Dear Friends,

Three Funerals and a Wedding

The past three months I’ve been to three funerals and a wedding. The first funeral was of the grandmother of a church mate.  Her relatives are non-Christians and they were generally sad for the loss of this loved one.  I didn’t know how to give comfort to them. All I did was to be there.

The second funeral was of my best friend’s mother. She wrote a letter to my friend before dying, expressing how she’s so happy in being a Christian, of having already done her role and how her Maker is now calling her home.  As a good mother she also encouraged her son who is my friend to find a loving and trustworthy Christian wife.  She even wrote the name of the girl in her letter.  At the funeral everyone seemed to be happy as all knew where she is going.

And very recently, the father of a close friend also passed away. I still remember how she earnestly prayed for his salvation when he was diagnosed with cancer.  She patiently shared the gospel to him, but always received a negative reply.  At the first night of the wake I learned that he had accepted Christ Jesus as his Savior. That news changed the mood from grief and loss to celebration.  Praise God for His gift of salvation to my friend’s father.  I also praise God for giving me a chance to share the Gospel during one of the services during the wake.

Attending funerals made me realized and challenged me in the necessity of sharing God’s word.  The CEV LCDC 2010 theme “CHOSEN: Charged to Go” really fitted into what God is teaching me. Life is indeed short and people are perishing without Christ.

Life is short.

Last September I attended a wedding of an IVCF graduate, and once again was the subject of some discussions.  They teasingly said that life is too short and I might run out of time.  That I should better get a partner and join their “club”.  I confessed it is my long desire to marry and have my own family. Would you join me in praying for this?

In Between

Camp preparation was stressful. I was anxious by the thought that we only have few prospective counselors. Things seemed slowly moving and were not according to schedule. It got worse when we learned just five days ahead of the camp, our trusted camp cook was not available. But the Lord is truly gracious.

“He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.”
(Ephesians 3:20, NIV)

Praise God for teaching me that I can do more if I do less – that means I must not strive to do many things, but I would devote more time into prayer. God taught me that in prayer many things are accomplished.

Last semester, Bible Studies in campuses were more of an adventure than routine.  Like the ever changing weather in Cebu, so was the students’ attendance during the meetings. The element of surprise was always there. Yet Praise God that some of the students showed leadership. They willingly led the large group fellowships in absence of the student leaders, who didn’t have favorable schedules.  Praise God that this semester, the student leaders already have fitting schedule for our Bible studies and Large group meetings.

Last October I had chance to have fellowship with Bohol graduates during our visit there. It was a time of story-telling and reminiscing the past. I was happy to hear them express their desire to do campus again. Praise God!

On my knees…
•Please pray for my health. Lately I get dry cough that kept me awake at night. I plan to file a work         leave either on the last week of November or early December to rest.
•Pray also pray for the IV Day on December 11, 2010 and its preparations.  Pray for     wisdom as I         work with RAC members and the different committees. I was assigned as staff in     charge of this         event.
•Continue to pray for my brother Jay-are’s heart problem. I thought he was already healed as I         heard news that he’s already working again, but it seemed that he only got bored staying at home.
•Pray that I would be able to follow up students who attended our first large fellowship this         semester.
•Pray also for spiritual growth of our student leaders as we continue our leadership meeting every         Saturday.
•Please pray that I would be able to renew my driver’s license. Traffic here in Cebu City is getting         worse, and since I’m living outside the city proper, transportation is a major concern. Please pray         with me as I ask the Lord for a motorcycle.

Life is not only about getting married and dying.  In the midst of those funerals and wedding, I’ve also been to Bible Studies, camp planning, discipling, speaking and journeying with the Lord.

Let me also pray for you. Share your concerns.

In His name,
Sam

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