Dear Journal

I gave my form as for DEEP Programme on the deadline. Pastor Kent gave me the form to fill up in church. He asked me to attend the Mid-Week service in Katipunan our main church. So i went there with Seongboy and mama. It was him who gave the message for the service. I got the form and he says he'd just send the recommendation himself to the OM office. I had my interview on the 17th of January and i got in! I was really praying that i could just volunteer while they're here. Since i got no financial support for me to be a crew, i got the opportunity to volunteer while they're here in Cebu.

January 24, Wednesday 9:00AM

MV Doulos arrived in Cebu in Pier 1 as always. We were suppose to start working on the 26th at 15:00. I wasn't able to greet the ship when they arrived in Cebu. I was only able to be on board on the 26th. We had our orientation and the next day we started working. I was assigned in the programme department. We were two who was assigned in the department. Maja was our team leader. Whenever there's an activity, we have to be there. Sometimes i worked in the compass cafe. That was the time when i met 3 great friends: Crystal, Su Jeong and Maricel. Though we get busy serving coffee, tea and juice to the guests, i still didn't feel tired, i didn't know why. It's all in God's grace. I told Maricel, God is just so amazing He brought each and everyone of to be a blessing to others. I always take hold of Colossians 3:23 "In everything you, do it all as if you're working for the Lord and not for men" ... no wonder i don't ever get tired huh?!

Crystal is from Georgia, USA and Su Jeong is from Daegu, Korea and Maricel is from Tarlac. It's a good thing i was with Maricel, i could really talk to her. There was one time that we had a chat, while i was waiting for Ronald to come and pick me up. I get scared whenever i go out of the port alone. I let him come over, we haven't met yet since i came home. I didn't even get the chance to visit him while he was in the hospital. So we went to the mall and had a chat too. He was able to release all his problems. He doesn't have someone to talk to that's why. He only confides his problems to me and no one else.

                                                          with Crystal, behind us is the Compass Cafe. 

Anyway, going back to Maricel's testimony... just listening to their testimony and Thabo's too. I feel so blessed. I didn't know that there would still be others out there other than me who went through tough times, and even tougher times than i had been through.

Thabo also shared his testimony with me. He's from South Africa. He told me if you got the desire to be on board, then God will find a way to make it happen. If it's what He wanted to happen then he will make it happen, I just have to trust Him. He prayed for me that time.

with Thabo in the volunteer's lounge. He's such a nice person. He's also fun to be with. We were together on our E-day. We went to the Juvenile Prison here in cebu. I was really blessed when we went there. Got to feel how it is when you're in jail. There was even a 17-year-old girl. She's was the only girl in that jail.

When we left, i said a little prayer. Thanking God is not enough for the blessings i receive each day. God is just so good to me!

with Su Jeong at the Compass Cafe. This is where i work. We serve cakes, coffee, tea and juice to the guests whenever there's a program.

                                            with Eija, she's my big sister in Doulos. She's from Finland. She's really such a good friend. We always find time together everyday. far right is Maja, our team leader in the Programme Department. She's from Sweden. We're not that close but she's nice too.

I went home with my nephew. He goes home during winter vacation and stays in Philippines for a month or so. Our flight was 9:30PM (Korean time). The flight was a 4-hour flight. It was December 31, 2006... that means ... we'd be spending our New Year's eve in the plane. My nephew was busy playing with my gameboySP. Probably when i get home, i'll be saving some and buy myself a Nintendo Wii. Our watches were still in Korean time. My nephew and i decided we'd be greeting each other when our watches strikes at 12:00MN. Happy New Year!! Then my nephew then told me, we'd rather greet each other a 'Happy New Year' twice. We decided we'd be following the Korean time then the philippine time. And so we waited .... when our watches strikes at 12:00MN... we hugged and greet each other HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Strange thing ... it was only the two of us greeting each other. The other passengers didn't even bother. Oh well! As long as we got each other and we're both safe going home.

We reached the airport an hour after. Our flight was kinda delayed. It doesn't matter anyway. When we got out of the airport, it was way too hot. We both were wearing 3 layers of clothes coz it was so cold in Incheon. When we got home, i showed to them the juicer/slicer/grinder i bought in Korea. They just love it. We used it while we were still in korea, we made apple juice. I decided to buy it, coz kuya wanted to open up a noodle house. He even wants me to help him. I really was praying about it. I didn't know where would God lead me when i get home. Whether i'd be working or helping with kuya. I didn't want to go back to korea anymore too, i want to work and have my own money. I didn't like it there that much too.

JANUARY:

Newsflash: MV Doulos will be coming to Philippines.

When i knew that they'd be coming, i was really sooo excited. I thought they'd be coming to Philippines last year (2006) but it is to on 2006... December 2006. They went to Bacolod first, then to Manila, the to Cebu. I told Pastor Kent that if he could look for some info on how i could volunteer on the ship. I just couldn't imagine that I could be one! Last 2001, when they came... I told myself i'm gonna save so by the time they could visit 6 years after, my financial support is ready then i could be on board. But it didn't happen. I told Pastor Kent, it's been a long time since i want to stay on board the Doulos, the only thing is... I just don't have money to pay. I told him, might as well be a port volunteer. So, Pastor Kent got me the form for the DEEP Programme. I was interviewed and ... I was in! I just couldn't believe it! God's just sooo amazing. I got a form for the STEP Programme too. I have to pray for it and let Pastor kent know about this. I really wanted to be on board.

I know it's kinda late to discuss about my birthday but this was what happened in my birthday...

I just can't believe i'd be spending my birthday in Korea. It was late when i woke up, i was ot in the mood of going to that resort, the ski resort in muju. I cooked something just to have something for us in lunch. My sister and i were just at home and so does my nephew. When my brother-in-law came from work... he told us we'd go to muju and try to ski. I was tired and wanted to just stay at home and just lay on the bed the whole day. But hmmm... it might be fun going to muju resort, i guess. My sister haven't tried skiing and so does i. I was thinking, when i get to muju, this is it ... i'd finally couldplay with snow. My brother-in-law kept on insisting we'd go and spend my birthday there... So we went ...

We got at the resort at around 7PM. They tried to call up Jeong Hoon, my sister's student and mine as well. We got the same age as he is... mind you... he's a ski instructor and is really an expert! He'd be going to Europe which is why he's studying English... and so we borrowed some ski suits and and skis and the shoes... talking about it ... it was really way heavy that when you walk... you'd feel like you're Robocop.

When we got there... my bro-in-law taught us the basics like walking and skiing. I was really having fun though i didn't know how to walk and reach a little bit higher and slide all the way down .... It was really really FUN. I wasn't feeling tired anymore and even kept going and going. Jeong Hoon went with us for a while. I borrowed his snowboard, but i didn't use it ... you know what i did? I sat on it and slid all the way down. It was more fun than the ski. I had fun fun fun!!!!

When the resort was closing up... we changed and went to Kang Beong Mong Ga (the sound of the river). Really great restaurant. My favorite restaurant actually. They played a birthday song for me. That's how they celebrate birthdays... they play a birthday song to the celebrant even when the restaurant is full and you don't know who else is eating. I didn't mind anyway. I have really the greatest birthday. Though kuya, mama and papa wasn't around but i was having a great time. I was having fun. Unforgettable birthday!!!! Now i'm 26!