HAVE TO HANG ON MUCH LONGER

I've been pretty busy with school, so haven't updated for a while. Last weekend was busy also, but worth blogging about!
It's been my four months and a half here in Thailand by now ,yet, so many things to discover bound to settlement.
Talking about the food, language barrier, culture and most especially conforming to my teaching conditions. These past two weeks were so extremely defatigable. My patience has been tested that I was almost tempted of giving up my teaching job here in Thailand.
The longer I teach the students, the lesser their interests to grow. And that made me looks so pathetic and a helpless foreign teacher...Poor Me.
I couldn't help but to sigh ceaselessly and feel sorry for myself. I tried everything and use all the resources that I could do, internet, videos and books, still the expression of excitement is obscure.
Futility as it may seems, I need to finish my contract so long as the Director of the school would terminate it in a shorter time.
Amounting to a small number of students have coming to my class everyday (except of course the section 1s) which signs of disinterested in Learning English, either they don't understand me or they feel bored or they just simply don't like me.
However,I am keeping myself at ease to avoid much affected and stressed over.

SELF PORTRAIT

Although pulchritude is the forethought of man, I am fortunate enough God created man in His own image, with so much pride that I am good enough for a second look. My inadequate command of adjectives and words make me fail to describe myself vividly. I wish I could televise myself so that what I tell would prove to be true. I am Eric Am-is Baroy Mahinay a pure descent of half Spanish, and Malayan race. I'm a Filipino adventurer and sojourner and due to my adventurous spirit, I was able to reach the 3 big major islands of the country, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. My mother was supposedly naming me an old Spanish-inspired name of a lover's saint Valentino because I was born on Valentine's day. Good heaven, the midwife suggested Eric as in King Eric of Denmark which was a viker then, the reason I name my blog Vikings after the meaning of my name itself. My early childhood was spent in different places in the country, then in Olongapo city where I graduated high school in the '80s. I moved back to my mother's homeplace and took my first course in college at my father's ancestral home Cebu. My birthday falls every Valentine's day of the year. I was born on a dear exotic and peaceful island of the world called " Isla del Fuego". It is located in the central part of Visayas (you could locate it on the Philippine map). My life as a Christian has spent 17 years inactively and 6 years actively. I'd not be where I am today without the untiring, powerful touch of the Holy Spirit. Thanks to the aghast threat of the millennium bug, to my horror I kneel crying alarmed to be grilled in the lake of fire. I thank God for giving me the opportunity of sharing this website. I hope this will transcends the barriers that keep from reaching out to one another. The above picture is the sketch of me being as the young me before. There comes a time in your life when you realize that if you stand still, you will remain at this point forever You'll realize that if you fail and stay down, life will pass you by..... Life's circumstances are not always what you might wish them to be. The pattern of life does not necessarily go as you plan. Beyond any understanding, you may at times be led in different directions that you never imagined, dreamed, or designed. Yet, if you had never put any effort into choosing a path, or tried to carry out your dream, then perhaps you would have no direction at all. Rather than wondering about or questioning the direction your life has taken, accept the fact that there is a path before you now. Shake off the why's and what if's, and rid yourself of confusion, Whatever is- is what's important. The past is a brief reflection. The future is yet to be realized. Today is here. Walk your path one step at a time with courage, faith, and determination. Keep your head up, and cast your dreams to the stars. Soon your steps will become firm, and your footing will be solid again. A path that you never imagined will become the most comfortable direction you could have ever hoped to follow. Keep your belief in yourself and walk on your new journey. You will find it magnificent, spectacular, and beyond your wildest imaginings.

A REALISTIC FAITH IN A REAL WORLD

When you are deeply drowned with an onerous problems in life, it is really so hard to maintain a realistic faith in a real world today. A real world with not much hope but frustration. I rushly cut my vacation early this May believing that a sure job awaits me when I get back to Cavite from Olongapo.Surprisingly as it was, my notion collapsed as if an avalanche of melting ice covered me all over.
Admittedly, I sighed sadly with so much pain in my heart which immediately I prayed hard to the Lord to comfort me.My desire accompanied by expectation,slowly to vanish on a thin air, that a manifolds of wrinkles visibly shown on my face.
Fighting against the most impossible odds, rejoicing is hard to describe just as increasing a realistic faith.Sometimes you feel that the world is no longer revolving around you and time stops to rotates, as if you are in the bridge over troubled water and life is seemingly low that almost touching the ground filthy covered with dust just seeing yourself in the middle of a barren land which nobody can call you but yourself.Could you possibly lift your spirit and enhance your faith? Though, I'm half-miserable and gloomy today my faith to the Lord is still foldly intact.
Honestly, my heart is filled with envy seeing my friends and acquaintances who are luckily made thier lives abroad. I always thought to myself, Why can't I go abroad? Why God is so kind enough to open doors to other people, yet, selfishly neglect me? How long would I dream & anticipate that things would rightly fall in place for me? Do you think it'll happen? Sabi nila, habang may buhay may pag-asa, daw! it has been a favorite quotes to those who are weakly hopeless just to enliven the spirit hopes up.
Mind you people, I'm getting on in years now & still finding that job that'd help me to establish my own family & build my dreams somehow for my kids.
But God is always in control, His mighty plan is mysteriously hidden to us mankind,lets just anticipate that everything will be concealed in His perfect time.

THIS FAR BY FAITH

Just to pass out the dull rainy morning...I thought of something that would keep me busy aside from listening to both secular and religious music in my MP3 phone.My eyes were roaming around the four corners of my room searching for the possible errand to do,so I decided to read book to enhance my reading and vocabulary instead.
As I was chosing the best book to read,a simple booklet had caught my curiosity as if by trapping or snaring.The book entitled:"Praying with Power-Moving Mountains" written by Dr.Kenneth Mulzac,a very dynamic speaker and professor which I met personally a hundred times..
Nonetheless,I read the first part of the book till I got into the main course of the story which a lamp hardened in my throat while the author telling the intro part of a story of Thomas Dorsey known to be the father of Gospel Music and known for his composition "Precious Lord Take My Hand".
Here is the short story of Thomas Dorsey that cried me a river just this morning: Thomas Dorsey once suffered a life-changing tragedy.He had left his wife in Chicago,expecting their first baby,while he played in a revival in St.Louis.In the middle of the concert a messenger brought him a telegram.Dorsey's wife had delivered a baby boy.But she had died.He was torn, a tumult of emotions rising like a tidal wave in his breast.On the one hand,he wrenched in agony and pain at the death of his beloved wife Nettie;on the other hand,he choked with tears of joy for his boy.Shocked and crazed with pain,Dorsey made his way back to Chicago where he learned that the baby had also died.Dorsey buried both of his wife and baby in the same casket.he slumped into depression.Then one day,a friend,a music lover,locked him in a classroom,empty except for a piano.Dorsey slowly fingered the keys,improvising.A song was born:

Precious Lord, take my hand,
Lead me on, let me stand,
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;
Through the storm, through the night,
Lead me on to the light:

Refrain

Take my hand, precious Lord,
Lead me home.

When my way grows drear,
Precious Lord, linger near,
When my life is almost gone,
Hear my cry, hear my call,
Hold my hand lest I fall:

Refrain

When the darkness appears
And the night draws near,
And the day is past and gone,
At the river I stand,
Guide my feet, hold my hand:

Dorsey's tragic story moved me to cry like a baby..profoundly pondering how pathetic I was in the midst of adversity while I was calling the precious name of Jesus.It may sounds so corny or funny for others but I felt something inside that warmth the chilling of my heart.

SHOWERS OF BLESSING

There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above.
Refrain:
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy-drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.
There shall be showers of blessing,
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain.
There shall be showers of blessing;
Send them upon us, O Lord;
Grant to us now a refreshing,
Come, and now honor Thy Word.
There shall be showers of blessing:
Oh, that today they might fall,
Now as to God we’re confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call!
There shall be showers of blessing,
If we but trust and obey;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
If we let God have His way.

God has been really so good to me....and word's of gratitude isn't enough to express how much I appreciate Him and love Him so dearly.
The above passages is a Christian song entitled Showers of Blessing written by Daniel W. Whittle,1883.
The song describes the abundance blessings from above.And that is exactly the feeling I felt right now.
Somewhat indescribable and tearfully heartwarming.
First,I got a job now,though I was rejected for Texas but God reserves better than going to US.
Secondly,I received money from my benefactor in New York....
Third,I am nominated as Filipino Blog of the Week by Talksmart....isn't so unbeleivable? I mean, there's a lot of blogs spreading around the net better than I do..but Talksmart put me in the pedestal that I could not simply talk the emotions of bliss.So people outthere please cast your vote for me....just simply log on to Talksmart blogsite and you will see it at the leftside bar of his blog.
well, I am not expecting to win but to be nominated is indeed a great reward for me.
Fourth is,I got a new blogskin in my blog exclusively made for me as I requested it.Thank you so much Glennboy...this kid from Singapore is truly a good webdesigner and kind.


Fifth,I decided to make a second blog which I entrusted Carlota to design it for me...again, another kind person set aside time for my second blog and you can visit them at www.kalbolicous.blogspot.com
you'll see how Carlota blessed with so much skills on technology..


I would also like to apologize for the long and delayed time on posting here....time is so tight and I am honestly busy.
More entries would be posted here soon.....and that's all I can say this time...its just that To God Be the Glory.

A THORNY KIND OF V-DAY AND B-DAY

Through the years of my existence in this lonely world, I've never been happy celebrating my birthday.Not just for a reason that I don't celebrate it, nor I don't even have a date ( my b-day, falls every V-day of the year) but I always ended up being penniless (celebrant).
As far as my memory can possibly rekindle the circa of my teeny bopper and childhood days, I can't remember much at all how many times do I celebrated my birthday on a pomp way.
Well, it doesn't matter for me, what matters most is God extended my life again...Since it is also a V-day, many poems have been written about love, books being published inspired by love.
Just this V-day ( and my b-day as well) was enormously bad which was almost considerably a daymare for me ( if there is a nightmare, there is also a daymare..huh!) I wore my Human striped red polo, fully equipped the many faces of a teacher can be. The decision that I have made was quickly brought me to dumb in question...why?
I gave up my two classes in III-A and II-C, Sto.Domingo National High School. As in,I feel exhausted which my body can't fully recoup...that fast.
Much to my regret...though I was reluctant to give up III-A, but I have to.....words of alibis were easily pronounced by me as I talked to my Critic teacher....whew...thanks God...he accepted. Honest to goodness, I miss my III-A English class.....sorry but I don't think I have the feelings of missingness to II-C.
Needless to say, II-C were the only class section I had that gaves me so much headache.....the lowest among the Second year, the "pasaway" they were.....
Lo and behold, these two sections were back again, under the care of their English teacher Sir Serra.......hmmmm.....I'm not loaded this time....I still have three sections but that's totally tolerable for me...as in I can handle them without worrying my health at all.
Yet, I need to be devilish for these 3 sections I have.....I want them to have fear of respect to me.....at least, I won't be as wicked as I handled II-C...imagine, I threw erasers to my students at II-C who just enjoyed their talkings without listening to me...thats how I terrorized my students who dont bother to listen.
Lest,the worst thing I did in II-C, I lift and bumped the steel armchairs that created a very scrapping and annoying noise....ti, they were trembled with fear..........heaven's forbid I won't do it again...I swear to high heavens........or else my Dean would kick me out of my internship...hehehe.....well, the III-A won't hear any harsh words from me.....there was this young,lanky tall mestiza girl who feel insulted by my public corrections of her spelling of cook,lest, I called her fashion victim and lousy....
I felt sorry for her, umiyak sya because she felt like so stupid..of being mispelled the cook which she wrote "cock" and I vulgalry interpreted the word cock in two meanings that made her cried in slang term of cock "titi".
Ganun naba talaga ako ka damn strict..even the simplest mispelled...I almost cursed the girl down to the abyss................well, at least I had come to be apologetic.....
Hummmpppp..so much for that....I hate to recall that nightmares in my class in III-A and II-C. Below were letters of greetings and endearment from my kind students, at least, amidst of the terroristic approach that I used in my teaching....they still love me though.


handmade Valentine greeting from II-B


Birthday greetings from II-A



Another letter of valentine and birthday greeting


Wrapped up with love

Letter with a gift from my student in II-A

SEEKING SOLACE FROM GOD

Parang kaylan lang......its February na, a month of Love and a month of My Birthday.......whew....I'm getting old na nanaman.............well..I thank God for extending my life again though its not my birthday yet.
Wanna know the date of my natal day? much to my regret, I have to reveal the most confidential thing 'coz I dont let anybody to offer a song or what, but anyway......Valentine day is the day I was born......
Last night, I read a beautiful poem from a book that melted my heart...something that soothes to your heart even to the dividing soul.
So much for that, oftentimes we neglect to thank God or even set aside time to talk to Him and when adversary intrudes our lives thats the moment we cling unto Him and call for a rescue....here is a beautiful poem created by Helen Steiner Rice, a very popular poetic.

GOD KNOWS BEST
By Helen Steiner Rice

Our Father knows best what's best for us

So why should we complain

We always want the sunshine

But he knows there must be rain

We love the sound of laughter

And the moment of cheer

But our hearts would lose their tenderness

If we never shed a tear.

Our Father tests us often

With suffering and with sorrow

He tests us not to punish us

But to help us meet tomorrow

So whenever we are troubled

And everything goes wrong

It is just God working in us

To make our spirit strong.

Isn't it so wonderful and touching??? is it?...when I read this poem..I felt something is wrong with me....throughout the day and nights I kept myself busy without realizing that there is Somebody up there that needs my praises..waiting for my words of endearment.
Well...I collected some pictures that somehow reminds me of the goodness of the Lord......honestly...I love nature.....the Lord speaks to me thru this wonderful piece of His.
Everyday, we used to complain why and why's....yet, He always forgives 'coz He knows whats best for us.....and I really do believe.

PERSONAL TESTIMONY

Having a parent with different religious backgrounds was hopelessly confusing. My father goes to his church on Saturday while my mother on her church every Sunday.
So my condition then was drifted.Like a dry leaf being tossed by the wind without direction.On the lighter note, our home becomes a family of Adventist.




However, living in a fast growing suburban wasn't that easy where tempting sightly places were so hard to resist.That was the moment that I became acquainted these intoxicated drinks, learn to dance and even involved in a sordid orgy.
Moreover, I got almost hooked on carnal pleasure and nearly developed as a habit.Reaching the certain age, enough to understand the basic flaws of life, I decided to visit Cavite to look for a greener pasture,wherein Olongapo city by then was suffering a downfall economically due to calamity and the Americans sudden bequest.
I landed a good job in a British Electronic firm as Production Operator nearly five years.My frequent of attending church becoming deviated as I was mandatory required to work seven days a week. Year 1999 was considered to be a turning point of my Life which it turns out a blessing for me spiritually, when a certain global horrible scuttlebutt about Millennium bug grew to be a death threats in my life.

Because of its dreadful impact that awakens and caused me to tremble frightfully, I had thought of a backtrack which sometimes God has been so great to me since then. Lucky I, the Holy Spirit is still working out in me. On the other hand, as I was on the threshold of recuperating spiritually, I had felt that there was something inside urged me to join the missionary.

The invitations were so irresistible. Without any second thought, I accepted the challenged, spiritually unprepared. The experienced was filled with heavenly joys that are unforgettable. I learned to appreciate things, contentment in life, accepting people from different status and walks of life, but most of all it changed the other half of me.

Honestly, there is still colossal struggling in me, yet, I have learned to leave it up all to the Lord, allowing Him to solve it for me. When my missionary ended last 2002, another problem came along which nearly discouraged me, bewildered what to do, since I refused to work if Sabbath is not free. Because God uses ordinary people to counseled me to study in MVC as working student, there was a bit relief temporarily. Since I'm getting on in years, I pondered deeply what would be my age then if I study throughout as working student.

So I challenged God what He has in store for me. To my amazement, God showed His marvelous miracles out on my answered prayers. Modesty aside, I've got three benefactors; one from Hongkong who works as General Manager in a Hotel; the other one is from Mainland China serving as Pastor ; last one is from New York working as a Clergy. Isn't that an amazing grace, is it?

God says; " If you beleive, you will receive whatever you ask for in a prayer". Matthew 21:22
I am a graduating senior now, hopefully marching tearfully this April 1st. If there is someone that I owe a lot.....that is God.....To God be the glory and of course my family who always on their bended knees for my success.