BUSY DAYS AND BLESSED DAYS

50 people. Just 50.

That was the initial number of deaf attendees from CAP college for the deaf for the coming sabbath as the Deaf Ministry of our church set to make a report in front of the congregation. I was truly surprised when I learned the day before (friday) that they were coming. My thoughts of moving the report to next week burst like bubbles.

Sabbath day became more busy. The moment I stepped foot at the gates of the church, I was immediately hailed by some of our deaconesses. At 8am, there were already at least 10 deaf visitors who were excited to hear the report and observe our church service for the first time.

Apparently, the deaconesses in charge had no idea how to communicate with them. So, both confused parties were stuck at the church front door. The deaf confused at where they would go. The deaconesses confused and at a loss on how to tell them that they already have seats reserved for them. My arrival was somewhat a relief to the deaconesses but more confusion for the deaf with my almost hilarious sign language. To my surprise they were still able to find their reserved seats after I told them to follow the deaconesses.

I was more pressured when they began asking me to interpret for them. However, with my limited sign language, I couldn't do it yet. God took control. Lychel and Cheard came. They were two of the leaders of the deaf ministry. The former the interpreter, the latter her deaf missionary sister. There's only three of us (out of the five) today and handling 50 people isn't a walk in a park what with all the other responsibilities I had to do that day.

I wasn't able to follow their increase in number as they came in twos or threes but later on, I noticed that they have already filled up 6 or 7 pews. Two regular sabbath school classes were obliterated and was replaced by one hulking class. And, to add to my dismay, I was the one who would be handling that class. Luckily I was used to silence during the Sabbath School class. They weren't as responsive as the usual group we had in church. It was obvious that they were still observing the program. Yet God seemed to be leading us. I was actually at a loss on where to put the topic. I was merely throwing questions in the air. By the time I was finished I was somehow blessed by the turn of events. Cheard suddenly took over from Lychel and me and started sharing. She eventually steered the topic to the application of the lesson.

When the report came, it was amazing. Seeing them with their happy expectant faces made me smile myself. Things rolled on with God's grace. The last minute presentation was somehow a success. It was the reason I slept late the night before and I felt elated by the outcome. When the whole group was recognized, I saw them stood up and imagined the scene when one day we have finally established a haven for them. A whole group of deaf and hearing impaired individuals moving and operating their own community.

Later on, the speaker of the day spoke, it was with fervor and energy that the interpreters' hands were also on fire. Their hand movements seemed as dance moves gracefully performing in front of the crowd. It was amazing and it was making me dizzy.

The end of the service did not really mean the end of our problems. We still had a lunch fellowship. Tons of food were served and still with God's blessing. At the end of the fellowship, we were all full to the brim with leftovers to spare. We ended the day for the visitors with a tour around the neighborhood. The other two churches (PCC and MAMC), the hospital and the Union office were the main attractions. I do hope they enjoyed our company.

With the end of the day still several hours away, the hearing members and volunteers of the deaf ministry (including me) were still on the go. There was still a sign language class to attend. At the end of the class, it was information overload. It wasn't a surprise since the ones who taught us today were the teacher and principal of our deaf visitors, the Andrada couple. It was like hearing the masters as they show us their craft.

Even though if it was tiring and confusing, particularly on how to communicate to them, it was a blessed moment. We were all exhausted, battered, weakened and almost zombies by the time the afternoon turned to dusk. Yet looking back at that day, it was overwhelming. God was moving the day with wonders.

I have seen and felt God's mighty hand. Now I am hoping for more. I guess I don't have to wait long. Up next, PAC-YM Youth Day!!! I can't wait!!

Something I Neglected.

This is somewhat a part two of How I Got the Laptop All to Myself Once Again.

Right now, I had the chance to use the new desktop. I actually thought that everything was going fine with it. There were some problems which still left me clueless. One thing in particular is the sound driver for the motherboard's built-in sound. Since it's a new system, the old one I have downloaded seemed incompatible with the new motherboard. But I'm working on that right now after doing that same driver search countless times before.

Another one is the ethernet adapter problem. It seemed that the built-in one doesn't work that well. However, since the old motherboard doesn't have a built-in device, we were able to purchase a peripheral device. Later on, during my search for the sound driver, I learned that the ethernet adapter problem could also be relate to a missing or out of date driver. Hence, it could be easily resolved through the internet.

Apart from those problems, there was one bigger thing that I have neglected for weeks since purchasing and fixing the desktop. You see, we bought only the motherboard and left everything else intact such as the monitor and the keyboard and mouse. I have known a long time ago that the monitor was somewhat acting out its age. It occasionally blinks or the screen gets dark eventually. It was nothing a smart tap on the monitor couldn't fix. Besides, I plan to save up for an LCD screen for the desktop, so I'll let my siblings endure it for a moment more.

What was really irksome was when I tried sending an email message using the desktop. I found out the biggest and most annoying of all errors: I forgot to check on the condition of the keyboard and mouse. Now, I feel like I'm reaping the consequences of my neglect. The main QWERTY keys work well except for the letter D-button which needs an extra push to work. The worse thing was that all the number and symbol keys as well as the function keys from F1 to F12 were all not working. That's like a handful of keys were working while the rest were broken. The mouse was also acting up. It seemed to refuse to work on certain times or sometimes it would move on its own. Something really is wrong and there's only one way to fix it: replacement.

Replacing would mean buying and I don't have any money at the moment. Oh bummer!!

Studio Ghibli Rocks!!

It all started with Spirited Away. I have heard of the film before as the first animated feature to win an Academy Award. Michi (as with most of the anime I know) showed me the film through her ipod. I didn't get to finish the film at that time since her ipod ran out of juice somewhere in the middle of the film. So, I was forced to download the film to my delight. It was really a great film with simple yet artistic cinematography. I wouldn't deny it its right to win that prestigious award.

From then on, I watched Howl's Moving Castle, Princess Mononoke and just today, Tales from Earthsea. Each of these animated films have their own stories. Like Howl's Moving Castle and Tales from Earthsea, which were adopted from novels of the same title, tried to follow the plot on the books they were based on. On the otherhand, Princess Mononoke, as wikipedia put it, was an environmental film portrayed by Japanese mythology. Yet all these films seemed to have the same simplicity in terms of visual effects and artwork. It's not overly digitalize like most animated films of this age, rather, it used the old method of hand-drawn animation with just a few touches of computer CGI to give it flavor. What made them amazing was that they were made by one creator, Miyazaki.But before I start typing reviews for all of these films (which I have been itching to do and I nearly did right now!), I have learned that it was hard to find and acquire each of this films. There's a lot on the list even if I have to just look for Miyazaki's works, I wouldn't be able to get them all. Just today, I came from Makati Cinema Square where I found a complete Studio Ghibli collection (as of 2007) a year ago. With it's thousand peso price back then, it was impossible for me to purchase the collection considering I still had no work then. However, my search today was not as fruitful as it was before, I may have the buying power now, but the collection was gone.


I hope I could find that collection soon.

Howl's Moving Castle

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Books
Genre:	Childrens Books
Author:	Dianne Wynne Jones

Move over Harry Potter, Howl is here.

This is one great volume packed with magic, mystery and mayhem. The story starts with Sophie Hatter, whose ultimate destiny seemed to be dull and lifeless until she finds herself living in a 90 year old body, thanks or no thanks to the Wicked Witch of the Wastes, the malevolent antagonist. From then on, endless irony followed which would start with who in their right mind would embark on a journey across hills and valleys when you're more than 90 years old? And who would be in their right mind to clean a castle with her bare hands when you're 90ish let alone try to baffle and trick a full-fledged wizard at that?

Ironic, but really hilarious. The meeting of Sophie and Howl and its twist are really page turners. A cat and dog story like no other, Howl's Moving Castle offers a love story with an eccentric twist as well as a mystery that could drive you mad. How could Sophie be freed from her curse and at the same time, free the fire-demon Calcifer? How could Sophie stir up the adamant and cowardly Howl from facing the Wicked Witch? And why would Calcifer obey only Howl and Howl alone until Sophie came? Who is the turnip headed scarecrow? Where is the Prince and the Wizard Jenkins?

As Jones unravels the answers to this questions, it's non stop laughing and surprise. Personally, I really enjoyed the book. It explores love and destiny in an explosive fashion. Cruel love as expressed by Sophie toward Howl as well as Familial love where Sophie's concern for her sisters made her to keep Howl in check.

This book is simply magical. Just read it to get what I mean.

How I Got the Laptop All to Myself Once Again

I haven't posted a thing for a while. I dunno why. The laptop's virtually mine now. How did that happen?

One sunday, two or three weeks ago, I went home from work (one patient) with plans to sit down post some blogs or just play on the computer. All of a sudden, I saw this screen from across the room. It was black and small, 14 inches. It was an alien contraption in our house. That was the first time I have seen  such a thing in two years. I didn't mean I was deprived by its absence, yet its presence was somewhat surprising considering that we've lived that long without getting even one glimpse from that contraption, the one that you all call television or t-EE-v-EE. I tried to turn it on, but to no avail. It was broken.

Just then, Papa came in the house. He told me his newly bought TV and that it was broken already. He asked me to help him have it replaced. Since I was still wearing my work clothes, I consented. We went to Kalentong. It was the first time I was actually aware of going to that place. I remembered passing it once or twice going to PUP to take their exams back in high school or did I?

Anyway, we tried to get it replaced with the same model. Apparently, the shop owners told us to wait a while since they were observing the unit if it really was broken. So, Papa told me to go to gilmore to check on some computers there. I intended to just survey there since I really didn't brought enough for a computer.

There were a lot of hilarious things that happened when we went there. I was oblivious to our destination, so on one jeepney ride, Papa fell asleep (I'm beginning to think this is a family thing). Since I didn't know where we were going to stop, we missed it by several kilometers that we had to ride the train going back.

Once there, the usual sights and sounds of the computer mecca of Manila greeted me. Affordable laptops and desktops and other computer paraphernalia were there. The whole block was teeming with crowds of geeky and techie-looking people (apparently, including me) going in and out of the shops. We went to one familiar shop and asked for the prices. Some were affordable, others were surplus.

Right then, Papa shoved something to me that looked like a square object wrapped in paper. I opened it and saw that he brought along the processor of our old computer. I understood what he meant. So we asked if there were any available motherboards for that processor. Surprisingly they have one in stock and at a price that suited my pockets. We decided that if it worked, then we'll take it. A few minutes wait and we learned that it was still in good condition. The technician even added that processors could take more than 7 or 8 years before it breaks down.

With that, we immediately purchased the motherboard plus several other things, and went back to pick up the TV. Then, I spent the rest of the day, tinkering with the new motherboard to its new home.

It's been two weeks since the desktop is running. Now I have the laptop all to myself.

I can read some of the signs now. I guess I can converse a little bit, too.

My First Signed Book

I'm not actually that person who would line up to get a book or anything signed by the artist behind it. In fact, I see it pointless to have a signature on a book that I would shelf after reading. Some may say it offers prestige and increases the value of the book, I still find that my interest in the book would eventually diminish as time goes on.

Yet last Sunday, someone gave me his book and signed it and I wouldn't mind shouting it out loud in the world.

I actually dreaded the coming of Sunday. I scheduled an evaluation session for an adult patient. With the way his family contacted me, it gave the impression that they were stern and hard to please. So with a heavy heart, I went up to the steps to the rehab department of MAMC and hoped that at the end of the day, this would all be over.

Then the patient came. I expected someone with a grudge on the world who would snap at anyone coming near him. Most of the adult patients I have experienced before were like that. It turned out that I was wrong. I met a ray of sunshine outside that sitting room. I saw him sit there beside a young woman who turned out to be someone he did not know. Who would do that aside from some missionaries I know? Who would blatantly talk and introduce himself to a woman he does not even know and even give her a book with his autograph?

I felt a slight pressure with the way he approached the woman and gave her the his book. It's either this man was a missionary or some celebrity with a strict family. Apparently, I was right on both counts. He lived the life of following God's mission since he met Him. At the same time, he appeared to be almost a household name among old Seventh-day Adventists families. I was too honored to be with him and probably this is what God wants me to do.

The session began with a lot of laughs from the old guy. He was so enthusiastic and so eager to tell of his life story to everyone he meets. He was the epitome of faith as he ascribes every praise I gave "up there." Although I could not get his words, his gesture of pointing upwards with that thankful look was enough to tell me that he kept a steady faith in God.

I guess it was his ministry to meet all people and share his book. It is this ministry that prompted me to write this post. I stood firmly on the belief that every patient I met is confidential, but I guess if the patient leaves a trace of his life to everyone (no exceptions) he meets, mentioning and writing about him seems like helping him leave his legacy to the world. I also think that as long as I don't mention his name or his condition, it would be alright to share this piece of experience.

So as the session went on, he laughed heartily for most of the session. He smiled at every praise that I gave and kept on pointing up ward with an accompanied unintelligible utterance which sounded a lot like "praise God." It was amazing to see someone so happy amidst turmoil.

At the end of the session, I was not surprised when he didn't immediately stood up and left. He beckoned his daughter to bring out a soft bound book and started to write on the front page. His hands were unsteady but he was able to make his writing clear and legible. He wrote my name, and John 3:16 and then tried to scrawl his signature on the page.

Afterwards, he gently took my hand as well as his daughter's and started to pray. Anyone overhearing his words would never understand a single word he said in his prayer. Even I had a hard time understanding it, but does it really matter? God reads the hearts not the words, doesn't He?

That was how I got my first and probably most treasured signature on a book. A man who seemed demented and bent with age yet still had the vigor and the enthusiasm to reach out to all people. As I flipped through the book and scanned its pages, I knew then how he came out to be this way, he was just living the Old time religion that he has been living out since he met Jesus. I hope we could all be inspired by his story.

Better Sunday

For a long time, I longed to have a single day of staying in my room while reading a book. Most days, I am out at work or at home doing some chores and papers. I needed a break somehow and last sunday seemed to be a good opportunity.

Without planning it, I seemed to have barricaded my self inside my room the whole day. I never left except to eat or go to the bathroom. I was so absorbed in reading my book, I didn't realize that it was already dark outside until I finished the book.

I hope I could do those again. I have never done that for a long time.