I can't believe half a year has gone by since my last post.
The weeks became months as things spiralled into the typical end-of-the-year
craziness consisting of chasing after students with incomplete requirements,
preparing for prom and retreat, trying to check quarter exams in one night,
grading, and packing. The beginning of the year was a whirlwind, and suddenly
we're getting ready to start a new school year!
Today (at the time of writing
this) marks 12 years since I was baptized. It's hard to believe that more than
a decade has passed since my public profession of faith. I look back on the
years of God's faithfulness, how He has shown me mercy in spite of my stubbornness
and lack of faith. It's quite timely, too, that I'm reading a book (which is
actually a transcription of sermons) by Dale Ralph Davis on the life of
Abraham. It has been a rebuke to me in my own lack of faith at times and how
God still persistently shows grace to His children in spite of their
foolishness.
How good is the God we
adore,
Our faithful unchangeable Friend!
His love is as great as His power,
And knows neither measure nor end!
I don't do well with change, whether that change is good or bad. It's always an adjustment to accept the reality that things don't always stay the same. It seems weird that I can even be averse to good changes, but it's true: I value consistency, from the shallowest things to the bigger things in life. (Shallow example: I tend to order the exact same thing when I eat at restaurants because why disappoint myself if I order something new and don't like it?) I am reminded from the hymn quoted above that in a constantly changing world, God is faithful and unchangeable! The word 'unchangeable' doesn't mean just that He never changes (as the word 'unchanging' means), but that He is not able to change! How wonderful is that truth!
March to April was a whirlwind of change and emotions. Back in October, I wrote about my 'favorite' batch. Near the end of the school year, a number of them confirmed that they would be transferring out for Senior High. Naturally, this was emotionally 'traumatic' for me. They're so much more than just students to me, and we've given each other pieces of our hearts over the years. Yes, I cried during the retreat. During the closing ceremony when we sang the "Irish Blessing" (school tradition) to the 10 or so leaving, I was trying not to cry behind one of the big boys (and only succeeded by thinking of the funny moments with the kids). But then the school year ended and I simply had to accept that some would be leaving and it won't be the same next year. Right on the heels of that, I went back the United States. I tried to prepare myself for the changes I knew I'd see there, but I still wasn't quite prepared for everything. But then again, it drove me to fall back on the Unchanging One who is consistent in His nature and grace.
’Tis Jesus the First and
the Last,
Whose Spirit shall Guide us safe home,
We’ll praise Him for all that is past,
And trust Him for all that’s to come.
The past half year has brought many different changes, both not-so-good (in our sometimes twisted perception of what should count as 'good') and some wonderful, but the Lord is teaching me to praise Him for the things of the past and trust Him for the future. :)
*Disclaimer: The type of change I'm talking about relates to more concrete things and not the necessary heart changes that need to be done in us or the changes we need to make to pursue godliness and holiness more. :)
Click HERE for a funny walk down memory lane with the same batch of kids that I cried over because they were moving up or moving out.
Have some random pictures from other people's cameras:
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| Hapi and I spent part of the end-of-the-year-faculty retreat in the clinic. Haha |
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| #selfiewithastudent |
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| #selfiewithstudents |
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| This past year's cell group. I think I have them again for this year too! :) |
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| I just saw I had saved this one too, and it's one of my favorite pictures. |
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| Right near the end of December, I went to San Pablo with friends and we enjoyed a nice lunch and beautiful weather on Lake Pandin. Great way to end the year! |
