Donation needed: plastic barrel/bin for shoe and sneaker drive for the poor

Hello,

I was wondering if I can get your help. My friends from Bunker at Karport at the Fort, Philippines are going to run a shoe and sneaker drive from November 15, 2008 to December 15, 2008. Bunker is a sneaker and apparel boutique and wants to help those in the less fortunate communities with something special for Christmas.

Need

• 1 plastic barrel or bin, 3.5 feet high x 2.5 feet wide, with a lid.
• need it before November 7, 2008 of next week

Contact me at 0908 * 688 * 1375 or ryan @ design48.net. Thank you so much if you can help!

Encouraging everyone around you, Barnabas the encourager

Tuesday, 9:12am – Mandaluyong, Philippines

“23When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.”
Acts 11:23,24

Reading this verse today, I have come to learn today that Barnabas was a great encourager of Paul and Mark and of the new Christians in the early church when they set off on their ministry to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is great to see and learn about as God has been revealing to me in the past 4 days that this is what He has set forth for me to be talented at. God has given me this natural ability that I will be responsible with and continue to do so, strongly, with the Holy Spirit, to lift up all those around me. God has been grooming me for this ever since I was young up to present:

1. from encouraging the under dogs and those that were bullied in grade school up until now
2. from helping those that lacked talent or ability in a group project or in a social setting
3. to encourage my friends always in whatever troubles they were facing
4. to encourage my road racing motorcycle team and friends whenever they doubted their abilities
5. to encourage youth to be their best and how to realize their dreams through a non-profit organization I worked with called Racers Who Care
6. to encourage co-workers and colleagues on projects to finish them diligently and with accuracy
7. to encourage Christians and non-Christians of the Word and of love and how we should live our lives with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Those that help me when I question are reminded. Things that I learn I boldly share like a child excited to first learn of the alphabet or their multiplication table.

Thank you God for showing me and leading me to understand this. To know your talents and purpose allows you to cultivate it and drives you with more focus, determination and joy. Especially for God. All for You, Jesus.

Fixing my motorcycle. Teammates Alex and Jason working diligently. They saved the day, I lost my motorcycle key the day of the big race!


Close friends from Burbank where I grew up. From a birthday bbq on May 31, 2008.


Racers Who Care presentation to kids at the Hollywood Community Center on July 30, 2008. Presentation was on tips for kids to achieve their dreams and goals.

Money matters, encouraging others and how Jesus changes our hearts

Monday, 11:00am – Mandaluyong, Philippines
Yesterday was insightful and such a blessed day as always and always will be. God’s message delivered in Sunday’s service was about money and Pastor Joey Bonifacio’s verses that he referenced and examples he used were clear and concise. Overall the message was that there are 2 aspects to money: (1) that it is good if it’s considered a slave for you, that you use it responsibly and (2) that it is bad if it becomes your master, where you end up lying, cheating and stealing for it, and that you turn or push yourself further away from God because of it. You can not serve two masters and when money is loved, there is a great conflict.
After service spent time with two brothers, Pooh and Louie. We headed to my buddy PJ’s DJ gig at Karport at the Fort for another Reggae/Dancehall/Dubplate night. A whole bunch of people were there, vendors selling clothes, people enjoying music and skateboarders doing demos. After that we went to a Gospel House event which was nice to see a whole bunch of people come together to a venue that played House music, both to praise God and to enjoy the company of other Christians.

Going home later that night, we stopped at Chow King for a snack and the topic came up in discussion about integrity and encouraging others based on our lives and love for Jesus. I mentioned to them that it’s important to me, that even in the smallest things, I push to change my heart for good and with Jesus’ help, so that small things that are bad do not turn into something greater. The example I chose was downloading mp3s illegally or buying DVDs that have been pirated from the local Tianggea or swap meet/street vendors. I expressed that these small things of not having integrity may lead to bigger things, maybe, it will lead to other bouts of trying to save money, cut corners, or bigger purchases where you know the items or products have been acquired illegally or from bad intentions.

The danger of this is two-fold: (1) it can effect your heart and lead you to do worse and worse things, pushing you away from God and leading you down a dark path of destruction of yourself and others and (2) that if you are a Christian trying to encourage other Christians or non-believers that are inquiring about God, if they do not see your life changed by knowing Jesus based on your actions or speech, how will they know that Jesus can change their lives?

The point here is not to “try” to do good things, the point is to look to God to change you. I feel guilty when I do bad things. This is the Holy Spirit telling you that there is something wrong with the situation that you need to fix. Guilt is good! It’s like pain, it’s an indicator that it’s something wrong for you. What God has shown to me is that I am to encourage others, to lift others up when they are down, and to spread the Gospel of salvation any chance I can get. If Jesus hasn’t changed my heart in all aspects of my life, if I don’t strive to achieve God’s standard on how He wants us to live, if I don’t obey His commands for us, then I can not do these things. We are not perfect as humans, but with God, He can change our lives. All I want now is of God and to seek goodness in everything.

My brother Rocky shared this chapter in the Bible with me before when he was sharing with me how husband and wives should be toward each other and how they should be with their children. I read further and found a verse that I have held close to my heart. It’s about encouraging others and setting an example. This was a letter from Paul to Titus, a man sent to Crete to organize and oversee churches there.

“Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.”
Titus 2:6-8

Reading further, I came across this:

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”
Titus 2:11-14

I will be careful on what happens in this world that will effect and influence me to love this world. I will be careful to balance my life in seeking to know more about the life and death of Jesus and to know God so that I do not get burnt out and push myself away to be satisfied with things in this world. I will be careful on balancing my life by doing things of this world, so that I can enjoy fellowship with friends and Christians, but still hold Jesus close to my heart. I will look and pray to the Holy Spirit, to guide me and change my heart so all of it is good and of love, and that I can show that love back to God and to everyone I am connected with.

Posting pics and write-up laters of last Saturday’s ministry and outreach. So much to share of that day as well.

The Prodigal Son, second kids ministry / community outreach today at Barangay Arboretum

Saturday, 10:53am – Mandaluyong, Philippines
Getting ready for the kids ministry and community outreach at Barangay Arboretum. For this time out, we will be telling the story to the kids of the Prodigal Son. This is in Luke 15:11-24 (Chapter 15, verses 11 through 24). I am starting to put these notes in parentheses because I understand a few friends of mine visit this blog that are not familiar with the Bible or the teachings. I do this in hope this will give a little further understanding of the terminology or vernacular used in Christianity.

For the kids ministry, I was given the assignment to create illustrations for the kids about the Prodigal Son. I found some images online and colored them digitally, which I was able to print yesterday on large format paper. I’m excited for the kids to view the prints so that they can see something while the story is being relayed to them. I also was able to print a connect-the-dot picture of the scene where the son returns to the father and the father forgives him for squandering his inheritance. Through donations from friends in the motorcycle racing industry back home, I was able to get 50 box of crayons for them to use to take this activity sheet with them home to color. I would like to see their response later today.





Some great new people and friends will be joining us today. Abby, Isey, Gina and I believe one more. Pooh will be coming again. It’s awesome to see how God fills the heart of people around us so that they can show love to those they don’t know. And it’s even more awesome to witness when someone’s heart transforms with the love for God and others.

I will post pictures and video of the day later or tomorrow. I hope everyone is doing well, know that God is with you waiting for you to ask Him for help.

Tongues, Prophecy and Lessons learned part gazillion

11:33am, Friday : Mandaluyong, Philippines
I’m able to spend a lot of time in the Word this morning. Many lessons learned are:

• The Word (text, teachings of the Bible) unites people of different nations. The Gentiles in Rome were encouraged to unite with the Jewish believers. How important this is now since the advent of technology in our world is allowing us to interact more, across the world and allowing us to visit and live in countries and places aside from where we were born.
• It is important to learn the language of the nation you are ministering (serving) in so that there is one less barrier for you to connect with the people there.
• The Bible (Word), gives insight on how God wants you to live your life. In marriage, in dealing with your children, in dealing with elders, in dealing with co-workers, friends, other Christians. We are relational beings meant to interact and figure out how to love, be and live with each other.
• Learn what your Spiritual Gifts are and the lessons you have learned to date. This is where God wants you to focus your efforts on. Learn new gifts and this teaches you more about where your focus should be. I recommend reading the book by Rick Warren, A Purpose Driven Life. There are arguments both for and against the book. Let the Holy Spirit guide you to truth found in the book so that you may grow in spiritual maturity and love for Jesus.
• God answers prayers when you want to learn more about Him. I prayed about learning about tongues, and He brought my brother Rocky to guide me in verses in the Bible. 1 Corinthians 12 and 1 Corinthians 14 teaches us about speaking in tongues and how it should be used to build up the church and believers in Jesus.
• Reading the verses above, also teaches of what prophecy is. NIV Bible reads in the footnotes: “Prophecy does not just refer to predicting the future; it can also mean giving a message received from God to the community of believers: ‘Everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort’”. Some have interpreted prophecy to be fulfilled in various sermons throughout church history. Others say that prophecy is not a sermon but a spontaneous Spirit-inspired message that is orally delivered in the congregation for the edification and encouragement of the body of Christ (to build up spiritually, intellectually and morally the church and its believers)”. In other words, it could just mean preaching God’s message or Word.

Metro Ministries training and speaking in tongues

Wednesday, 12:31am : Paranaque City, Mandaluyong, Philippines
Just got back from Metro Ministries, kid ministry training in Paranaque City. They do such a great job at organizing, providing top notch training and equipping the youth from the churches what is needed for them to prepare and have materials ready for the Saturday ministries around Manila. You can also see their hearts and love for others and God. It feels really good to be around people that have a good heart, you can’t help but smile and feel good and know that God is in that.

One thing that struck me as weird though was I felt disconnected in group prayer. Holy Spirit has let me know that it’s time in my walk where He will recede a little so I grow in faith not by feeling His presence, but how I learn and take in lessons around me. Something that was brought to my attention in the past few days was speaking in tongues, where the person is filled with the Holy Spirit and it’s as if they are speaking in a foreign language. I asked a brother in Christ what it was and what it meant and he said he speaks in tongues. I was interested to see and so God brought me to Metro Ministries tonight and I was able to witness it.

There was a visiting female pastor from Malaysia that delivered a great message, citing Ephesians 3:14-21 and giving inspiration to the +40 youth that were there that have committed to doing Sunday School activities/message/Gospel to kids in their neighborhood on Saturday. This is similar to what is run in Tondo/Smokey Mountain that I visited about a month ago. The training ended in prayer and the pastor and a few other believers started praying/speaking in tongues. This is the first time I witnessed it so I was a little taking back but I quickly prayed to God to find out what I should learn and to fill me with insight and wisdom. I will wait and pray about it more but also have expressed to my mentor Rocky if he can share more information about the subject. Rocky has been great on providing information and insight on all questions I have had ever since I met him about 2 months. Thank you Rocky, I love you brother.

The kids ministry training is great. It's awesome to see a group so well organized and with leadership and encouragement for all the youth and volunteers in the participating churches. You can really see how the kids will be receptive and how engaging it is to see a skit with people in costumes, and for it to be mixed with someone explaining what the skit was about, what the take-aways are, and what was important for the kids to hold on to.

View some pictures and video below to see what they train others to do and what the kids of Smokey Mountain see.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryanregalado/sets/72157608262073597/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryanregalado/sets/72157607397567620/

"Whatever you believe in your heart, you will speak it."
Sheila from Metro Ministries, on encouraging the youth to have courage when spreading the Gospel to kids

"Preach the gospel boldly. That may be the last time that that kid may hear the gospel."
Sheila from Metro Ministires, on explaining to the youth that kids are dying, it's part of how they live in the area. Kids are poor and some are malnourished or have disease or die at a very early age. We do not know when they will pass, so all the more an urgency should be in our hearts. She shared with us that a child came up to her I think a week before and said that one of her friends passed away.

Barangay Arboretum Kids ministry and new friends

9:55pm – Mandaluyong, Philippines

Just got home from a church and hanging out with new friend Pooh at Robinson’s Galleria mall, going over lessons from today and yesterday.

Yesterday was the Barangay Arboretum ministry. God showed his faithfulness again by answering our prayers to prepare for the kids puppet show by bringing us a Director from the Film Institute. Tita Au, a lady that just happened to be at the Film Institute on a Saturday morning where we were preparing, taught us how actors prepare for their roles, how to give a personality to an inanimate object, and to remember our lines and give life to the puppet. This guidance helped us to deliver a more animated show and a better prepared skit from the puppeteers. The day went smoothly, with Phoebe and April providing the praise music and Phoebe being the MC for song, dance and game. The puppet show went smoothly and the last gift from Pooh was awesome give kids bracelets that taught and reminded them of Jesus Christ.

We ended up not needing the tarpaulin for the kids to sit on but my Uncle in Mandaluyong came through and has some for me. I also jut came across a street vendor in Baclaran that sell them for 450 Pesos for a 15 foot by 4 foot tarp.

After the ministry on Saturday, I got to hang out with Pooh at PBJ (Pinoy Basketball for Jesus) ministry around the corner in Philcoa and got to breakdance! Haha, I was hurting after but was fun. I haven’t breakdanced in a while but it was fun to participate and show the kids. Got to finally meet Mark McDowell, a missionary here that moved to the Philippines from Chicago in 1995. He’s been leading a basketball and hip-hop ministry since then. My sister Darlene has been telling me about Mark and has been trying to hook me up with him. I want to hear more about his experiences and learn from all the knowledge he’s gained while being here.

After that event, went to a Christian Singles bowling event at Robinson’s Galleria in Ortigas. Met up with Pooh’s friend and new breakdancer friend Ivy from the PBJ event. She invited her breaker friend Jeff and his sister Vangie. Got to talk to Jeff for a while and was able to learn a few things of myself:

• Competition sometimes will make people too proud
• To correct someone or to be right doesn’t necessarily get anything accomplished
• God lines us up with people of similar background or experiences to connect us closer

Teachers and students
An incident happened recently where I was questioning how a teacher was expressing the material to their students. I shared with a friend and we talked about it more. In it I realized that no one is perfect and in our lives, of course, we will make mistakes. The Bible teaches that we are there to help others when they stumble and also to confront those that you have a direct issue with. God is teaching us something in those incidents. The scripture below reiterates this understanding.

In Acts 11:1-18, Peter explains his actions to other believers of why he preached and spent time with the Gentiles, or non-Jews. Jesus taught the disciples that message of salvation were for all people, from all nations. The Jewish believers questioned Peter on what they first thought was an incorrect thing to do spread the Gospel to non-Jews. But after hearing the story from Peter how the Gentiles were blessed with the Holy Spirit, they praised God because it was apparent that Jewish people were not the only people that were to be saved and baptized. From my NIV Life Application Study Bible, it reads “Their reactions teach us how to handle disagreements with other Christians. Before judging the behavior of fellow believers, it is important to hear them out. The Holy Spirit may have something important to teach us through them.”

Need tarpaulin for 50 kids to sit on for this Saturday's outreach : October 18, 2008

Hello all, I was wondering if any of you have access or can lend some tarpaulin for kids to sit on at a barangay this Saturday for a children's ministry that we are doing with friends from Victory Church QC. The barangay is behind the UP wet market and we are set to do an activity, game, praise song and verse teaching with them.

If you have access to tarpaulin that 50 kids can sit on that will cover dirt or the street so they can watch the activities I would greatly appreciate it. Please contact me asap at:
0908 * 688 * 1375 or email me at ryan @ design48.net

I encourage you to attend and join to be part of ministering to kids and people in a neighborhood/barangay where the knowledge and salvation of Jesus Christ is needed. Please contact us at emfoundation @ yahoogroups.com or join as at 2:30pm, October 18, 2008 at Barangay Arboretum behind the UP Wet Market in Philcoa (across from Philcoa Jollibee).

I will never forget

11:43AM – Mandaluyong, PhilippinesI just got off the phone with a family member in the States and I have to say my faith in God is being tested. It’s being tested in a way that I have not seen answered prayers for several people in my life, blood family and friends. I have prayed for certain things in their life that I believe are in God’s will and character, but they do not seem to be happening or being answered. I thought and prayed for this before, of all the things that I have seen that happened to me for me to believe in God and Jesus Christ, I prayed that I would never forget so that in times of trials or testing of my faith that I would remain strong. I will not forget all that He has done and shown me.

I have faith that God will bring these people in my life to Him and to understand and know Him. They will always have to choose but I believe God will soften their hearts and show them undeniably that He is real and true, so the only thing to do that made sense, as I did, was to believe in Him. I love You God, I will not ever forget all the things you have shown me. Holy Father, I pray that every person in this world will come to know You, and I pray that all Christians tested in their faith will always remember what You have shown them, and that are faith remains strong and increases and we can continue to grow our love for You and everyone in this world. Holy God, I pray we all come to understand and have faith in Your perfect timing and plan, and pray that our prayers whether we see results physically or not, that we are given insight and wisdom You are answering them. I love You God, in Jesus Christ name I pray. Amen.

Wisdom from holding your tongue and God uses the wicked for His purpose

9:00am – Mandaluyong, Philippines
A couple of incidents have been happening here and back in the States that is in alignment with the 2 verses below from the Bible. God is so great in lining up the teachings that I read about with real-life examples. He wants me to learn these things and to do so quickly for me to understand and to share with others.

“The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.”
Proverbs 15:38

Our speech can be very hurtful and cut off ties with people if we reply without thinking about the impact of our words. I have seen this first hand all too often that people and myself reply in haste and in excited/tempered emotion, effecting relationships negatively.

“The LORD works out everything for his own ends— even the wicked for a day of disaster.”
Proverbs 16:3

Even in all the bad that is happening in our lives and in our world, I have faith that God is using those to His purpose. I have seen people’s faith increase, I have seen people outside of the situations to grow in love for others or for family, I have seen people continue to help others in need even more regardless of their personal situation. I know God is in this and there.

In all of this, it reminds of the book or story in the old testament called Exodus where Moses, a man chosen from God to lead Israelites out of Egypt. God uses the wickedness of the Pharaoh to show both the Egyptians and the Israelites that He is real and capable of anything. In all the disaster that God bestowed on the Egyptians, they all believed or began to believe in God by Egyptians knowing it came from God, and the Israelites seeing what God can do by what was revealed to Moses to relay back to both nations. When the Israelites were allowed to be free from the Pharaoh, the Egyptians were free from all the disasters and the Israelites were free to follow God in the land that God chose for them.

In all that you do, praise God

9:38am – Mandaluyong, Philippines
Talking to Moina again and just sharing, also of reflecting on being able to balance your life, spending time with the Bible, church, fellowship, and outside activities; it’s important that in all that we do, we praise God. He provided us everything; our life, our family, our friends, our food, our shelter, our talents, our health…everything. So it only makes sense that in all that we do we praise Him, whether it’s even enjoying an activity with friends like Karaoke or going out on a field trip our outing to the beach, to reflect on His greatness, to be able to share with other in the activity you are doing, or even in your work to be able to keep Him at your center so either what you produce or the people you interact with see the light of God in you.

This makes me reflect on all these blogs or websites or social networking sites I’m on. It’s good to be able to show your personality but for me, before I became a Christian, I really wanted to show-off and portray myself in a light of greatness and coolness, really just lift myself up. Man, I even have my own website, haha, www.ryanregalado.com, before it was actually for sponsors to view my motorcycle racing results but then I also had in the back of my mind, “yeah, people will be able to see cool photos and see my championships and just learn more about me, me me.” I’m starting to see that these sites can now be used to praise God and show others of how He changes people. These people that frequented the site before can witness how a love for God is shown from one person that recently came to believe in Jesus Christ, that all that they were into before has now changed to something better, where there is truth and peace.

I just started a Multiply profile on http://ryanregalado.multiply.com, the social networking site of choice here in the Philippines. The majority of my friends from church are on here. These websites will gradually portray my love for Jesus and praising of God, it will start to focus less on myself and more on all the great people that I have come across to witness and share God’s love with; the brothers and sisters in the body of Christ (believers) and all my friends back home that have not come to know Him yet (non-believers). I love all my friends and family the same, and even more now knowing and reflecting constantly of the source of where that love comes from, which is and always has been God.

Spending time with friends. Barangay Arboretum momentum building

Tuesday, 11:23AM

Two kids sleeping in front of McDonald's next to Barangay Arboretum

It’s been a while since I blogged. A lot has been happening from our connections with Barangbay Arboretum. We got the approval to begin doing activities with the kids and mothers out there, materials that are educational and for their livelihood but also which is essential is the Word of God or the Bible. We are meeting today, members of Extra Mile Foundation, members at Victory Church, to strategize and brainstorm what we will do for this Saturday. Already there a few other people joining us, April and Phoebe with their guitars and songs, and Pooh with his knowledge and experience on doing missions in other countries for kids.

I spent some time with Pooh (his real name is Winnie) yesterday. We got to learn more of our background and experience. It’s awesome to see how God created so many people of different background and personalities but how often He has people go through similar experiences so that they can share stories and testimonies and bond together. Pooh has a lot of experience in doing missions and working in poor/depressed communities. He also had a lot of experience to share in terms of making sure I have a foundation with the Bible and God so that situations I may get into or even not be prepared for that I will have a strong grounding or be rooted, so as to not be swayed in what I come across and can remain focused.

Sunday was great as well. Zandro is starting to minister with some kids around the church that do not normally attend service so he is reaching out to them and they are responding with the teachings from the Bible. Later in the day at 3pm, I attended that service to come watch and support Pastor Erwin and the messages that were being delivered. I got to witness a new friend named LA deliver the message to the 3pm congregation and it was cool to see how God works in different people to have them portray things in a different style. LA was very effective on delivering the message and engaging the congregation.

Before the service started, Pastor Erwin said a little prayer and had small group leaders (bible study leaders) come to the front. He then asked if anyone wants something to be prayed for them or someone in the family that they come up. After that, Pastor Erwin also asked for people that want to commit their lives to Christ to come as well. It was very emotional for me, overjoyed and overwhelmed with happiness since I was comparing my life to how it was to how it is now. I have been saved in a sense from all the darkness that consumed my life before: confusing relationships, destructive behavior in substance abuse, destructive behavior in violence or anger, confusion in direction for career or life in general, and loneliness in isolating myself from time to time.

Now that I have come to know God and the teachings and truths in the Bible, I am free from all that darkness. Learning about the Word and His love, I am able to just be so free and open in relationships with others. Serving the poor community confirms in my heart God’s purpose for me and also confirming the truths I have come to learn about in the Bible. Connecting with people that are already Christians and still being able to connect with friends and strangers here and back in the States confirms the truths I have found in the Bible and continue to learn on the day to day. I see the change that has happened in my life and the change that happens in others and this fuels my drive. I feel and see how God works in my life and others and learning more about the Bible is what drives me. God is good.

Other things to note:

• Spent time with new friends, brothers/sisters in Christ: Owie, Joash's party
• Seeing more of the talents and creativity of new friends. It’s awesome to learn of God's given talent to others and noticing it: Jorel's guitar and his band Kjwan, Ryan and Abbey's singing, EauJ's dancing
• Spending time and sharing experience with others grows our bond and is another way of teaching of God’s truth and the words in the Bible: Moina, Aaron, Rocky, Pooh, Zandro, Bimbo, JP, Brandel, Darlene, Ryan, Camille, Pastor Erwin
• Balance: it is important to balance your learning and your work with also spending time to relax. If you do too much of one thing, anything, you will get burnt out. But even taking time to relax, you can’t over indulge, because then it will have the opposite effect, disabling you from being effective in your work. Whether your work is ministering, involvement with the church, or working at your job for money, you need balance to keep focus on every aspect of your life.

Here’s how I balance. Spending time with friends. Here’s Joash’s birthday party yesterday

Mentor, foundation and culture of faith

Wednesday, 7:31pm – Mandaluyong, Philippines
God has been showing me in different aspects and places about the 10 commandments listed below. He has also been showing me from Pastor Erwin that I met with today and also with my prayers to brothers and sisters back home about wholeheartedly doing these acts and works. I questioned myself in terms of it coming from my heart because it felt forced like it was an obligation. It’s important have God fill your heart to do these things, whether it’s being nice or kind to your neighbor, or in fellowship giving grace or forgiveness to brothers/sisters or to your blood family. Good works without the heart or God’s love is meaningless. There will be an emptiness, disappointment and out of touch with God if we don’t let the Holy Spirit fill us and guide us.

It was great to meet with Pastor Erwin today. To know God has filled someone’s heart to mentor another in the teachings of the Bible and the foundations needed for a disciple before they disciple or minister to others. Right now God has filled me with a general direction. It is now time to grow in maturity spiritually, so that I can focus on God’s purpose for me with the blessings He has given me in talents, lessons and of people around me. My discipline is strong and my heart even stronger for love and obedience to God. Let’s see what good fruit comes from it.

God brought pastor Erwin in our path to further His kingdom. One to able to have me learn on focus and to keep a foundation with God. Second, in some way or another, pastor Erwin will be helped in either his life to remind him of what he teaches his disciples or who he mentors, or to further God’s purpose by connecting us to help with his minitry.

Here are pics from Mandaluyong, to Fort Bonifacio back to Mandaluyong. In Mandaluyong, I went to a coffee shop called Perk. There and actually a few days before, I was reflecting on how much the image of Jesus Christ and the Word is preached or displayed here. As if an advertisement, in this coffee shop with all kinds of books, on public transportation such as Jeepneys or in Taxis, and even billboards that says Jesus Chris Saves. It’s all around here, and because of Spanish Rule hundreds of years ago, religion was brought to the nation and also Jesus Christ name and words were spread and it’s embedded in the culture.

Dumaguete cancelled, plans for week, preparation for kits and Saturday outreach

11:55am - Mandaluyuong, Philippines
Below is a video for updates and plans for the week. I will be also meeting with a new pastor friend named Erwin Ramos. I will be trying to meet with him for lunch to get more insight on his experiences so far. Thursday for lunch I will meet with my brother Rick Steel to get more insight on what his vision is for doing the charity event for the poor and also just doing my Tagalog lessons with my online tutor Arlene. Learning the language is important so I can connect more with the people and be able to understand more of what is needed. Will be going to Divisoria also to start buying first batch of items for hygiene kits. My cousin Dennis will be going with me to Divisoria, will celebrate his birthday and also practice a Christian song for the outreach we are doing for Sunday for some kids at Victory Church UP (University of the Philippines).

The weather, friend visiting from out of town, plans for the week and Saturday outreach

12:00pm - Mandaluyong, Philippines
Video below to show updates for today and the week. I ended up not going to Dumaguete and I will share later about 2 important stories with a taxi driver I met here and a family that I know back in the States and that I hold close to my heart that I met through racing and that I know as my family in Jesus Christ.

Healing, praying and my love for you

7:12pm - Mandaluyong, Philippines
The faith here in the Philippines is strong. I have seen that God both wanted me here to serve His children that are poor but also to increase my faith and teach me lessons very fast. I am so thankful and love that He is preparing me for more things. I willingly will do anything He wants of me. I have to say, things are lining up for a little bit longer stay than the 10 months that I initially thought I would be here. I am now being introduced to possibilities of furthering my studies in the Bible and becoming a pastor or some type of leader in spreading the faith in Jesus Christ. I welcome this with open arms and an open heart as I know so much will change and I love that God is entrusting me with this responsibility.

I know more and more friends and family back in the United States are reading this. To all my loved ones, especially those not of the faith yet, know that your friend and your family member is being cared for, learning so much about love and have been increasing my love for you. You will know each time I talk to you. You will know by the things that you see in my pictures and videos here and what I write. You will know because things are going to be happening in your life that will make you think about how did those things happen and why did those things happen. Just know that there is something great happening always, that there is someone, something, something great that is with you, guiding you, and know that there is someone that cares for you and loves you much more than I already do, and that of course is God.

For my family and friends who are suffering in sickness or in trials, know that you are close to my heart and that I am praying that Jesus Christ heals you and your family and your loved ones, all that you care and hold dear to you. Know that there is God, allowing things to happen, minimizing the damage of sin from you or others, and showing you something about all that is happening in your lives right now and will happen. Know that you and I are meant in this life to help each other and most importantly know that I love you and God is with you in everything and loves you even more.

In trials and suffering, lessons of faith and glorifying God

7:59pm - Mandaluyong Philippines

Was able to read from a daily devotional about the verses John 9:1 – 12 and how Jesus Christ healed a blind man. This man was suffering from a condition, not out of anything bad he had done, but was for the purpose of showing how God works in his life and for all. Sometimes we go through trials and suffering, as a lot of friends back home in the States are going through, this is specifically for them to know and for others to witness. I know God will show His love in all their situations. He’s faithful and always does.

Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
1As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
3"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. 4As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
John 9:1 – 5

Barangay Arboretum, change in direction, trials

This morning I talked with a friend from home. There are family issues arising from work, sickness and stress rising from all of it. I quickly called him after reading an email. I was praying with Moina for them, crying, praying to God to intercede. In all of it though, I know God has it’s purpose for it. I was brought at ease knowing that he stays close with the Word and fellowship. I will continue to pray for the family and their health and love for each other. This exactly the time where people should not isolate themselves and it so fitting that God supplied me and friends with wisdom yesterday to stay in fellowship, to be guided by the Holy Spirit, and to turn to Him for everything. He’s teaching us of perseverance.

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
James 1:2 – 8

3rd week at Barangay Arboretum
I just got back from Philcoa, from the community we are going to begin developing and helping out at. We initially were going to do composting and solid waste management. It has changed as it takes too long to plan and that would be a project that would require so much approval. Instead, we will be concentrating initially for a smaller project that we can implement quickly. Zandro and I already discussed to provide activities for the kids from songs and learning about Jesus Christ, basic education like reading and writing, and for the older kids activities like sports or teaching them business skills. I really want to push some type of computer education or skills to them but I will have to figure out the logistics of bringing equipment and a table and canopy. The important thing to teach them all is love and kindness, and inspiration to learn; learn about their lives and purpose from God.

Some notes and events that happened since we last visited them:

• Person we met last week that was rounding up some dogs hanged and killed himself. He was charged for a prior rape
• A little girl of 6 years old got molested in the forest
• More people are smoking Shabu in the forest, this is methamphetamine.
• The representatives we met with are Ate Claire and Rolando
• They both expressed of more problems or needs:
  -people needing medicine and rabies shots-people stealing electric/phone cables for money -cases of dengue (infectious viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes typically tropical regions. It is characterized by high fever and severe headaches and joints.)
  -people stealing neighbors things to use or to sell
  -there are 15 volunteers willing to go around the area to patrol the area to rid people of committing crime. But they need flashlights and walkie talkies. This was their biggest concern o they can minimize crime and potentially save some people from harm

I really wanted to take pictures of the people and the area we were in but it’s not a good idea right now as they may feel apprehensive or suspicious of what we are trying to do. I will begin doing a recap of the events at the locations outside of the area with video so friends and family can see roughly the surrounding neighborhood. We will convene with more friends from the foundation tomorrow and see what we shall do for next Saturday.

Here is how packed it always is in the skytrain called MRT.


I took a picture of a sign warning about pick-pockets. Yeah, I got pick-pocketed last week. I should have read this sign =)


Here is a video from the typhoon that hit today. The thunder is super loud and the rain and wind are crazy.

Godly wisdom, He’s blessing us constantly

Friday, 12:30am – Mandaluyong, Philippines
God is blessing me with wisdom. He feels that I wholeheartedly want to live in His standard and He’s feeling my heart in my prayers. He’s showing me and filling me with coming to the understanding of the following:

1. Truly seeking wisdom
   If someone truly in all their heart wants wisdom from God and seeks it, God is faithful and will provide and show
2. We are all here to help each other
   When I first came to the faith, the Holy Spirit initially made me understand that everyone and every connection/relationship we have with someone, whether friend, family, person we meet in public, are meant to help each other. I didn’t know what that “help” was before. Today it came full circle for me to understand. Brothers and sisters learn of certain wisdom themselves. We all learn different things from God. Fellowship is meant for each brother and sister to learn from and encourage each other in the things that they have learned. Because of this relational concept, we are meant to interact and support each other. God wants that to happen, so we rely on relationships. After all, God is a relational being, wanting love and teaching us of love. We learn about love by our relationships.
3. Isolation used by the Devil
   The devil will use the hermit, the recluse, the loner; to suggest and try to force this person to live in solitude. Being by themselves, they get caught up in themselves, never learning about love and never knowing how to interact with others, thus perpetuating the isolation. A different Uncle shared the wisdom he has learned about how the Devil works in people’s sickness and from misfortunes. God minimizes the damage, but also allows it to test the people’s faith. It is easy to love God when He blesses us with prosperity, but when things seemingly go sour or for the downturn, will our faiths remain strong or will we curse Him for allowing misfortune or suffering to remain?
4. Trials and misfortunes are a blessing
   It is a blessing to have trials and misfortunes. God is training us thoroughly for perseverance. Nothing in this world is ever really negative in the sense that we learn how to be righteous and good from it. A lesson that was learned in the book from Pastor Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life, every temptation for sin: anger, impatience, lying, cheating, stealing, substance abuse, sexual immorality, mistrust; is a chance for us to do good. These situations build our character in God and the perfect example to aspire to be like is Jesus Christ.

Research for Camille's project

3:57pm – Rockwell, On fellowship and will of God
Just arrived back from having brunch with Camille and Ryan from small group. We at at a place near Rockwell mall. It was so great to hang out and be able to share our love for God and lessons we have learned and testimonies to share. That was my point above in that we are relational beings and we are their to support and encourage each other. That wisdom manifested physically 10 hours later after writing about it. God is great.

I came across a verse in Act that I’m reading, Acts 5:38 – 39, and it reminded me of the book that my friend Janae gave me, the Eckhart Tolle book:

Acts 5:38 – 39
“Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

The verse was about a respected teacher of the law named Gamaliel, right when Peter and the apostles were being questioned by a full assembly of the elders of Israel, Gamaliel was advising these elders to leave the apostles alone. The wisdom shared here was that efforts by human not approved or led by God will fail. If the intentions are of God, His purpose will manifest. I have come to understand and see that God uses both the righteous and the wicked for people to learn of love. If Eckhart Tolle wrote a book that is guided by God, then by God will his purpose for it be done. I am open to learning and reading and have faith that the Holy Spirit will guide me to truth from it. I will not fight God’s will in Him lining up for me to be presented with this book or even with other sources of materials being presented to me to help me understand other religions. I will pray for discernment to think and make the correct choices, know right from wrong, to know truth from false, and to know what He wants for the life He has given me.

Seeking wisdom, God always provides

Another one of God’s lessons for me was that praying and seeking for wisdom, He is faithful and will teach and show. There have been several things in the past 2 months that I was reflecting and wanted to learn more about and God aligned people in my path to show and share wisdom with me. It’s at a point now that it’s almost as if He just shows and teaches me about particular topics that I’m thinking about, without me even having to pray about it. He’s so amazing and I am so thankful He’s blessing me with all these people and lessons. I take them to heart and will share them with all my heart. Here are some of them.

1. About a month and a half ago I wanted to learn more about Eternity from all that I have been reading in the Bible.
   The Bible kept on talking about Eternity. I wanted to know more about what it was and what it meant since I already just committed my life to living for Jesus Christ. Praying about wanting to learn more about Eternity, God brought me my mentor and brother Rocky to say “If I don’t see you here at South Park again, I’ll see you in heaven.” South Park is a ministry for the homeless and small children at a park in South Central Los Angeles. That profound truth that I received from those words hit me like a flood of emotions overcoming you. I was shown the essence of believing in Jesus Christ and what happens after we die.
   
2. In the past 2 weeks, marriage, family and the role of husband and wife in Christianity came up.
   I made 4 new friends about 2 weeks ago: Camille, Maradee, AJ and Dominique. Maradee, Camille and I hung out with at Camille’s and had some coffee. We talked a little about the role of a husband and wife in a marriage revolving around Jesus Christ. This talk in turn intrigued me to ask Rocky. Rocky awesomely shared so many verses and lessons from a workshop/class he attended ran by his Church, Christian Assembly. It was so great to read and learn form the verses below. I want to aspire to that and if God wants me to be married and have children, I will support and love my wife and children in those teachings. My roommate is married and just had their baby. AJ and Dominique are about to get married. Friends all around are blessed with this union. I look forward to witnessing and learning more from their relationships with each other. For anyone in marriage now or on their way to divorce, these truths are something that can be embraced and it’s not too late to take action or change if these truths are not being followed today.
   
   The Biblical marriage is a side by side one where the husband is the head of a home of equals and leads as a servant leader (read Ephesians 5:22-31 especially 23&25, 1 Peter 3:7), and the wife is a helper, nurturer, and supporter (read Proverbs 31 especially 10-12,& 27-29, Titus 2:4-5). The husband is to provide his wife with companionship by asking her about her world and developing a common play to do together; provide security for her through financial protection for life: make her feel her work is significant through notes of praise or a thank you gift: and lastly by emotionally responding to her by taking time to listen regularly to her feelings, telling her you love her and showing how much you love her through cards, poems, gifts. The wife is to provide her husband with companionship, admiration, support and physical response (good sex). She is to submit to her husband's leadership, not to be a yes person or to enable him to do wrong, but to empower him in right doing(Col.3:18, 1 Peter 3:1-6). A husband needs his wife to encourage him, not to compete with him, or criticize him.
   
3. A few days ago I was reflecting on Love and what it means. Is it an emotion? Is it our acts?
   And then yesterday in small group/bible study, God inspired my brother EauJ (which I just found is the pastor Ray’s son, I play basketball with this pastor sometimes on Monday) to lead our study with the verse from 1 Corinthians 13: 1 – 13. It talks about what love is and what love is not. We were able to share more about that love is the essence of life. In all of good works, love needs to be there, or it is nothing. And bringing it all back, love is God. To understand love, you need to understand God. I know this now. I never knew how to love others until I knew what it was to have a relationship and know God. And then Moina shares with me this morning she wanted to share that verse with me, she had just come across it.
   
   “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not evny, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices wth the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
   1 Corinthians 13:4-7

I love how God is faithful and provides wisdom when it is being reflected on, it is sought after, and prayed about to learn.