Nongnooch Tropical Garden

I admit that I am not a pet lover. I don't have pets except for a fighting fish named Nemo, which was actually our classroom pet. I needed to purchase it and adopt it as our pet for a lesson in class. The truth is I am not really very interested in animals. I accepted this to be true for more than 20 years, but now I am having doubts. Recently, I get excited about animals. I get fascinated seeing them! In fact, I'm having thoughts of getting training to be a zookeeper. :)


I was so happy when the residents of Pattaya in Thailand recommended Nongnooch Tropical Garden. And so we visited the place.

Nongnooch Garden and Resort

The entrance fee is 500 baht per person. It's quite expensive for a zoo, but the visit is worth the fee if you love animals and fantastic landscapes.

The landscapes as you enter the garden

Just because I get fascinated with rainbows!
Rainbow wall! <3

Rest

Rest. This had been out of my vocabulary these past few months. But let me tell you that this blog entry isn't about my complaining about my tiredness but about getting through it.


Last March, I was very excited for April to come because I thought I would be able to take some rest. I knew I would be very busy during the summer vacation but I still hoped that I would get rest. What happened? April came and this meant that we, the youth leaders in church, should be preparing for the Summer Youth Camp during the Holy Week. I accomplished what was assigned to me the week before the camp. Thanks to my co-ministers because they were kind enough to understand my busy-ness. Next thing on my to-do list was the Daily Vacation Bible School (DVBS)  for children in a community in our city. It was a four-day activity for children which included teaching them Bible lessons and implementing activities. I really appreciated the efforts of all the volunteers. I did not notice that my two-week vacation from work had already ended. I went back to work a week before May came in. Summer classes, seminars for teachers, and preparations for the upcoming school year were my activities from mid-May until it ended. On the second day of June, we held the Children's Day Camp in church.


I enjoyed doing all these but I won't deny that while they were happening, I felt worried, down, discouraged, pressured, and tired. I wanted to take a break but I can't. I had opportunities to rest but my mind just kept on working.


Just last week, I felt pressured, frustrated, and worried because I felt like I was not yet prepared for the opening of classes, for work. I wanted everything to be ready before June 5, so that I may enjoy our family trip. I prayed, though not constantly, that everything would be ready. But it didn't happen. June 5 came and I needed to leave work temporarily. I really felt worried.

The March 11, 2012 Story

No, there was no bombing event on March 11, 2012. This particular date is just so memorable to me.

“Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast array, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” This is what is written in 2 Chronicles 20:15. This was what I read on March 11, 2012 upon opening my devotional book very early in the morning.

This verse is about the story of King Jehoshaphat, one of my favorite Bible characters, facing the Moabites and the Ammonites. 2 Chronicles chapter 20 begins the story, “the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to make war on Jehoshaphat.” Now this was trouble for King Jehoshaphat! A vast army was coming to attack his people and territory! Do you know what he did? “Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah (verse 3).” His immediate response was to seek the Lord. He led the people to seek help from the Lord for he knew that his forces could not withstand the army that was about to attack. King Jehoshaphat prayed, and he ended his prayer with this statement, which is one of my favorite Bible verses: “(O Lord) We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you (verse 12).” This is a statement of total surrender and dependence on God. What happened next? The Lord responded to their inquiry! The answer was: “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast array, for the battle is not yours, but God’s (verse 15)… You will not have to fight this battle… Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them (the enemies) tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you (verse 17).” Wow, what a relieving response! If you were Jehoshphat, will you believe this? Will you trust God? This wise and faith-filled king did. Early in the morning, they marched to the place the Lord told them to go. Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendour of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army (verse 21). And the ending was victory for King Jehoshaphat and his people! How? Indeed, they did not have to fight! Literally! The enemies destroyed one another! When the men of Judah arrived at the place where God led them, they saw only dead bodies! Those were the remains of their enemies! Truly, it was God’s battle. God promised. Jehoshaphat believed, trusted, and obeyed. God did exactly what he promised. Jehoshaphat worshipped God. “…The battle is not yours, but God’s.”

from http://www.redshirtfridays.org/images/Touching_Emails/soldier_kneeling.jpg 

March 11, 2012 was the day scheduled for the Licensure Examination for Teachers. That was the day I took the examination that I believed would confirm my calling as a teacher. That day, I held on to the same promise King Jehoshaphat held on to. I believed that taking the exam was not my battle, but God’s. Even before I finally decided to take the exam, I knew God was doing something far beyond my expectations and imagination. He had been telling and reminding me of his promises. At first I felt afraid. Afraid to take the exam because I was unprepared. But in December 2011, God gave me the courage (and resources) to go to the PRC Office to apply to take the examination on March 11, 2012. And the story did not end there.

Explore Pangasinan

Traveling to Dasol and Pangasinan was my first out-of-town trip with friends after finishing college. Enjoying my "freedom" from school work and my bum life as unemployed, I, together with my friends, planned a trip that was sulit on May 20-21, 2011.


We left Tarlac after lunch May 20 and went our way to an unknown place. I just printed directions I got from blogs and thanks to Google maps as well. Thank God we arrived safely at Tambobong White Beach right after the sun had set. Travel time was 4-5 hours.

It’s a Child Thing: A Collection of Anecdotes about Children

Collection 1: My First Eight Months as a Toddler Teacher

Do not underestimate the power of a toddler. ;) Laugh and learn as you read the following anecdotes involving my toddler pupils!

Teacher Lei to Pupil: Ask permission first before you get biscuits from your classmate.
Pupil to Classmate: Ask permission...
Classmate: *nod*

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During Snack Time...

Child 1: May baon akong chocolates!
Child 2: Bigyan mo ako ha?
Child 1: Ayaw ko. Di kita bibigyan.
Child 2: Ayaw mo???... Sige.

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Talking about pets during Meeting Time...

Me: What pets do you have at home?
Child: Monkey! (May pet monkey daw talaga sila. :D)
Me: What else?
Child: Wolf!
Me: What?
Child: Wolf!

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I am always amazed when I hear the conversations among my TWO-YEAR-OLD PUPILS...

While playing and running...
Child 1: (Shouts the name of Child 2 because she was accidentally hurt.)
Child 2: Hindi ko sinasadya... Hindi ko sinasadya 'yun...
(Child 1 looks at Child 2 as if saying, "Okay, I accept your explanation.")
At naglaro na sila ulit. :D

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