I’m bringing the kids anyway.  Actually the invitation was to assist, but after I agreed, they changed it to main teaching, haha. :> It was a tiring, wonderful experience. It paved the way too for my entry to the KiddiePointe Ministry. But after a month, I talked to the Coordinator and asked for a reassignment, haha. Not that I can’t, but it wasn’t my best area. I saw there were others who can possibly do better than me, without sweat. I volunteered to handle the Worship Time instead. They agreed. That same night, I received a text from our pastor asking me to prayerfully consider being the next Kids Ministry Director. Whoah! That was big, Lord. Unexpectedly big. Passion-wise, I’d easily say no. There was just no burden, never once crossed my mind. But the craving-for-ministry me crept in. Maybe this was God’s direction after all. And so I seriously considered. I asked God to confirm it in three ways: that both Tris and kuya Roy (our Director in Windsong) will agree, and that He’d speak clearly through His Word.  When due time came for me to decide, God’s faithfulness bookmarked 1 Kings 12 for His answer. The invitation was to unite the ministry and walk alongside the church’s vision. The Word opened to Rehoboam mustering the whole house of Judah and stop the dividing kingdom. God  spoke through Shemaiah and sent them home. It was an order not to go. I called Kuya Roy next and he thought it was far from my ministry concentration being under Windsong. He added that the required weekends in church would tie me up from serving the bigger Body and eat up my time during the week in preparation. Tris echoed the same sentiment re sked, but his was more taking our family time. T’was undoubtedly a unanimous vote. And so I did the NO letter, and was back to square one asking ‘where to’, hehe :> 

      Meantime, I’m still the homeschool mom. RIlian already finished his first books on English, Phonics, Math and Science. Kjaran’s alphabet and numbers were accomplishments too.  We’re still  very much considering regular school especially because of RIlian’s social issues. He’s extremely an introvert like me, hahaha. We thought he’d improve being in Kiddiepointe, but he’s so much the same, even pulling Kjaran to isolation. Please pray with us, in case, for the best school for them here.

     The Kids Music Curriculum has been slowly moving. I finished the first draft of manuscript last May, but after the consultation, I had to revise the whole thing. But I praise God for the expertise of Ate Lissa Cortes-Cumpio in helping me out. She’s likewise finishing her masteral thesis around the same theme, and she’s God-sent to encourage me that I’m not alone in doing this.  Her excellence is a big inspiration too. Another amazing thing is the commitment of a Chinese church in Bacolod to first try the material next summer.  It’s a whole mix of stress and excitement, faith and diligence. Please, please pray with me.

      Last here is leading Kiddiepointe Worship. 2004 in CCF-Alabang was the last time I handled kids worship. It’s just funny how I had to gather my own notes, the ones I taught in Musaic Conference and the last GCF C.E. Convention, and be its student. It was God’s way too of revising the material for the nth time. And as always with kids, there’s no guarantee that because it worked last Sunday, it will pull them again the second time. It’s pride-breaking to my years in ministry. Creativity, hardwork, not even charisma can force them to worship. Not by might, nor by power, but all by God’s Spirit. So humbling!

Web World

As a stay home mom in a new city, I found my way of staying sane and sound - - yup, via social networking. At first, it was all fun being reunited and updated with old classmates and far away relatives. I got hooked checking updates and pictures for a couple of months. Until purpose and productivity kicked in. There’s got to be more to this than just skin deep.

Joining groups was a good start. Aside from discussion threads, which can really be faith-challenging sometimes, these pages provided me with links to great resource, from reading materials to relevant issues. Parents would not believe me, but FB can be educational too, hahaha. Plus, it was able to open doors for ministry too. 

I started blogging my daily devotions late last year, and linking it to FB (and Twitter) did wonders. With close to already 150 articles to date, it was amazing to have readers from countries I can’t even pronounce, haha. Believing that His word will never return to Him empty without accomplishing what He desires and achieve the purpose for which He sent it,   I know He’s using it to speak forth His truth.  It’s just a joy to be part of it.  One hair-raising moment was when one classmate promoted my blog to our highschool page. I mean, it would take a truckload of guts for me to do it (I was not so Christian in my teens, you know). But God looked past my fears and flaws and blessed the post with a handful of likes. Another friend asked my permission to use it for her Bible Study group. That was God-ordained. Her idea opened two online discipleship groups for me. I myself first doubted the possibility. Much more the sustainability. But God showed me it wasn’t distance nor stats that’s hindering me, it was ME... and my boxed way of doing things.  Styles and strategies will sure keep on changing, but His urgent and unchanging message remains.

Please pray with me for this comes with great responsibility.  James warns us not to presume to be teachers for we’ll be judged more strictly.  In my ten months of blogging, I’ve come across hard passages and   I just know I’d rather not keep my goal of five posts a week than be unsure if I handled the word correctly.  Having anonymous readers meant having no way of calling them back in   for an erratum.

Pray too for pride, the false ones included. May I honor God in responding to likes and comments and high stats, and the otherwise.  And that I may not trample His wisdom and grace with apologies and comparisons.  It should always for His glory and by His Spirit.

SOLI DEO GLORIA!  

First Eight

Maayong Adlaw!

It’s been close to a year since our family’s arrival in Cebu. Settled? Physically yes. We’ve grown to love our new home here. God has answered my heart’s desire for our place to be a haven for visiting friends. To date, we’ve already hosted six groups, excluding two cancellations. We’re expecting three more next quarter.  God has been so good in providing for our hosting needs: sofa, fans, bedsheets, foams - all came in just at the right time.  My cooking skills did improve a lot too. That was the bonus, plus the countless places we marked explored :> 

Precious with her Cellmates :>

Pam after her Graduation

My Family celebrating Micah's Birthday

Rhoda's Vacation from Laos

Ry & Jo's Honeymoon

Tris' Mom's Birthday Treat

So again the question, settled? Emotionally and socially, we’ve quite passed through the first phase of knowing people by name. Praise God for the fellowship of believers, we’ve found a family in Crosspointe Church, formerly GCF-Cebu (my dad strongly insisted we stick with CBAP, haha!). Pastor Omar Franco and wife Miriam (also a PK) organized a Monday Young Couples Lifegroup which became our first ever close relationship here :>  On Wednesdays, I also join ate Miriam’s Ladies Lifegroup. I was asked to lead the session last week, but I do have a feeling she has more wonderful plans for my life, hahaha! Seriously, I wouldn’t hesitate if it wasn’t for the language barrier. Can’t speak yet, but quite getting the hang of it. In time.

Fam @ Crosspointe

Settled? If by definition, being established in a desired position or place, then I guess we are. Believing that God placed us here follows He will establish the work of our hands. And since we daily experience His presence and pleasure, then yes, we’re home!