Saturday, December 31, 2011

almost

2011 was a year of 'almosts' for me: almost thirty, almost studied abroad, almost published a book, almost moved to the 'suburbs,' almost had a breakdown (of wait, i think that DID happen :)) )  etc etc. Plans were made; plans slowly unravelled.

I started 2011 with a very blank slate. Unlike the previous years where no major overhauls happened in my life, this year was quite different. All I knew then that I was about to leave my job of five years with no certainty of a new job. The scholarship I pursued for over a year remained ever elusive. My family was on the brink of moving down south and I was about to become homeless :))

Yet in the midst of all of the changes, God remained the ever constant being in my life. He is always faithful and true to his word. Joshua 21:45 said, "Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled."

Things have certainly not gone according to my plans but it was all worth it. God's sovereignty prevailed and it was so much better that what I could have planned or imagined.

If there is one event that perfectly captures my 2011, it would be my Danao Plunge: https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1757301612688

Taking that plunge scared the hell out of me and I thought it would be my end. But it turned out to be one of the best things that ever happened to me, same as 2011. I thought that this year would be a year of uncertainty but it turned out to be one of the best years of my life :)

Thank you to everyone who made my 2011 so awesome. I can't wait to take the 'plunge' once more for an exciting 2012.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Oh! The Places I'll Go!

Oh! The Places I'll Go! 

the delicacies I will eat
the sweets that tingle my teeth...

the people i will meet
we'll greet on the cobbled street...


the cheap air fares i will avail
that will lead me to different trails...

the mountains i will climb
i hope i will not be covered in grime...

the beaches i will explore
oh! they are never a bore! 

Oh! The Things I'll Do! 

the 'scholarship' experience

"We regret to inform you that you are not among the candidates selected to receive a scholarship this year."

And with that simple sentence, my yearlong pursuit for a scholarship and to study abroad ended. Three different scholarships. Three different organizations and applications. Same result. For some  reason, scholarships do not agree with me. 

I knew it was coming. I knew where I was called to be and yet it didn't soften the blow. It was still painful to see everything you planned for a year go crumbling down. 

People might view this experience as a complete and utter disaster for me. Imagine draining your savings on applications, exams and mailing services. For a time, FED-EX became a part of my weekly routine. One document had to be mailed abroad every week! 

And yet one thing sustained me through it all: 

I am confident of this: 
I will see the goodness of the Lord 
in the land of the living. 
Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord. (Psalm 27:13-14) 

The Lord has been faithful for the past 28 years of my life. He will be faithful to bring to completion the things he has started in me. It may not have ended the way I originally planned it, but I do know that the best days are still to come. I will continually wait for the Lord :D