Sunday, December 8, 2013

Family Day 2013

I LEFT the hospital earlier than usual to catch the 8:30 am service at Higher Rock Christian Church. This Sunday was particularly special because it was our Family Day. Missing it would be a huge loss. The theme was Marvelous Love, taken from 1 John 4:19: "We love because He first loved us."

Missionary Doug Nichols was invited to preach in the morning. He expounded on 1 Thessalonians 5:12-14 and cited practical examples and stories of how best we could, as Christians, serve our pastors, our church, and our church members. God used his preaching to minister to us. His life is a shining testimony to the kindness and sovereignty of God. As for myself I desperately needed the reminder—the Scripture references he cited were the ones I needed to hear.

family day: marvelous love

We had lunch fellowship in church thereafter. I finally caught up with my lawyer friend Ate Liw, one of the coolest people I know. Her life is an encouragement to me and my brother. I really love this picture of us beside the Christmas tree.

liw

We were all surprised to see Kairos, the almost one-year old son of Dom and Tina Cariaga. Wasn't it just a few months ago when we had labored in prayer that the Lord would give the Cariagas a child? How faithful the Lord has been in their lives! Kairos—a quiet, behaved, and contemplative child—took a certain liking to Manong Ralph. That made my brother really happy.

manong with kai

Dom and Tina are now based in Baguio. Dom is a practicing ophthalmologist there. I told him I'd visit his clinic soon, and he promised to screen me, a high myope, for retinal detachment.

We sat with the Cariagas and the Lascos—and what a lovely, enjoyable meal we all had!

church friends

Spotted: church friends Koji, RG, and Jeremy, as well as . . .

koji, rg, jeremy

Royden, Maynard, Manong, and Joseph.

church friends

Jo, the soon-to-be pediatrician.

jo rivera, the pediatrician

More friends!

church friends

There were presentations, and there were games.

balloons

eat that cookie

Children looked on.

games

And so did the older ones.

cheering

And then there were the funny superheroes, who would later usher in the Gospel message.

superheroes

I praise God for my church family! More photos in this album.

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