Travels, Thanks and Testimonies

As I look back over life contemplating my journeys. My current medical journey has enlightened me as to the extent of God's grace.

I was a young man in his twenties when I truly heard the old, old story of a Savior who came from glory. Money & good deeds couldn't buy His salvation. I ran down the aisle & accepted His gift by faith.

I was certain I was meant to be a missionary or a minister, so I embraced four years of Bible College. But I was still trying to do it my way not His way. Frustrated I drifted out of church but never too far, today I find myself back at the same church. Still not certain I could put his will for my life into words, but I feel confident I'm somewhere in the midst of His will doing what He wants me to do.

I praise God for my church family at Good News Baptist Church, their love prayers and support at this time has been a comfort and blessing. I thank him for guiding us to our new found friends at Trinity Baptist Church. Their sacrificial love, giving and prayers truly filled our lives with joy and hope.

To have a wonderful aunt and uncle just an hour's drive from the doctor is not a coincidence but another testimony of God's marvelous grace. It seems like God gave Google a picture of my Dad, listed his qualities, and added the keywords urology and robotic assisted surgery, the requirements: near special families AND sent me the result. WOW! PERFECT in every way! Praise Him each day more & more.

Off course, I cannot forget my work family. Chris Lopez & the team at MCS are phenomenal in their care and support for each member of the employee family.

Also of paramount importance is my Filipino family. The vast majority may be Catholic, but in them I see a faith I am almost envious of. It has been said, “If evangelicals had the dedication of the Mormons, the determination of the Jehovah’s Witness and the faith of the Catholics, the whole world would become evangelical converts”. I have tried my best to walk among humanity as Jesus did, ignoring culture, creed and color and my reward from this people group is “the honor of an unworthy westerner being adopted as their beloved kuya”.

We may not know what tomorrow brings, but with God each journey is orchestrated to perfection, even if there are trials along the way.  Paul the apostle said, “…We glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience …” James also reminds us, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing”.

I am honored to have endured this trial, for now when others are faced with the same I can truly be there for them. Thanks be to God.

Good News Baptist Church                          Trainity Baptist Church (Austin, TX)

Austin Urology Institute                                Arise Medical Center

MCS Cayman Islands                      Cayman Islands                                 The Philippines

The dream team. Hank, Page, Evan  & Divya

Seven Years

On June 28, 2003 there was a joyous event. I was one of the stars, but I spent too much time worrying about the details and not enough time showing my happiness. We look back at the past seven years and wish we had SEVENTY SEVEN more years of the same.

Like all journeys, there are good times and bad times, but through it all there has been love and wonderful friends. Thanks be to God.

Now is time of celebration and praise. A time to look for forward to what adventures lie ahead. At our tenth anniversary, we plan to renew our vows and a have a joyous celebration, a proper Filipino wedding.

The weather was not that nice today so we stayed home and had a wonderful meal of palabok and baked chicken.

I married to be a part of a family and I thank the Lord for each one. I pause to thank God for my family, not just my wonderful wife and daughter, but the whole family pictured below at Dad's 50th anniversary, and all others. Thanks be to God.

Father's Day

Today is Father's Day, a day set apart to honor fathers. Greetings to ALL FATHERS, may
your wife cook you a great meal, and your kids bless you. What else is important other
than food and family? Faith? Ok, gather the family at your favorite place of worship and give God thanks for His love, mercies and blessings..
There is one other thing of importance, especially important to males, but I wont go there.

Father's day began with a nice breakfast of Tinapa. This is smoked milkfish and sarap ng sarap. Amazed that it isnt more bony.

Both my daughter and wife had handmade father's day cards for this big bundle of trouble. Our daughter is 7 and computer literate and internet savvy. I wonder where she googled the words for her card.

The precious Filipina wife said not to post hers, but she wrote on facebook, "To my ever dearest hubby. Thank you for everything. I could not let this day go by without saying how much you mean to me.You are the greatest husband in the whole world. My soul mate. I hope and pray that we can be together forever..." My skin shade has changed dramatically since reading that. Blush, blush, mo.

And then came lunch: The BBQ sticks, the Tilapia, pancit and mango salad... Then she produced the cheese cake, WOW!

Everything is self explanatory, except that mango salad. Filipinos love mangoes, even we "self declared Filipinos". The green mango sow-sow in that shrimp paste (alaman) and this salad. The salad is semi-ripe mangoes with cebuyas (onion), and kamatis (tomatoes) and off course alaman. SARAP!

And Mr. CHEESECAKE, not homemade, not super fancy, but super delicious. What more could I ask for? A plan to escape to relocate to Baguio? As dem sey, inna Jamaica, "Soon com mon"!