Reflections on Christmas Camp Programs

This camp seems to be unique in one sense because we have subdivided the whole program to three sections.  The morning is focused on advancement, afternoon are all physical activities and evening are light activities.  I saw that the camp program was well-balance in a sense that people can get what it important (the advancement), physical (strenuous activities), and enough rest activities (light activities).

I praise God, we had advancement activities for the Scouts to go through.  The whole morning was dedicated to advancement.  We had lectures, and later board of review.  What is most amazing was during the last day we had Court of Honor, awarding them their cards.  It was so cool.  It is the first time that we were able to complete an advancement program in our camp in the council where formal Court of Honor was held.  The boy experience a complete cycle of advancement.  This is really amazing.  Even the adult leaders were exposed what needs to be done in advancement which has been the council's problem ever since.

The afternoon activities were also great, we had the challenge valley, the exploring nature, and the water challenge.  Each activity stresses the kids to do their best and do an extra mile.  The three activities were really good challenges for the boys even for the adults.  The adults were even getting more involve to participates in the Scout's activities.   It was great!  Everybody really had fun.

We also had morning exercise, during our last night when I announced no exercise the next morning, everybody was so happy.  It was not that they were not enjoying but waking up at 6 am for an exercise was not really easy even for me.   Btw, I was not able to participate in any of those exercise activities.

The light activities were great.  We just focused on Christmas stuffs at night.  We were hoping that we can highlight Jesus throughout the camp by inserting light activities at night.  We had the Belen making in their respective campsite during first night.  We had a different sub-camp campfire because we move away from the regular campfire activity to a portrayal of the true essence of Christmas, which is again focus on Jesus.  The grand campfire was only a summary of the best performance in each area, which again re-emphasizes the spirit of Christmas.  On our last night, we had a film showing on "Facing the Giants" for the boys and Scouters social for the adults.

I praise God!  So much opportunity to draw people closer to God.  So much more…

Reflections on Christmas Camp Staff and Weather

The Manila Council Christmas Camp was indeed blessed by God.

I am blessed for being appointed by the Executive Board to be the Camp Director for the annual Christmas camp.  It was a challenge, I was so pressured but I know God wanted to me make a difference.  Though there were frustrations in our preparation, as my previous blog would tell, still sponsors poured out in preparation for this memorable camp.  I praise God and give Him all the glory.

The camp staff was superb.  We had staff that are most senior like Sir Cesar, Sir Abner and Sir Teddy, we also have the seasoned leaders to be our staff, and we also have neophyte staff this year.  The chemistry was just right as we see new generation is filling in the needs of more leaders for Manila Council.  The camp staff was so energetic and dynamic, this is the first time, because we are trying to cut the number of the staff that we were doing different things in the morning, afternoon and evening activity.  As if we change roles as the program changes.  Everybody was very much involved.  I really praise God for a good team who help managed the camp.

The weather was so cool.  The place has strong cool winds throughout the camp.  I was praying for good weather.  Since for the past week, it poured out rain in Batangas.  I was so worried about it because bad weather will only dampened the activities.  But praise God though it was raining hard days before the camp, we did not experience heavy rain during camp.  Only one small rain and two drizzles.  The small rain was before the area campfire.  But miraculously before the campfire activity started, the rain stopped and the ground was totally dry.  According to Sir Ed, the owner of the campsite, heavy rain poured after the last bus left the campsite.  Wasn't that amazing.  How God really hold rain for us, He answered our prayer request.

I am much overwhelmed with my experience in this camp because in every step of our camp, God is glorified as the camp staff joined me in giving more time to pray and emphasis on the provision of God.  It is so funny though majority of them were not of the same religion and yet they were telling me that the camp was so different and really felt the presence of God in everything they do.

I praise God for allowing me to contribute in introducing them Jesus and helping them get closer with Him.  I hope that the seed planted would grow a hundred fold.

I also like the windbreakers given by the Nua family.  It has a passage on Luke 8:8 sewn on it.  I read the passage to them, and told them that the sponsor really wanted to be a blessing that we may really bless others a hundred fold.  We were all so blessed by that passage.  It challenges the staff to give our best and the same time we really felt this is what God wants from us.  Isn't that wonderful.

I praise my God Almighty.  He is indeed great and might!  He was in camp!

BOB InC, A New Level of Friendship

I was so blessed with the Christmas party I attended.  It was organized by my last discipleship group in UECP.  They are called "BOB InC." for Bond of Brothers in Christ.  This name was given by if I am not mistaken Jaspher.


This group has journeyed for the last six years as a barkada.  Remembering our roots when they were still third year high school.  They came from diverse groups and through my discipleship group in Student Fellowship, a new promising group was formed.  The group decided to be a special group where each would be training to become promising leaders of the church and the society.  There were a lot of ups and downs through these years, but one thing that is interesting, the group though very very diverse manage to go through each storm victoriously.  Each is successful in their own field in one way or another.  Each one has manifested their strength whether in church ministry or in school academic and non academic areas.  Though we do not meet weekly now a days but on some occasion we gather as a group.  Each years we also enter a least a quarter of weekly spiritual updates.  So many things can be said about this group but space is limited.  I am happy and blessed to be part of this team.

As we celebrate Christmas, the group has organize the first public Christmas party with the sole intention to raise funds for the mom of one of our members.  I believe this is very interesting.  This has not happened before and I believe the friendship has really gone into another level.  This kind of camaraderie is a significant milestone for the group because it has enter major concern among one another.  This is true friendship.

Congratulations to the members of BOB... I praise God for such wonderful friendship.

Life in a Plateau

For almost a year now, it seems my life is meaningless.  I tried every area on how to improve my life but it seems I am in a plateau.  Even my spiritual life as a pastors seems to get meaningless.  It seems I am at a lost again.  I really wonder the meaning of life for me.

Recently, I took the challenge of teaching in ATS.  I enjoyed my class a lot.  But still I am not able to find what I am looking for in life.  Church work seems not challenging for me anymore.  There were times that I am tempted to quit as a pastor since it seems I am already a liability rather than an asset to the ministry.

I have observed my attention span has decreased a lot.  I cannot focus on anything.  Even my prayer time is chaotic since so many things pops up while I am praying.  I am trying to put my prayer life in order but it seems I really do need a lot of work.  It seems the Lord has been too quiet to me or it has been too loud that I am not able to hear Him well.

I still wanted to do so many things for the Lord, but I am not doing it.  I wonder what really hinders or bothers me.  I know there is something wrong but it seems I cannot discern what is it all about.  There are still so many other opportunities knocking at my door but I seems I would fail them because I am not the same person they knew in the past.

So many things in life I get bored easily.  Am I undergoing through midlife crisis once again?  Is my depression recurring?  I hope not.  My mind seems to be always confused.  I had my check-up and it seems everything fine as of the moment but I am always bothered with my health status.

For the past few weeks, I have intentionally been using so many encouraging reminders to other people but in reality I was actually reminding myself intentionally about those stuffs.  I wanted to declare my God Almighty and His role in my life.

Maybe I am not really ready for the task ahead.  God is continuing to teach me new stuffs in life that will be beneficial in the future.  But these are still maybe(s), hunches without basis.  I really wonder about my life.  It seems so sad and pathetic but there are time that I am so blessed and happy.  The happiness is being overshadowed by my sadness.  Weird...

There are still lot of work to be done, and it seems I have exhausted all means and has reached the walls of life.  Someone said, if doors are closed, God opens windows.  But it seems even the windows are closed for me.

I do not know what I want in my life.  All I know I have become lazy in all things.  Am I not enjoying life the way God structured it.  Am I self-pitying?  or life just sucks!

In the final analysis - what do you think life really is?

Finally Bowing Out of Senior Choir

I have loved music, and it has been my dream to be part of a choir.  After two years of active participation, I have decided to bow out of the choir.  I think part of me is searching with what I wanted.  And part is some petty disappointment.  

Anyway, I enjoyed singing to the Lord, but it seems most of the Sundays I am out preaching in other churches that I really do not have much opportunity to sing with the choir.  I am more of practice only.

Singing in choir seems therapeutic.  It releases stress and I really enjoy it

I Give Thanks for Supporters

In preparing the council Christmas camp is not easy for me as a former District Commissioner.  I know how hard it was to really recruit people, put each school to work together as a District and the District always lacks equipment and etc to work as a team.  This camp, I was appointed as Camp Director by the Executive Board.

I praise God that I have lots of supporters from in and out of the church.  Many gave goods to support this camp.  I think we are already totaling so much worth of goods that would put this camp in order and memorable for everyone.  Without these external support, it would be very uneasy to manage the camp since most participants come from public schools who have financial difficulty.

I thank God for all His goodness as I prepare for this camp, together with my energetic staff.  I think the Council is adjusting to my involvement in the camp.  It has been a tradition that a principal who is a member of the Executive Board to be appointed as Camp Director.  And since most of them are very busy in their school, the staff does all the work for them.

But since I am a true Scouter that rose from the ranks starting as a Scout myself, I am deeply involve, which according to them is historic, since they have never experience a camp director with so much hands on.

I praise God for sending supporters to help me in providing so many materials and things for the camp.  Roel Can Corporation gave the cans for our Thrifty Program, which was introduce by my former boss Mr. Tan Tay Cuan of Permex Tuna.  Ed Delgado providing the seedling for our tree planting program.  David Lim who provided coolers for each District and the Council to use.  Dexter provided the needed tarpaulin materials and button pins.  Gideon Bendicion provided all the stickers we need especially the decals of the each activities.  Allen Lim of Pamco provided all the school supplies we needed.  Efren Edgard Dieta who provided new facilities in his campsite specifically on our request.  Robby Raymundo and Johann Gohoc provided two petromax for each district.  Lito Caronan for the 10 units of megaphones.  Charlton Chan provided snacks through Rebisco.  Jonathan Lim for designing the "Scout is Reverent" button pin.  John Paul Deloso for creating all the tarpaulin designs we needed.  Michael Torres for creating a camp layout, measuring the whole campsite inch by inch.  John Paredes provided our coffee maker and rice cooker.  Soledad Chiong provided the Manga Messiah for evangelism.  Luke Roxas provided the gospel card also for our evangelism activity.  The Nua Family provided windbreakers for the staff.  Elizabeth Chiong provided the Daily Bread for the adult leaders.  UECP staff and pastor like Tony hia, Rosita, Josy, Zeny, Joco and Peter who help me create the camp booklet. So many I hope I did not miss anyone.

I am mentioning these people not to highlight their contribution but I praise God for these people who always trust my effort to lead more people to Christ.  I praise God for being the God who is great and mighty.  Trusting in Him is always the best and full of assurance.

Though the number of participants is low as of now as compared to our target.  I still believe God is in control and calls the right people to be part of this camp.  Whether how many people participated, this is still a question mark.  But I know God surprises me always.  I would just trust and hope for the best.

This is the first council camp that integrates a lot of spiritual things.  I pray and hope that God would grant me the opportunity to lead more to Christ especially this Christmas.

The Camp Will Push Through Despite

Meeting with my camp staff today, everyone was requesting that we push through with the camp no matter what number it maybe.  So far registration is only 189 and including pledges is only 280.

If I was to decide, I will cancel this camp because it was too stressful.  The lesser participants the bigger the cost.  And where will we get the money to feed and accommodate the present number of staff.  Some suggested that we reduce the staff, some said that we send the staff to eat with their District.  Finally, I said, "If we will push through with this camp, we will not reduce staff, nor send our staff to eat in their District.  I would want my staff to consolidate its effort and develop camaraderie so that we will experience a wonderful partnership with one another that we become advocates for the council in the future."

In the past, it has been a problem when the council disperses some staff because of low budget or something.  This concept demoralized the leaders that so few are willing to sacrifice for the Scouting movement nowadays.

This will not happen under my watch.  Those who have worked with me knows my conviction with this matter.  Everyone is always well taken cared of.  I hope that after this camp more of these staff under my supervision would love the movement and the council.  Though we will not reach the target of 720 participants this time.  But I still hope that after this camp, the leaders would be more committed like during our time when we were in their position.

In the past, our council camp can easily gather 1,400 people.  I still remember that during our time, when I was District Commissioner, each District can gather 120 participants to the Council Camp easily and there were 16 districts as compare to our present setup with only 12 districts.

I was surprised that we even have Commissioner who were even advocating to their district not to participate because they themselves cannot attend.  I already gave orders that these people be stripped off their positions as the First Vice Chairman of the Council.  I hope this camp will create a new culture of leaders who are committed and willing to sacrifice for the formation of the boy.

So far we have extended the deadline of registration hoping that we can get more people in.  The final target is to have at least 400 participants.  This is at least more than half of our target.

I pray to God for mercy, since we have integrated a lot of evangelism opportunities.  I hope the God will bless each participant to come to know Jesus to be their personal Lord and Savior.

For His glory...

A Long Two Weeks

It has been a long two weeks for me.  Two weeks ago, I just remembered that my doctor has asked me to look for a second opinion with regards to my liver that I totally forgot since I was advised to do it last September.

I found his letter in my files, I called up his office and tried to set an appointment but he was not available.  For two weeks, my life seems weird because Betty buzz me telling me in her dream I died, and was reminding me to go for check-up with regards to my liver.  Then, suddenly, another person was reminding me also about I have to take good care of my liver.  Then, another one; until yesterday afternoon.  I was watching the puppet show in NMEC, when Daryl, the son of Cherrie (my good friend) suddenly was saying "hepatitis."  It alarmed me more.  I thought I am going into depression again. After the show, I went to watch a movie and all of a sudden it seems I am experiencing pain on my right side.  The more I was alarmed.

I took my blood chemistry a week ago, and it seems everything is normal.  I ask my friend Rio to ask Dr. Lu if I should still go for a second opinion and he said "yes."

Today, I finally went to see Dr. Stephen Wong in Chinese General Hospital.  He was nice and kind and also a member of CBCP.  He explained to me many things about my liver.  And he told me that so far I am still in good condition.  I just need to keep my diet and daily exercise to remove fatty liver since there is no medicine or cure for fatty liver.

I praise God, maybe God knows that I have been worried about my fatty liver since my good cousin Jorge died of liver complication which maybe still affecting me very much.  I also had liver issue a year ago, but my blood chemistry and ultrasound this year has cleared me from previous diagnose of the doctor.  At least, now I know that I am healthy and not to worry about my liver.   I can serve God freely this time without other worries.

Now, I just need to have a hepatitis b vaccine and hepatitis c check-up to be sure.

Praise God and To God be all the glory

Done My Best

It has been week that I have been overwhelmed in the preparation of the Manila Council Christmas Camp.  I only wanted a wonderful camping experience for the young people who would attend.  I have been going around soliciting for the camp so that the cost would be lighter at the same time the freebies and the activities are all in excellent opportunities for the Scouts to learn Scouting in a different level and perspective.

As of today, one district confirmed not participating.  And the council reported one adult leader and a boy just registered.  One week to and and we still are in need of 599 boys and 120 adult to go... hehehe

Maybe, because I have included so much gospel presentation throughout this camp that it is experiencing hostility from our enemy.  Pray na lang talaga.

If the camp would not push through, at least I did my best to put it in order.  Still, sadly, it seems the council staff were not doing enough to compensate my effort in promoting and recruiting people for the Christmas camp.

God Sends the Right People at the Right Time

I praise God for His goodness, despite of my busy schedule this week.  I was incredibly powered up to preach in our three services.  It seems the Holy Spirit has given me much strength today that I was able to speak and deliver my sermon well.  I believe God has used me to speak to our congregation.  I felt so much conviction in each word I uttered.  I pray that our congregation whether young or old would have the conviction to share the gospel always.

The first service where I usually would falter or would have a poor delivery was fine as compared to my past experiences.  I also praise God for giving me opportunity to really brush my Hookien language that I have been consistent so far to speak in Hokkien to our Hokkien congregation, and speak in English to our English congregation.

I think the SPA during Saturday night helped me to get well rested for the next day's preaching.  My godson and goddaughter convinced me to go for spa with them, which I was hesitant at first because I have not really gone through my messages.  After the SPA, we ate and I was able to go through my message in both languages and had a good sleep.

Also another good thing in our church, we have good people who help me with my Chinese, with Cathy chi helping me with my Chinese characters and line of thought as I translate my English manuscript to Chinese manuscript; Siu Wan chi who makes precise and adjust the translation of my published outline, she even make sure that my point really connects with the passage I have chosen; and of course Leonida chi who will listen to my delivery to help me correct my line of thought making sure they are understandable by the congregation.

God is in control of our life.  He provides the right people around us to support us in our ministry. I praise God for He is real in my life, always taking care of me and my needs.

To God be all the glory!!!

Poor Memory

As I was preparing for some logistics of the Christmas Camp, I discovered that the campsite we have been using for several years has no camp layout.  I called up Architect Ponson to help out but he was not available.  Anyway, we still have many architects in the church so I decided to called others who can be available.  Finally, Michael Torres was available to help out.

I called up Jay to help out as well.  So we scheduled the visit and done a lot of preparation, only to find out today that I have class the next day where I personally scheduled the visit.  I am really getting old.  I have to ask them to go without me.

Maybe I am really quite pre-occupied lately that I do not know which is which.  But still it seems that I am confuse with so many stuffs.  So many things to do and do not know which to do first.  hehehe…