I have been home since May 1.
I'm pretty sure this is the longest that I've been home.
And it's been nice... very nice.
I was supposed to have flown out today for some meetings this week.
But, it was decided that we would move the meetings here to Manila.
It's been nice to prepare for these meetings this past week without also having to prepare for being out of town. I wasn't going to be gone for long. But, I didn't have to think about packing. I didn't have to make plans for paying bills while I was gone. I didn't have to think about what food might go bad in the fridge. Little things.
So instead of this weekend being a "pack and travel" weekend... I've had a "real" weekend.
Time with friends. Good food. Time with myself. ... and REST.
Tomorrow afternoon our meetings start. Please pray that our week will be marked by wisdom, productivity, creativity and God's presence and direction.
(If you're curious about our meetings... I'll help to lead discussions with a group of colleagues to discuss how their focus of work should be seen and known around the world (branding). We'll also work together on their overall communications strategy and plans.)
It's really hot here in Manila.
I don't remember it being this hot and humid last year.
I feel my energy getting zapped just stepping outside.
I spent almost the whole weekend at home with the AC on. I'm so glad that I have AC at home... but even with it on I still had migraines and just felt like napping!!
So, I'm definitely looking forward to the change of seasons.
Remind me that I've said that when I'm sitting in the office with my clothes drenched from the daily downpours.
Would you take some time today to pray for friends of mine, the Kondos?
Today they will have funeral services for their baby boy, Nozomu Caleb Kondo.
Nozomu went to be with the Lord on May 15, 2010 -- just 24 days after his birth.
Please pray for these friends -- for the peace and comfort that He alone can give.
(FYI: Posting this from my blog as a way to share this prayer request with my FB friends. So feel free to email me if you have questions or would like me to pass on words of prayer and encouragement to them.)
by Jason Kennedy
Lord, You are gentle;
You are so kind.
I lay my life at Your feet,
Do what You will with me, O Lord
You have been faithful,
Lord, You are good.
I give You all that I am
And ever hoped to be,
Oh Lord.
Great and mighty,
Lord, You're holy;
I will bow before You only.
All the honor and all the glory
Is due Your name,
So I will give You praise.
...with or without me being around.
Amazing. The world doesn't stop when I'm away!
Embarrassing to admit it, but that's a hard truth to be okay with at times.
Even when I lived in the States I wasn't always living close enough to friends and family to be around for everything. But for some reason, living in another country makes events in others' lives so much more significant AND so much harder to miss.
Miss...
- seeing my nephew graduate from pre-school.
- seeing my NEW nephew growing in my sister-in-law's belly!
- seeing my nieces grow up -- too fast!! (Baby Bella's walking!!)
- visiting my sister in her own post-graduation place.
- being with people I love dealing with hard, hard times.
- being around to help my parents get ready for whatever's next for them.
- friends getting engaged, married and pregnant!
- friends taking incredible steps of faith and moving towards exciting new things!
- seeing godchildren have dance recitals and such.
- ... just being face to face with people I love.
Nothing really significant happened.
But, I find that more often than not I tend to dwell on the hard, the difficult, the uncomfortable, the annoying, the frustrating. When I take time to pay attention and live with an attitude of thanksgiving, there really is a lot to be thankful for in the day-to-day... the ordinary.
So all in all, it was a good day.
Swwwweeeetttt...
- I was able to have a few really PRODUCTIVE hours of work in the office before I had to go computer-less.
- And while I was computer-less, I got to take care of a couple of overdue appointments. So, I'm thankful for co-workers who take care of my IT needs AND thankful that timing worked out so well at the doctors' offices!
- Watched the cutest couple eat dinner together. And sweet, they shared a slice of blueberry cheesecake.
- I'm certain that God protected me from getting smashed by an FX on my walk home.
- I love music that makes me smile and want to dance!
- Saw the cutest little girl in the eye clinic today. She was sooo sooo cute!!!
- I wore a skirt today. It also made me feel like singing and dancing today -- like they do in the old musicals (which by the way, having a hard time finding any in the video shops here :( )
- Friendly, helpful people! So thankful for people who really take care to do their best in the services they provide... and do so with a smile!
- Love friends who are willing to make space in their lives to care for others.
- Blessed with sweet reminders of friends who care for me through their encouragement and prayers.
- I get to work with some pretty awesome people. I sense that they are people who truly want to serve God with all that they are and help see change in people's lives. Today, the things I worked on related to friends in Indonesia, India, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and Dallas. Love that God lets me join in with Him and with others in the ways that He does.
...that's where I was last night -- in my dreams.
Yeah -- in my dream last night I went to super-hero school. Go ahead and laugh. :)
So there I was in class -- me and 3 brothers. The youngest brother, about 6 years old, drove me to school on his bicycle (I rode "side-saddled" -- yes, on a bicycle). The eldest was played by John Krasinski (the guy who plays Jim from The Office), and he sat next to me in class (swwwwoooooon :) ) When class was dismissed we emptied out to the hallway where we were met by Superman, Spiderman, Batman, Mighty Mouse -- the whole lot of super heroes.
Our teacher was played by Ashton Kutcher and our lesson for the day was on "PAIN and SUFFERING." Our discussion was on how to increase the threshold of our ability to go through pain and suffering. Really, I have no recollection of what our teacher said, just woke up remembering the topic of discussion.
Little snippets of the dream kept popping up in my head throughout the day today. I just couldn't shake it from my mind (I think it's the heat in Manila!).
Not even going to try to interpret this dream.
But it has made me think about the different life circumstances of friends and family around me.
So many going through so much PAIN and SUFFERING.
Hard things.
Terrible things.
Heart-wrenching things.
As I watch friends and family go through these painful situations, I tend to look at them with a sense of awe and inspiration.
Trust. Faith. Hope. Perserverance. Belief in a greater good.
These are the things I sense in them.
These are the things that make them "super-hero" worthy to me.
What makes a hero to you??
"Aileen, I love you.
I shed my own blood for you to make you clean. You are new, so believe it is true.
You are lovely in my eyes and I created you to be just as you are.
Do not criticize yourself or get down for not being perfect in your own eyes.
I want you to trust me, one step, one day at a time. Dwell in my power, and love.
Be free...be yourself.
Don't allow other people to run you. I will guide you, if you let me.
Be aware of my presence in everything.
I give you patience, love, joy, peace. Look to me for answers, for I am your Shepherd and will lead you. Follow me only. Listen and I will tell you my will. Be not concerned with yourself...
you are my responsibility. I will change you without you hardly knowing it.
You are to love yourself and others simply because I love you. Take your eyes off yourself.
Look to me, I lead, I change, I make, but not when you are trying. I won't fight your effort.
You are mine. Let me have the joy of making you like Christ. Let me love you.
Do you see, child? You are not your own. You have been bought with blood and now you belong to me.
I love you. Do not struggle, be relaxed in my love, I know what is best and will do it in you.
How I want freedom to love you freely. Stop trying to be and let me make you what I want.
My will is perfect. My love is sufficient. I will supply all your needs. Look to me, child."- Jesus
Folded in half, on the outside are written the words, "For Aileen."
Usually when someone gifts me with words of encouragement I write down who gave it to me, when and a some note about how/why it was given to me. This time -- for some reason, I hadn't.
All I have is "For Aileen... - Jesus."
... election day in the Philippines!!
According to Wikipedia, there are currently more than 85,000 candidates for 17,000 national and local positions. Included in the election tomorrow are candidates for the next President of the Philippines.
Tomorrow's election day will be the first national computerized election in the country's history.
Pray for wisdom for the nation's citizens as they cast their votes.
Pray for peace and order -- for election day and also during the transition to new leadership.
Pray for God's will to be done.
Pray for the Philippines.
(OH! and being election day, it's a holiday. So... no work tomorrow.)
Grounded.
No air travel.
HOME.
I sat at my desk today.
As I looked at my calendar and saw that I had an uninterrupted 28 days at home, I was filled with kind of a giddy, excited feeling. Some things that I'm excited about...
- sleeping and waking up in my own bed.
- following up on work tasks from my last few trips and getting some things done for my next trip. Crossing things off of my to-do list!
- resting.
- routine.
- finally going for LOOOONNGGGG overdue follow up appointments with various doctors.
- catching up on stuff I've let go out of control for too long. (paperwork, taxes, updates to ministry partners, ...)
- going to one of my favorite spots in town for some reading and journaling time.
- having lunches / dinners with friends.
- going to church and Bible study.
- hopefully visiting with some family.
- printing and framing some photos from the last year for my place.
- catching up with friends and family over Skype!!!
- ... and TOMORROW... getting extra pages added to my passport!!!!
