Blessings on Tim/Rysse's 1st Almost Week-long Mission Trip

"Lord, there is no god to compare with you; you are great and do wonderful things, you are the only God." Psalm 85:8, 10

As I write, er, rather type this my family and I are ending our 1st mission trip together to the mountains of Baucau, Timor Leste. We left Dili on Tuesday and tomorrow (Saturday) will be going back, after visiting Laga, Quelicai, Fatumaca and of course, Baucau Kota. All beautiful places where we experienced God's amazing blessings!

In Laga, we met up with Fr. Jojo San Juan SDB at the orphanage run by the sisters there. We were able to go to mass and even if Tim was misbehaving a bit (he always does so during Tetun mass, and I can't blame him, he can't understand Tetun so it's hard for him to sit and try to listen! He behaves much better during English mass, though when his playmates are around, hay naku! It's hard for him to sit still!) Anyway, what a blessing it was to go to mass, I miss going to Tetun mass!



The trip to Quelicai was tiring and involved quite a bit of bodybumping i.e. the road was SOOOO bad! Rysse had fallen asleep in the pick-up but woke up after we had started on the bumpy road. All I could do was pray and hang on tight to Rysse, at the same time checking on Kuya Tim from time to time as he was sitting in the passenger seat beside Anthony. Praise GOD we got to Quelicai safe and sound, and what a beautiful, simple, cool place to visit!

The sky above us was filled with stars, and seemed so close. Reminded me of my single missionary days in Fuiloro way back in 2001, when God first made my heart beat for Timor Leste. He made me fall in love with Him back then (to the point that I considered breaking up with Anthony to pursue the religious life! Good thing God intervened and guided me through family and friends! :)) Being in Quelicai with my family reminded me of God's desire for me to FALL IN LOVE with Him every day, through my service as a wife, mom and missionary. Indeed what a blessing! (Thank you, Fr. Jojo! You are a great instrument of God's love and wisdom for us!)

After spending the morning taking pictures and catching up with Fr. Rui Hornay, another SDB missionary in Quelicai, we went back to Baucau, treated ourselves to a sumptuous filling lunch, and headed off again to Fatumaca. Here we were to stay with one of our CFC leaders. Now, don't get me wrong here people, by nature I am not a spoiled brat nor choosy about where to stay, etc etc.(I have my parents to thank for that! Love you po Papa and Mama!) But ever since I became a mom, it's been very challenging for me to say "YES LORD! Send me wherever You want, I don't care what happens as long as I'm following Your will for my life!" Mostly because wherever He sends me, there goes my two young kids as well.

In the case of Fatumaca, I was pretty hesitant because I know here in Timor, especially in the districts, not every place is comfy and cozy. Not every place has running water and 24-hour electricity. So I prepared myself for the worst and prayed for the best. And you know what?

God answered my prayers.

It wasn't the best place we had stayed in. But nor was it the worst.



At least there was electricity. The room we stayed in was simple but comfortable. Our hosts were kind enough to prepare hot water for the kids' bath. There was enough water stored up for us to use (though, as usual, the bathroom was located outside the house, at least it wasn't far off in the jungle, unlike in some other places!) The food served was simple fare to many, but a delicious feast for us.

But the greatest blessing of all was the LOVE we felt through the people there: our hosts, YFC Fatumaca's Couple Coordinator, our CFC leaders there and everyone who came out to meet, greet and eat with us. Despite my fears for the kids' health (I made sure they had mosquito repellant on always, tried to keep them at a distance from our hosts' kids who had coughs and fever, and discreetly discouraged contact with "questionable" objects and people) I knew that being there was what God wanted for us. To remind us that He is our ONE God, and that we have ONE faith and baptism through Him.

After Fatumaca, we journeyed back to Baucau. (If you're wondering how in the world we were able to keep precocious Tim occupied during all those road trips, you can read about it here).

Our first day in Baucau was a day of rest, a time for the kids to recover from the long road trips and a time to just BE a family. What a great blessing!



Earlier (well, yesterday, as it's already 5 am Saturday here) we picked up Karen and sent her to Fatumaca, and I was so inspired again by her commitment to serve the Lord! If we hadn't sent her in the pick-up, she would've walked a long way to get to her host's place (same as ours). And would've gotten soaked in the rain! It just amazes me how much love for the Beloved can make  one crazy, willing to do things other people normally wouldn't do if given the choice!

We returned to Baucau and met up with Fr. Aguedo Palomo SDB, another inspiring Filipino missionary and then had a loooong meeting with the leaders of CFC Baucau. Praise GOD everything turned out ok! I'm so proud of hubby Anthony for leading the meeting so well!

This mission trip has been a HUGE blessing for me personally! I've come to realize once again how AWESOME, GRACIOUS, KIND AND FORGIVING my Beloved Jesus is. How wonderful, funny and sweet my hubby Anthony is. How intelligent, patient and caring our first-born Tim is. How sweet, easygoing and angelic our little princess Rysse is. How BLESSED I am, we are, compared to others. How I have no right to complain when others are far worse off than I am yet they choose to be happy and don't complain nor compare their lives with others'.

After all, if one has a roof over one's head, clothes on one's back (and front as well LOL), three meals (and sometimes even more!) a day, complete and functioning body parts, and all the other basic necessities of life (not to mention a few luxuries as well!), what right does one have to complain?



Instead, COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS! You'll realize you have so much to live for, so much to be thankful for! BE BLESSED AND BE A BLESSING, my friends! :) Especially during this Lenten season. :)

(To see more pics of our Leste Mission Trip, click here if you're friends with me on FB :)