Ida's Birthday Bash

 by Flor Esteban

Ida became an instant celebrity last night when she was feted by her family and friends.  She celebrated another exciting year of her life. Celebrations and greetings started in the morning after the Sunday service. She was presented with a birthday cake. Then she had lunch with her family and dinner with Pastor Jojo. As if these were not enough, she came home to a roomful of well-wishers dressed up for the surprise party.  Her daughter, Jenny, transformed their house into a party place fit for the woman of the hour.

It was already past 9 p.m. so we had dessert instead. There were different kinds of wines, cakes, grapes, cheese, apple crumble and fruit salad brought by friends. After a hearty meal, a short program followed to honor Ida.  Sabina and friends opened it with  their song Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Next, family members and friends took turns in honoring Ida. It was heartwarming to hear everyone talked lovingly of Ida. Her kids appreciate their mom’s drive for excellence, her dedication and commitment, how much she has sacrificed (still do) for them (home schooling the kids, doing household chores, cooking, teaching them "everything"). Jon shared that when he looked at their photos lately, he noticed that her mom was oftentimes not in the pictures because she was the one behind the camera. Pastor Jojo said that  he's thankful to Ida for her patience and for marrying him, aww!

Eirene, Sabina and Gabi

Ida and family

As for her many friends, they related how Ida touched their lives by her friendship, generosity, graciousness, hospitality and passion. Her life also inspires and influences not only us (women) but also the men.  Many consider her as a role model (especially as a mom) and a blessing! Pastor Mike said that he considers himself an adopted son while Jonathan Chong said he's also Jonathan Henson. These comments are a testament to the Henson's special gift of making their friends feel at home or part of their family. Not to be out done, Pastor John greeted Ida on Skype. He announced that he was on location shooting a movie (actually, he was "Home Alone With Kids" haha!).

Adrian and Pansy

Freddie and Patty

Cindy

Rommel and Flor

Joule and Myla

KC and April

Pastor Mike

Anne

Jonathan

Joon Han

Alden

Pastor John

Then it was the birthday celebrant’s turn to give an eloquent speech. Ida said that she was obviously shocked! She was pleased to see her guests dressed up (which is her love language) and it made her feel really special.  You are special, Ida!

Freddie was in his element last night when he crooned a popular Beatle song. Luis and Sabina entertained their mom's guests by playing the guitar and singing Jay-Z's/Alicia Keys's Empire State of Mind, respectively. An avid fan of U2, Ida displayed her singing prowess with the song With or Without You. Just when we were about to go, we saw Ida and Pastor Jojo in the dance floor. How I wished we could stay longer, but it was getting late and kids have exams the following day.  It was a lovely night!

All My Loving

Tony Emmanuel's guitar music

With or Without You

Empire State of Mind

Dancing to Earth, Wind and Fire's September

Thank you, Jenny, for making us a part of your mom’s special night.

Ida, my friend, happy birthday!

Fasting and Prayer Meeting

by Flor Esteban

Our church, Eaglepoint Penang, is one of the many churches in Malaysia that’s taking part in this year’s National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF) Malaysia 40-Day Fast and Prayer. Year 2010 is NECF’s 10^th year anniversary. The theme this year is “Uniting The Generations for the Nation”. For the duration of the 40-day fast and prayer (it started in August 8 and ends in September 16), the church meets every Thursday at 8:30 p.m. to pray as a group. For the rest of the week, we have people who have signed to pray daily. 

The Prayer Booklet

Last night (August 26), was the 19^th day.  As in the past 2 Thursdays, people came to praise and worship the Lord and to pray for Malaysia.  Pastor Mike Gayatao (Senior Pastor in Victory Santa Rosa), who is visiting from the Philippines shared a Word from Psalm 118:24 and Luke 2:41-44. 

Pastor Mike

He first spoke about Psalm 118:24 where it says “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.” He said that the D-day was when God made peace with us 2,000 years. So, we can now rejoice!  Thank you Jesus for dying on the cross for us. There is nothing now that we need to do to appease God. Nothing that can separate us from God’s love. Yes! Incidentally, this was the same verse that I wrote in “What’s on your mind?” when I signed up for Facebook last Wednesday. Now, I have a new insight into this Word.

Next, Pastor Mike talked about “The Boy Jesus at the Temple”, Jesus and his parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast. Jesus was then 12 years old.  His parents didn’t notice that Jesus stayed behind while his parents were returning home. It was only after one day that they realized that Jesus wasn’t in their company so they went looking for him.  Pastor Mike reminded us that just like Mary and Joseph who assumed that Jesus was with them, we too could easily get lost in the midst of our daily activities – praying, fasting, reading the bible, serving in the church, parenting, etc. Even during Christmas, we could lose Jesus in the middle of the holiday preparations. So, we have to be careful lest we miss the point of why we’re doing what we’re doing! What a timely reminder! Let us go back to our first love, the Lord Jesus! I pray that we will act more like Mary than Martha. Thank you, Pastor Mike, for the great sharing!

Sharing of the Word

The rest of the evening was spent praying for the nation. The prayer focused on IT and Communication. Everyone prayed to God - thanking Him for the gift of the information technology, asking for forgiveness for abusing the said gift many times and asking for wisdom on how to use the gift wisely like  reaching people for advancing His kingdom.  Before we closed the night, we also prayed for some people in the church.

Praying for Pastor Jojo

As I write this,  one of the songs we sang keep playing in my mind - “Arise generation no longer forsaken. Arise, Arise, Arise, Arise.”

Derrick's Birthday Party

by Ari Esteban

Last Sunday night, Derrick’s parents, Pastor GP and Auntie Mee Yoke, gave him a party to celebrate his “coming of age” (a.k.a. rite of passage or bar mitzvah). He actually turned 13 last August 9, but there were stuff coming up so, yeah, they changed it to August 23. His family and friends came to celebrate.

Giving thanks and saying grace before eating

 Food galore!

Young ladies (L-R): Ari, Jenny, Brenda

Derrick's classmates

Moms (L-R): Pansy, Mee Yoke, Lyn, Flor, Vicky, Myla, Ida, Cindy

After a dee-lish (I mean, delicious) dinner, everyone gathered to watch Derrick open his gifts and to listen to his loved ones and friends say their encouragements, prayers and blessings for him.  Oh and prophecies too.

Dad - harp clock: Time is precious,  passion to excel in music, #7 stands for perfection

Mom - water tumbler: Grow in God's words

Brother David - earphone: Listen when God talks

Cousin Janie - notepad: Gods loves you always

Cousin Jason - sheep CD holder: A shepherd leads the flock and is caring

Auntie Lyn - blanket: God is your blanket, run to Him for covering

Uncle Nat - slipper: Everything begins with a 1st step, know the truth

Pastor Jojo - slipper, again: A new phase in life, discover who God is

Uncle Rommel - pen: Sign up for righteousness, make a mark in God's kingdom

Pastor Joule - different currencies: Conquer nations (he's passing the baton to Derrick☺)

Auntie Cindy - socks, ruler, salt:Guard your walk,walk straight, bright living

Pastor John - money: Godly character and good looks can only get you so far
( money can get you farther, haha...meant to be a joke)

Auntie Pansy - basket of fruits: fruit of the Spirit, with responsibility comes blessings

Auntie Joyce - ang pow: Love of money is the root of evil, use it wisely.
(The dad shared that when Derrick was 2 years old he went to her Child Care)

Auntie Ida prophesying to Derrick

After that, we also had BLUEBERRY CHEESE CAKE! which I totally love and I took the last piece too. Everyone enjoyed themselves at the party and I’m sure Derrick did too ☺. 

Derrick and family

Happy Birthday, Derrick!!!

Ladies' Night Out

by Flor Esteban                                                                                  
It's Friday again (not the 13^th but the 20^th)! Last night our Life Group's (LG) meeting was at Queensbay's The Coffee Bean at 7:30 p.m. Rommel dropped me off at Myla’s place on their way to Permata Sports Complex for Ari’s regular swimming training at 7pm. Joule and his missionary guests, husband and wife team, Arnold and Vicky were having early dinner. I browsed through some of the Pinoy  magazines that Joule brought for Myla from his Philippine trip. Shaynne sent me a text that she and Chloe were in KFC having their dinner. The phone rang but I didn’t get it on time. I was wondering who called since the local number looked unfamiliar. After a couple of texts later, I found out that it was from Ellen. I returned the call and learned that she couldn’t join us because she was not feeling well.☹

Soon, it was time to go. Joule drove Arnold, Vicky, Myla, Eirene and me to Queensbay Mall. Myla and I proceeded to The Coffee Bean, the rest went malling. Shaynne and Chloe were waiting for us there. Chloe gave me a drawing she did earlier at KFC! Shaynne set up her computer for Chloe who couldn't wait to use it.  Myla and I stood up to order our fresh orange drink (Myla was trying her best to ignore the muffins and the cakes). Shaynne said that Anne was waiting for her taxi. Mylene showed up next looking fresh (she lives near the mall). We were exchanging stories about how our week went by when Anne came. She ordered her favorite gourmet sandwich. Anne was obviously hungry. Mylene had fruit juice as well.

Chloe playing with mom's computer

I brought a camera last night (Mylene did too) and was wondering who will take our photo (no one was waiting on tables). When suddenly, Anne’s officemate showed up. She gamely took our group photo. After that, we got down to "business”. It was another fun night of sharing our life and hearts with one another and sharing God’s word. We ended the meeting by praying and committing to pray for one another about our prayer requests. Myla’s question, “How many minutes more?” reminded me that it was time to go…it was 9:45 p.m.!

L-R: Anne, Flor, Myla, Shaynne, Mylene

Sharing stories

Myla explaining something

Willie (Mylene’s husband) and kids who were just in the vicinity joined us. Willie took another picture of ours with the kids. We lingered while waiting for Willie and Joule who was talking near by.  We soon stepped out of the store and I had to call out to Shaynne, Mylene and kids since the coffee shop’s “metal blinds” were already being lowered (there were still many customer ‘tho).

With Wayne (standing) and Marcus (sitting on moms' lap)

Outside, we’re still having fun. We made Shaynne posed with MNG mannequins. She looked like one of them with the dress she was wearing.☺

Again, I rode with Myla and her family and guests while Shaynne and Anne shared a ride with Mylene's family. Thank you Lord, we had a wonderful time!

Shaynne and the Mannequins