THANKS, RAYA, FOR THE BEAUTIFUL TESTIMONY

Raya shared her beautiful testimony and I think it should be posted here on this blog.

brothers and sisters, good day!!

this is kinda late but i just want to tell you guys how grateful iam to be part of "EXTREME" last June 30 to July 1... just like my sister said (ate bini a.k.a "RAJSH") it was so tiring !! but twas very fulfilling at the same time...though i wasn't able to help my team on finishing other tasks because of what happened to me; i slipped on a muddy hill (kakatapos lang ng ulan) after doing C.S.I. w/ cris legaspi.. was not able to stand, it felt paralyzing. Here's why (it took alot of courage for me to post this - whew!)

i had an accident earlier this year (020707 around 2445H), i got sideswept by a huge car or rather an SUV? i don't know how you call it..its a TOYOTA FORTUNER - i was crossing the street (properly- with WALK sign lit) i saw this huge thing running so fast towards me, I tried to run but it was running so fast I got sideswept and fell on the ground- i tried to get back on my feet & as i was about to stand up i just heard something in my back...part of it was like tearing apart - until pain was all over my body that made me back on the ground..and realizing "hindi to daplis, naaksidente ako!?!"

Just to make the story brief, after being a bed ridden for like a month (i can barely move- only my fingers for texting), God showed me How much He loves me.. its is a wake up call for me -

(1)He made me realize that no one/nothing can give me comfort, contentment, unconditional love in this world.except God!! - only HIM (most of the people just laughed at me when they heard what happened "Stupid!", well they do not know what really happened):

(2)GOD used this accident to change someone's life, the man who owns the vehicle & who was driving that time..i don't know how GOD did it but it was so awesome. the guy quit smoking and drinking alcohols/liquors -I couldn't believe it when his wife sent me a text message "raya, u myt not realized how much u changed my husband's life - our life..."i really don't know how to react:

(3)im much more closer to my family, specially with my siblings:

(4)the most important thing God gave me through this accident was the pain i got from it.with this pain im so much more dependent on Him.with this pain i keep on longing to know Him more, i have this great thirst and hunger for His word.and i asked God if this is the only way for me to keep dependent on Him let me have it - and answered prayers coz just last week i went to my doctor, got a prescription of pain reliever, and a text message from my uncle (who's a doctor) telling me that the muscle pain will be lingering, it'll be on&off with any medicines and there is possibility that it will stay with me as long as i live, i've been taking different pain relievers but it seems none of them can relieve the pain..only God's grace - coz it was perfectly made for weaknessesduring the "EXTREME", after what happened, it was really embarassing, i do not know what to do, i just asked God "bat dito pa? i knew it..."...God just told me that its ok..the people who's with me would be my brothers and sisters who really cared for me during that time (naks!)...

thank you po: my team mates (summer, leslie, kat, kim,reggie,gian & other two more - forgot their names, peace out!), cris legaspi - one of our Big bros, archie sy&doc gil who stayed with me til I was ready to stand,though i pain, kuya dennis - cleaned the mud all over me, and to everybody who participated the retreat (white team, orange team, banana team, violet team, blue team, green team, pink team, red team)..it was a great event..

and thank you for PChris,PJon, PMau - they're not just pastors, they are like our big bros since we've been a member of GCF. i know some of you would be asking why i joined an adevnture camp knowing my condition - please accept my apology, im really sorry for causing "trouble" but im telling this to share with you what God did to me - He just brought me back to Him - (HE WILL DO EVERYTHING, ANYTHING just to pick you up and bring you back to HIM) and reminded me why am i here for..before posting this message i already told myself that whatever response i might get negative or positive (or none!!!) that would be very fine..all i wanted is to share this to you really.

Thank you for your time in reading this, i hope i was able to show you How great God's love is!!GODSPEED!!God is our refuge and strenth,harayalamatrinidads abio a.k.a. RAYA

NEWS: Arrivals and Departures and an Item of Prayer

- Sam Zipp and Heather Tuggy are back and will be joining us, the Lord willing, next Thursday (Aug. 16th). Like I said, Sam will be bringing specialities from her home town/state for us to sample on. Pray for her and Heather as the school year starts at Faith Academy.

- Pastor Ro will be leaving for the US in a couple of weeks to spend some time with his family. When he returns to Manila, he assumes the post of Youth Director of the Union Church of Manila in Legaspi Village, Makati City. He promised to come and join us at iYACIES and teach once in a while. Pray for him. He has been a constant source of blessing for us.

- I (PJon) have an item of prayer. The people and leaders of the Covenant Presbyterian Church in West Lafayette, Indiana (the church where two of the Overtones singing group belong) have expressed their interest in inviting me to be their interim Worship Pastor. The invitation came as a surprise when I received an email from the mother of two of the Overtones members asking me to consider taking the post. Covenant Church has already written a formal request to our Senior Pastor and Executive Pastor to give me "on loan for a season" (God knows how long that "season" will be). Thanks in advance for the prayers!

See you Sunday!

NEWS: Transformers, Romans 12:1-2

Our Topic this Thursday is

TRANSFORMED: BY THE RENEWING OF THE MIND
Based on Romans 12:1-2

About 45 years ago I became acquainted with Angus and Emma Brower, pioneer missionaries in Africa. When I saw their slide presentation and talked with them, I thought of them as people who had truly placed their bodies on the altar for God.

While we admire the selfless devotion of such people who have been transformed by God, let's not forget that the words of Romans 12:1-2 are addressed to all of us.

The dedication of ourselves to serving God begins with a decisive commitment. But just as keeping the vows spoken in a wedding ceremony requires continual reminders and recommitment, so dedicating ourselves to the Lord involves a moment-by-moment awareness of the pledge we made. (by RWDeHaan)

Please come early, we are expecting two new faces this Thursday.
I hope we can be the ones to welcome them, instead of them welcoming us.

NEWS: Sam Arrives on Wednesday Night and other stuff

Flying In:

Our dear Sam Zipp will be flying in via Northwest Airlines on Wednesday night. She will miss our Thursday gathering though, and Sunday church too, but she will be with us next Thursday and will be showcasing some Pennsylvania specialties in our study.

We expect Heather, and a new girl to assist Sam in kindergarten by then as well.

Flown Out:

Meanwhile, Trisha has flown back to Korea last Tuesday. Those who wish to get in touch with her, you may have her email address from me (PJon). Lloyd flew back to London last Sunday but he made sure he came to church in the morning.

NEWS: Trisha Leaves for Korea on Tuesday

One of the hard-to-accept realities of being a culturally-diverse Bible study group is the constant turnover of its attendees. People come and go, and there's always someone new or someone leaving. As summer 2007 ends, we say, "Cha-el Ga!" (informal farewell in Korean) to Trisha An Bo Bae, who returns to her native Korea on Tuesday. This past summer, we have been graced by this Toni Gonzaga look-alike.


Tonight, her last night with iYACIES, she brought about 100 slices/pieces of kimbap and loads of kimchi to showcase two of her country's specialties. As she returns to Korea, she plans to apply as an airline/flight attendant, and continue in serving God wherever God leads her.

We will miss her a lot. God bless you, Trisha!

You may leave a comment for Trisha below.

In Other News:

The Romans Chapter 7 study led by P. Ro tonight was awesome! Thank God for his ministry.

We had 6 newbies/second timers in our small group tonight: 1. Riza Santos (Phils.), 2. Tom (Daejon, Korea), 3. Joseph (Pusan, Korea), 4. Steven (Shanghai, China), 5. Sara (Seoul, Korea), and 6. J.V. (Phils.). Joining us at our after-study-coffee was Lloyd Dyson (UK) who leaves for home in Reading, England on Sunday night.

Sam Zipp (US) and Heather Tuggy (US), with another girl assisting Sam at school this year arrive in Manila next week. They will be joining us again on August 16. Sam's birthday is on August 7!