journal prompts

random thoughts

As I grow older I learned new things about myself as I meet different people and as I seek the LORD. At times, I get mad at myself for behaving differently yet I realized we're in constant progress. We can't control other people or our circumstances, and we can't change other people's perspectives toward us but we can always change how we respond and how we react. We always have a choice. We don't need to invalidate ourselves just to validate other people and we can stand on our convictions and beliefs.

There are things that I thought I couldn't do. Indeed, we have different strengths and weaknesses. I couldn't even balance a bicycle and I am afraid of heights. But this time, I tried to ride in an ATV. I was quite frustrated because others could do it easily while I was having a hard time just navigating the clutch and the break. It took me longer thus the person in charge gave me one on one session. (HAHAHA) And after a series of reminders like a counseling session that I won't get injured if I listened to him, finally I tried. It was nerve-wracking for me but indeed a wonderful drive. The bumps and the curves looked dreadful but when you surpassed you gonna be so proud that it was not that hard. It is just the same as we follow the LORD, He will constantly assure us that He's in front of us, guiding us all the way even if it is uncertain, and all we need to do is to follow Him along the curves, bumps, and windy path. And when we fail, we'll face the consequences but He's still there ready to pick us up.

I was the 'abyadin' every time we go on the trip, hahahahhaha, like in the multiple intelligence, zero talaga ako sa bodily kinesthetic pero I'm trying bit by bit, kahit laging nadadapa! I remember when we had a mission trip in Marinduque, my feet slipped off when we were going down from the mountain so I slide down as in for few seconds I saw the clouds brighten up, I couldn't breathe and I was crying but my friends were laughing out loud. I wouldn't forget their face, they looked concerned and nervous at the same time then laughed out loud! Like I was praying na 'Lord katapusan ko na ba?' HAHAHA, ayun super adventure yun, hahaha!

Our pastor was so strict whenever we went on a mission trip we need to follow the given schedule, he would wake us at dawn and bawal mag-inarte, h'wag na daw kami magpaganda pa like lip balm hahaha. Ayun lagi kami pinapagalitan kapag nagiinarte kami! Tapos pag punta namin sa field, hehehehe tulog pa 'yung mga tao, kaunahan kami. (-__-)

Yet, the most exciting part was meeting different people who have the fervent desire to serve the LORD while listening to their stories and testimonies, and of course, kapag last day na relax time na! Pero best mission trip pa rin 'yung first mission namin sa Mindoro because we were almost in the same ages back then like we were college students while some of them were just high school students. It seems like we were just playing like when we were almost twenty people inside the car then singing along and telling some funny jokes, mas marami ang laro, heheheh!

Siguro nga when we reached adulthood we begin to appreciate those memories in the past -those unexpected adventures na minsan lang pala talaga mangyari sa buhay natin, tapos you will laugh to younger self for acting so fool at times. Akala ko before I would miss greater things when I chose those ministry works pero now wahhhhhhh super blessed and favored pala kami those days, like 'yung mga taong nameet pala namin were not just ordinary people na minsan niloloko pa namin yet they are still our good friends. Galing lang talaga ni LORD on how He orchestrates everything whenever we say 'Yes, Lord' kahit uncertain.

I realize it is more beautiful not to know the next pages, kahit it's kinda nerve-wracking na you're clueless if you'll make it pero ganun talaga pala 'yung life, endure the valleys but never forget to enjoy every little things, kasi sabi nga sa favorite song natin sa Sunday School 'with Christ, in my vessel, I can smile at the storm until it takes me home! Keep sailing!'

first mission trip! nineteen!