This is one song I’m not supposed to relate to…

RUSH

I look up and say my prayer
At times I feel there’s no one there
Though I asked for a shoulder
That I could lean on
What’s deep in my heart
He knows what I’m longing for

Refrain:
And then that’s when I met you
Faith could have brought me to you
I know you’re my answered prayer
‘cause I see in you

Chorus:
Eyes that could see through me
Warmth that takes away my plea
Where my heart is felt as it changes speed
I know when it’s time we allow love to take its seat

I taunt when there’s no one to talk to
I’m lost for words and darkness makes me blue
And I ask for a shoulder
That I could lean on
What’s deep in my heart
He knows what I’m longin’ for

(repeat refrain; chorus; refrain)

Chorus:
Eyes that could see through me
Warmth that takes away my plea
Where my heart is felt as it changes speed
I know that it’s time we allow love to take its seat (repeat 2x)

The slightest hum of the melody and the thought of being able to relate to this wonderful song gives me the chills. ….can’t can’t can’t!

…too happy… too glowing…. too scary….

April 20, 11AM. US Embassy (Window 7… where 8 previous applicants were given those ugly blue papers right before my eyes):

Consul: This will take a minute for me to read your application. You wrote a lot in here.

               ……So, what is the purpose of your trip?

Me: I’m going to visit my closest cousin who is now living and working in New Jersey. Her mom and her sister are both going to visit her this coming May and we’re all hoping that I could come with to visit her as well.

Consul: So what do you do in Ayala?

Me: I am a part of the Buyers Desk under Sales Support Division. We cater to the documentation concerns of the buyers. Our clients are all from the A and Upper A market so its very difficult to keep everyone fully satisfied. But its a continuous effort anyway.

Consul: How long have you been working with Ayala?

Me: I am currently on my 14th month as a regular employee. But I already worked there before for 10 months as a project based employee. I left but came back when they offered me a position that is for regularization.

(consul slightly waving his hand to indicate that no further explanations are needed.)

Consul: How much do you earn from having this job at Ayala?

Me: Can I just show you my COE? My salary is indicated in it. Its kind of difficult to explain how much I receive each month. Its complicated since there is a portion of my salary that I receive in gift checks instead of cash.

Consul: ok ok. But I cant understand why you can’t just mention how much you’re earning…normally applicants can just easily say I earn 20K a month. And why would any company issue GC’s to its employees as their salary anyway?!

(Handed the COE to the Consul)

Me: So you see the GC’S  are given as something on top on my salary, I do get P_____.00 GC a month. You can use these GC’s at any Ayala Land Malls. I usually use them for groceries. But my salary is computed as basic pay + value of GC’s. The GC’s somewhat serve as tax shield as well.

Consul: Is this everything that you’re getting?

Me: Well no… I do have health insurance benefits, part of it I get as cash.

Consul: Oh I see. Anyway, so you live with your parents? What do they do for a living?

Me: Yes I still do live with my parents. My dad works for a call center, where they attend to customers of DIsh network. My mom on the other hand had to stop working since she got sick last year. She had breast cancer and she had to undergo Mastectomy of the left breast. But she used to be part of Prudentialife insurance.

Consul: Did Ayala pay for the medical expenses?

Me: Yes they did. My health insurance which my company provides covered all the expenses of my mom’s operation, medication and chemotherapy sessions and other lab test. That’s why I see myself very fortunate to work with Ayala.

Consul: Really? Ayala does that to all of its employees?

Me: Yes

(Consul: type.. type…)

Consul: Who is Katherine Garibay?

Me: Katherine is my closest cousin. She got married to Dexter in the US last June 2006. Its just too bad that I wasn’t able to be in their wedding since I still cannot take a leave from work back then because I was just starting with Ayala.

Consul: Who is Noris Ridgwell?

Me: She’s my aunt.

Consul: Is she paying for your trip?

Me: Yes

Consul: How can she afford to pay for your trip? What does she do for a living?

Me: She’s the VP for operations of Aboitiz Transport Systems.

(Consul: type…type…)

<Eto funny for a last question> Note: the Consul who interviewed me is gay!

Consul: So what did you do in China?

Me: We went there to do some shopping.

Consul: You went to china just to shop?

Me: Well, yes sort of.

Consul: So did you like shopping in China? <Uy fishing for info… this guy is so gay!>

Me: Hmm…actually, I don’t. I bought an electronic gadget there that broke down at first use. Its now a piece of junk. I like shopping in the Philippines better.

Consul: Really? Which places in China have you been to?

Me: We’ve been to Shuhai, Szenzhen, and Macau.

Consul: Which did you like best?

Me: Macau.

Consul: Is it because the community is like the Philippines since most of the people are also Roman Catholics? You can relate to them perhaps. Did you see the old churches in that place?

Me: Well yeah. It was portuguese colony that’s why there are a lot of Roman Catholic Churches. Some of them were already torn down though. <He need not know that I only saw the churches in brochures since we didnt really go around much. hehe> No, I cannot relate to them since I’m not a Roman Catholic.

Consul: What are you then?

Me: I’m a Christian.

Consul: Oh ok.

(Consul: type…type…)

<I was holding my breath since I felt that he had no more questions and that he was thinking if he should give me the yellow slip or the blue paper>

Consul: Ok…

<Handing over the yellow slip!>

Consul: Bring this slip at the Delbros Courier at the Pavillion. Pay for the courier fee and they will have your passport with your VISA delivered to you.

(Me: surprised and giddy)

Me: Really?

Consul: Yes.

Me: Oh thank you! God bless you!

(Me: Turned around and almost half running towards the exit… or the consul might change his mind. hehehe)

Oh yes!!! yes!!!! I got a US Visa! Ate Kats, this is all just to see you again! Be with you soon! Miss you! Muah!!!!

Thank you for every one who prayed for me. Truly, the Lord hears the prayers of our hearts. May your faithfulness be rewarded according to the Heavenly Father’s riches in heaven.

Gob bless you!!! Ü

Our church admin sent out a text message last Good Friday to ask for donations for eggs for the children’s easter egg hunt on Easter Sunday. I responded, bought some eggs and art materials and hudled with my 10 and 5 year old cousins and a cousin-in-law on my bedroom floor. A few minutes later everyone was drawn to his/her own own world. It was a different opportunity to do the Lord’s work for His church, plus it was a chance for me and my kiddie cousins to be creative. My cousin Jabby held a record for painting 15 easter eggs, when he used a paint brush that matched his tiny hands! After a couple of hours, he was already eating one of the hard boiled eggs which we did not paint on because it had a crack on it. While the three of us (me, nette and abby) were still working on our own masterpieces. The sharing this kind of moment with my family gives me a spirit-filled experience.

It was an opportunity for me to share Jesus - my 5 year old cousin did not know why we celebrate Easter. At least now every time Easter comes around, he will not only remember the fun easter egg painting session that we had, he will also remember that it’s Jesus that we celebrate on this special day.

I haven’t even finished with work, the Lord immediately rewarded me by knowing that Jabby (according to Abby’s interview with him when we left them to get some more eggs), sees me as his favorite older cousin. =) It was heartwarming to know this, and I consider it an open door to bring another Spirit to Jesus.

And..I really believe its the time that I invested to play, exchange stories and teach some songs, and even catch a few stuffed toys at the arcade developed our bond. hehe =0

The Lord sees the seeds that we plant in others…

I have this favorite verse found in Galatians 6: 9-10 and it says

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

And I hope one day, I’ll be able to personally share Jesus with YOU. Yes you! =)

Listen to the Bible! =)http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/audio/