Vietnam Sojourn

My brief stay in Vietnam was exciting as well as tiring. The day I left Manila seemed to have given me a sign that everything will not go that well in terms of logistics. At first, I was not given the boarding pass for my connecting flight from Hongkong to Vietnam because according to the lady at the check in counter, the seats in the Vietnam Airlines were all blocked. I was already at the waiting lounge when I heard that my name was being paged in the PA. "Calling the attention of passenger......" I was given the boarding pass after all....I thought that everything would be okay moving forward. When I was already in HK, I had a hard time looking for my correct departure gate number....after several long minutes...i saw it just in time for my connecting flight to Vietnam....The seat that was assigned to me was the one near the emergency exit....well.....

When I arrived at Ho Chi Minh airport, I saw a counter for taxi service reservation. I immediately contracted a taxi to bring me to Sheraton Hotel because I was already tired. I paid $10.00 Thought it was okay because I have my receipt anyway, only to fnd out that the I was charged twice the regular fare.

When I arrived at the hotel, the receptionist checked my reservation then asked for my Amex card..I was signing the form when somebody approached me and asked if everything was okay. It was Lay Pin, my former manager.....who was one of the facilitators for the training. What I thought to be a relaxing dinner in my hotel room turned out to be a dinner in one of the restaurants nearby. I was amazed to know how much a bowl of noodles cost. It was VD26k. He, he,he... it was the most expensive bowl of noodles I have eaten. My strawberry drink cost me VD45k as well. I sipped it very slowly to really enjoy the flavor...Hmmnnn..I could be a millionaire soon in this country....
Everything went well during the 3 day training at A9. It rained in the afternoons. There are lots of contructions going on around the city. Given a number of years, Vietnam will flourish. The sea of bikers lording the streets seemed to scare the cars and buses around. I read from their newspaper that there were 375 casualties already due to unsafe practices on the streets since the beginning of the year only.

On the day that I was supposed to go home, Lay Pin and I decided to have breakfast in another restaurant. We were already rushing because my flight was at 10:00 am. When we arrived in the airport, Lay Pin told me that she will be the one to settle the taxi fare. "Go ahead and hurry up else you will miss your flight" She told me to just turn left after the entrance. Oh, my where is the entrance? The big door that I saw led to a restaurant...I retraced my footsteps to where LP and I separated and I saw her a few steps ahead of me. "LP wait" I am lost.....She graciously accompanied me to the check in counter and asked me to approach the ground attendant who was flashing the sign "Hongkong" to give me priority as my flight was already boarding. Fortunately, he obliged.

I was able to get into the departure gate on time...however, my flight to HK was delayed for about an hour. We arrived in HK about 2pm and by that time my connecting flight to Manila was already boarding. My! I still have to pass thru HK customs and then I have to ride the train to get into the departure gates...Not sure if I can still make it....I felt like going to the wash room but I just don't have the time....I got a push cart and put my laptop and my other hand carried baggage. I was practically running to gate 67. I was in gate 65 when the final call was given. Whew! Not sure if the airconditioning in HK airport was still working. I was perspiring and panting at the same time. I was thinking that when I come back to the office, I will tell the one in charge of our travel bookings not to give me too tight schedules for connecting flights.....
When I was inside the plane already, I just checked my correct seat number and went right away to the wash room. I was thankful that I made it. I washed my face and combed my hair.. I felt comfortable afterwards. I uttered a silent prayer of thanks that even my seat is not that far from the washroom. I was already relaxing on my seat, reading magazines when I happened to look at the direction of the washroom that I used...he, he..it was for the male passengers...never mind, they are not that exacting onboard....I will be arriving in Manila as scheduled....that was my last thought before I went to sleep.......
I was awakened by the announcement "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Manila" but I still can't open my eyes..I was still sleepy and exhausted but I have to hurry up else there will be a long line in the immigrations.

Passport stamped with arrival date...finally...I just need to grab my baggage and I can go......But where is my baggage???? I was already dizzy, frantically searching for my bag at the carousel.....until there are just a few people and bags left...Oh no, where's my bag???How come? It seems to me that misfortune has been enjoying my company..it doesn't want to leave me....One ground attendant approached me to say that I can either file a complaint and then they will deliver my baggage 3 days after or just wait for the next flight which will arrive in one hour....I said I will just wait...

I called up my husband who was already on his way to fetch me. He asked me to just send him text message when I am ready to meet him outside.....It was my first time to lose my baggage....i texted my pastor friend that maybe when he prayed for me to have a safe trip he did not include my baggage...well, my bag arrived one hour after...was able to leave the airport in peace after that....

I will always remember my first Vietnam trip for all the rushing, sweating, panting and waiting that I experienced as well as for the baffling turn of events.....

Bond Between Mother and Daughter

The bond between a mother and daughter is the most precious gift of all.
It is this unexplainable most fulfilling feeling that only 'that' mother and daughter can share.

A mother should never feel they have to stop protecting their daughter.
Of course they must let them make their own decisions
And let them grow as an individual
But they must never stop protecting or being a guide for their life.

A mother knows their daughter best..
And knows what's best for their happiness.
No matter how old that daughter is
She will always be her mother's baby, sister, and best friend.

And never forget, a daughter, will always want to be her mother's baby, sister, and best friend. No matter what may occur, a daughter never wants her mom to stop being that guide.
We will always need our moms; no matter how old we are.

Poem by: Jessica Michelle Felice

Ten Guidelines from God

Effective Immediately, please be aware that there are changes YOU need to make in YOUR life. These changes need to be completed in order that I may fulfill My promises to you to grant you peace, joy and happiness in this life. I apologize for any inconvenience, but after all that I am doing, this seems very little to ask of you. Please, follow these 10 guidelines.........

1. QUIT WORRYING:Life has dealt you a blow and all you do is sit and worry. Have you forgotten that I am here to take all your burdens and carry them for you? Or do you just enjoy fretting over every little thing that comes your way?

2. PUT IT ON THE LIST:Something needs to be done or taken care of. Put it on the list. No, not YOUR list. Put it on MY to-do-list. Let ME be the one to take care of the problem. I can't help you until you turn it over to Me. And although My to-do-listis long, I am after all... God. I can take care of anything you put into My hands. In fact, if the truth were ever really known, I take care of a lot of things for you that you never even realize.

3. TRUST ME: Once you've given your burdens to Me, quit trying to take them back. Trust in Me. Have the faith that I will take care ofall your needs, your problems and your trials. Problems with the kids? Put them on My list. Problem with finances? Put it on My list. Problems with your emotional roller coaster? For My sake, put it on My list. I want to help you. All you have to do is ask.

4. LEAVE IT ALONE: Don't wake up one morning and say, "Well, I'm feeling much stronger now, I think I can handle it from here." Why do you think you are feeling stronger now? It's simple. You gave Me your burdens and I'm taking care of them. I also renew your strength and cover you in my peace. Don't you know that if I give you these problems back, you will be right back where you started? Leave them with Me and forget about them. Just let Me do my job.

5. TALK TO ME: I want you to forget a lot of things. Forget what was making you crazy. Forget the worry and the fretting because you know I'm in control. But there's one thing I pray you never forget. Please, don't forget to talk to Me - OFTEN! I love YOU! I want to hear your voice. I want you to include Me in on the things going on in your life. I want to hear you talk about your friends and family. Prayer is simply you having conversation with Me. I want to be your dearest friend.

6. HAVE FAITH:I see a lot of things from up here that you can't see from where you are. Have faith in Me that I know what I'm doing. Trust Me; you wouldn't want the view from My eyes. I will continue to care for you, watch over you, and meet your needs. You only have to trust Me. Although I have a much h bigger task than you, it seems as if you have so much trouble just doing your simple part. How hard can trust be?

7. SHARE:You were taught to share when you were only two years old. When did you forget? That rule still applies. Share with those who are less fortunate than you. Share your joy with those who need encouragement. Share your laughter with those who haven't heard any in such a long time. Share your tears with those who have forgotten how to cry. Share your faith with those who have none.

8. BE PATIENT:I managed to fix it so in just one lifetime you could have so many diverse experiences. You grow from a child to an adult, have children, change jobs many times, learn many trades, travel to so many places, meet thousands of people, and experience so much. How can you be so impatient then when it takes Me a little longer than you expect to handle something on My to-do-list? Trust in My timing, for My timing is perfect. Just because I created the entire universe inonly six days, everyone thinks I should always rush, rush, rush.

9. BE KIND:Be kind to others, for I love them just as much as I love you. They may not dress like you, or talk like you, or live the same way you do, but I still love you all. Please try to get along, for My sake. I created each of you different in some way. It would be too boring if you were all identical. Please, know I love each of your differences.

10. LOVE YOURSELF: As much as I love you, how can you not love yourself? You were created by me for one reason only -- to be loved, and to love in return. I am a God of Love. Love Me. Love your neighbors. But also love yourself. It makes My heart ache when I see you so angry with yourself when things go wrong. You are very precious to me. Don't ever forget......

Touch someone with your love. Rather than focus upon the thorns of life, smell the roses and count your blessings!!

The glorious sunset

At evening time it shall happen that it will be light. — Zechariah 14:7

It is wonderful to be young, with clear sight, acute hearing, elastic step, pulses drumming to the march of exhilarating health. But old age has glories that youth cannot know. It is a blessed old age indeed if it ends brightly at evening time. Old age celebrates the harvest — youth the sowing.

Like fruit in the fall, the harvest of old age will either dry up and wither, or grow mellow and sweeter as it ripens. You cannot escape the advancing years. Youth stays long enough only to strengthen our shoulders for the burdens ahead. Life leads inevitably to the evening time. But the best things are the oldest things — things that have endured and stood the test of time. God Himself — though not bound by time — is called the Ancient of Days (Dan. 7:9).

So don’t be ashamed to own your age. Everything that abides must become old: mountains, rivers, oceans, stars. But the evening time of life can be bright only if we have the One who is the Light as our evening Sun.

Nothing is sadder than an aging person facing eternity without Jesus. And nothing is sweeter than a gently mellowing Christian, still growing and resting in Christ as he faces God’s tomorrow with confidence. — M. R. De Haan, M.D.

So I journey with rejoicing Toward the city of God’s light. While each day my joy is deeper; And the pathway grows more bright. — Hoffman

SERENITY PRAYER

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;

Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life

And supremely happy with Him Forever in the next.
Amen.