Crying in Secret

This is a story about three little kids who dreamed big dreams and hoped with all their heart to attain it. Each of them wakes up with a smile on their face knowing that the new day is another step nearer their goal.

One dreams of becoming a Doctor.

The other, a Lawyer.

The last kid wants to be the President.

And we smile. We smile because we want them to achieve those dreams. We smile because we see the hope in their eyes. We smile because we know that they can achieve their goals.

Isn't this such a wonderful story? I just feel so happy for them and I am looking forward to what their future holds. Wait. Let me add another touching element to this story.

They all live in Uganda.

Now my eyes are starting to swell up. They have hope, even if they live in a very tough land. They still dream no matter what condition they were born in. And they work hard for it. Real hard. I know how you feel, you are so touched and proud of them right? You just want to cheer them on and hope that nothing or nobody will ever take that dream away from them. Everything is going fine until a stranger pokes you in the back and whispers, "Not all endings are happy". Way to go weird and ominous stranger for ruining the moment! So you tell on the stranger and say, "Not with my God! With Him all endings are happy ones! You just wait and see." And so we continue with the story of the three wonderful little kids.

One seemingly perfect and peaceful night children from different families were abducted and our three friends were part of those taken. They were dragged and tortured once they try to escape and they were forced into becoming soldiers. Child soldiers. For their first task they were each asked to murder the person their abductors tell them to, they were threatened to death if they choose to disobey. These children, being so young and not knowing what to do, scared of dying they hold their first gun and...

With their first kill they are now considered good soldiers and because they are good soldiers their abductors must make sure that they would stay. Without the children knowing, they murder their family and tells the kids that something bad happened to their family. This way, the kids have no place to call home and nobody to run to. Now all that they are left to do is to cry. Cry their heart out. Cry out all their pains. Cry in secret. In secret because if they were caught crying, if the kids were caught thinking of home, they would be beaten up badly.

In one night their lives changed instantly and took a u-turn. In an instant, their dreams were shattered. And hope? They don't even understand the word anymore. They lost all their hope. You can just hear the stranger laughing behind you and saying his I-told-you-so speech. The sad part is, these kids start to doubt God and stopped calling on His name. It's hard to say that there is hope, because for them the future is just so dark and empty. But we know better, there is hope! THERE IS HOPE! Our hearts break seeing how hopeless these kids are and how some of them do not even hear about the fact that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. We all yearn for a happy ending for all of them.

The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) alone in Uganda abducted 10,000 children and used them as soldiers and even sex slaves. There are around 250,000 child soldiers for rebel groups and government forces in various countries. The number increases as the number of armed forces increase as well. 250,000 kids. These kids need to know that there is hope that with God all endings are happy. I urge you to reach out, to help and to pray. Give your best in doing so, whatever it is, they need it, they need you, they need God. Whatever is in your power to do, do it.

Now I do not want to leave you thinking about the story and how those three kids were left hopeless. No, I also want each of you to have faith and to really really know in your heart that there is hope.

There are people like you and me who went and rescued these kids from harms way. They rescued them, sheltered and fed them, took care of them, and made sure that everything is going to be okay. While doing so they all shared God's word and his hope. The children were not only rehabilitated but they also found peace, joy, and hope once again. Now that is a wonderful ending slash beginning. It really warms my heart knowing that with God all things are beautiful.

Now I wonder where the stranger went, guess he couldn't face defeat.

* Watched this story in the Daystar channel and cried buckets of tears.
The picture was taken from http://joshuadysart.com

From a bad past to a future full of hope

I was watching a documentary about a serial killer and they basically talked about his confessions, how many he killed, how he tortured or raped them before killing them, and all other very disturbing details. Indeed, it was very very disturbing especially after finding out that those who know him (and obviously does not have any idea on his killing spree) describe him as the sweetest and nicest boy-next-door type of guy. Imagine being neighbors with a serial killer for years and not knowing about it! I have also read about different stories of drug users, what it made them do and the damage it has done in their lives, their families, and people around them. Most of them committed numerous crimes, are wanted in different states, sold their bodies and a lot more just for drugs. Drugs that some of them never even wanted in the first place.

There are a lot of things that are happening in this world which are very disturbing and/or heartbreaking, most of which are connected with each other. In the documentary and the stories, there was something I found in common, when they addressed the root problem it was mostly related to something that happened in their childhood. This is not always the case, however it is one of the biggest reason found in most cases. The serial killer had an alcoholic father who abused him and used him everytime he gets home. The drug addict also had an addict as a mother, she sold her for more drugs. The others? Neglected.

A bad past led to a worse present, do we want an even worst future? I'm asking this not just for us, or for others who are affected, but also for them. Child abuse and exploitation is very rampant, statistics show an estimated 0f 150 million girls and 73 million boys under 18 are experiencing different forms of forced sexual intercourse and/or violence, 1.8 million are forced into prostitution and/or pornography, 1.2 million are trafficked, 250,000 are turned into child soldiers, and 218 million are forced to work even in dangerous environments. These statistics were reported years ago by the UN and WHO, all are also increasing in number, and these are only estimates. What about the others? those who were neglected, those who were left to die?

What we do with these kids affect their lives and our lives, so while they are young we should not hesitate to do something about it and to help them. Jesus said in Matthew 19:14, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." (NIV) Do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them. The kingdom of heaven is beautiful, it is peaceful, safe, full of joy, and wonderful in so many words. Such a place exists for them, it belongs to them and we should not take it away from them. There are so many children who needs hope. Just around the corner you'll see them. It is time to stop ignoring them. This is a reminder not just for you but also for me and everyone else who could do something about it even in little ways. Volunteer. Help raise awareness. Whatever is in your power to do, do it.

Jesus said, "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me."

- Mark 9:37, NIV

On Fireflies and Firefly

"I'd like to make myself believe
that planet Earth turns slowly
Its hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems"
-Fireflies by Owl City

I really like Fireflies by Owl City. I loved it ever since the first time I heard it and to satisfy my musical craving I asked my younger sister to download it. At that time however we still do not know who sang it; so my sister typed in "Firefly" (Which was already a mistake) and there were several artists who had such a song. Not knowing who really sang it she downloaded from two different artists who sounded like they could be the right one. It was obviously none of them, since the real title of the song is "Fireflies". Later on, we were able to download the one I really wanted plus, from that minor mistake I learned to love a new song.

Now I may sound like I'm blabbering on again, but I do have a point; it's not much of a point but it is somewhat like a point. I am always afraid of making mistakes thinking that it will always lead to an undesirable result. That however is not always the case, sometimes mistakes can open us to newer possibilities, it can show us things we've never seen before. In my case, this tiny mistake which made a great big difference also led me to find a new song to love. It's great how God reminds us of a lot of things even from the simplest things in life, things that we don't usually notice as well. Were always usually so busy we forget to just pause to take a deep breath and look around. I pray that we never miss God's simple reminders from all our small or big daily activities, that we never forget that God is always at work in our lives.

"It’d take a thousand colors just to paint your eyes
Like saving grace, they raise me up to paradise
This ain’t opinion, it’s consensus from my heart and mind
You make me happy to be alive"
-Firefly by Jimmy Needham

Dreaming Dreams

As graduation draws nearer I can't help but think about what really is next. I tried my best to postpone such thoughts, however it keeps coming back. To be honest, I don't really know what I want to happen next. I have no idea what I want, what my dreams are, or whatever one may call it; it's a good thing God planned out everything or else I might just be in deep deep trouble. I may have no dreams for myself, but God gave me dreams for His glory, and I consider that dream to be my dream. And when God gives us dreams, we are certain that it will surely come to pass.

Now, I know it is really hard to be sure of certain things, especially when our current situation seems to disagree greatly of such dreams. It is so frustratingly disappointing! But God knows best, He knows when the perfect time is for that dream to happen. The moments that we think nothing is happening may be the exact moments that He uses to prepare us for our dreams. With that in mind, we should embrace every moment knowing that we are getting nearer to what God has prepared for us.

Embracing every moment however, does not mean that we can sit around and wait for it to happen. No. If God gave you the dream that you will dance, nothing will ever really happen if you don't practice. God does not want us to be idle. He wants us to believe, to expect, to trust in Him, and to prepare for the wonderful future He planned for us, for the dream He gave us.

Now what?

Kind of excited for my sister's wedding, however I still don't have anything to wear. So here I am looking at gowns. Hmm... what to wear? what to wear?