Outdoor Fun at Pulau Ubin

Pasir Ris park or Changi beach park must already be a boring spot to enjoy outdoor activities for these people that for many times now, they have been spending overnight at a place where it is not reachable by bus or cab anymore but only by boat. Extra challenge, that is. For me, the place is a lot better than those parks nearby our HDB houses, really. It is a small island and is located in north east end of Singapore, Pulau Ubin is the place to be. With its 1020 hectares of land area, you got a handful of great activities to do there. With its forest covered with fruit bearing trees, you may add rambutan, jackfruit or durian tree climbng as one of them. The boys actually got a big plastic full of rambutan before the sun set which was shared to all.

With the help of Mike A, Kuya Jun and the rest of the "grill" masters, we had andok's lechon right in front of us. It was a delish lunch of grilled pork and chicken dipped in native sawsawan prepared by RR. Of course, aside from grilled food, they also prepared adobo, boiled egg, miswa / chicken soup, tomatoes and onions to boost our appetite. 

And as usual, these people of Barkadahan Kay Kristo never fails to do it. Masters of mouth watering food, in deed.

They did kayaking, biking and "crabbing". Haha. I went with them to see how they do "crabbing" but unfortunately it was low tide and crabs were a bit shy, we were not able to get even one. Kill joy, crabs!

I "biked". I already forgot the last time I rode on a bike but twas fun to rediscover that skill. We also rented a bike for Hershey. She had a hard time doing it at first but eventually "biked" herself. She loved the experience riding with her cousins and friends. So she asked if she can get her own bike on her birthday, told her to pray for that. The Lord will decide. :)

Of course how can I forget to mention we had s'mores. S'mores what? Yeah. :) The young people specially loved it.

And the boys had a great random game. The ambassadors versus LTrainees had dodge ball. :) Was fun!

It was a great time to be with these people again. It has been long since we had an outdoor gathering. Hope there will be more of it and more friends to join next time. Looking forward and praying for an enjoyable "fellowship-ing" next time.

Blessings ♥

Share |

Love you Mommy, Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day!

We had a Mother's Day celebration at home yesterday. It was a Sunday and as usual, we are busy as we have Church in the afternoon. My husband bought a cake for me. It was my daughter who chose it because she likes the starts and the hearts design on it. :) On it, it says, "Love You Mommy".  I was touched. We shared the cake right after lunch.

There is also a commemoration at Church which made most moms teary eyed. My husband made a video for me and showed my not so nice pictures that made everyone laughing, i hate it. Haha. H handed me a flower and said, Happy Mother's day, mom! She can say that over and over again and still liking it. :D

I love my daughter so much. She is the reason why I am qualified to celebrate Mother's Day. I give her all my love and care. I thank her for making me feel special in every way.

But I will never top how my mother cared and loved us. The things I do for my child is only a bit of what my mother did to us. So it was really her day. I want to post a picture of her here but I cant stop myself from crying looking at some. I'm happy that before she left us, I told her everything - those which are in my heart. I said sorry for the things that I didn't do, for not reaching her expectations, for not returning the love she gave me. I said sorry for not being the best, for sometimes being maldita, for the times I'm disappointing her, for the times I hurt her. I ask forgiveness for the bad things I've done. I told her i love her over and over again and I don't want to loose her. She was still strong that time and she responded with, understanding.

I pray that I will be strong and healthy for my child. That I will be more understanding each day. I pray that I can be a virtuous woman:

Who can find a virtuous woman? She is far more precious than jewels...
Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and loving instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the activities of her household and is never idle.
Her sons rise up and call her blessed.
He husband also praises her:
Many women are capable, but you surpass them all!
Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.
~Proverbs 31:10, 25-30


Blessings ♥

Share |

Buffet Lunch at 50% off

Last Saturday we had our Women's fellowship which turned out to be another small gathering of not only women but both men and women of our church plus Hershey. We had buffet lunch at Holiday Inn hotel where we pay only half of the original price. I bought the discounted voucher online, from http://deal.com.sg/deals/singapore which offers discounted prices for travels, hotels, spa, buffet treats, etc. It was really hassle free booking with them.

If you haven't tried yet, check this link, How it works: http://deal.com.sg/how_it_works

This is the entrance of the restaurant.

and this is us. 

part of the buffet spread

my brother, our Pastor and Hershey

should have been a ladies lunch out

allofus

We had our time to discuss some things in life. Discuss activities to do in Church and bond with each other.

Thank God for the many blessings, everyday.



Blessings ♥

Share |

The Women's Fellowship : Fruit of the Spirit

Every other Saturday of the month, women at Church gather for a fellowship of Bible sharing and feasting (pinaganda ko lang, totoo, lamon :-) ). As I am already a wife and a mom, I am 100% qualified for this group. I am just hopeful to still be part of the youth ministry. Haha. Nangarap pa!

Two weeks ago I was tasked to lead the Bible sharing. I've been praying on what topic to discuss because I wanted something that I myself could learn from until one day the Lord tells me to desire to have the FRUITS of the HOLY SPIRIT. So went ahead and studied them.

The FRUITS of the HOLY SPIRIT are the attributes of a true Christian which were mentioned by Paul in Galatians 5. 
    * 1 Love (Greek: agape)
    * 2 Joy (Greek: chara)
    * 3 Peace (Latin: pax, Greek: eirene)
    * 4 Patience (Latin: longanimitas)
    * 5 Kindness (Latin: benignitas)
    * 6 Goodness (Latin: bonitas)
    * 7 Faithfulness (Latin: fides)
    * 8 Gentleness (Latin: mansuetudo)
    * 9 Self-control (Latin: continentia)


Before I started the discussion, I distributed cross word puzzle for an ice breaker. In the puzzle, they will have to link up what fruit of the Spirit fits the word box. They were all caught by surprise. They say it was a bit challenging although they are familiar with the gifts but unsure if what they know are correct. I let them work with it for 15 minutes. Check their work and everybody passed. :) Whew.

Then I proceed with discussing each fruit. In summary, I realized that when you have LOVE it would be easy to have the rest of the fruits in your life, so the desire of my heart is for the Holy Spirit to shower me with His love and teach me to love each and everyone. To teach me NOT to look at one's fault. To make me HAPPY and JOYFUL to every success my friends will have. To rejoice with them in every victories. To PRAY for them so they will be blessed more in all aspect of their lives. Just LOVE as much as I love myself.

Then right after the sharing we closed it in prayer desiring to have all the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
And time to have fellowship again through feasting.

 We have refillable bowl of pansit, ensaymada, bibingka and fuits. Masarap!

In deed it was a great time knowing God more through His words and also a great time to fellowship with the sisters in faith. Looking forward to our next Women's Fellowship.

Blessings ♥

Share |

Made for His glory

I am joining AT THE WELL today, http://www.titus2atthewell.com/ <3

Psalm 139:13-18 talks so much of how special we are in the eyes of the Lord. This verse actually came to life more when I had a daughter. I was in owe how special she is. How beautifully she was formed. I thought, I and my husband cannot do it alone, there must be someone greater and powerful that made the creation of my daughter so perfect.

This is the full verse,

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.

 

And I know that together with us, my daughter will also serve the Lord.  Like David, he made the Lord proud, he was faithful to the Living God, His first love was the LORD so my daughter will be like that too because she was made for His glory. She is already 3 years old now and does the banner thingy ( I dono what's its called. :) ) during praise and worship together with other kids. That's her on a pink dress. :)

To Him who created every beautiful things.... AMEN.

Blessings ♥

Share |

Yoido Church, Seoul and the prayer mountain

Today, I am ecstatic while researching about the prayer mountain in S. Korea. I've heard wonderful stories about it and the beautiful experiences of many Christians but aside from that, I don't have my personal knowledge about the said place.


So what did I know after googling it? Let me share.


1) The prayer mountain was made to provide an isolated place of prayer for Christians.

2) Because early Christians were persecuted of their faith, they practice waking up as early as four in the morning ascend the nearby mountains where they could freely pray until the first ray of sunrise. At the end of the day, before going home, the Christians would again ascend the mountains to pray and fast and ask God to intervene on their behalf.

3) That  this is operated by South Korea's largest full gospel church, Yoido Full Gospel Church, recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as having the world's largest congregation.

4)  I was wrong to think that this would be a quiet and serene place, instead, "The hills echoed with the screams and yells of fellow prayers." said one blogger.

5) and more info here, http://www.fgtv.com/n_english/prayer/p_index.asp


Not only that, I am amazed to know that Yoido Full Gospel Church who runs the place is actually the church who coined cell grouping for Christians. Because the congregation is toooo big, their head pastor made cell groups to accommodate and have personal care to their members. Up until now Christian churches all over the globe uses this term and the idea. NOW I KNOW. :)

There's one site which made an entry about Yoido, what FYI is,
 
When asked what musical instruments were played, he responded,"Organ, piano, synth, guitar, drums, flute, clarinet, sax, tambourine... and a symphony orchestra."

HOW COOL IS THAT?

More to add: I read that anyone who passed by those mountains would hear the cries and weeping of the men and women who were storming heaven with their sad plight and asking God to change their situation. Koreans do not typically pray silently, but rather, very loudly.  From then on, prayer and fasting have been the hallmarks of the strong South Korean Church.  In fact, on the 27th of each month, there is a world-wide movement to pray and fast for North Korea.  I’m sorry, but I don’t think diplomacy, military might, or economic sanctions will cause the oppressive North Korean regime to fall.  It will be the prayers of God’s people which will end this Asian Christian holocaust.

http://hikerdude.wordpress.com/2009/07/01/the-prayer-mountain/

I really wish in my heart that we can visit Yoido Church and experience prayer mountain. I am amazed of how the Lord works in the life of the Koreans. They are simply amazing. And the Lord is much more amazing that when He blesses, He just do it in His most beautiful way.Wonderful.

Blessings,
Hapi

Missing Victory Christian Fellowship

It was the other day when I felt goosebumps seeing Ptr Julius Fabrigas on FB. He was the preacher most of the time on the 5 PM service at VCF Galle. Then I realized, I missed going to that church, hearing their type of preaching.

VCF has made a huge difference in our lives. God has used this church to make my hubby become interested in the Christian faith. We have attended several churches but it was with VCF where he had encountered a deeper touch of the holy spirit. I am glad we found a little family there. We knew Mooch and Joey Mantes. They were our cell group leader although we only shared little time with them but Mooch and Joey became Hershey's godparents. We still communicate until now and we still feel very close with each other.

Missed you VCF. May the Lord continue to use you inspiring other people's lives.



Blessings ♥

Share |

Weekends, 19th & 20th June 2010

We went to ToysRUS (Toys Us, as how my daughter says it) last Saturday and bought some stuff for H. We bought her Crayola non toxic finger paints, Crayola Art smock - which we haven't used yet because we had a busy weekend, a kite, and 24-pcs MegaBlocks which she loves and I wonder why I haven't bought her this one sooner. Maybe because I thought she already has her set of fake legos which should be enough. LOL

                                                    

So last Sunday, aside from going to church, we went for a Father's day BBQ party at Costa Sands together with our Filipino community churchmates. This is how we usually spend our time together outside church, we eat, be merry and exchange testimonies. :) We really can't get over it. There are just so many things to be thankful for in our lives - on our happy or even sad moments.

Some pictures with my husband, daughter, my brother (our pastor) and my niece together with their other
swimming buddies.

Hershey soooo happy! And dad is all smiles too on Father's day! With the goggles is my niece Nikki.

                                      
There's my brother holding H and our friend, Jenny.

                                                

 Happy father's day again to all daddies! God bless you... ♥♥♥

Share |