Surely I come quickly.

the expectations. it's like the rain.
i am stretched. so very strained.
get desensitised to the pain,
striving perpetually in vain.
trying to rhyme this is making me insane.
i need to learn how to be more zen.

haha.

when will bitter laughters be replaced by sweet communions and heartfelt praises?
just so disgruntled that they can snatch away my precious time with the Lord so easily. should i have put up a fight, made a fuss?
a melb-sg transition thing? not used to working on weekends? not true. it is precious and i guard it jealously.
when will i stop missing the memory of resting in the greatness of Who Thou art and go on to claim fresher, greater visions of You?
yet so unfit, undeserving to claim.
oh Lord, let me have faith.

photoblog on the philippines

day 1: even before we crossed the Philippines immigration, we were already looking forward to our next holidays. not a good sign. the sky was overcast. groggy from lack of sleep. the reception took forever. met roma joerg and philip and had an extremely long dinner talking about facebook and emergencies.

day 2: he made us wake up so early. the disney princess jeepney! thank God the wire was spoiled so i was spared the brain-damaging music. one hr too early for our ferry cruise, so we visited the manila cathedral and baseko. the ferry cruise down pasig river with the wind in our eyes and the water hyacinth under the ferry. at the last stop we alighted, with 45min to wander. and wander we did, into the memorable incident of the trip. the 11th of jan 2011, 11 people on the bridge, mla#11.

day 3: he made us wake up too early again. we were too early at buayang bato. the first normal day at our first site. adek suya became a star!:D

day 4: 2nd day at buayang bato. of wires, clothes and plants. the furry caterpillar. the fainting spell. thank you dita meng.

day 5: we were too early again (as u can tell we were sleep deprived). had an impromptu dance lesson by a 63 yr old dance instructor at the park. our warm up for the building day at telus village. i managed to get myself a 'supervisor' while painting the walls -_-

day 6: fieldwork at telus village. started and ended the day with dance again.

day 7: the Lord's Day. but there's still work planned :( visited st augustine church. a mass was going on. tombstones make the floor. spiritual wickedness in high places. back to buayang bato. can't really get much work done with the kids all around u.

day 8: sitio pajo. seniors' site the last time. lotsa edible plants! couples for Christ. handmaids of the Lord. values formation. the fire in the slum, rebuilding their habitation with the roof still burning. the desperation, the fear. the gratefulness for their homes. we are so blessed.

at the detectives and investigators section, they were playing computer games. "Be wise in your own eyes". it was on the wall. what else would you expect?

the sick river, the scorching heat. yet, the sacrifices that was made, the hardships that were borne. taking pride in the little things. cherishing the little experiences. they each had a story to tell. we have been pampered beyond feeling, beyond loving.

*pls check out the album for more pretty pics! i could only put the landscape ones here cos portrait ones spoil the format.

O Lord,

I launch my bark on the unknown waters of this year,
with Thee, O Father as my harbour,
Thee O Son, at my helm,
Thee O Holy Spirit, filling my sails.

Guide me to heaven with
my loins girt,
my lamp burning,
my ear open to Thy calls,
my heart full of love,
my soul free.

Give me
Thy grace to sanctify me,
Thy comforts to cheer,
Thy wisdom to teach,
Thy right hand to guide,
Thy counsel to instruct,
Thy law to judge,
Thy presence to stabilize.

May Thy fear be my awe,
Thy triumphs my joy.

Length of days does not profit me
except the days are passed
in Thy presence,
in Thy service,
to Thy glory.

Give me a grace that
preceedes, follows, guides, sustains, sanctifies, aids every hour,
that I may not be one moment apart from Thee,

but may rely on Thy spirit to
supply every thought,
speak in every word,
direct every step,
prosper every work,
build up every mote of faith,

and give me a desire to
show forth Thy praise,
testify Thy love,
advance Thy kingdom.

adaped from collection of Puritan prayers in "The Valley of Vision"

i thought the first post of the year shouldn't be on the very eventful fieldtrip. will post abt that tmr!