Being patient, book from Eckhart Tolle, hygiene kits

Wednesday, 11:47am – Mandaluyong, Philippines

View from apartment I live at with friend from the States named PJ

I talked with Moina this morning and conversation came up on being able to trust God in all that He provides and situations He allows to happen, both in health, connections with people, and even to the details of work and food we eat. People in our past have repeatedly come back into our life, to follow up with us and find out how we are doing. Moina and my relationship is special in that she has been there since day 1 of coming to the Lord, seeing how the Holy Spirit touched me and she was able to see all kinds of events to present day of how God is blessing and teaching me to learn about loving Him and loving others.

The main thing that came up was about trusting and keeping God at our centers so we don’t worry or fret about the things that come up, especially for ex-girlfriends or ex-boyfriends coming back into the picture. God is close to our heart and He wants us to show love to everyone. It actually crossed my mind about all the people that I used to date or be with. I wonder how they are doing. I pray to God they all have come to know Jesus Christ and they are able to constantly show love to others around them.



Eckhart Tolle
My friend Janae gave me a book that I started reading a couple days ago. I think the Church in general would be against these types of books as they are considered New Age. At first, the first few pages I read made me reject the book because the semantics didn’t make sense to me. But recently, my Uncle expressed to me that don’t look for faults in what is being exposed to you, listen and come back to the Bible to see if there are truths in what has been presented. Two things I have learned from beginning to read this book:

1. To be open and not close yourself from knowledge. This knowledge my deepen your faith or understanding with God and even becoming close to others. I will be able to read this book and talk to my friend Janae more about her thoughts and views.
   
2. God allowed this book to be in my path. Because of all that I have seen in how God has been directing me and teaching me lessons, as well as this book He allowed for me to read. I will learn and take from what’s needed. Since the Holy Spirit is guiding me, there will be no fear or worry in my faith swaying. God is with all of us, and it’s up to us to turn to Him and have faith in Him. I will keep in mind of false prophets and teachings. Holy Spirit will be my guide.

Hygiene Kits
I’m getting ready for next week to go around to a street market here called Divisoria to begin purchasing items for the hygiene kits. I will contact my friend Kengi from the States to propose to him to cross-link and promote Do Something Saturday – Philippines. I may just use the Tagalog-Filipino translation of “Do Something Saturday” to reference the project. Thank you again for all that have supported and donated. Just that act, whether conscious or not, was already thinking of others. Either they were thinking of supporting me and my cause, or thinking of the people that will be helped in the Philippines.

State of poverty, results from wanting money, my friend’s DJ gig last Sunday and new child to be born into the world

Mandaluyong, Philippines - 11:43am
I just got back from breakfast at a local eatery called Binalot that’s open 24 hours. I love places like that. It reminds me of late-night places that would stay open either 24 hours as well or until 3 or 4am back in Los Angeles. I’m a night owl so I welcome any of these places. The people there are starting to get to know me since I frequently eat there. I love being able to build relationships with people by seeing them constantly. Now it’s a matter of coming to talk more about where they come from and what they aspire to. I just love hearing people's background and where they are going.



I was reading in the Manila Bulletin and 3 stories stuck out for me to reflect on.

1. Fernando, Golez tangle over EDSA speed limit
2. Seventh fetus in 2 weeks found in Sta. Cruz
3. Kidnap-for-ransom suspect arrested

1) EDSA is the main highway that goes through Metro Manila from north to south, on the east side of Manila. Motorists of all different types of vehicles from trucks, passenger cars, buses, utility vehicles and motorcycles speed and merge dangerously throughout the day. This article was about the chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and Representative of Paranaque City and their arguments over the speed limit on EDSA. In a congressional hearing about the budget, the Rep. is criticizing the chairman about being irresponsible with his remarks. The chairman as recorded he “encourages” people to speed, so as to relieve traffic. The Rep. is saying that this promotes reckless driving and deaths. Actually, a few articles down, there was another article that talked about deaths that occurred recently from buses and trucks running down motorcyclists because of driving too fast. The incompetence and desire for respect from the chairman’s peers causes him to retaliate in the media as well as lead the organization to faulty road policies. It’s important that people are put in place of leadership that can lead with integrity and righteousness, without fear of being accountable for mistakes

2) This past month, 7 fetuses have been found in different places: at a restaurant, in front of a barangay representative house, in an apartment, in a restroom in a mall and at another mall on the road. I don’t know what’s causing people to do this, but regardless, this is happening and babies are dying. Those children are not able to live a full life and the people that are leaving this babies to die are in a dark place right now, needing to be saved.

3) This last article was about a person getting caught that is part of a gunrunning syndicate. In an article yesterday, I read more and more kids, ages ranging from 12 – 18 years old are participating in the kidnapping of people. They get paid ranging from P5000 and up. That’s about around $100 USD. So sad, that people would kill another person for that type of money. This goes to show just how many people need to be saved and that time should not be wasted to try to connect with people and spark that change. The people you help may end up influencing people like these kidnap-for-ransom people in changing their ways.

All these stories are happening in this world, maybe more in some places than others. Regardless, it shows how much that people need to know more about the transforming nature of knowing Jesus Christ. If people believe and follow in the faith and the Word, all is good literally and spiritually.



DJ Red-I and DJ Don-P, reggae/dancehall music
Last Sunday I checked out my friend’s gig at Karport at the Fort. Good reggae/dub-step/dancehall. Apparently this music is not that big here so there’s opportunity for them to influence the music/club scene with this great music. Their friend Sean video taped, took pics and made the video clip. Sean's a really cool guy that works with some social networking site here called Zintropia, something like that.

PJ, Jen and Jahzara Phae Martinez
Just heard from my friend and roommate PJ that his wife Jen is going to go into labor back in the States for new child into the world Jahzara. This just makes me think of the blessing God has provided these two, and now they will be guided to take care for and think of another, providing, as God provides with love. I pray that PJ and Jen raise Jahzara in love and with love for God, I pray that the whole family learn and follows Jesus Christ and that their union with God is an example for others to aspire to. Amen.

Day of Worship, more learning of the Word, and constant Light

Reading my morning verses, I came across a timely chapter that talks about Trials and Temptations.

James 1:1 – 8
1 James, a servant of God and of
the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes
scattered among the nations: Greetings.

Trials and Temptations
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Those who doubt should not think they will receive
anything from the Lord; 8 they are double-minded and unstable in all they
do.

Some of the people around me have family members and loved ones in pain and suffering from their health. Some have cancer, about to have surgery or are recovering. It is in these times, especially those that have the sickness or disease, to linger with God and to learn from what He is trying to show. It is easier said than done, and easier for the person that’s supporting the loved with it. But even then, the people that are supporting go through trials as well. Will they crumble in despair? Or remain in the faith and turn to God to be at peace and continue to show love?



Yesterday at Church and small group, I learned a lot in reiterating what Jesus Christ death on the cross meant. How much it means and should mean to Christians, and how thankful I am that God decided to show me He was real and was there and has a purpose for me. I was relaying the story of the days events to Moina, and I began to cry because of how much I love God and thankful He chose April to begin showing Himself to me even more blatantly than before. When I reflect on my life before Christ, it was such a dark time; constantly searching and dissatisfied, constantly in bad relationships and looking for all the wrong things, dissatisfied with work and direction and just searching, and constantly abusing relationships by thinking of benefiting myself. I compare my life now with others around me that don’t have Jesus close to their hearts consciously, and it pains me. I felt a deep sincere sadness for about 10 minutes while I was talking to Moina, and then the Holy Spirit quickly filled my heart with peace and joy, knowing that God is working with and around those people to have them come to Him. It is still up to those people to decide and turn to God, but as He did with me, it was so obvious and His perfect timing that there was no other decision to make but to just believe.

Thank you God and I love you so much. I was telling Moina I will do all that I can to express my love for Him and bring His children to Him. There’s a constant light now, and it feels good to be in it.