PSALM 21:2
2 You have granted him his heart’s desire
and have not withheld the request of his lips.
I want to start this entry with this verse. I started my day claiming and breathing in this promise i received from my Heavenly Father for my Birthday. Yes, it's my 27th year of existence and making life. God's faithfulness and grace is overflowing and no words are enough to contain His greatness. All the Glory Belongs to Him.
I really want to array everything what occurred on a 1 big day event of my life. So far, this was the best and memorable birthday celebration i had. Because it is not just about receiving gifts and greetings, perhaps i am given the chance to give back in my own little ways. It was indeed a dream come true. The contents of my heart is more than what my mind and words can conceive. The Lord is so000 good!
1st greeting
the Lord greeted me with this verse. This was so promising and uplifting
for someone like me whose dreams are getting bigger and ambitious.
In this added year, it seems like I'm getting closer more than i think
and sooner everything will be fulfilled in His perfect time.
I have kept this and ponder this promise the entire day
and just allow the Lord to speak to me.
thank you Jesus for granting every desires of my heart.
Your grace and unmerited favor made me who i am right now.
There's more to come . Be magnified!
IT'S NOT ABOUT me....
The Lord never failed to grant this dream i have kept for so long. Supposed to be last year, i wanted to celebrate my birthday on a Home for the Aged. I really have so much love for Grandpas and Grandmas especially for those who are abandoned and forgotten by their families. But Unfortunately, it was not pursued because of legality reasons. So i just let it go and dream once again for the next year. And here comes my 27th bday approaching and Im starting again working it out, but greater opportunity knocked on the door and i know this is the best way that God wanted to fulfill my dream.
Ray of Hope Village
(Maa City Jail, Female Correctional)
I would like to start this by saying Thank you to JO1 Jello Arreza Blanco
who suggested and made all the possible way to make this happen. The moment
he shared to me the idea, it really captured my heart.
Ray Of Hope Village is a cell where women who made criminal acts
were placed and needed to undergo trials and correctional actions.
Perhaps, when we think of "Jail" we think of a place where
criminals and worse people can be found. But this place is different.
Yes, law breakers are there, but what the BJMP DAVAO did was they turned the
dungeon to a home. They made it like a community setting where you can find
facilities just like the free people are enjoying.
One thing that caught our attention was their cells. Though they are bound behind bars
the atmosphere is still like a home. As you can see the picture above, it is no different to
a house in a village; Painted with colorful paints, plants around the house and furnished inside. In one cell, there are 15 persons detained and according to one of the detainee,
they are like "sardines" when they sleep. But during day time, they can lurked around the park, the hall and other areas where they can have their siesta.
Another inspiring thing is they never call the detainees as prisoners but they name
them " BAKASYONISTAS". They believe that they are just on a vacation trip and this is just their temporary home that someday they will be back in their respective homes and love ones. While on their vacation, they will be trained, i believed disciple and disciplined to become better than their past.
We had a tour around the village....
I'm a "little crier"
After our quick tour, they started the program they have prepared for us. We are treated so special that they were so busy preparing their dances and songs prior. And that day, everyone was so excited and nervous, even us are excited what was in store for us.
They started with a Doxology performed by the "Bakasyonistas" with the song - Heal our Land-.
I can really see the passion of what they are doing, and you can never see the trace on their faces of being bound at that time. And this made me start to cry, too early to show some emotion but i can't really help it. Tears was just flowing and i just prayed, "Lord I'm so Blessed". I told God to speak to me, and He did. (though they are bound in jails, their hearts are not. though they are not enjoying the freedom outside, but true freedom is in the heart)
I just pondered everything in my heart and thank the Lord for bringing me there. Going there was to give something what i have , share my blessings and above all share to them the love of Jesus that they surely needed. They are mothers and daughters who missed the embrace and kisses of their loved ones. They are people who whisper's sincere prayers of protection and guidance for their left children in their homes. I can imagine how many sleepless nights they have spent because of loneliness and missing their families. Me and the team just want to freely give our arms and shoulders for them to cry on, hoping that it would ease somehow the pain they are feeling.
As i was saying, tears started to flow and the revelation did never stop to speak to me. "thank you Jesus" i just keep on sighing this words showing how thankful I am that day.
Feeling Loved
i was asked come up on the stage... the birthday girl !! :)...
some of the Bakasyonistas started to hand me flowers while Solai
was singing a song for me ( Still and No Woman No Cry =)
the one who's playing the guitar and singing is SOLAI.. she has indeed
a beautiful voice.. What a talent!
This surprise made me cry even more... T.T
JO1 Jello Arreza Blanco and the MOVERS in their dance presentation..
"
they may be bound behind bars but their God given Talents are not."
TEMPORARY HOME
Blessed to have a talented disciple. This is Gem singing TEMPORARY HOME by Carrie Underwood.
Along with her beautiful voice was the powerful message of the song that captured the hearts of
the bakasyonistas. Indeed, Ray of Hope Village is just their "temporary home" they don't belong in here.
Someday, all of them will be set free and take the road way back to their homes where their hearts truly belong. The truth is everyone of us does not belong here. The world is just our temporary home and soon, we will be in the arms of our Heavenly Father in heaven.
GODSQUAD " PARTY LIFE"
I am also blessed having this team. Thank you
Godsquad for the support and the service. You will be greatly rewarded. This is all for the Glory of God.
HEARTSPEAKS.... <3 font="">
I was given the opportunity to speak and share my heart's content. Prior to this event, i kept on asking the Lord what am I going to share, and He led me to Luke 8:40-Jesus Responded To the Faith of the Bleeding Woman- Perhaps all of them has incurable disease, maybe in physical, emotional, above all in spiritual. Just like that bleeding woman, they only need to have a connection to Jesus to be set free. They need that seed measure of faith yet it can move Jesus and release power. They are mothers, daughters, women, that for a long years has been longing to touch Jesus' garment but they were never given the chance. I believe that moment they were able to have that touch and their hearts has been set free from all the pain of being rejected and forgotten. God never forget them. He still loves them. They just need to be reconciled and be led back to His throne of grace. God's Love Never fails for them.
HUDDLE TIME
the time for free prayers, hugs and kisses....
me and nanay tina .. :)
Joy, Solai, me , Ate belen
with Wardress Jerry Grace Danao =)
i call her idol..hehehe,, she's a PMAer and at the age of 29, became the wardress of BJMP Female
This day was not about me. It's all about the lives who needs Jesus. People who needs freedom and salvation. Perhaps my birthday was just an instrument to fulfill this greater calling.
Blessed
they gave me these flowers.. so sweet ^.^
thank you to Wardres Danao, for this special gift..
and the coin purse was given to me by one of the mothers....
i sooo sooo love it! <3 p="">
LAS GRACIAS HIJAS
So blessed and thankful to have this faithful team/ girls. Indeed they dream with me and supported
me all the way. fr. left-right. che2, novy, jona, me, june, gem, marylyn, rose
SATISFIED
All of us left that place with a bundle of joy, hope and love. truly it's more blessed to give than to receive. All that we wanted is to blessed them but in return we are the one who's more blessed.They did received hugs prayers and comfort from us, but what they did to us and what Jesus did was more valuable. It carried us to the next level. We saw the other side of the world which cannot be found in the four corners of the church.
Everything Belongs to our Lord Jesus Christ, who never fails to
show His unmerited grace.
Salamat kaayo Lord. You gave more than what my heart's desire.
i know this is not what i asked at first, but you showed to me
what is more important and lasting. I'm excited what's next..
I know in your perfect time everything will come into perfection.
Forever i will be your BELOVED......
