Fifth Wedding Anniversary

Reaching half a decade in marriage is indeed a milestone. Sim and I as husband and wife have developed a closer bond that goes beyond personality differences. For me, it’s already a great achievement! Parallel to that, it’s always been our prayer and desire to spend quality time in the ministry that the Lord has entrusted to our care – the Programs Ministry. On the day of our fifth wedding anniversary, Sim and I were both confined to bed due to fever and flu. We were not able to celebrate and dine out but we’re still thankful to God for continually sustaining us in every area of life. God’s grace abounds and He provides for our every need just in the nick of time. On the same day, a nerve-wracking incident happened. We received a phone call that my Ate Shel’s car collided with a passenger jeepney. Physically weak as we are, we rushed to where the accident took place and after an hour, we reported it to the police station. We believe that God used that opportunity for us to minister to my sister’s family. God’s sovereignty is clearly evident in every situation. Praise God!

Enjoying God's Little Paradise

Our visit to Cebu led us to take advantage of a side trip to Bohol. Sim and I tagged this trip as a post celebration of our fourth wedding anniversary. “Republic of Bohol” also referred to as “God’s Little Paradise” is a popular tourist destination mainly due to its signature attraction, the world-renowned Chocolate Hills considered as the Eighth Wonder of the World. Early in the morning, we rode in a ferry boat from Cebu to Bohol. We were stuck for two hours in the wide open seas. I got mixed emotions with the boat ride. I was excited in the sense that it’s my first ever boat ride in an unfamiliar spot and it’s really fun to glimpse the pounding waves and the vast body of water. On the other hand, I felt like am being attacked by hydrophobia. I have some worries that the boat might capsize. Thank God that He convicted my heart to wrestle in prayer in order to combat my fears. When we got out of the boat, I immediately kept my eyes rolling and surveyed the place. Truly, Bohol is a beautiful place! The boat ride is all worth it. I got an instant connection with the place and the people. Sim and I hired a van to tour us around Bohol for one day. Mang Noel, the van driver was very accommodating. He’s not only an adept driver but also a vivid tour guide. We’ve been to famous tourist attractions like Baclayon Church, Chocolate Hills (where we had a souvenir photo taken), Tarsiers’ Place, Bamboo Bridge (where we saw the famous “Buko King” and bought peanut kisses), Hinagdanan Cave, Butterfly Conservation Center, Mini-Zoo, Man-made Forest, and Panglao Island Resort. Having a lunch buffet at the Rio Grande Floating Resto was one of the day’s highlights. It’s an eat-all-you-can treat inside the boat that moves around the river while a band plays. There’s also one thing noticeable in Bohol, the tricycles have bible verses written all over them and serves as placards. Boholanos are religious people. They live a simple life and yet endowed with a very rich culture. For Sim and I, it’s really fun,fun,fun in Bohol! To God be the glory!

Invading the Queen City of South

Cebu, dubbed as the “Queen City of South” is one of the historical places that I have always longed to see. My interest was stirred up when I met a thoughtful Cebuana friend in college. Sim and I agreed to book our flight six months before the scheduled trip. To make it more sentimental, we came to an agreement that it’s going to be a post observance of our third wedding anniversary. We missed the timely celebration due to Sim’s short-lived work assignment at the Fregate Island Private in Seychelles. Just a few days after the Christmas festivities’ euphoria, we’re still in high spirits as we came to Cebu City’s domestic airport. I am wowed and impressed with what I saw while inside the cab. It’s like I was still in Manila. The place is highly urbanized. Jim fetched us in front of the Cebu Doctor’s Hospital. Little did we know that the Saavedra residence is located in the bustling business district. I could see from the gate a tall building of the University of San Carlos. We visited Cebu in January so we were no longer surprised by the overwhelming influx of tourists and devotees to catch a glimpse of the phenomenal Sinulog Festival. We took advantage of setting foot to a number of historical landmarks and scenic places like Magellan’s Cross, Lapu-Lapu Shrine,Fort San Pedro, Buddhist Temple, Bethany Chinese School, Ayala Malls, and Shangrila Hotel. The Saavedras, our second family in the South gave us a welcome treat – a dinner to a cozy seafood restaurant, Ocean Garden. The “ituro mo, iluto ko” style of dining is so impressive because you’ll see before your very eyes how fresh the seafoods that are being served to you. Cebu is also known for its delicacies and dishes but for a food-lover like me, I guess nobody beats the mouth-watering and sinfully appetizing lechon in Cebu (especially the one bought from CNT). As expected, we got an overload of hospitality from Jim and Nice’s family. They introduced us to “puso” (cooked rice wrapped in coco leaves), sukang pinakurat, and biscuits found only in Cebu. And of course, our trip would not be complete without a souvenir item. We went to Lapu-Lapu City to buy a beautifully made guitar direct from the manufacturer - Master Guitar. We were delighted to acquire it at a much cheaper price. The Cebu tour is an enriching experience that truly counts in our memory bank. Just being with my husband Sim makes the whole experience worthy of reminiscence. It’s God who made everything wonderful and we saw how His mighty hand worked in this trip.

 

Fourth Wedding Anniversary

The fourth year of our marriage was marked by challenges mainly due to the physical and geographical separation. We transferred to a new apartment and the next thing we knew an intruder broke in to our place and stole our new handsets and a substantial amount of cash earmarked as tithes. We were very disappointed and wrestled with our emotions. It was God who comforted us and assured us that everything’s gonna be all right. It was almost an unbearable moment when my Sim blurted out the news that a five-star hotel in Seychelles hired him as Accountant. I could not almost figure out the possibility of being physically and geographically separated from my husband. But after so much prodding, I was able to release my blessing – “yes”. The separation was such a painful and humbling experience for us. Day after day, I longed for his return. For a couple of months, I diverted my attention and worked conscientiously. I became too workaholic. I even went on a strict diet. I became a tele-novela fanatic and followed religiously the series Boys over Flowers. By the grace of God, I got a work promotion and was assigned to our Manila office. Phone conversations with Sim were limited due to a very expensive call rate. We contented ourselves with emails every time we have an exchange of thoughts. My spirits soared high when Sim shared the good news that his previous employer in Baguio asked him to come back and offered him a promotion in ranks that’s difficult to turn down. My boss also transferred me to our Baguio office. God heard our prayers! He is good and faithful. Our families and churchmates were so delighted to learn about the wonderful twist of things. God prepared everything from Sim’s arrival to our new work environment, new apartment, and new ministry involvement in the church. Without a pinch of doubt, there is always victory in the Lord!

 

Life-Changing Thoughts from XDN 315

In life there is always that “first time”. This “first time” is always coupled with an excitement beyond measure. Be it a first birthday, first date, first love, first job, first baby, and the list goes on and on – the level of enthusiasm does not dwindle. In our case it’s the “first car” … human as we are, we eagerly waited for the chance to relish in the comfort of having our own car. At the outset, we thought things were going to be plain and simple. After myriad weeks, an insight dawned on us that God was speaking a wonderful message of faithfulness and assurance through the “first car”. We got a first glimpse of the car in a photo sent through email by a family member. That was three weeks before my husband’s scheduled flight back to the country. We brought the matter to the Lord. Since then, my husband and I articulated our mutual fondness and instant connection to the car. Weeks passed, and the availability of the car was a confirmation that God reserved it for us. After being charmed by the car for the second time around, we shelled out our hard earned cash with a light heart. We were fully aware that we bought a used car with trivial flaws. But, it didn’t matter at that point because we knew that the car was in a running condition. We expected to use the car after one week but a string of dilemma turned up. We were upset over things and yet we wrestled in prayer. Our patience has been challenged to a great extent. The authorized car shop took two months to make a replacement part available due to error in the ordering and diagnosis. A feeling of relief enveloped us when we were told that the part has finally arrived. But the next phone call rocked our world - subsequent check up and road test revealed that other parts need probable replacement. We did a calculation and the parts require hefty sum. We were dumbfounded, tired, and almost in a state of bankruptcy. Amidst disappointment and frustration, we made a resolve to trust the Lord with all our heart and once again called on God to take control of the situation. I could still vividly recall that Saturday morning when I cried out to God in desperation and how His Word enlightened and comforted me. The following day was a Sunday, God’s word was so powerful and am struck in the Sunday School. Before the worship service began, the insight became clearer. I can’t almost contain it and I found myself writing a note for my husband during the Testimony time to share the burden that stirred up within me. And my husband agreed with me … that was the moment I can say we were totally released from the snare woven by the enemy. By faith, we made a decision on “something” that would glorify Him. We declared that whatever may come God will always be our Great Provider. Though we were hurting a bit, we went back to the cunning car dealer and made arrangements that we’re going to return the car. We computed how much we would lose from the deal but at the same time we made a justification to spare ourselves from further trouble. Before we could surrender the pertinent papers, God led us to seek counsel from a couple close to our heart. Thank God that our heart overflowed with peace and as we left the place we have come up with a firm decision. Consequently, the car has reached Baguio without posing problems contrary to the results of earlier diagnosis. Praise God that the car is all right but we still have to wait for quite sometime due to my husband’s lack of license to drive. When he got hold of his license we realized that the car needs to be registered and transferred to us first before we can freely make use of it. On one perspective, it’s just a simple car with plate number XDN 315 and yet God brought heart-changing philosophies through it. God taught us to prioritize things; to learn the art of waiting patiently; to rise above our struggles and disappointments; to give thanks to Him in everything; to continually declare that He is faithful; there is always a blessed assurance from the Lord; all things work together for the good of those who love God!

Back in Each Other's Arms

After waiting enthusiastically for almost two hours and queuing up patiently at the airport’s Arrival Station, finally, a familiar figure who swept me off my feet 11 years ago came out in the open. Oh, a feeling of relief and inner peace overwhelmed me! My dearest Sim was right before my very eyes, he’s back… praise God for His overflowing grace. The eight months separation was as if an unwanted dream… and for now thinking about it makes me wince, I’m hoping and praying that it will not pass our way again. An echoing truth kept ringing in my heart, “it’s not God’s design that a husband and wife live apart from each other”. The Bible encourages us to mimic the married life of God’s people whom he had used mightily in the different eras of history. I can say that I am now a “renewed” wife. Renewed in the sense that I have a clearer direction in the way I partner with my husband Sim. And I believe that the balancing act comes from the Lord who stays in the middle of our marriage. To God be the glory!

 

The Test of Time and Distance

Destiny at times plays trick on humans. Definitely, not to fool us but to test us on something – our endurance, the intensity of love that is innate in us and the depth of our faith in the Supreme Being. The things we never anticipate to come too soon are sometimes drawing abruptly and enticing us to dream and wish that it won’t come to pass right before our very eyes. There are battles that no matter how hard we try to lock them up in the closet of life will always chase us time and again. Oh, life since day one is always surprising! It exposes us to circumstances that are inconceivable to bear and yet develops us into the kind of creatures our Master has designed us to be. If we would only learn to embrace life exactly the way it is. It’s almost beyond my will to update this blog as it will only allow me to figure out the extent of pain the situation has carved in my heart. I have to be all right on the outside but the truth to the matter is that I’ll never be okay as far as my personal feeling is concerned. And yet, I have to let God inspire me by His grace. My faith encourages me to draw strength from the Lord, the shepherd of my soul. My beloved husband Sim left for the Republic of Seychelles. I tried everything I can so I wouldn’t be confined in the thought that he will be away in the next twelve months. There is this feeling that makes my system half-paralyzed. A wind of incompleteness has blown on me the moment I stepped out of the airport. To combat every tinge of negativity that lures me, I had to accept a new job in the capital city. I had to force myself to temporarily shake off the great things and memories I have with my dear husband. Others might say that one year is as fast as the waves of the sea but for a wife like me who considers my husband as the other half of myself, one year is like a thousand years…