Testimonies of faith, hope, and love
Most of all she is the epitome of faith and inner strength, encouraging and keeping us strong always. Happy birthday, our dearest Mum!
From all of us,
Jonan, Jewel and Jadyn
As we celebrate our second winter in New Zealand, we remember how good our God is. In June 2012, we were praying and waiting for the job that’s pivotal to our getting residence visa.
Our 9-month work-to-residence visa was ending 10 August 2012, barely two months then.
God’s Mighty hand at work, He moved people, caused events to happen, and guided us to a places where He wanted us to be.
So, we always thank the Father for the things that He has done and for the things He’s yet to do.
Thank you Lord for being doubly good.
We are also forever grateful to our brothers and sisters in Christ who have been with us in our faith journey.
Please watch the video my wife created — “Beautiful Sights of Timaru, Canterbury, New Zealand”
SONG CREDIT: “Doubly Good to You” by Amy Grant
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
Our 10-year old son Theodore (Tea) was very much a part of our challenging journey since July 2012. His Manang Kima was away for her internship from May to August 2012 so he was with us when his mom’s condition was detected by mammogram and he was also with us when it was confirmed by our family physician.
He was with his mom during the lab tests and was with her when the staples were removed from the surgery area. He did not ask any questions when we made major changes on how we pray, he just held our hands and joined us in asking for God’s divine healing love.
From the start, we just told him that mom’s breast is “bumpy,” she will undergo surgery to remove the bumps and she will receive medication that might cause her hair to fall. With the extent of his participation however, we were thinking that deep inside he knows that his mom’s condition is more than just a “bumpy condition.”
Last July 27, 2012 (Thursday), Tea’s school held the Terry Fox National School Run Day.
Terry Fox (July 28, 1958-June 28, 1981) was a Canadian humanitarian, athlete, and cancer research activist. In 1980, with one leg having been amputated, he embarked on a cross-Canada run to raise money and awareness for cancer research. Although the spread of his cancer eventually forced him to end his quest after 143 days and 5,373 kilometres (3,339 mi), and ultimately cost him his life, his efforts resulted in a lasting, worldwide legacy (From Terry Fox – Wikipedia).
During the run, the students were given a sticker with a blank space for them to write the reason they are running. When I came home that Thursday afternoon, I saw Tea’s sticker with a note, “I run for my family.”
I immediately anticipated that there will be more questions from him about cancer because for sure, they were given some lectures about it in school. That’s one of my fears because at that time, I still don’t know how to explain it to him. Fortunately, he did not ask me anything about it.
We were busy with our usual chores the next Friday morning. I had my breakfast ahead of them because I need to prepare early to bring Tea to school and to go with Nina to the Tom Baker Cancer Centre (TBCC) for her bone scan. Nina and Tea had their breakfast together and I don’t know what they talked about.
We were already in TBCC when Nina told me that Tea asked her if we have cancer in the family. Nina asked him “why?”
Tea told her that while participating in the Terry Fox Run, he was thinking that he should run to fight cancer for his family. He didn’t understand why but he just kept thinking about it.
Nina told him straight, “yes, we have cancer in the family and I have breast cancer.” Tea simply answered, “Now I know why I had that kind of feeling.”
Nina might have handled her condition well that at Tea’s tender age, he was able to accept it well too. God did not only strengthen Nina, He also strengthened Tea and ready his heart and mind to discover the truth by himself in His own appointed time.
Tea surprised me again two weeks ago.
Before we went to sleep, he asked me if he can talk to me for a while. I said, “Yes, what it is all about?” He replied, “Is mom ok now?”
I immediately responded that his mom is okay and he should not worry about her.
He further asked, “But what about the news on cancer medicine?” (He was referring to the news on TV that chemotherapy medicine in Ontario was diluted and about 1500 patients might be affected).
I explained to him that we are in Alberta and his mom is already done with her chemotherapy. She was administered a different kind of chemotherapy medicine and the remaining medication until October will prevent the “bumps” from growing again.
Tea however had another follow-up question, “But are you sure that mom is well now?”
I don’t know what to say so I just told him, “You know, all we need to do is to eat healthy food and help your mom all the time so that she will not get sick.”
He answered, “So she got sick because of unhealthy food and too much work?”
Again, I don’t know what to say so I simply replied, “Maybe.”
Our conversation ended but deep inside I felt that I did not gave him the right answer. I went to one corner of our room where I prayed and asked God for guidance.
After a moment of silence, I went back to Tea and told him, “Tea, all we need to do is to pray all the time. We don’t need to worry about anything because God will take care of your mom, she will be well.”
Tea did not answer me, he was just smiling and I noticed that he was already praying. I felt a lump on my throat, I wept and I smiled.
We know that while family members and friends are praying for Nina’s healing, they are also praying for the family. I kept on saying we can feel it…yes, we can feel it.
Prayers did not only help Nina overcome the impact of two surgeries, chemotherapy, series of tests, and a lot of pain.
Prayers also strengthened our family, blessed our family, and brought spiritual enlightenment to our family especially to our youngest child Theodore.
Yes, God answered our prayers! We will be witnesses of His healing power and we will always bring glory, honor and praise to Him. Amen!
How can the death of the one Jesus Christ be redemption for all?
Why the crucifixion of Jesus Christ more than 2000 years ago has relevance and important impact in our lives today?
These are just two of the many questions surrounding the mystery of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.
Perhaps these questions might have crossed your mind and maybe the annual Good Friday celebration awakens and intensifies your wonderment.
As believers and followers of Christ, we can’t help but grapple with these two questions because we need to make sense of the crucifixion event.
Christians must not avoid dealing with these questions and easily attribute our Good Friday beliefs and practices as traditions that church leaders and parents handed-down to us.
We can also play it safe and say “the Bible tells me so” and just believe without questioning or searching for answers.
However, we are now living in an era where everything, both abstract and concrete, is examined, tried, or scrutinized. It is important that we address these questions so to strengthen our faith and most of all, provide firm faith foundation to the next generation of believers.
When our daughter started attending nursery classes at four years old, she would express her anxiety and nervousness. We would assure her that Jesus Christ is with you. She would say, “But I can’t see him”.
What made our child gain confidence was our assurance that we’re just a call away and we would be there to meet her when the class is over. Well, we can smile at the child’s honest retort but it made me think of how to make Jesus real for our child.
I’m sure that there are many Christians who are seeking answers for their faith questions. Our failure to discuss even the most innocent questions of faith would surely result to unbelief.
With the modern world offering varied answers to questions of life and faith, it’s not a wonder why many in our society today treat Jesus Christ as mere myth. So please tell me…
How can the death of the one Jesus Christ be redemption for all?
Why the crucifixion of Jesus Christ more than 2000 years ago has relevance and important impact in our lives today?
READERS ARE REQUESTED TO SHARE YOUR ANSWERS TO THE TWO QUESTIONS ABOVE.
PLEASE WRITE THEM ON THE COMMENT FORM OR BOX AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST. THANK YOU.
PHOTO CREDIT: Toon Yong Meng Steven
There are always reasons to rejoice in the Lord despite facing difficulties.
Do you know why God’s faithful people rejoice even in dire situations?
Trials and hardships are rich proving ground for God’s faithfulness.
Rejoice in the Lord in every circumstances now.
Guest blog post by Felix Colinco
In remembrance of my father’s death anniversary on 24 January 2012, I’m sharing this FB note that Pastor Felix wrote.
The Rev. Malvar Castillon whom we fondly call “Manoy Malvar” created a significant part in my life as a person and as a mentor. I would like to recall one of his wit and wisdom that i have learned from him in one of our encounters.
There was a certain moment in the life of Dumangas Baptist Church, I recalled, it was the month we were celebrating the anniversary of the church. We have invited Rev. Castillon to speak during the vesper service.
He was on fire with the preaching that evening. Full of power and deep in conviction, he encouraged the church to move on and push more for the ministry of reaching out to the community.
As the worship ended, one the church members informed us to immediately visit a dying member at Paloc Sool. Without hesitation, Manoy Malvar and I went to respond to the opportunity to visit and join the family during the dying moments of the church member.
One important wisdom I learned from Manoy Malvar that evening was from his prayer for the family. He said, “Lord, if it is Your will, our beloved brother will live and be well…”
In that prayer I felt the depth of the trust, and the confidence to God’s plan and from that moment my relationship with Manoy Malvar grew deeper. I appreciate his faith more.
Though we may have known each other casually, that evening, thing changed. His prayer opened my understanding to knowing and trusting God in times of life and death.
PHOTO: Dumangas Baptist Church Original FB Page
