I am glad to connect with you again through this prayer letter.

Blessed to be a blessing

“I am blessing you so that you will be a blessing to others,” this was the message I received from God through the Bible expositions during our June staff conference.  My recent trip to the USA to attend the annual Balikatan Conference, to visit friends, and to have a respite is one rich blessing I have just received. Not that I had much money or had received a sponsorship. I was able to get a roundtrip Northwest reward ticket from my accumulated air mileage plus some gift miles from my best friend. Through this, I was blessed to meet again a good number of friends and partners in the ministry in the US.

I spent my holiday with Leah in LA, Arizona, Chicago, New York and New Jersey. What a great blessing to have friends in these places who warmly welcomed us to their homes, fed us, brought us to nice places, treated us to great restaurants, took us to the movie, shopped for us, and even gave us some pocket money! Their hospitality and generosity move me to show kindness and generosity to others, too. Indeed, I am blessed in order to be a blessing to others.

Coming to Terms with Mortality

Death has come our clan recently. One of my first-cousins died suddenly of heart attack two weeks ago. Last Sunday I visited another cousin who is struggling with cancer. She does not look good, and I am afraid she might go soon. Death is becoming more real to me now that I am about to turn 57 and beginning to feel some signs of physical weariness. Honestly, the thought of dying of stroke comes every now and then because of my high level of cholesterol. I know I must watch my diet and should exercise regularly but I lack self-control and discipline. Lord forgive!

When I was younger I thought I could die at 60. Now that I approach this age, I am moving it to 75. Ha! Ha! Ha! Some friends say my lineage is that of longevity and that perhaps I will reach 80 or 90! Papang died at 84 and Ma will turn 90 this coming September. I must admit I am not ready to die yet. I have not written my last will and testament and have not prepared my liturgy for my funeral. I still have a few unfinished business such as the small house and lot which I am still paying. But I want to prepare myself for a good death. I don’t want to grow too old and be a burden to others. Who will take care of me? I have no husband and children.

I have heard it several times that the best way to prepare for one’s death is to live well and to make life count. This is exactly what I want to do. I want to give attention to what really matters in life. I want to love and give my self to God and to others.  I want to enjoy this gift of life and make it count!

Setting Up Others for Success

At the Balikatan Conference, I was deeply moved by the messages given by Ate Lisa Chinn from 1 Chronicles 29. King David did all he could to set up Solomon, his successor, for success. He gave to him all his treasures and he rallied the people.  He supported Solomon in every way to ensure his success in building God’s temple.

I want to follow the example of David. I look at my role as Human Resource Development Coordinator as a great opportunity to set up fellow staff, volunteers and student leaders for success. As I design and conduct training, as I mentor, and as I provide pastoral care, may I be able to contribute in setting up others for success.

Will you pray for me?

*   that I may be more disciplined in my spiritual as well as physical exercises

* that I may be a blessing to our staff and our volunteers as we conduct regional training in Mindoro on August 27-30, in Northern Luzon on September 26-28, in Central Eastern Visayas on October 30-November 6 and in Bicol on December 11-13.

* that I will be effective in teaching and ministering to women Christian leaders in Laos and Vietnam this coming October and November

* that I will be able to adequately coach, nurture, and encourage the leaders of State Varsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF chapter in UP Diliman), which is my campus assignment

* that our plan to celebrate my Mom’s 90th birthday this coming September 13 be a blessing to our relatives and friends and that she will really enjoy it

Thank you for your friendship and partnership in my ministry with IVCF. You are God’s gift to me and I am grateful. How about dropping a few lines for me? I would love to hear from you and to pray for you as well.

Blessed to be a blessing,

Elsie