Artistic World~

Hello, good day! I am Steven from the Philippines, i am a Global Mission Fellow International of the United Methodist Church serving in Zambia as Hope for Children Assistant. I served in my local church as a youth worker, worship and lay leader for the past 5 years and very involved in youth works and church administration.

I was born as Methodist and i don't go to church activities, i thought that people in the church look stupid when they clap their hands in worship, close their eyes and sometimes cry. I do believe in God, I pray sometimes too, but it felt empty that time.

In 2011 a new pastor came in our church and asked me to join the small group ---- that's when i accepted Jesus Christ in my life and involvement in ministries started.

My mentor (middle, wearing black polo shirt) who went home after 5 years when his family migrated to USA.

He was the pastor who asked me to join the church's caregroup, the reason why I became passionate about Christ

and ministries in music, leadership and discipleship.

I love following Jesus and doing ministries, i really could tell a lot of testimonies about the Lord's grace in my life especially the jobs and companies that i want and prayed for. Because i don't want my personal life to hinder my ministry works on weekends I ask God to give me jobs that would fit on weekdays, all are answered!

In 2016, i went to Singapore and Malaysia. I really felt favoured by that time, and quite frankly didn't understand why i got to travel. I was thinking that maybe the Lord blessed me of this because i devote myself to Him. Little did i know, these experiences are just my pre-requisite for my missionary service two years later.

2016: Singapore

After having been accepted in the GMF program i was surprised to find this note in my journal that's dated in September 19, 2017 that says "remember that soon God will send you someday to places". For me, it was God's approval to leave the Philippines and work abroad. Because i want to be "stable" before i turn 30 and have my own family.

As a worship leader, my job was to line up songs for our church anniversary last year, and that's based on the theme and key verse which is "therefore go". I remember having my rheema verse for weeks about Isaiah saying "whom shall i send, here i am Lord send me" perfect, just very very timely for our church anniversary.

My weekends are normally filled with church activities including worship and small group leadings, meetings and event participations.

For that anniversary, we also had missionary visitors and I remember how i was introduced by our elder pastor (who also worked as a missionary in Japan by global ministries). He said "someday, this guy would be a missionary too". I just laughed and in my mind "uh oh pastor, i am working abroad and ain't gonna be a missionary"

I was set to leave later that night too for a 5 day country crawl to Indochina.

Travelling in Indochina is waaay harder than travelling in Malaysia and Singapore. We experienced a lot of hardships like being shouted at, language barrier and got dumped at the back of the bus where you can smell the sting of the bus' bathroom. Let me mention that it was an 18-hour bus travel from Hanoi, Vietnam - Vientiane, Laos.

We also got so scared when they asked to surrender our passport and obliged to pay USD 1.00 for "border fee". The food in those vietnamese provinces are unbearable too. Along the way, we met friends who were also discriminated, a korean who helped us around finding our hotel in Vientiane and the Filipinos in Thailand who volunteered to be our tour guide in Bangkok.

God spoke to me through Deuteronomy 31:6 that says "i will never leave You nor abandon You". And realized that those hardships in travelling are God's way of showing His grace by sending people along the way.

Asia travel buddies with a Filipino staff in our hotel in Laos. Surprised that after the hassle we had along the travel

still God brings people to make use feel home and secured.

I developed this feeling of involving myself in Mission and looked mission travel opportunities. I felt that instead of wasting money for personal travelling experiences, i should really invest myself in meaningful travels.

A week after that trip. I saw the "the Filipino Methodist" magazine being sold after our church service. I read a column about Carlos who is serving in Nothern Ireland, from there, i knew that GMF is God's next step for me.

My local church family that truly made me home and contributed to who I am.

The thought that I would leave this comfort zone for years strikes from time to time.

My local church commissioning, 5 days before I left for my missionary training to Johannesburg, South Africa.

Global Mission Fellows International 2018 - 2020 class.

57 missionaries from 24 countries serving in Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa.

Commissioning in Johannesburg, South Africa by the Global Ministries of the UMC.

Aug 9, 2018

Commissioning day with all the fellows, trainers, and staff of Global Ministries.

So all those experiences in 5 countries for the last 2 years and these very recent verses i recieved through Isaiah, "therefore go" and Deuteronomy made so much sense! The experiences that i had with these food, culture and people are God's way of preparing me in my mission service.

God really works in ways we don't know. And if you feel God wants you to do something, just go and do it! If you think you are called to be a missionary, if you want to learn about the program, or want to support it, i am so much willing to help you!.

You can participate or support me through Prayers.

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Learn more about the program, ways to support and application by logging on to www.umcmission.org. You can also check out my missionary profile in the Global Ministries of the UMC website here.

Out For Mission

Yey! It's officially rainy season here in the Philippines and it's hell flooding everywhere and the rain poured early - harder compare from the last two years, must be La Nina this year.

Since my fave season is summer, before the rain strikes, i would want to give it a feature here in my blog. We had the first of our summer in Cagbalete, Mauban, Quezon -- the Boracay of the Pacific.

About Mauban:

1. Upon arriving in town, there are many tourist spots that you can check around such as the anchestral houses, the 1725 public bath that recognized by the National Museum, Museo ng Mauban, Rizal Hill Park and Mauban Seawall.

2. The Mauban breakfast pansit which is pretty famous and should be eaten through a barbecue sticks and in banana leaf. I dont know but it's designed to be eaten while you are walking or going somewhere. Maybe Maubans are pretty busy and they just need a to-go-pansit every time!

3. The Mauban's maruya, which is not like the floured one but more of malagkit like texture (sticky texture). It's a mix of sticky something and banana. So the Mauban to-go style pansit and maruya should be eaten combined with coffee ofcourse!

4. The town is pretty much of a southern culture feel. Asphalt roads, narrow, there's always a public market, a city plaza, old buildings and houses (spanish style capiz windows), the smell of sea salt in the air, helpful locals and organized public tricycle drivers. If you are frequent in south, you'd know what i'm trying to say!

The Mauban's famous Maruya and Pansit

- I T I N E R A R Y -

0300: Cubao Jam Liner

We didn't anticipate that it's a long weekend and the line is long. There are two options going to Mauban. 1: Cubao to Mauban direct, 2: Cubao to Lucena to Mauban. The first choice was the direct route but it's already fully booked so we decided to take option two.

0600: Lucena

Left Cubao by around 3am and around 6am we arrived in Lucena. You can ask drivers as you go down to which is the ride going to Mauban. Again, two options, public Bus or UV.We chose the more private and faster options which is the UV. This also left early. 45 minutes passed and we have found ourselves in the port of Mauban.

0700: Mauban port and tourism terminal.

There are numbered steps to follow upon arriving the tourism port. No brainer!

Tips:

1. Buy everything you need in Mauban market and have your breakfast there because the price of everything in Cagbalete island is pretty much expensive to almost double.

2. We had our breakfast and bought utensils, dinner, lunch, breakfast for the next day and everything we need before going to the Island, that included the Php 200.00 worth of Pusit that's pretty gigantic!!

3. Come as early as possible. The public boat going to Mauban is cheaper, however when there are a lot of tourists, the line is really long crazy, so the best option is to rent a private boat. Having a private boat is not encouraged because it's kinda pricy though it's convenient because you can ask the boat to fetch you anytime you want and it goes directly to your resort whilst in public boat, you'll have to go to the Cagbalete port to your resort via habal or tricyle and follow the scheduled time of trips.

4. You can just follow all the instruction in the tourism terminal of Mauban on how to go about the environmental fee, registration, resort you can check-in and the option to take public/private boat.

That Squid though!

Seeing the Island after an hour travel from Mauban.

We left the terminal at around 09:00 via private boat. The original plan was to take the public boat because it's cheaper. The line was soo long and it would take us forever if we take this option, so we rented a private boat.

1100 - 1200: Cagbalete Island and Tent View Resort

We chose tent view resort, Common bathroom, toilet and Php 800.00 worth of Tent good for all of us -- 6 people. We also cooked our lunch there through their provided common grilling spot. They also allowed us to borrow the utensils we need, it should be rented but we used our charm to just lend us what we need.

Yes, that's our tent! It can contain 6 people

Lunch by the way!

14:00 The start of the adventure! Sand bar and mangroves everywhere while the tide is neither high or low.

CAPTION THIS!

There are a lot of tourists and boats and even a store on the sandbar island.

1500: Snorkeling

That beautiful sunset as we wrapped our day going back to our resort

1700 - 1900: Dinner.
Bonfire's not allowed, Photo ops, Smores, UNO cards, stargazing and a lot of stories about love life, career by the beach under the stars are our activities that night. No drinking. :)

That reason why friendships are broken

Day 01

0700: Breakfast, Swimming, Photo ops

Oh and yes, the rain poured that day and coast guard suspended all travels in and out the island that terrified us because we have work the next day. We had kuya Jun the boatman of our rented private boat as our hero which violated the suspension of the coast guard, traveled the raging sea and rescued us in the island. Not encouraged at all!

Mauban port as we wait for the lifting of boat travel suspension -- not successful

shoutout to kuya Jun who helped us. You should really book him and look for him there, very dependable.

Left the island at 15:00 of the afternoon. Left Mauban by 1400 and arrived in Manila by 1800.

It was a nice first of summer for me because i spent it with my dearest people and friends. Due to our busy schedules, we just rarely see each other and i/m glad that this has become our annual summer trip!

If you are interested, you can check out our Puerto Galera DIY trips last year. It's a Budgetarian getaway too: Click for Part 1, and Part 2.

Download DIY Itinerary and expense.

More pictures.

Cagbalete Island

Isn’t it awesome to be part of the millennial generation where the world accepts you as a young mind who make influences even through social media? I mean, they know that us, millennials are spontaneous, carefree, adventorous and innovative (we love to break rules!--- well in a good way).

When it comes to our job, they say that we are jumpers, we get bored easily and find new things that can excite us. Read from an article on Facebook that our generation learned the value of living life to the fullest (travelling or doing things that you love while you can) yet are cautious about our future, our spending and our savings.

Indeed, we are awesome! Said that this is because we have learned so much from the generation who came before us ---- the generation X. Just like you guys, i’m living the principle of YOLO through travelling and creating impact in my community while I still can but still concerned about my career and hard-earned paycheck.

Because yes, we are making money but we’re not gonna do that forever. Someday we will retire or raise our own family. I’m glad to be sharing to you my financial practices that enable me to support myself, provide my share for my family expenses, travel both in the country and abroad and buy things I want randomly.

1. Be a Banker– I have been working for 4 years now, have I saved enough money? No! because, I did not realize the importance of saving money until I thought that I’m turning 30 in just a couple of years. Having a savings bank account will give you the second thought of spending when you receive your salary. It will make you eager to add more money in it because it feels good to see that your money is growing and that it feels so responsibly adulting!

Tip: Open only a bank book with no ATM card. For sure, when you are on your money emergency, it’ll be easy for you to withdraw your deposited money instantly through ATM cards. By having a bank book, sometimes, you’ll feel lazy going to your bank.

Also, think the idea that the teller already knew you as the “broke – withdrawing kind of a person” whom they’re familiar with because you’re so frequent in their bank withdrawing your money which you just deposited a week or days ago. What a sham!

2. Identity Crisis – No, this is not about you, it’s about your needs vs. wants. Do you actually know the difference?. Needs are your basic necessities like food, shelter and clothing. Wants are the things that are opposite. So before buying anything, identify first whether it's a need or you only want it, through this you can avoid overspending.

3. The 3 day rule – Talking about needs vs. wants, this is also another technique in budgeting. Do you have that guilty pleasure of buying this stuff that you came across the mall while window shopping but not sure if this is a want vs. need kind of a stuff? Have a 3 day rule instead!

To avoid impulsive buying, let three days pass before you buy that thing you thought you like. After three days, and you still think about that stuff, it’s ok to buy it knowing that it’s not impulsive anymore. But after three days and you lost your desire of buying, then you’re not impulsive and you even save a money!

4. The Pizza Party – Have you tried eating a whole pizza without slicing? So you think you’d be able to finish it? I think yes but it might leave you bloated. This is the same with our finances, you shouldn’t be eating your whole paycheck for spending and not planning of what to do about it.

This is always a famous advice in financial management, divide and save. Get percentage from your salary to which it will all go to your savings/investment or bank account automatically whenever you receive your pay. The remainder will again be divided for your expenses and small treats for yourself.

By dividing your finances, you’d be able to address all your financial needs that it won’t leave you broke before your next payday.

5. I’m a commoner – In the U.K. I think, your social status is important before marrying a royalty right? Your lifestyle as a royalty and a commoner is important esp on how you carry yourself and how you live.

Same with you financial lifestyle, if you know you’re a commoner, spend like a commoner and don’t social climb beyond your credit limits. This will just cause you so much debts and headaches. So please, stay to your status quo and stop impressing people by your fancy material things. Remember, You Only Live Once (YOLO), and when you die, your fancy proud things will be left here on earth. Don’t spend too much for fancy. The best things in life are free!

6. Be a Royalty – In contrary to a commoner, you can also be a royalty sometime. Don’t just work, save and repeat. That would kill you too! Learn to sometime treat yourself through travelling or buying that thing you’ve been wanting to buy.

Plan things up, if you really thought you want that action camera, save money to buy for it and best is wait for a sale instead of impulsive buying through installments. Installments, even if they say that it has less percentage, may cause you to trouble too. What if you have an emergency expense for a month but you’re still paying for an item? That will lead you to danger darling.

Treat yourself sometime to break the monotony of work, save and repeat lifestyle. By doing this, you’d be surprise that you are financially capable of buying things without hurting your savings, you’d learn to wait for things that sometimes worth saving money and waiting for. Lastly, you’d be inspired to save more because you learned it and you know you just did it!

7. Mark Zuckerberg – The owner of Facebook took risks and now he just had an empire. I’m not telling you to build another social media platform but be like Mark.

He has the spirit to break beyond his box and dared himself to reach his dreams. If you are dreaming to be financially free and capable, dare yourself to invest in mutual funds or business.

Read also that by doing this, you’d be able to grow your money aside from waiting only for your monthly salary. By investing to funds or business or other money-growing strategy, you’d be be able to multiply your money,

Yes, it’s good to have a bank account but ideally, it’s better to invest your money to funds or business because it grows a bigger percentage compare to banks that can only give you 0.something %. Ask someone, or even your bank on how they can help you grow your money through business and investments.

Bottom-line: Some people might look us down because we are the millennial generation, that sometimes synonymous to negative connotation. However, while we are still young, we have to think about our future and be intelligent in planning it including our finances. By doing this, our generation can be successful. This, contributes to the future of our future children, family and even to the country.

Your finances Only Live Oncs!

My Millennial Finances: YOLO

I've never seen myself as a travelling person from years ago. But when i experienced and learned a lot of things through travelling, it made me decide to choose this life. So count me in as one of your DIY travel backpacking buddy!

So we went to Malaysia and Singapore months ago, The original plan was just to go to Malaysia but since Singapore is just a ride away, we have decided to give it a go.

I am the person in charge planning all about this trip. From itinerary, travelling time, places to stay and all. Perks about this are you get to go to places you like to see, you will learn so much about geography, commuting in foreign land and wonders of each country as you do your research.

It was my first overseas travel and my first plane ride alone as well, so i was kinda excited and scared at the same time. But still I've learned a lot from this travel, and i really wanna share what I learned and experienced in this trip esp, how to reduce cost yet still getting the most in your 5 day travel.

We were able to book the Cebu Pacific Piso fare for only Php 800! Total of Php 1600 round tip from Manila to Kuala Lumpur and vice versa.

Tips:

1. Always scout for cheap flights and plan your trips months ahead to our travelling time.

For first time travelers, here are the things you need to know for international flight:

2. Be at the airport 3-4 hours before your flight - expect the worst so allocate a lot of time. You don’t want your dream trip to be ruined just because of the traffic, immigration issues or you unable to navigate the airport.

3. Bring all the possible IDs you can have – Just to make sure you can make it, always bring your identification for security purposes as well.

4. Bring your pen, departure and arrival in Manila – Oh yes, prepared for this as my friends told me to bring this because you have to fill out stuffs in the immigration and NAIA don’t have pens. I had experience borrowing pen when I arrived back, pretty embarrassing because you will delay yourself and the person lending you their pen with.

5. Bring snacks/stuff you can kill your hours waiting – Since there’s a chance you’ll be waiting especially in boarding the plane, you’ll surely get bored. Good thing that NAIA 3 is equipped with fast wifi now. Also if you are really serious about travelling in a budget, airport foods are costly.

6. Read your Itinerary and all important stuffs – Preparedness is always the key, research, ask, read and educate yourself esp if you are travelling alone. Understanding flight's do’s and don’t’s and all the things about flying so you’ll surely get your feet on the plane.

7. Don't pay for excess baggage, always bring things that are only important! Less clothes and bring wearable that can last for days. You can do your laundry in your hotel or in the local place.

Day 00:

0022. MNL - KLIA2:

I went to the NAIA2 4 hours before my travel time. Since I’ve estimated all the worst things that could happen to me during that day, I made sure to be early as soon as possible.'

Day 01

0001: KLIA2

My classmate works in KL so I have no worries about getting around the city. He fetched me up from the airport and we stayed and roamed around KL sentral station in ML and Brickfields little India at night.

Standing in KL Sentral Station. The Sentral Station connecting all the railways in Malaysia.
This is where you should go first when you arrive in Kuala Lumpur
as your starting point of commuting.

Tips:
1. If in case you are travelling alone, or first time. Either you can ride a bus (3 hours away, depends on the traffic) from KLIA2 or KL express train (30 mins away from KL sentral).
2. The KLIA2 is not in Kuala Lumpur but in a province near the city. This is also to avoid traffic and other issues concerning the airport In their capital.

0007: Brickfields Little India - Breakfast.
My classmate went home to prep and get his stuff for our visit in Singapore. There are three of us travelling and my schoolmate who checked in in a hotel in brick fields took care of me for bathe and to also prep for our noon travel to Singapore. We had breakfast around Little India and roam around until 10 am.

Indian breakfast in Brickfields little India

An Indian neighborhood near in our hotel in Brickfields

Tip: You can get faster to JB Sentral in just 3 hours from KL by riding a bus. I suggest you do that instead of train since you better lessen the time of travelling in roads. If you are rich, you can book a flight straight to SG!

0012: KL Sentral - Johor Bahru - Singapore City.
A 7-hour ride all the way to Gemas – Johor Bahru. Remember that KL and JB sentral no longer connect the same rail. So you have to transfer from train to train in order to get to Johor Bahru, the border of ML and SG.

0019: Arrived in JB sentral.
No worries because you can ask question or even just go to the flow of people and you’ll know where’s the immigration in SG. When we’re there, the line for stamping is long Unlike the Malaysian immigration where you can get a stamp immediately, for travelers going in Singapore, there will be an interview, show money and surrendering of passports. It’s part of the process so don’t be scared.

About Crossing the Border in Singapore:

I was scared because my friends and i are separated and they get my passport. Turned out that it's part of the process. Here's more about entering the Singaporean border:

1. It's normal that they will get your passport.

2. You'll have to show your plane ticket or even discuss your money allowance and your plans in Singapore.

3. You'll have a one-on-one interview with the immigration officers in a room.

4. Once you got stamped, make sure that you keep the white paper/any documents they'll give you because they will ask it once you leave SG via Johor Bahru. I guess this is a proof that you went to a legal immigration process when you entered the country.

5. Once stamped, you will ride in a bus below the immigration. Bus destination is only after the friendship bridge. You have to ride another bus going to your location in SG.

0023: Hostel Check In.

Yes! That took us almost the other day travelling. We arrived late in our hostel in Travellers @ SG. Good thing that they have a self service reception so you can easily see your name, keys and room number allocation. We also have a free food and bathroom stuffs – good place to stay!

Firts breakfast in Singapore in our hostel. All you see in the table are free and included in what we have paid.
Bonus: Our receptionist is a Filipina so it's easy to ask questions about SG. We also got our Universal Studios ticket here in our hostel that's less than SGD 50.00 rather than buying it in the park/upon park entry.

Check out more photos on:
Google+ Photos / Facebook
Travel video: Youtube
Download a DIY Budget Travel Guide: 5 Days in Singapore & Malaysia.

Artistic World~

Out For Mission

Cagbalete Island

My Millennial Finances: YOLO

Singapore & Malaysia: Crossing Borders

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