Mabuhay!

For those of you who don’t know what that is, it’s the Philippines version of “aloha”. The past two weeks for me were refreshing and encouraging. Being back in the motherland and the place I was born, it felt great. Being able to see family members I have not seen in 9 years exceeded my expectations. But not only was that the highlight, but not having to worry about the stresses of school, work, ministry was, honestly speaking, awesome! It really was a vacation time; but initially i was not looking forward to it. Already having been gone for two weeks in Thailand was quite enough but the thought of leaving and being gone again for another two weeks was too much. But I knew that it was something for me to do in honor of my cousin getting married and his wanting for me to be a part of his life-changing moment. And so I went to the Philippines with the purpose of only being in the wedding. I seen no other forms of personal satisfaction or desire than to satisfy my cousins needs during my trip.

But things changed when I was up there. Seeing some cousins meet us at the airport and them sleeping over at the hotel for the two nights we were in Manila before hitting up the province changed my mindset and got me thinking how much I’ve missed them so much. It wasn’t just the thought of drinking God’s heavenly drink, “royal tru orange”, or chow king’s halo-halo, but being with family who really take family to a different level. They may not have much, materially or financially, but they cherish everything about their loved ones. It got me thinking how much I’d love for THAT feeling of family to be here in Hawaii with my immediate family. It truly felt better up there than here quite honestly. Along with that close family feeling, not having to worry about so many things..it felt like heaven. Just like the lyrics in hillsongs’ new song, “You Hold Me Now”:

No weeping No hurt or pain No suffering You hold me now, you hold me now No darkness No sick or lame No hiding You hold me now, you hold me now!

By the end of the trip, I really didn’t wanna come home. Although I told some people up there I couldn’t wait to come home, DEEP inside, I wanted to stay back. But I knew that wasn’t gonna happen, obviously my home is Hawaii and I can’t leave the things I’ve worked for behind. And of course, I know it’s not on God’s plan because I have nothing to offer up there that would be in line with my destiny; at least not yet. But before I can even think of that, I first must be prepared and train. The time will come when I will minister and outreach to my family in the Philippines. God knows the desires of my heart and it would be selfish for me to just move up there because I didn’t wanna stress or worry and deceiving if I were to make the excuse of wanting to reach out. Yes I want to do that but not at this time. God’s plan for me is to finish school and learn more before being sent.

Acts 1:8 “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you..be my witnesses..to the ends of the earth”. I need to receive before leaving and know what is ahead of me. I love my family in the Philippines, I love the Philippines, I want to travel. And I’m God’s time, that dream and desire will come to past. It may have felt like heaven, but I’m certainly not ready to leave..yet. ;)

God taught me two things while being in the Philippines, cherish family even more and to be ready for His calling in our lives. He knows us, what we are capable of and our lives, so why should we take it into our hands???

-Francis

Alright, so I have been blessed and fortunate to have been able to travel a lot this summer vacation.  Being in Thailand was great..God worked wonders in me, in our entire team and through us.  The campus work was hard especially with the language barrier but God allowed us connect with the students and build relationships with them.

Currently, I am in the “MOTHERLAND.”  I was born here and lived my first year and half in the Philippines but have visited here about 4 times including a missions trip to Cebu in 2007.  But this time, I’m on vacation and for a cousin’s wedding.  Surprisingly, he asked me to be in his wedding party and to play a role during the ceremony by placing a cord around him and his future wife.  Coming to the Philippines at this time has got to be God.

Here’s a little history fact about my homeland..

In 1986, Philippine dictator/president Ferdinand Marcos was pushed out of the presidency and replacing him was widow, Cory Aquino.  Aquino’s husband was the infamous Ninoy Aquino who was claimed as “the president we (Philippines) never had” by a Filipino interviewee and was assassinated in 1983 at what is now called, Ninoy Aquino Airport in his honor, upon returning from the states in hopes to persuade dictator, Marcos to restore democracy.  Cory Aquino ran against Marcos in a snap election and was sworn into the presidency of the Philippines and became the nation’s first female president.

The reason why I share this story is because on August 1st, 2009, the nation’s heroine, Cory Aquino, passed away due to colon cancer.  I feel like I have come full circle from Tita (aunty) Cory’s presidency to her death.  Now, I’m here in the Philippines watching her funeral, wake, and burial with friends and family.  Times like these, I feel so proud to be a Filipino; seeing a nation in turmoil in years past to a nation with lots of passion and hope.  In the beginning, I was hoping this trip would be a great one and that the wedding would be fun too.  But, I realized that I’m not just here for a wedding but to experience this feeling of passion, unity, and hope with MY people; friends and family.  Tita Cory has shown not just the Philippines hope and courage, but the entire world.

MABUHAY PILIPINAS!!!

Francis

Ok, so it’s T-minus 3 days before I jump on a plane and head to the great nation of Thailand. It’s a nation filled with a vibrant culture of spicy food, relational people, and yet..a lost country. Thailand is a country with nearly all of its people are Buddhist. It’s a country that is filled with lustful, sexual thoughts and is topping the charts of transexuals, bisexuals, and gays. Can you say “wow”? Yet, God has called us to set nations free of sin and bondage and turn their eyes towards that of Jesus.

I’m uber excited yet, spiritually, I won’t know till I set foot in Thailand. It won’t hit me till I see elephants (just for you Jenna), monks, and having to change shirts every hour because of the blazing heat. But man, these past 3 months of preparing have been a STRETCH. Our team saying has been that, “Stretch Yo Faith!” It’s posted on our blogsite and has truly been our life-slogan as of late. People have been stretched w/ finances, obstacles, and etc. But we trusted in God’s plan and knew that it was all going to work out. We’ve learned more about each other and I mos def have learned a lot of myself. It’s not just a thing i’ve gone through, but a way of life that God has called me to. Our comfort zones are so SIMPLE. I feel TOO good when it’s just me and my guitar, at momilani/lcc café/theater..but put me for people to see, I still struggle with public speaking. Regardless of leading worship for the past 3 years and being a veteran at our worship leader school, it’s still something I have to work at. I’ll do music so easy but leading’s my weakness. I’ve never had to confront people, i’ve always had to be confronted. I never had to make decisions for myself, they were always made for me and I just had to react and follow. But God’s calling is crazy.

Thailand’s gonna be great but it’s not something that’ll just strike me when i’m up there. It’s mos def gonna be something here, there, everywhere. No matter if i’ll be teaching worship there, home, or somewhere else, leadership is always gonna be around me. Am I scared? HECK YAH! But it’s the reassurance that God does not give me more than I can handle; that boggles my mind.

I can’t wait for missions in the Philippines next year if that’s where God calls me or anywhere for that matter..but growing a heart for Thailand has pumped me up in a way where it’s only the beginning and I’m bringing home with me a new found trust in God.

Stretch yo faith…

Ok..so coming up this week is father’s day. And this day is something I really haven’t truly celebrated due to my dad not even being in the same time zone as I am. Short story, my dad walked out on my family about 4 years ago. I haven’t seem him since and honestly it’s been tough. But I am constantly reminded that I have had a father even before I was born; even before my biological dad was born. It’s crazy to think that throught all of the thugs that God does for us, He truly loves us. I pray that before any of us become fathers and mothers to our future families, we get rid of our selfish desires, and start to have the desires that God has placed in our lives. It is so simple. At our leaders meeting last night, we were all reminded of the scripture, if we remain in God, he will remain in is. That is such a great assurance that God is on our side. Despite our short-comings, mistakes, he still calls us His children. Just like a true father, He embraces us regardless.

The father to the fatherless.. Wow!!! Can anyone else say that??? Nopes! I love my dad and I hope that he is doing well in Las Vegas. I can’t wait till the day that he comes home to Hawaii and we can reconcile. But for now, I need to rely on Him, who is faithful and ALWAYS there. I pray that we all can run to our father and seek Him daily. Honestly, there is no other way.

“Happy father’s day to my dad, and our heavenly father.”

Love, Francis

You’re standing on you high school/college campus and/or your work place.  all of a sudden, a beam is right on you.  you try to run from it and occasionally look to see where it’s coming from.  people around you don’t see it.  but only you do. you’re trying to hide in corners, you’re going under desk and tables, but that doesn’t stop the beam of light following you.  you then give up.  you come out from the shadows and dark places you were hiding from.  you feel a sense of fear, but yet, feel a sense of security and peace.  you look at where the light is coming from; a chopper.  its propellers slicing through the air, flowers and trees being brushed against each other, the gusts of winds from the chopper forces you to crouch a little and place your arms over your head, making sure that if a propeller broke off, it wouldn’t hi your head.  you approach it with adrenaline rushing through your body.  hands shaking; but you still feel a sense of comfort.  then out of nowhere, a hand reaches out.  you can’t see the face behind it, but you have a sense of trust.  it doesn’t ask you to come; not yet. it points to you.  then a voice says, “come, i have chosen you!”  you take a huge gulp and make a cautious step towards the helicopter.  you then point to yourself, making sure He was talking about you.  you then reach out your hand to meet His.  you’re helped up into the chopper; but no on is  inside. just a pilot in the cockpit who tells you where to sit and what not to do.  you ask the pilot questions on where the destination is and what is going on.  but he doesn’t answer.  you see the helicopter start to land.  you look around to see where you are.  the place is unfamiliar and you start to question yourself if you should get out of the chopper to scope things out; trust.  that’s all your thinking.  next thing you know, you’re outside.  no helicopter, just an empty area.  no trees, no sky, no ground, but you’re standing.  it’s white, all over the place.  no corners, no signs of life except for yourself.  you examine the place

next thing you see, is someone right next to you.  a person whom you have known from school or work.  you start to talk about how you got here; the beam of light, the helicopter, the outstretched hand, and the mysterious pilot.  after a few minutes, someone else is “magically” placed in the same room. and then another, and another, and another.  all of a sudden, you see classmates from high school and college coming in.  people from your work place are being lined up on the side of you.  you look to your left and right and see a straight line; a line just like a firing squad would fire at.  but no one is seen with anything but a bible, clothing being already worn, and a flash light in your hand.

you now see a man walking back and forth examining the people that are lined up side-by-side of you.  he points to you and your friends from school.  he motions you to take a step forward.  you look again to the side of you.  this time, only those the man picked are visible.  the line of people behind you is no longer there.  just you and a chosen few are in the room.  you guys start to huddle up and talk about the recent events that have puzzled you.  “who? what? when? where? why? how?”  all of these things are being spoken out but no one has any answers.  then all of a sudden, another chopper comes in.  just like the same one that carried you off in the first place.  but this time, all of you are able to fit inside.  you talk again about what you think might happen.  you suddenly see at the corner of your eye that you’re above the high school/college you graduated from and/or your work place.  and you see people walking around.  the pilot then gives you a paper with the words:

“therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

watching “Disney’s EARTH” tonight @ mililani..950p showing. BE THERE!!! #earthday

Ok, getting serious about ping.fm. we’ll see how this goes; and if it’ll last. got the mobile ping.fm site. lol! :)