Since I am reverting to my childhood and going through the phase (whatever that is) Chat told me to  go through her closet and get all the leather jacket I want. If it fits, it's yours she said. You bet, I got all these! Too bad it didn't come with a Harley.

There's a threat of sleet and ice today, so it means that because Texans are not used to it, I should not be out. Well, that's when I like to go out; when I am told not to. When I was in Cebu walking in the heat and fumes of pollution, all I dreamed was being in the cold back in the US. So the cold is here. And I miss the heat. And the ocean. And my farm. And I wish I know what I want in life.

I have not arrived, but I have reached quite a distance from where I was. I am a control freak; I want things to go my way, I want people to act how I want them to act when I want them to act. But I have learned that in being so, it also means that people are entitled to control or change me. And that's where it grinds my gear.

Jesus didn't try to control the behavior of his family or that of other people, and he didn't let their behavior control his either. If there was one big judgmental person in the planet, I would be number 1 on the list. Then I realized that I am no better than anyone. What does being "judgmental" mean? It's ok to observe and point out the other person's action that bothers you, but when you start ranting about it and always pointing the negative about the other person, you become that person you're talking about--if not worse. And you then starts to grind my gear. Hard. Jesus didn't demand that people agree with him, he didn't hold a grudge because they talk bad about him. He knew who he is. And that's the question: Do you know who you are?

When I am in Cebu, I teach 1 Friday a month to the Young Adults in our church. They're mostly young professionals and single. We discuss the bible and how we should live our life using Jesus as the model. I am so proud of this group, and look what they've come up with. Lanterns!!!! for the typhoon survivors. They've already distributed a 1000 of these. To my friends who have donated on gofundme, you are now a part of it!

I ask that if you feel led to help me help the typhoon survivors, here's my page on gofundme.com http://www.gofundme.com/Rebuildinghaiyansurvivors

In 2 days and 3 people we have raised 350 usd for our go and rebuild typhoon survivors campaign. Then this morning I looked at the page http://www.gofundme.com/5d3j8s and all my pictures were deleted by the gofundme.com team, telling me that the pictures were gore and graphic. Body bags and homeless people were "unsuitable" according to this moron. I emailed her back asking her if she even read what this fund raising is all about. Imbeciles. Of course, I was seething with venom looking at the page minus all the pictures.

Anyway, in the local news. Finally some relief : The tech team arrives to fix the computer glitch in the Obamacare program.

It's ok to believe in them but don't be satisfied with angels. And don't be content with the stars in the sky. Mediocrity is so before Apple. But Don't stop at Steve Jobs. Pole vault to the Creator of Steve Jobs. His name is Y'shua, the Hebrew name His mother would've have used to call Him. We all believe in Him.... the question is, do we believe Him?

Two days ago I was a few dollars close to being broke. Today, I finally gave away my last $$. I was afraid to keep it, for how can God replace what you still have?

The redneck got laid off from his job the other day and when he called to tell me about it, I felt like a thorn was pulled out of my side.  I was excited, while he felt a bit shaken. My dream of becoming a professional hobo is starting to become a reality. "Now you can really hobo with me." "When do we start?" was his quick response. When you can afford to buy something like this.

Karen, the owner of this trailer did some remodeling to it. Here, look at her blog. http://traveltrailerrenovaton.blogspot.com/2013/06/remodeling-travel-trailer.html

I made a decision the other day to stop looking at pictures and reading the news about the tragedy in the Philippines, but I am sharing this in the hope that we all learn from this  and quoting Anderson Cooper : "Philippines, Thank you for showing us how to live."


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2501471/Philippines-Typhoon-Haiyan-Bodies-piled-streets-makeshift-mortuaries-overrun.html

I understand when I see people struggle with getting out of a bad past, but here's the truth: Our parents may have given us the genes, but God gives us the grace. His grace is sufficient for each day. Whatever it is you're struggling, the first step to take is to forgive; forgive yourself, then get up and move on regardless how slow and how many falls you have to encounter along the way.  It's good to have a view of the destination, but it's not as important as the steps you take each day. Life's ultimate destination is for our soul to be secured. Jesus has provided for that already; He died that we may live eternally. With Him. So start right now---forgive yourself, then forgive those who have wronged you. Then ask yourself this vital question: Have you accepted the forgiveness that God has provided for you, through His son Jesus. If you are to live, forgive and live forgiven.

"Aircraft carrier USS George Washington arrives and goes to a position just off the eastern coast of Samar to assess Yolanda-inflicted damage and provide logistical and emergency support including medical and water supplies." ABS/CBN Leo Lastimosa reports.

My heart swells with pride of my US boys.

Chat is my  financial supporter for all the ministry work that I am doing in Cebu. All through the years, I could count on her to come through for whatever it is I needed to do; be it for the street boys,  for the community or for my family. Last night she called and talked to her biological father in the Philippines whom she doesn't have a close relationship because she doesn't really know him. She doesn't hate him or have any ill-feelings towards him, and if she hated him, you could not have blamed her.  She feels the same kind of  feeling for an acquaintance, although she had sent him gifts and money through the years. After they hung up, she kind of paused and typed something on her laptop. " I want to send him some money." She said it without looking at me. Silently, I was so glad but wanted it to be totally her idea, so I didn't say anything. In my head I was thinking a few hundred dollars? I hope she would do it. She picked up the phone again and I heard her gave him the amount in pesos. That's what she was doing on her laptop converting dollars to pesos! I thought she made a mistake. I'm used to converting dollars to pesos so I knew right away how much that was in US dollars. "You are giving that much?" I was stunned. "Yes, his sugar cane farm is not producing as expected so his workers are hungry. He can pay off some of his loans and feed his workers."

My heart swells with pride. And she's mine.

Someone said, "if you can dream it, you can make it happen." I'm kicking around some ideas on what to do to help the typhoon victims in my native island and I came up with something that is mighty lofty.....but it's something to pray about. I plan to bring a team of workers to Tacloban, 10 months from now. Here's the logistics.

 I. ADOPT A FAMILY

1. Each team member to pay for his round trip fare. ( $1300-1500? )

2. Each team member  to have another $1000 to adopt a displaced family and build them a home from local/native materials. We call this the 1st priority family; small children and or sick parents living with them.

3. Every person from the recipient family who can work is required to contribute manual help because  this is proven to make the recipient care for the donation and build pride and integrity in the process.

4. Each team member to bring a tent for him/her to live in during the period of construction. 7 days of working and 2 days to rest then fly back to the US. We will all live in the site.

5. Out of the 1k, $100 is designated to build a community toilet/bath for the team to use and will be turned over to the community once the team leaves. (If the team consists of 10 --we will have 1k for this project. $100x10 )

6. The tents we use will be left and given to the next group of families who will use it while waiting to build their own home. This will be for families without small children; 2nd priority families. (Selection process will be by raffles.)

7. The day before the team leaves, I would like to ask donations from a spa or salon owner in Cebu to donate free massage and pedicure to the team members. Of course, this cost is nothing to a team member, (what is 5 dollars?) but this will make the donor masseuse or pedicurist to feel that she's being a part of something humanitarian. This idea can expand to a restaurant owner or a home to invite the team for a native meal or a native snack.

II. SPONSOR  a team member OR GO YOURSELF

1. For Christmas, ask your friends or family that instead of buying gifts for each other, pool all your money together and make you a sponsor or send you halfway across the world to build someone a home.  And you'll be surprised to see how much junk your closet or  garage will be spared this Christmas. And save you from eating that summer sausage (saved 2 summers ago) from your hateful relative.

Again, I say that this is a lofty goal, but I am confident that if God orders it, He will deliver it. (Contributions will be tax deductible from the US through Christian Shore or Way Cool Angels ministry)

I am overwhelmed with the information regarding the calamity that just hit my native island in the Philippines. I don't want to read any more news so I thought I'd bury my head in the sand and pretend all is well. What do I do? Where do I begin? Here's a tip from Dr. Stef de la Cruz.

1. Don’t say people in the Visayas region deserve it. It is not your place to judge whether or not a community deserves a projected death toll of 10,000, including innocent children. That is, unless you think you can read God’s mind.
2. Don’t keep posting food photos. People in areas hit by Typhoon Haiyan are actually desperate for water and food. It’s not that posting yummy photos of food is illegal; it just might get your teeth kicked in by your Facebook friends, especially those whose relatives are still missing.
3. Don’t say, “The survivors should be thankful.” It’s like telling a mother who lost her son, “At least you still have two other children” or something equally insensitive.
4. Don’t say, “The Philippines deserves the privilege of experiencing a strong typhoon because they’re a strong nation.” How would you feel if someone said, “Your family deserves the privilege of experiencing tragedy because you are a strong bunch”? Yeah, I thought so.
5. Don’t say, “It’s okay, the Philippines will be fine.” Filipinos are resilient. But shrugging off the devastation like it’s just a mosquito bite is tantamount to undermining the loss of life and property.
6. Don’t brag about your expensive brand new gadget. Congratulations; you have a new toy – but celebrating your wealth during a calamity makes you look like a jerk.
7. Don’t say you have nothing to donate. Yes, you do. You have at least one piece of clothing you haven’t worn in a year. You have spare change for at least one bottle of water. After all, you have the budget for an Internet-ready gadget.
8. Don’t stop at giving to charity. Did making a donation make you feel better? Good for you! But charity isn’t for your sake; it’s for the sake of people who need it. Charity comes with a measure of responsibility. Make sure your donation actually makes it to the typhoon-ravaged areas – that is, if you genuinely care.
9. Don’t keep posting selfies. Your friends know you’re pretty. Even your friend’s cousin’s best friend’s driver knows you’re pretty. But your face shouldn’t hog the limelight while worried relatives post pictures of the family members they can’t contact up to now.
10. Lastly, don’t miss out on the chance to do something useful with your social networks. Get your friends to donate – and ask them to do so responsibly. Spread the word about the tragedy in the Philippines. Let your Twitter profile be a beacon of hope. Join the campaign to ask Philippine TV to cover the tragedy instead of just airing variety shows.

Do something helpful. Don’t think you’re “just one person.” You – yes, you – can make a difference. Help the Philippines now.

Calm after the storm. The redneck and I were in prayer over the phone throughout the day and late into the night last night and I dread waking up to check on the result of the ferocious "super typhoon".  I was not afraid because I have surrendered everything to God's sovereignty, but I was concerned about the flash flooding. But God is finitely good!!! Look at my baby surveying the dry ground.

Because the power was down, he's having dinner by candle light.

My papayas were the only fatalities.

 Here I am waking up just suddenly realizing that in a few months I will be without a vehicle of my own. I started to panic and  thinking: How can I live in the US without a car? Am going to have to go back and live in my farm in the island. And the more I panicked when I thought about looking for a job and going on job interviews if I have to remain in the US. But I am forgetting the big picture, which is, that God has always provided for me all through the years. So I stopped thinking about myself and acknowledge how selfish that was of me, when my family in Cebu are panicking about a super typhoon that is about to hit them.

When a person lives in a society composed of people with  affluent means, one tends to think that he or she is also entitled to this affluence and when the entitlement is not afforded to him, some sense of  self loathing or self pity comes in. And this is not just a Western society's disease, this is a human heart disease. Living in Cebu, I saw how a poor family living in a 4x4 cardboard box coveted the other persons 6 x 6 cardboard box of a home. The medical term for this heart disease is called greed, and we all have them--- even the street kids that I worked with. None of them has a permanent cardboard box to call home; they all either sleep on the pavement of a building or under a bridge, but watch them fight over a nice shirt, a pair of sunglasses or a baseball cap. Each one of them thinks he deserves it more than the other boy. So yes, greed has no social class.

Oh how I miss my boys.

Am homesick for Canada so I went through the pictures I took last year when I was there.  Looking at the snow capped mountain, I am about ready to hit the road and freeze my buns off in the land of the maple tree.  The redneck and I are preparing for a road trip in a month or so. Canada my new home?