Sound silly but amazing!

August 7, 2009

Around 9:45 this morning, I went to the comfort room to relieve myself. I noticed the door was not lock and not completely closed, I just knocked and somebody responded from the inside. So later I followed and got in, closed the door properly and locked it so that I won’t be disturbed.

When I’m done, I unlock and opened the door but I can’t, I was stuck inside. I said this some kind of a joke in me today. I don’t want to let everybody know that I was trapped inside the comfort room. What I did was:

First Attempt: I tried to pull it out with all my strength but not even a single millimeter moved. I planned to climb up just to get out on the next door but I’m sure it is very dusty.

Second Attempt: Another attempt were made to open it anchored my one leg to the concrete walling but nothing happen.

Third Attempt: I used to leave my cell phone on my desk when I’m in the office; But I brought with me the two cell phones. So I tried to text for help sent many messages to my Cambodian friend Rada, (who has special mission project, because he is around in the office that time) good for me that there was signal because before there was none. But its about 10 minutes passed no one came.

Fourth Attempt: I really don’t want to yell outside because everybody will know. But no choice so I shouted out to those in the kitchen nearby so that I will be heard, but still no one heard me. No one really knows I’m stuck in there.

Fifth Attempt: Started to removing one pin of “bisagra” which hold the door and door jam in that swings the door, but I was reluctant to remove everything because I will be spending more time returning it back after.

Sixth Attempt: I tried texting to my co-employee Allen Krystel (our admin staff in I.T. Department), using my suncel but I got no signal, I can’t text her with my globe either because it is registered only to unlitext globe.

Seventh Attempt: Wow! Seven (7) my favorite and perfect number. I just raised a short prayer, and said “Lord please help me to open this door”. Indeed when I pulled it out again for the last time the door were open smoothly, it seemed somebody pushing outside I did not even exerted more effort to open it and God does pushed it for me. (Thank you Lord!!!). Silly but amazing, God is always there even you are stuck in comfort room.

Internet Connection

Last Monday when I went to the office for work I supposed to take my rest after our General Assembly in Boracay Island. But I was thinking of my work to be done in the field.

Our internet connection was down, one foreigner guest asked me if he could have the wifi access, I told him that the internet connection was down, later one by one my co-employees were asking what happen to the internet connection.

I realized that, on this digital age people seem could live without internet. What will happen if one day or two internet is down? I guess it has a big impact on economic crisis.

LAND OF PROMISE … MISSION ACCOMPLISHED . . .

Mindanao once has been called land of promise in early 1050’s. Places were a fertile ground for farming and fertile ground for mission.

Pastor Enrique Litao-Almera a graduate in the School of Theology has the heart of mission, his wife Valentina, children Prescilla, Deborah, Tadeo and granddaughter Flordeliza. In early 1951 they migrated to Mindanao and settled in Barungkot, Dangcagan, Bukidnon. (Not in photo Prescila & Liza)

He started his ministry and began to have a group of his own. He acquainted many church leaders and joined the churches. He met also Ptr Juanito Gapul, Sr. and family in Barungkot. In 1956 he was able to meet a leader who migrated from Negros with so many followers named Mr. Fidel Cambare. The name of his group was Economic Brotherhood Production - EPB. They observed the 7 Gods Plan of Salvation in the Old Testament. Ptr Eking and Mr. Fidel Cambare agreed that they will merge their groups in serving God.

In 1957 the church building was built (the roof was made out of cogon grass) on Mr. Cambare’s personal lot in Kiara, Maramag Bukidnon. (Barrio Kiara, were belonged in the Municipality of Maramag in that year). It’s not easy doing with such ministry when they have to walk around 40 kilometers every week when they go to Barrio Kiara for Worship service. Their faith in serving God is immeasurable, members would have to travel Friday night from different places such as Maramag and Dangcagan just walking bringing all their foods carried by “balsa” (a cart without a wheel) pulled by a carabao / buffalo or a cow and walk again Saturday night going back home. When rains come they have to wait for the rivers of Moleta and Masimag waters to subside for them to cross.

A first Pastor of Radio Church of God founded by Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong was Ptr. Pedro Ortiguero who happened to be a friend and co-pastor of Ptr Eking Almera in Luzon went to Mindanao in 1962 for the purpose of joining the group of Ptr. Almera, the church eventually converted to Radio Church of God and later years it became Worldwide Church of God - WCG and in the year 2008 the name was changed officially to Grace Communion Internation - GCI.

In the late 1960’s it’s the persecution and excruciating trials of Ptr Eking Almera and family when there was a Pastor who joined the group and started to overpower him and ruined his reputation and even in front of the worship service, he used his power to destroy him. There was even a time during the service the said pastor said to the congregation that he will throw Ptr. Almera out of the window. He said that Ptr Almera is incapable of handling the church. In 1969 Ptr Almera was totally dropped down from the ministry together with Ptr Juanito Gapul and never received any single cents as retirement benefit. Such incident was never reported in the head office of WCG in Manila, in spite of that Ptr Almera and family still remain in the church.

June 1970 Ptr. Almera was seriously ill his family doesn’t have any finances for such a surgical operation and to buy all the necessary needs in the hospital. In the late afternoon of June 19, 1970 Ptr. Almera breathed his last at Bethel Hospital, Malaybalay, Bukidnon. That very day his remains transported to Don Carlos, Bukidnon arrived at 7:00 in the evening. It was Friday eve the church believed that it’s already a Sabbath. The incumbent pastor ordered the family to burry Ptr. Almera at once because it’s already Sabbath and no one would help. He never allows Mrs. Almera and children to view his remains and even he never allowed bringing the remains to the house, 11:30 in the evening where the strong rains poured it seems the cry of heaven his servant was buried without any burial services rendered in his peaceful rest. Ptr. Juanito Gapul, Sr. was even scolded by that Pastor because he helped to facilitate the remains of Ptr. Eking. Sometimes words are un-expressible knowing with this inhuman treatment may lead to bitterness and envy. Thanks for those few good men who sacrificed for giving the humble servant a peaceful rest (The Zapanta’s, Canogigos’ Carmelotes’ and others).

Neighbors who are unbelievers were so mad to the Almera family why they never bring the remains of Ptr Almera in the house and why they listened to that pastor, where they said they will help for the burial just for them to see the remains of Ptr. Eking who been so kind to them.

When the regional Director of WCG Mr. Arthur Docken heard the news, he rushed to Cagayan de Oro City why he never knew about Ptr. Almera was ill, sad to say, it’s all done. It was not reported with that pastor.

Mrs. Valentina F. Almera in spite of what happen continue to serve the Lord faithfully, without any grudges at all. She taught her grandchildren the way giving, praying without ceasing and God fearing children. It has been a prayer of her grandson and I quote “Lord my Lola Tina is old now, if you are going to take her, don’t let her suffer with illness”. December 21, 1999 at 5 o’clock in the morning her daughter Deborah usually wake her up for a coffee but that moment she never responded and never wake up from her sleep, in her deep sleep she went back to her creator. It was an answered prayer to God be all the glory.

It’s been a heart crushing story; but it is still a greatest battle of Victory I may say “Land of Promise, Mission Accomplished”. The church has been following the Old Testament laws have been spiritually transformed into full Gospel Church. Kiara Church still remains, before Mr. Fidel Cambare died he finally donated the one hectare lot where the Church was built. The Church grows in Bukidnon with her daughter churches.

Ptr. Enrique Almera’s family still remain in the Church serving faithfully to Jesus Christ. There will be human defeat in his lifetime but the victory to the kingdom of heaven has the greatest reward.

A text message would never be the same again....

Couple years ago I was so bored, I entered in MIRC chat room just parking then. A young lady sent me a private message she was 17 years young. We just had a chit chat sharing any ideas and question and answers. She shared her yahoo messenger and added her in my list. After that little time we talked everything has been forgotten.

Years gone by early 2008, when I opened my email I received an invitation to friendster it came from Ashley Fernandez. I just added her quick and send her my gratitude for the invitation and asked her yahoo messenger again. What I did was to send her an offline messages. We were able to talk again in ym and often times we communicated only thru offline messages then I ask her cellphone number. When I had the opportunity to text her I send her some quotes. She tells me what is doing, doing their assignments and projects and hanging out with her friends.

My phone beeped, that was November 5, 2008 and the message was and I quote “Kuya I am leaving for New York Next Month” I thought it was just a joke text because I used to received some jokes like that. I asked her for what reason? She told me that she is going to have her medication, Leukemia Stage 4 Cancer. That moment it seems my world was crushed down knowing a young woman who is very lively but beneath that manifestation she has been suffering tremendously.

I asked her if I could make a call, but she is in the hospital and not allowed to have phone calls. I am so bothered for her, so I just text her if she do believe that Jesus Christ is her Great Doctor, Mighty Physician and Powerful Healer; and asked her if she will accept Jesus Christ as her personal savior her Lord and Master. She replied “with all my heart I will accept Him”. I just send a prayer request all throughout the Philippines for her healing. After that I never received any text from her she left for New York.

One night when I opened my friendster account and it struck me in her account was that “goodbye Manhattan, New York and Farewell”. It was her cousin who posted on that shout out, she rested peacefully with the Lord December 8, 2008.

I just can’t hold back the tears that falls from my eyes, ASHLEY FERNANDEZ (21 years old) that I met had been part of my life’s journey. Although I am so sad of her lost, for me she is victorious in her life with the Lord. Because she surrender her life to God in spite of all the pain that she been through.


Ashley, you are so precious in the Lords heart, God be with you till we meet again.