Maupay,

I'm such a creature of habits.  It's been three months that I posted my last entry from the airport.  People might think that I am turning into an invalid because of the big loss in my life.  No, that is not the case.  In the midst of great sorrow which I have never experienced before (greater pain than losing my parents), His Mercy has been always little more and little deeper than the sting of pain. 

It's just once I am gear away from something, it takes horses and army to put me back on.  A couple weekends ago, we saw Noah in Manila, and he said, "Mom, you haven't been updating xanga for a long time."  He noticed after 3 months!  Then I realized how many of my friends out there wondering about me.  So here I go again.

We will be arriving at Dulles on June 7th, Saturday.  Yay!  We will get to see many of you.

Back on track

Ruth, Mrs. Missionary

Maupay,

I am now sitting at a computer in the international airport in Manila.  PD and I are on our way home.  My sister Young Joo who has been battling stomach cancer for 8years. is taking her last breath right now before she goes Home to be with her Father.   I feel that she is wating for me, her only un-nee to hold her hand and say good-bye.  She has been my almost twin like sister since we are only 17 months apart.  Such a wonderful human being!

The sisters, brothers in law, and neices and nephewa are gathering at her side.

Please pray for all of us. 

in deep sorrow with joy,

Ruth, Mrs. Missionary

Celebration of the Ordinary

Maupay,

Past few days have been awfully wet and cold here.  Even daytime temp only goes up to high 70's.  PD goes to the early morning prayers with his sweat shirt on. 

Time to time we go through with different topics of discussion between two of us.  Lately we have been talking about ordinary vs. extraordinary. 

It started with PD's comment one day, "These days people have to put so much extraordinary effort to live an ordinary life."

He said it is so ordinary for a man and a woman to fall in love and get married.  Have a few kids.  Love them.  Raise them.  Live till death do apart them.  However more than a half of marriages can't make that ordinary status. 

How about getting old?  It is so ordinary for people to have winkles and sagging skin as we get older.  But we try extraordinary measures to stop or slow down the ordinary process of life.  Botox to Nip-Tuck

Past couple of weeks I could not open my internet browsers without noticing those pop-ups about the extraordinary gift or event ideas about the Valentine's Day.  I guess a simple box of chocolates will not do.

We want our husbands to be extraordinarily romantic.  We want our children to be extraordinarily smart.  We want to drive an extraordinary car.  We want to live in an extraordinarily beautiful house.

Now how can we have extra-ordinary without the ordinary! 

Over the years we have learned that extraordinary blessings come from the ordinary.  This is the extraordinary secret to our ordinary life. 

Celebrate the ordinary!

There were times I wished for extraordinary pastor and missionary in my husband.  Wished for extraordinary romanticist in my husband.  Wished for extraordinary school performance from our kids.

But now, I celebrate my ordinary husband's simplicity and his ordinary ways to show me his love.  I celebrate my ordinary children who may not be Harvard graduates, but their extraordinary love for God and life.

  Last Sunday we went to a church where cars have hard time get into.  We got on the motorcycle, and drive through rice fields.  As we were going in and coming out,
we celebrated His extraordinary blessings in our lives from the ordinary sceneries of our neighborhood.  

This drum is made up of ordinary empty constainers, but made extraordinary sound while we were praising the Lord!

Friends, Let's celebrate ordinary!

Ruth, Mrs. Missionary

Maupay,

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

   When I came down for my QT this morning, I was greeted by a pretty wrapped box of chocolates.  Not any other chocolates, but Lindt chocolate.  PD found a way to surprise me with my favorite thing which he probably got from Manila last time he traveled alone. 

Loving good chocolates is another sign of aging. ^^

As we were having breakfast, I asked him, "What would be a word that represents valentine or love?"  He paused for a few seconds and said, "The word, Together."

 Yap, that sums it all.  "Togetherness"

After 28 valentine's days, being "Together" is what love is all about for us.

The word "Together" gives us the meaning of Love which translate into:

Completeness, Warmth, Acceptance, Forgiveness, Connection, Sacrifice....

As I said before "You don't look for soul-mates.  You become soul-mates."

Ruth, Mrs. Missionary

Maupay,

What a dreadful day!  No electricity for more than 18hours. 

Just got a phone call telling us PJ's mother passed away this morning.  PJ is one of our 1st year students.  She was suffering from illness for sometime, and finally was called to the eternal Home.  Now PJ left all alone.  No father or any sibling.  A text message followed by the phone call.  "Please pray for a coffin." 

Lately we have received several unpleasant news. 

2 year old niece of Tayang (lady who comes to help me and the SICAP) died of most likely pneumonia.  The hospital would not release the body because the parents were not able to pay the balance which was about $100.  The family scrambled for the money.  With our help they got the little body and took her home.  They are from deep of jungle where they had to walk 7 Km from the main road with their baby daughter's body in a cardboard box.

The news of our nephew's college roommate who got killed in an accident a few days ago. 

So much troubles and heartaches in this world. 

In days like these, I used to not to ask too many questions fearing I might sin against God who supposedly control what's happening all around us.

Now I have somewhat different view on that.  I should ask all the questions even if they seem unspiritual.  I should express all my doubts about His Goodness.  I could get angry and confused about all the lousy things and people who are causing the pain.  And certainly I can get angry at God who allows those pain in this world.

Of all the persons in the world, who would take me and love me in my pain and confusion other than my Father.  If I bang my fist against his chest out of pain, He would still try to calm me with His embrace and even trying to hush the angels so that He can listen to my sobbing and uncomprehensible claims. 

Friends out there who are suffering with pain and confusion,

Go and bang your fists against His bosom and cry, "Why this pain, Father?"

He may not give you the answers, but He will certainly hush the heaven and say, "Leave Me and My child alone, will you?"

Ruth, Mrs. Missionary