Panaad 2012 in pictures, Part 3

This is the fun part!

First, let me share some lessons learned.

1. The body is a servant to the mind. Halfway through our journey, my feet' s aching bad. It was so painful I cannot even stand, taking another step is a sacrifice. The pain was just throbbing. Like my feet were swelling. I was walking so slow- I'm dragging the whole group, and I was feeling resentful. I was thinking I will not be able to finish the race if I continue to feel the pain like this. So I did the craziest thing. I run. Yes, I run so I would not be able to feel the pain. I run so fast till I could not breath and then I rest and I run again. I run affirming that the joy of the Lord is my strength. My friend Dian, who is a runner herself run with me. We run and rest again, run and rest, run and rest. We covered 7 kilometers doing this.

2. My group did not suggest any thoughts of quitting. I was the weakest link. I can tell. But my group did not suggest any thoughts of quitting. They did not make me feel like I'm weak. They leave me with only one choice. Discover how not to quit. I was calling rest after every mile. "Hey, guys lets rest first!". And they rested with me. We end up finishing the race with no one left behind.

3. There is no small act of kindness. We met a lot of kind people along the way. An umbrella, a glass of water, a little food, a place to rest. Priceless. Kind people are God's angels. Kindness is what makes the heart strong.

4. God is faithful. It's funny how God just keeps on proving time and time again how faithful his love for us is. And we keep right on forgetting. And God is still faithful. We are forgetful so he reminds us. He can't help himself. How lucky!

So this is the fun part because someone offered to treat us so we can all go to White Island. We are crazily lucky. Crazily loved. God is generous, handsomely so.  :)

Group picture :)

Haha! Someone's looking like a scarecrow!

On our way to White Island.

We looked toasted. Handsome. Brown. Kisses. From the sun :)

White Island.

Yeah boys!

oieeee.

We love taking pictures of ourselves!

Wacky daw oh!

Paradise.
See that?
 On our back is a pregnant sleeping woman :)

 

:)

We met a sweet little girl and her father offered to buy us sea urchins. *nom*nom

HAPPINESS!  (:

Leaving you with some random pics...

I dont know who this one is. Saint James perhaps?

Small Chapel

Old houses(Spanish Design)

We met a friend who works at nestle and he gave us a box of cornetto ice cream. Did I say we are so lucky?

Little Loncio :)

See
Panaad 2012 in pictures, Part 2

Panaad 2012 in pictures, Part 1

Speaking of Faith and Prayer: Where I Am Right Now

Transfiguration, Maramag, Bukidnon

I love asking questions. To question one's faith so you can know where you stand is not a sign of weakness nor do I consider it as one. It is just is, a question. 

Whether answered or not you try to live with it. Like an egg in incubation period, waiting to be. 

Hatched or not. It reveals you.

So here are my answers. Here is where I am right now.

That it does not matter if you do not know how to pray. It matters that you try.

That God looks at the heart and a fool looks at outward appearances.

That crying is purification, an outward manifestation of a healing process done to a soul.

That sincerity and honesty is an open gate to a beautiful state. The sincerity and honesty of acknowledging what you truly feel and think deep inside. No matter how foolish, immature, and wicked- the mess you are making. And that it is okay to ask for help.

And to always, always, choose the gentle way because it is easy to be unkind, especially to oneself, grace and mercy unfathomable.

So where are you right now?

My questions? It is mine for now.

Undergo the Process

Dry lands choking seeds
Heartbeat insensitive
To another heartbeat
The desire to do good
But becoming bad
Desire remaining a desire.

Afternoon heats
Humid life
Swelling vibrant earth
Seeds choking
The always pregnant earth
Wanting to give birth
At the edge yet not arriving.

It is not because you do not know
But because you do not try.
Undergo the process
Cry, wail, bleed.
Give birth
Let that desire be born.
Cry
Cry
Cry.


#Selfseekingguiltdriven