Here in OZ!!!

Hi there, I thought I could not get back in blogging again and I’m glad that I’m doing it this time after a couple of months of absent in the blogger zone…come on Mel have some motivation….Anyways, I’ve just finished my holidays last May 17 and I can’t believe it I’m back in OZ now…upssss! Together with my family, yes unbelievable me myself still stand amazed how God put all things in order, it was not the original plan but the Lord arranged all these things so that we could be together again as a family here in Australia for a purpose. I know that some of our relatives and friends out there were surprised and emotionally affected with our “fast tracked” migration but don’t worry you’ll overcome it sooner or later. Just to make my come back post a little bit longer here are some of our pix here and there in OZ. God Bless!!!

Samuel and Kyla: A Testimony!

16 years ago me and my wife found ourselves really desperate in having a child, we’ve been married 5 years back then but still my wife can’t conceive a child though she worked overseas at that time and only take a vacation every year. Some couples also has the same case as we have before but they can still “manage” to have a child, I could still remember saying...Lord even if we/ I am not able, Lord I know you are… You are able my Lord. After 5 years of waiting…I said the long wait is over, because God answered our prayer. God just taught us patience and showed the joy of waiting upon Him, that’s why our first child’s name is Samuel we depicted it from Hannah’s desperation to God when she asked the Lord to give her a child despite of her difficulty of conceiving. Now Samuel Roi has turned 11 last September 22.I always remember what God did 11 years ago granting our request from Him…God is really a faithful God even though we fall short of Him… Our God is just an awesome, all faithful, all loving and his mercies endures….everything belongs to Him….
In late 2002 we plan again to have our second child, because 5 years gap is too long for a second one, but within one year of waiting still to no avail again. One time my wife showed me a bottle with some “herbal stuff” in it and it looks strange to me. It was given to her by one of her co-worker and if you drink that thing according to the “oldies” it will eventually regulate your menstruation thus cleansing the “reproductive system” of the female and will promote hormonal growth and etc. Anyway, when my wife is about to try it, I just felt really uncomfortable about the content of the bottle, I felt just like there was something “that’s not right” in it. At that point, I told my wife where’s our Faith then? remember Sam when we ask him from the Lord? We just realized everything should come once again with a step of Faith, believing that God will do something again in His Own ways to give our second child. So what we did was we chucked the bottle in the bin and forgets about it, after throwing it I felt this joy and freedom in my heart, I don’t know if my wife has felt the same way. At that time we just seek God’s forgiveness and prayed to the Lord that it’s all about Him and Us(me and my wife) and once again we believed that a child will be born out of my wife’s womb sooner or later and after 2 weeks or 3 weeks I cannot really remember, my wife’s pregnancy test was positive. Ohhh…what a feeling…that’s why we named our second child Kyla Faith…Kyla turned 5 last September 10. Out of Faith God answered our prayers again…All Glory and Honor belongs to our loving God…

Last September 20, Samuel and Kyla Faith celebrated their birthdays together at Jollibee Santiago Bayan…just to show these kids how we love them and remembering what God did in our desperation to have these two naughty and lovely kids…Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Bible Discoveries

Yup.... I find another time to post another item on my blog, this will be of a little bit different. Two weeks ago I received a "little newspaper" with a title "Discovery News" so I'm going to do my blog with a little and less effort in it, ha ha... This is all about some biblical discoveries mostly of the old testament times, this includes Noah's Arc, the City of Sodom and Gomorrah turned into ashes, The Crossing at Red Sea, The Living Blood of Jesus Christ and some Testimonies. Please note about the testimony of Dr.Ron Wyatt about the "Living Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ", it's just stunning and amazing just find out yourselves in this article...just click on the link http://discoverynews.net... God Bless...

WA License at Last!

Yahoooooo! In Australia acquiring a WA driving license is a great deal to deal with because you need to pass both Theory and the Driving Tests based on Australian Standards. The theory test is a set of 30 Multiple choice questions with illustrations via a computer test and you should get at least 24 correct points to pass the test, not to forget the fee for AUD$17.80 and subsequently pay for another 17.80 again if you fail the theory test. Good thing is that they have their online same set of test that will help you pass the theory test and of course the Drive Safe Handbook that they will give you upon submitting your application. When you pass the theory test, (I’m glad I did) then you go to the second step which is to book for a driving test with a fee of AUD$68.30 and if you fail, your fee will be $71.80 for retakes , this means you need to do the actual driving test with an assessor for about 35 minutes, in here your driving skills will be assessed and graded, but upppsss not just the driving skills we already knew in the Philippines but based on the book combined with your competency and driving skills based on the road rules in WA. During my first booking for the test I am quite confident of passing the actual driving test because of my experience as a driver in the Philippines for almost 10 years now, but I’m wrong, in WA they are very strict and no considerations given particularly on the following items, you automatically fail if:
1. You speed up…. Well that’s the first mistake I’ve done during my first try.
2. You disobey a regulatory sign….That was my second mistake in my retake AUS$ 143.60 was gone huh! I failed to stop on a STOP sign.
3. If the assessor has intervened or give assistance to avoid a potentially dangerous situation.
4. You drive without wearing a seatbelt
5. You fail to respond to a crisis or potential crisis that would normally be anticipated by an experienced driver
6. You refuse to attempt any part of the assessment
7. You refuse to follow a reasonable direction given by the assessor
8. Your vehicle is not roadworthy
9. Your vehicle breaks down during the assessment
10. You offer a BRIBE or Inducement
Whew…. a lot of things to be careful with… It was June 3, 2008 when I first took my driving test and the second one was June 10, 2008, and I both fail them. The first mistake I did was “SPEEDING” If you’re in a built up area, this means you’re in a thickly populated area you should not go beyond the speed limit of 50kph but when the assessor checked my speedometer it was 65kph and still going up so I automatically failed. It was really frustrating and devastating to fail the first time. It took me 20 minutes to leave the parking area contemplating and setting my self into “normal mode”. The second mistake during my second take was disobeying a traffic sign and it was a “STOP” sign, here if you see a big “lollipop” STOP sign you should STOP and when they say you stop you should put your car into a stationery mode without rolling or moving your car unnecessarily for about 3 to 5 seconds or until it is safe to proceed to your direction. Then the assessor told me to get a Driving instructor to understand better the road safety and traffic rules in WA.
I still remember when I was still a working student, when I am not still a born again Christian, a coworker who was sharing about the Word of God asked me, do you know the Bible Mel? I answered very proud without thinking, yes of course! And he replied, and why you still do those things that are against the Bible, I was stunned about his answer. When I was an unbeliever all I know is just I know Him I believe Him, I go to church, be a good boy, do good to your neighbor and do good things or good works and that’s it. I realized today obeying the traffic rules and regulations based on the Drive Safety Handbook is just like the Bible that gives knowledge, wisdom and understanding and the truth about the Lord. In John 5:39 Jesus said, Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and they are they which that testify of me…. II Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness…When the assessor told me to get a driving instructor it’s just the same in our Christian life we need someone or Pastors to share the word of God to understand and gain wisdom and established faith with God. Romans 10:17 so then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
I started taking the driving lesson with a qualified driving instructor during my first day I learned a lot from him, proper maneuvering, parking (not the parking we know there in the Phils), indicate-mirror-mirror-headcheck, and a lot more, just like the first time we hear the word from a Pastor or a Christian friend we get excited about it. I took 3 lessons from him and cost me 55 dollars per hour plus 70 dollars if you passed the test. Last Sept. 2, 2008, I finally took my actual driving test “carrying the faith, understanding and wisdom” which I learned, and of course not to forget the “power of prayer” and the entire driving test was very smooth and free flowing and you know what? God helped me passed the test….God is really Good, and He will always be…
In our daily walk with the Lord we need to put on the whole Armor of God to withstand the cares of this world. Ephesians 6:11-18…To God be the Glory, Honor and Power….Great and mighty is He!!!
Till next post folks…God Bless….

God is Threre!

I am always blessed when I think regarding the story of Abraham taking his only son Isaac to the mountain to offer his son as a sacrifice to the Lord. How many of us today would do such thing as Abraham did, “his only child” about to offer as a sacrifice? What is Abraham secret? Obedience to the Lord…How many of us today would dare to cross a bridge with only a single rope with a balancer riding in a “wheel borrow” gently pushed with the greatest magician in the world?
I still remember one time when my car failed to start when I was about to go home after work. I just went out from my car and tried to figure out what was wrong with my car. Checked the battery connections and everything and the car seems alright and some of the personnel were there also to help me out fixed the problem but to no avail. Until one young guy came into the scene and ask what was wrong with my car, and he immediately take a little check up under the hood of my car without hesitation. He just told me to get some wire and did the Mc Gyver thing and asked me to start up the car and the rest is history…amazing isn’t it? God is really amazing He is always there to provide and help in our time of need…
One time when we close up late one of the crew member asked me to drive her home because her mom was not able to fetch her up, I am not really familiar with the roads here in Western Australia, we are just using the directory map and the Google map as well when we are trying to go somewhere else. But that night I forgot to bring the map, it was past 12:30 midnight then. After dropping the crew in their place I just drove to the directions she has given me, but uuppps I am not familiar with the way she told me to follow and drove back to their place but I got lost….I have made a three “U” turns after driving around 5 kilometers on each side of the road just to figure out where I am on that wee hours of the morning and good news I saw a gasoline station and just proceeded there immediately to ask assistance, but the sad thing was the gas station was already closed….my goodness Mel is lost in the wee hours of the morning in Western Australia. But our God is really an Intelligent God…Here in Australia having a prepaid mobile phone is quite expensive it is much cheaper if you go for a Postpaid plan, that’s why I stopped topping up my prepaid account, but for some reasons I just topped up my Telstra Sim 2 days ago, and used it to call my Trainer and helped me out find the way going back into our place. God’s ways are really awesome, unimaginable and just great.
History repeats itself as the saying goes…Last week I asked one of my crew member to have extra hours to help us do the clean up job in the Hungry Jacks store, with the condition that I will drive him home since transportation here in WA is quite difficult and expensive especially when you get your ride in a taxi. Bus here is by schedule and kids under 15 years old are forbidden to stay up late after 10PM. To cut the story short I just drove home this kid into their house it was a 10 to 15 minutes ride going to their place and again in the wee hours of the evening, my second or third hand car was just serviced the other day and after driving for about 10 minutes my car engine just stopped and all the lights just went off…oh no not again in the middle of the night good thing is that I have the chance to pull over the car on the emergency stopping lane of the road while the car is still moving before it fully stopped. I just immediately looked under the hood of my car and again to figure out what went wrong. Here in WA you need to be a member of a “Road Assistance Service” that will help or assist you when you encounters problem with you car on the road 24/7, such service is that they will deliver you a new battery for free or worse they will tow your car and bring it back into your home for free as well. Getting back into the car scene, I can’t help but to close the hood of my car and re start the engine again and adrenalin goes up again with faith…the car is alright and just drove back home. The following morning when I am about to check my car I noticed that the hood was not properly closed, but the car is still alright when I started the engine but when I pushed down the hood the engine went off and there was smoke coming out from the battery area of the car, only to find out that the hood was touching the positive terminal of the battery and God just did it again in my way back home the other night, God just allowed that the engine hood not properly closed to allow a gap from the positive terminal of the battery and the hood that causes the short circuit and eventually will cut the supply to power up the engine…What can I say all the Power, Glory and Honor be to my King…Jesus… who promised that …He will never leave you nor forsake you (Heb.13:5)…Jesus who began a good work in us and will fulfill it unto the end…Jesus my King my life….Selah

Lakeside Church

Praise God! After a long search for a local Church here in WA, I finally found one place of worship a Christian church just 8minutes drive from our place, and guess what? It’s an Assembly of God church. I can still remember the time when I first attended a Christian Alliance church here, unfortunately that church was using a Cantonese and Mandarin language and they have only English Service once in a month. They really appreciate my first visit but they were really concerned about me in having difficulty understanding their language so the receptionists of that church directed me to a church a few blocks away from their church location that speaks English, and when I went there it was an Anglican church which is almost the same as the Catholic rituals the only difference is that they don’t have idols.

Anyway in May 11, 2008 God gave an answer to my prayer, upon searching the Directory Map of WA and some of the AoG churches listed there I saw there a church named Lakeside Christian Church along Erindale road which is within the map range from where we live. On that day I am really excited to worship the Lord after a month of no fellowship with him in a local church, as I entered into the hall I just felt the presence of God and my soul just poured out to God once again hearing those worship songs offered to our living God. It is only a small church/small congregation but filled with the spirit of God, I was once filled with energy and my thirsty soul once again was filled with spiritual food that is essential in our daily walk with the Lord. They also have a cell group which they call “Connect” and even Kids Church for the toddlers, fantastic isn’t it. After the service, I observed that they have the same set up with our Cornerstone Santiago Church there in Isabela, they also have a “merienda” a coffee, juice or a tea and some pastries, whew what a relief. Lastly, before I went home one of the song leaders there named Larry prayed for me and I am really blessed on that day feeing refreshed with God’s presence. Selah.

Rides in Western Australia

Brrrrr……It’s been quite a long time that I have not written anything in my blog but anyway how are you all there guys. Back here in WA (they call it that way in Western Australia) or pronounced as “dabol U Ay” in the Australian accent..ha ha…. It’s pretty cold in here right now specially at night and at dawn but I really enjoyed the climate it’s a bit colder than Baguio City but can still manage. Well my first time to drive in WA last night(car is not mine) it so happen that I forgot to endorse the key to close the Hungry Jacks store that I took them home with me. Driving here in WA is easy cause most of the time or 90% of the roads here are one way meaning they have separate ways or lane just imagine NLEX back there in the Philippines but not that wide, so you can just concentrate on a one way road and not to forget that you need to “KEEP LEFT” all the time on a right hand drive vehicle…huh a little bit exciting isn’t it. Owning a car here in WA is a necessity and not a luxury as we term it there in the Philippines, here if you’re going to ride a taxi you need to call their hotline and in a few minutes time your hitech taxi is there. Also another kind of transpo here is the Bus and the train (MRT/LRT), but the good thing is that you can get a ticket that says “Day Rider” and you can go anywhere you want to go in any part of WA for 12 hours whether in a train or a bus with just one ticket, great isn’t it?, another good thing with that single ticket is that you may use it in a bus or train and if you are in a group then you can just say it’s a family ride then you get 50% off on your fare…what a blessing….Before we got here in WA the agency told us to acquire an international drivers licence, at first I’m quite excited because I thought that the company will issue as a car…wow exciting…and indeed they gave us one and you not what kind of vehicle a MINI Scoota (Scooter)…ha ha ha for just $20 a week in 24 months then this little mini is mine…he he…Hey guys you may also write your comments and greetings in the post a comment area of my blog…I need your prayers and encouragement…see you then and God Bless yo!