Problem Solving Blog: From Problem to Blessing

       All living things in this world experience problems, no exception. Old and young, fat and thin, tall and short, face different problems in life. Even the biggest and smallest animals have. The healthiest and weakest plants have also their own. God gives us problems and circumstances to warn us not to get too attached in this sinful world. He use problems to test us how much we love Him, how firm we are and how faithful we are as His children. We can never escape from it. The more we avoid it, the bigger it becomes. God wanted to know how obedient we are in how we response into that certain problems He gives us. Our family face different problems every year, big and small. They are all the same, they stands as a challenge or a test. God never leave us alone, because the latest problem we had encountered ended to be a blessing.
       My eldest sister was blessed enough because she passed the scholarship examination of AIMCOOP. She was given an opportunity to chose the university she wanted and have a free tuition fee. My sister chose to be in Xavier University an Cagayan de Oro with the course of accountancy. Actually, it was not her choice. It was the choice of AIMCOOP, who gave the scholarship to my sister. We can do nothing about it unless my sister will give up the scholarship. My sister just follow what they want, she said she will learn to love it. As of now, it was already her third year and with the grace of God, the past two years seems good. The problem came out when my sister's grades started to decrease. Last semester was a bit scary for us all. We were very uncomfortable to my sister's grades , it worried us all. The AIMCOOP might took the scholarship of my sister and left our family hanging on that expensive university. My parents were afraid about what will happen to our family if my sister fail. That time, I always imagined what life is waiting for us if it will happen. We were all afraid.
       That time was really alarming, it makes us all worried. Days passed, worried as I am, I found myself reading the Bible. The Scripture says, "God keeps His promise, and He will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, He will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out." After reading God's word, I talked to Him through praying. I asked for His guidance and help, to let my family overcome this problem. I asked for strength and a new hope to all of us. It takes two days for me to realize what is the right thing to do, without knowing that my parents were already praying about it when they realize that it was a big problem we are facing. We all do have our problems, but it is a matter of faith. Claiming answers to our prayers through faith is a wise step. My sister is now miraculously continuing her studies at Xavier University with the AIMCOOP's scholarship. AIMCOOP gave my sister a second chance to prove that she deserves to have it. Faith is what it takes. Even how big our problems are, let us remember that we have the biggest and greatest Father watching us above, hearing our prayers and showered us with blessings and love.

Descriptive Blog: A Lonely Christmas for my Cat

       Christmas is a season of love and forgiveness. It is a season of giving and sharing blessings to others. Happiness in every heart of the people is always there. Families spend time with each other. They exchange gifts and eat noche buena together. They attend Misa de Gallo to make their wish come true. Everybody unite for love to experience happiness and peace at every heart. I became a witness to all of these every year. This year, there is something troubling in my mind. Does a cat also deserves a merry Christmas? I know its a funny question to ask but I have this feeling of guilt and sadness inside me.
       In our boarding house, we have this cute cat named Madelle. The name sounds girly but believe me, this cat is a male. He is a handsome and a fat cat, that is why we like him very much. He has a yellow-orange colored fur striped with color orange. He really looks adorable when he will ask for a food with those big shiny eyes saying that he is hungry and asking for a food, I really can't escape from it. He loves to play with papers, he loves to scratch it but I don't like the way he do it because sometimes some of my papers were the victims. Even how big his sin to me, I'll end up forgiving him because he'll make his face look pity. Madelle is also a responsible cat, he keeps our boarding house away from destructive rats. He scares them. He also dispose his own waste at the right place, in our comfort room. Unbelievable but its true, not on the bowl but on the hole where water flows out. Madelle is sweet and considerate, he make sure that he don't touch my blanket. I don't know what is in his mind, that he loves to sleep near my feet. He sleeps very late and wakes up late in the morning. I don't know why but I think he make sure that rats will not show up when he's asleep.
       Last Thursday, I left the boarding house together with some of my board mates. I have seen the sadness in his eyes when we left. He knows we're leaving  but I can't bring him, there are laws for animals. Every time I saw our cats in our home, I'll remember Madelle. How would you feel when you left someone begging you to stay? If you ask me, I feel guilty. I can't stop thinking if what had happen to him, if he has something to eat and if he has soft cloth to sleep on. How about this Christmas? Who is going to take care of him? Who is he celebrating with? What will he eat? These questions are running in my mind. Honestly, all I have now is faith. Faith that God will also take care of Madelle, that He will also provide something for him. I believe that Madelle will hunt rats for his food. He is genius, he knows he have to live. These are the words I am holding now and I believe that Madelle is different from me, that he'll never leave me and wait for me to come back. Animal as he is, he also have his feelings and he also deserves a happy Christmas that everyone has but this Christmas, I think he can't have it.

Narrative Blog: My Sweet Encounter with God

          I was invited to an Encounter God Retreat by Ate Cleng - our Bible Study leader. It happened last August 16-17, 2013. It was a one day experience. We had our dinner as we arrived at the venue and proceeded with the first, second and third lecture. The next day, we had our quiet time at 4:30 am. After our breakfast, we proceeded to the hall for the fourth to the seventh lecture and lunch time came. We rested for an hour to prepare ourselves for the next five lectures. I learned how great God's love is and how great His works are. We learned about sins, confessing, repenting, forgiveness, friendship, honoring parents, avoiding temptations, praying, obeying and being responsible for our actions.

          The actual encounter took place. They made us watched the video clip of the film "The Passion of Christ". Heavy tears kept falling while I'm watching the video. His pain made me guilty of my sins that I have done. They made us experience the actual crucifixion of Christ, one person on each hand and one on the head. The two people on my hand, struck a nail on my palm, making sure I was hurt but not to the point that it will wound me, just to made me feel the pain. The other person placed a crown of thorns in my head, pushing it hard to also make me feel the pain. The whole thing made me experience the crucifixion of Christ, but I know that God's crucifixion is way more painful compared to mine. I cried hard by that thought. After that, we worshiped Him as we asked for forgiveness and thanked Him. God is our Savior, our great Provider, our Healer and our Father, and no man will ever put us down if we have Him in our life. For me, nothing compares for that sweet unforgettable moment of my life.