mrbeancentdblogger

Last Friday afternoon until Sunday (from July 20-22, 2012)  we were at the Camp Jabez, Dasmarinaz, Cavite for our EGR or ‘Encounter God Retreat’. At first, I was so excited kung ano ang maaring mangyari sa camping na ‘yun. I was with my co-churchmates and my classmates. I am new sa aming church which is ‘YROCK’ or Yeshuah The Rock Christian Assembly. Ang dami kong hindrances at struggles before ako makasama but praise Him, He made a way para makasama ako.

I’m just an ordinary guy outside but I have a lot inside-nakatago. So kung kilala mo ako, you know the 40% of my being not the whole me. Tahimik ako, di kita kakausapin kung di mo ko i-aaproach first (pero di ako snabero), I’m more on the observer type, mas gugustuhin kong maging follower kaysa maging leader, takot ako sa rejection, at sa aso, masayahin ako but it always depends pa rin on my mood, mahilig ako sa music, pop culture, magsulat nang kahit ano, at magbasa.

Room Matthew (Machu)

Ano nga ba ang EGR? Most of the christian(s)-born again ay alam na ang bagay na ito. Let me share na lang may personal experiences. We came at the camp not knowing kung anong mga maaring mangyari sa amin. Since I am a boy, boys rin ang mga karoommates ko. Nasa room-Matthew kami. After mag getting-to-know ang bawat isa ay nagsimula na ang orientation and then afterwards ang first session. Binubuo nang 11 sessions ang EGR (don’t know if ganoon rin sa other christian church). That night, isang session lang ang hineld. And after that session, I was crying and so they are. Grabeeee! First session pa lang, ang bigat na sa pakiramdam (mabigat in a good way). We prayed, and went back to our respective room after nun. Confiscated ang mga phones at iba pang mga gadget para iwas temptation at makapagfocus ka talaga. You just need your heart, desires at ang iyong sarili.

Real men do cry

2nd day of EGR, still on the run and I am still on FIRE! Ang gaganda ng mga topics every session. Korni mo kung di ka maapektuhan or magiging emotional. Grabeee! Sobrang grabeee! Ayaw ko nang ikwento, mas magandang ikaw mismo ang makaalam at makaranas ng exaggerated  feeling na di mo ma-eexplain. At habang tumatagal, unti-unti akong nadudurog. Nanlulumo. Nasasaktan. Dati kasi, when I encounter a problem, I keep it to myself. I ask God for help but I am not sincerely enough. I always expect or should I say, I always test Him (which is not the right way to handle your problem/s), sabi nga ng isa sa mga leader namin si church: “Tingnan mo yung kamay mo. Walang butas right? Di ka si Jesus Christ kaya ‘wag mo pasanin lahat ng problems mo.”  At hanggang sa sumapit ang hapon, ang gabi. Walang tapon sa lahat ng narealize ko, sa nalaman sa buhay ko. Eto pala talaga yung sinasabi nilang Grabeeee! I learned how to confess lahat ng tinatago kong kasalanan sa ibang tao. Tunay ngang you will accept all the challenges that life may brings if you encounter God sa buhay mo. Before we close that night, they gathered a talent presentation per group, I was in the group 3 and praise His glory name because we won out of nowhere. Thanks to my groupmates and for the first time, I consider myself as a leader that time.

Real Happiness

Last day was the best of the bests. Ika nga nila: ‘They save the best for last.’ Doon mo talaga mararanasan yung pinaka-Grabeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Wooh! If curious kang malaman? You should join an EGR and I assure you na hindi mo ito pagsisihan.

After that encounter, you will feel Free! So Free! Just ask for His forgiveness, surrender your all to Him, and accept and receive Him in your precious heart and walk with Him through your journey until the end of everything. Promise. You will never regret if you encounter God in your life. After ‘nun may pang-hahawakan ka na sa buhay mo. You will know what is your purpose. You will going to have a conviction. And you will free from the evil spirits na palaging hadlang sa mga daan papunta sa kanya.

I testify this because, I want you to encounter God, I want you to be changed by Him, I want you to know that He loves you so much even though you sinned a lot just like me, and I want to share the impact that I experienced when I encounter Him. Tunay ngang buhay ka Panginoong Hesus, nawa’y bigyan mo ng wisdom kung sino man ang bumabasa nito right now. To God be the Glory. God bless you more and more. 🙂