Climbing the Mountain...enjoying the trip

My most difficult mountain climbing experience was not a scheduled fellowship with youth believers. - Last Friday, September 8, I woke up and heard the noise of 3 people in our corridor. They were my bro-in-law Bong and two other guys. 3 days before that, I heard that they were planning to climb Mt. Pulag. I was not interested because i know that mountain climbing is not that easy. At that moment that they were waiting for the other two ladies who decided to go with them, I started thinking of going with them. But I already lend my backpack to one of them. Still, I decided to go and so I went to the office and told my sister Margie that I am going to Mt. Pulag (hoooo...me and my decision...again). I think I really didn't ask permission...that was just to let them know (sorry about that manang...I just realized it when I was in the bus) that I am going with the others who decided to climb the mountain.

We took the 8:30 trip going to Baguio and arrived at the house of Johnny's aunt at about 4 pm.(Johnny is one of the students living at the center...by the way, he's a nice kid too.) We had coffee and some bread...while Johnny our host prepared dinner. After almost 2 hours, we had our supper, and got ready for a more ore less 20 kms. hike. It was raining hard when we left the house, and I was a bit hesitant to go because they told us that we might hike for about 8 hours before reaching our destination. But because that's the reason why I went there...so I conditioned my mind. I am aware that I was not conditioned physically though. We started our journey at 6:30 pm and arrived at the camping ground 2 at about 12:30 am. It was very cold. My hands can't even handle my cellphone because I was freezing. I didn't even dare to drink water because it was really very cold. While we were walking, a thought came up...I asked myself "Is this eternal or just an experience that will not help me grow in my spiritual life?" I was a bit upset thinking that my motive in going was just to see a new environment.

Before we slept that night...oh it was about 1 am... we prayed and set our cellphone alarm because we need to continue hiking at 4 am so that we will see the beautiful sunrise. That was our major goal, to see the sunrise...personally I appreciated the place but I don't remember thanking God for creating such a beautiful mountain where you can overlook the other mountains and valleys. Upon reaching the summit through the help of one of our companion...I saw the fulfillment in my companions' faces despite the tiredness that I'm sure everyone is experiencing. We stayed there until 8 am and started our journey back. The clouds are already rising...so we thought that it might rain in a few hours. While walking...we paused for some picture taking and also...it was good that kuya Bong brought the video. We really had fun when we were heading home though I experienced some inconvenience...well I had a bit scratch in my elbow

After 3-4 hours, we reached the village where we left our food for lunch. There, I met my teacher in grade 1 & 2. She’s still beautiful despite the gray hair. We went to their house and Johnny, our youngest prepared our food again. Before I had my lunch, I decided to take a bath first. The water was extremely cold but I had no choice. After eating, we left the village. I was thankful because it wasn’t raining. After a couple of kilometers, a heavy rain had gotten us in nowhere. There was no choice but to continue walking. Using the cellophane that we used the other day, and rolling our pants to keep it from getting wet, we continued going down the rough and slippery road. Then I felt some pain in my stomach…oh no…I am not having diarrhea. May be it is just because I just had lunch and then we started walking right away. I don’t know how they call that in English but in our language, we say “naalibo-bo”.

Almost halfway through, we heard a car coming down, though I felt helpless because we are not sure if the car will fetch us up. Thankful I am, I hopped in and started gripping anything that I can hold on to so that I will not fall off the elf. My companion almost fell off so I tried to be more careful. Our knees were shaking…but we are still thankful for the ride. Once more, I asked myself, “Did I thank God for the ride?” Oh come on Sarah…I hope I did.
It’s almost dark when we arrived at the house of Johnny’s aunt. We were happy that we’re all safe. Thank God for safety…and Praise be to Him for everything He has done…the beautiful nature…the beautiful people inside and out.
We slept soundly, it was warm…and I almost sweat because I was sandwiched between two young ladies. Young in height just like me…we woke up, had some coffee and bread…and then breakfast and headed to the sulfur spring.
At the sulfur spring…we inhaled all the bad odor…but I enjoyed because it was my first time to see a sulfur spring…all for now…comments and questions are accepted.

At last!!!!!!!!!!

(sighhhhhh) It is almost 4 months that I am struggling in drafting Jeremiah. It is indeed a difficult book to translate, still I thank God for the wisdom He has bestowed upon me for the last 4 months. There were days that I am disappointed with myself because I just drafted a minimum of ten verses. For four months, I just accomplished 30 chapters but I am still thankful that we (my sister Margie & I) have chosen this book to be drafted. Most of the time, I reflect on what the Israelites has been doing throughout the book and how YHWH dealt with them. How loving, gracious, kind, forgiving and just God we have...He is worthy to be praised always.

I thank God, for the wisdom, blessings, love, care and for His faithfulness despite my shortcomings. Truly, He has been faithful to me...and I know that He is also faithful to you. Please pray for me as I continue serving the Lord.

Translation Update

Translation Update
Praise God for the printed materials to be used by our elders who teach in our churches. A Commentary on the book of Romans & Hebrews.

I always praise the LORD for what He has been doing in Kalanguya Bible Translation Ministry. I am happy for being an instrument in God's work to the Kalanguya. Last May 4, 2006, we submitted our final translation to the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL) Manila. Our mentor & consultant, Uncle Bob Ambrosius and his wife, Aunt Judy came here at CFM on the 17th of March to check with us the drafted books.

The consultant checked books ready for printing are, the book of Joshua, 1&2 Samuel, Esther, Nehemiah, Daniel, Haggai & Malachi.

We are hoping to see it printed and be used by our people.

I need your prayers...

Yesterday, I met with 9 ladies for our Bible study. These girls are living here at the Kalanguya Christian Fellowship Services Center Ministries Incorporated (we call it CFM Compound). I am assigned to handle the new comers and they are all in their first year college. I didn't know their Spiritual background so I decided to ask what denomination they belong to be able to come up with some ideas on how deep is their relationship or knowledge of the LORD. The result was, 2 girls belong to a cult called Espiritista and the other 2 also belong to a cult called Crusado. Three are Roman Catholics and one is Pentecostal and the other one belongs to the Methodist church.

I asked them what they know about God and they shared their answers. Everybody knows God, and I am thankful that their is no atheist among them. But we don't end with just knowing and believing that God created people and everything that we can see and can not see. So I continued and asked them what they know about people. And they said that people sinned. And when I asked them what would happen to a sinner, one told me that people experience trials because of sin. Most of them do not know about eternity.

I shared Romans 6:23 and explained it to them. Please pray for me as I share the Word of God to them. I am planning to use Chronological teaching so that they will understand the characteristics of God, how people sinned and what happened to people in the past who disobeyed the LORD. Our BS is every Tuesday. Thank you so much for being a part of God's ministry here at CFM.

Praise and Thanks to our FATHER in Heaven.

Praise the LORD our God

I praise the LORD our God for what He is doing in the lives of the Kalanguya. This weekend, I was able to be with fellow believers in two churches. Last Saturday, I went to school and I was a bit nervous thinking that I will not be able to have a ride to my village. My plan was that I am going to our village first and then I will go to the venue of the youth fellowship in that evening. When I went to the jeepney terminal, I am so happy that I was able to catch up with the last trip.

At the youth fellowship, I was blessed by the lives of the believers in that place. At 5:30 a.m., I and my companions woke up and started going home. There were only four of us from our village. One is a friend from a cult group called "Espiritista". Please pray with me for that friend named Saria. I hope that she will come to know the LORD, and accept Jesus as her Savior and Lord and be a light to her family who were blinded by Satan.

This morning, I went to my home church and I am so happy because many came to worship the LORD. (Last week, I wrote in my blog that there were only about 40 people. This Sunday, there were about 60-70 people. I am so happy too because I saw the old man who was drunk the last time I saw him, listening to God's Word and no longer drunk. Please pray for these people.
Please pray for me too as I serve the LORD and live as God's child.

Thanks for praying with me.
PRAISE AND THANKS to the LORD.

How is your church?

The pictures below were taken last year before our worship service started in my home church. The people in these pictures are more numerous than yesterday. I hope I had a camera yesterday.


Yesterday, July 02, 2006, I went to my home church and attended the Sunday worship service there, I noticed that there are only few people unlike before. Our church building’s capacity is more or less 200 people and this morning I counted the people who went to church and there are only 40 excluding children. I expected more than 50 people but then, only few were there. I was sad thinking that believers and “church attendees” decreased in number.

But when I saw old women I never saw before, I was happy. I am happy that those old women came to know the LORD. I am not sure though if they are already believers or not, but seeing them in the church listening to God’s word made me joyful. I know God works in people’s hearts and the good thing is that they have the heart to know God. I assumed that because I know that they will not go to church if they don’t have the eagerness to know who God is.

Please pray with me for this people, and also for the Kalanguya churches. Kalanguya tribe is located at the mountains of Nueva Vizcaya specifically the towns of Kayapa and Ambaguio.
Thank you and God bless...

Oh No...Blackout Again!!!

How great thou art Oh LORD
You use simple things to remind your people
That they should thank and praise you
for the things you do in their lives.

Unexpected circumstances, simple things
Teaches people to give glory and honor to you
For you are God, God of heaven and earth
The Alpha and Omega.

I woke up this morning not knowing that my work is going to be paralized. I was a bit angry with the Electric Company but I can't do anything to change the situation. I thought of cleaning my room but it's so hot cause my room is in the attic. What am I going to do if the black out will last for a couple of hours? Despite laziness, I decided to start cleaning.

Then, I saw the birthday cards that were given to me for my 22nd and 23rd birthday and started looking through it. While I am reading the notes that my beloved sister Margie wrote, tears started to roll down my cheeks. Those were tears of Joy. I am really blessed because God has chosen me to be one of His children. Despite my shortcomings, and weaknesses that other people may not understand, He still loved and cared for me; lifted me up when I am down.

Happiness is not measured by our status in life. For me, we should live a life that touches other peoples' lives and most of all is a life living for the LORD.


My beloved sister is the one on the left...frontmost, it's me on the right....

It's me.....in Action

Being God's servant doesn't mean that we are to live an easy life. It's a life that sees everything as service for the LORD and not for man. 1 Timothy 9:12 "I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength for my work. I thank him for considering me worthy and appointing me to serve him,"


Romans 16:19 says "...be excellent of what is good, be innocent of evil". A Dance number during our family day.


Hiking with Andy and Christian youths going to a church almost 4 hours hike up to the mountains. It's enjoyable to serve God...tiredness isn't a big deal when you see your brothers and sisters in Christ with happy faces to see there fellow believers.


A pause with Andreas. He's a German friend who came here for a 6 months mission exposure. He's sharing his testimony to Kalanguya believers. He said, "Though we are not similar in language and color, I am still happy to be here because I know that we are praising the same God." I am asked to translate his testimony so that my people could understand.


A German eating rice and beans with sardines...wow...what an encouragement to a tribal person like me. Sometimes I feel like i don't want to eat when the food set before me looks not delicious.


A pause with brother Samuel, he's an elder in the church where we had our fellowship with other believers. Guys at the background are brothers from other villages and churches.