HIS love endures forever!

this is all we want to say: "the LORD is good and His love endures forever!"

glory to God in the highest... as He alone deserves all our praise and adoration.

papa's very close encounter with death and life has brought precious times of reflection about what really matters most in and about this life we doubly received in and through Christ and for Christ! Papa's deep love for and knowledge of (which biblically means 'intimacy' as john piper would say) GOD has been his most important legacy to us his children, family and friends. that's why i believe that whether in his life and in his death, the LORD will be glorified again and again! to quote from Paul, "I honestly expect and hope that i will never do anything to be ashamed of. whether I live or die, i always want to be as brave as i am now and bring honor to Christ. If i live, it will be for Christ, and if i die, I will gain even more..." amen.

early in the morning last friday, 9 feb 2007, mama and papa left the bible college (where they serve as teachers and senior staff) and went to visit the pioneering work in a predominantly catholic area, two hours away. this place has been that most resistant to the gospel in bicol region, yet, last summer's evangelistic campaign that papa and mama actively joined, this had the most number of baptized people (including many young professionals and students). so papa assumed another pioneering church work, as senior pastor of a 7-year old church in balatan (sunday morning) and this one in nabua (sunday afternoon). i am quite amazed how come my father never stops doing pioneering evangelistic work despite his age.

from around 1pm, papa, mama and my brother nono went house to house visitation for the newly baptized believers of nabua. i remember this is also how these three people started the work in balatan years ago - praying for the sick and doing bible studies.

it was a physically challenging and very humid day for them. around 830pm as they were preparing to go home, papa started to mumble and cant walk properly anymore. when they gave him water, he wasnt able to take it anymore. he refused to be brought to the hospital but some 10 minutes later, his left body was not functioning well anymore as he can't get out of the car on his own. and the symptom was for a stroke or a "brain attack" when blood flow to the brain stops because it is blocked by a clot. the brain cells in the immediate area begin to die because they stop getting the oxygen and nutrients they need to function. stroke damage in the brain can affect the entire body - resulting in mild to severe disabilities. these include paralysis, problems with thinking, problems with speaking, and emotional problems.

there are two kinds of stroke. the most common kind of stroke, called ischemic stroke, is caused by a blood clot that blocks or plugs a blood vessel in the brain. the other kind of stroke, called hemorrhagic stroke, is caused by a blood vessel that breaks and bleeds into the brain.

papa's case is called a hemorrhagic stroke, the worst of this 2 kinds of stroke. he had a hematoma at the upper right brain of not smaller than my fist. this means that 1/3 of his right brain was covered with blood. if it didnt stop, he can be fully paralyzed, be in coma and eventually grow weak.

in God's sovereign love and grace, nothing of the worst scenario happened. instead, God showed His being our Creator and ultimate source of life. He gives and He takes away. He did both to papa... gave him new life and took away the fear of death. after seven days, rejoice with us for his stabilizing condition and fast recovery. doc justin novela (an ivcf grad) said that he can be discharged after another week and that we can start therapy for his paralyzed left body. hmm... alleluia, indeed!!!

papa can hear well, recognize people, speaks and jokes a lot esp to the doctors, can write still, and of course talks a lot about his work... he still remembers all his schedule and duties for each day and asks a lot what we are doing about his work. he also tells about his many other plans the coming weeks. still thinking about the work for the LORD even in this time of suffering.

as some of you know, we share papa to many communities as a father-pastor. so somehow, we have countless extended families and adopted siblings. there was even a day in the hospital that not less than 50 people came in droves. so just imagine how the past seven days looked like. that's why on the 4th day we have to post a doctor's advice that visitors can only stay for not less than 30 minutes as we are not in a family reunion festivities but in the hospital

another highlight is papa's craving for food as he celebrates life so much in this state of feasting always! he had a hard time adjusting then sa naso-gastric tube (NGT) way of having his 'liquified' food. but he would never cease asking kung me gulay ba or fruits sa food nya as he loves gulay at fruits.

thank you so much for journeying with us this special time for our family. we are so honored to be co-witnesses with you God's new ways of revealing who HE is to us! that His love never fails; that He is sovereign; that He alone is the giver, sustainer and ultimate end of our life and being!

to GOD be all the glory forever... even as we still ask for on-going strength (physically, emotionally, spiritually) for papa and the family (esp to mama who is also hypertensive and is maintaining meds now). we are getting weak day after day from the many challenges. may the Holy Spirit's constant joy and peace grow in us. also for the financial provision as our parents do not have health insurance or any other governmental benefits. they have always been and will always be 'living by faith" as workers. our needs are in the forms of medicine for both our parents and the hospital bills.

praise God for the pouring of many encouragement... to mention a few, thank God for Dr. Justin Novela who serves as my parents' doctors for free. thank God, too, for Dr. Raymond Gacias, the only neurologist in our city, Iriga City, who is patiently caring for papa. thank God for all of you who visited, prayed and gave monetary support and food. may the Lord bless you all on our behalf! may the Lord's love be upon you day after day.

on a personal note... i believe that the LORD is challenging us as a family to live more focused on Him alone and get out of our comfort zones. this experience led me to seriously live out a recent commitment i made in serving the LORD through my Islamic studies with its implications... part of that can be facing my reluctance to getting married soon for the sake of the LORD's ways... and also, the value of life lived to the fullest for the Master and King, our Father and Savior...