It’s the final night for the Spiritual Emphasis and it was
really a different experience for me. I believe God has a lot to say and He has
just revealed some of these to me for the past nights here in APTS. I am not
just talking about my encounters with Him during the services but also when out
of the dorm and out of the campus. I am very much thankful to God and still
standing in awe about what He did to me. Everything is just so amazing, while
anybody here in the campus does not know.
DREAM TO BE IN BAGUIO
For a common Filipino, common
family so to speak, going to Baguio is a dream. Some even die without taking
their way to Baguio. People here are just sometimes passive about this reality, as they do not recognize such blessing to live in this place.
Baguio is an awesome place. You don’t need an
air-conditioning system nor heater. The weather is just perfect and the scenic
views are just breath-taking.
When I was young, it is my dream to
be in Baguio. And When I was in highschool, me and one of my 2 best-friends dreamed
to live, marry each of our “future” significant other, have kids, and probably
die in Baguio. It’s just crazy to have such dream, but was inspiring on the
other hand.
DREAM
TO BE IN APTS
After I graduated GCUM in 2011, I
hungered and thirst for more. I want to know God more. I just want to continue
studying and stretch out my knowledge about God (and surely my relationship with him) . So what I did is looked for a graduate school where
I can go for further equipping. Then I remember that old dream, why not let
this plan to study further be in Baguio? So I browsed the net and looked for a
decent seminary in Baguio. I have encountered a lot of school sites but the one
that has caught my attention was APTS. I was in awe and the fire for desire was
set in my heart as I tell God, “Lord I want to study here!!!”. Later I
navigated through the pages and gone to the fees and expenses page. After a
minute of rolling my eyes from the top to bottom page, I closed the site. God,
that was expensive! It’s just impossible for me nor the church to afford such
high rates. And so I’ve just gone through what I needed to do that time- use
what I learned from GCUM for the current ministry that I was involved in.
After 2 years, that fire seemed to
be fanned again. The calling was clear.
In February 2013, God told me go and study in APTS. I found myself completing
all the requirements without any financial assurance. The constant thing running in my mind is
that, “God will send the rain when the field is ready”. I got to complete
everything before he sends the money in layman’s term. And so, when almost all
requirements are in, God prompted me to mail 3 people- Kuya, my cousin in
Canada, and Doctor Shintani. I told them I’m having this plan to study in
Baguio. All three responded. Kuya, as always will try to support me in every
way he can (as long as he can-but I had to note that he has already a family). My cousin promised
to give $200. The most amazing thing about this is Doc. He has always been a
very frugal (note it’s not stingy but frugal) person for me. He wont give large
amount of money if not really profitable. So I did not ask him to give me
money, I just emailed him about my plan to go to the seminary and later asked if he knows
someone who is open for scholarship. His response really gave me goosebumps. He
just said, I am willing to sponsor you and give you $1000! Wow. That’s just unbelievable.
That was also the time when I was really confused about leaving or not. I was
asking God to show me something if He really wants me to go there. Then He did
this. He has given me the money to go. It’s quite far from the target $4000 to
be assured that all trimesters will be funded but I still went to APTS, having
the faith that God will provide in any way He can. He is rich and never runs
out of wealth. By the way, I told Doc that I will pay the amount after school, for monthly basis but amazingly, he said that I don't have to, because it's a gift. For the record, we have never seen each other. Never talked on the phone. In 5 years, our communication is just email. God has nourished that "client-VA relationship" between us for that day, when God revealed to me that He indeed is the Jehovah Jireh. He can use ANYBODY to bless His faithful children.
Dreams come true. God just needed us to ask, seek, and knock,
and probably wait for the right things to come @ the right time. Now God is continuously giving
me the rewards for keeping the faith, waiting patiently, and humbly responding
to His call in APTS.
I Praise God for making all these things happen. I praise
Him for enabling me also to prepare the planted church that I have left as I set a
separate trail from the ministry in Bicol to Baguio. I know God has a great plan for them and
for me. God’s mighty hand is moving and working on them even in my absence.
Glory to Him always!
