May 27: Flight to Victoria

Congee with Raw Egg

I had breakfast with my brother and his two sons. We went to Causeway, a Chinese restaurant. I had congee, the traditional Chinese breakfast. After that, I stayed with my mother for about an hour before I headed back to pack and wind things up. Things had gone on well.

I think I had been able to wrap my head around what I had come here. I had heard the voice of God in the midst of all the events.

May 26-27: Preparation for Flight Home

We went to the mall yesterday. I just realized that in my trip, this is the only time I had gone out with my wife. We went to eat at a Chinese restaurant where they hand-pull the noodles. A friend told me that one of his friends boasted to his uncle from China that he would take his uncle to a fancy restaurant. When he brought the uncle to the restaurant, the uncle asked what was so fancy about the restaurant. The guy said, they hand pull the noodles.

To this, the uncle laughed and said, in China, hand pulled noodles is common to sidewalk food stalls because the owners could not afford to buy noodle making machines. So what is common in China and called a "poor man's food" is a luxury food in the Philippines.

May 24-25: Wedding and Sunday

May 24 was the wedding of my wife's nephew. It was at Our Lady of Mt Carmel. Whenever I attend a wedding, I remember God's faithfulness to his people. God often refers to his relationship to them as a marriage.

I also remember Jesus Christ the Bridegroom and his Bride - the Church. Christ died for his Church to make her pure and unblemished. This is also a call to me as a husband to help lead my wife to holiness. The more I live a married life, the more I am convinced that God joined a man and a woman together so that they can lead each other to holiness. I pray for all married couples that they may continue to help each other grow in holiness.

May 23-24 The Doctor and the Wedding

May 23rd, I went to confession and the priest gave me very wise advice. I hope and pray I will be able to follow through with his advice.

My brother, sister and I went to visit my mother's doctor. She looked at my mother and checked her up. Physically, my mother is healthy, but her mind is slowly giving. She is in the early stages of Alzheimers'. Please pray for her.

May 21: Lunch with a Friend

I had lunch with my high school classmate. He has been my best friend since high school and our friendship has continued since then.

It is a blessing to see him because every time we meet, I get encouraged by his life. He continues to live in the Lord and his testimony of what the Lord continues to do in his life encourages me. Although he is an evangelical, our difference in our faith is not a hindrance for us to talk about what God has done for us.

May 20: Early Morning Prayer and Rest

Chapel of the Monastery of Our Lady of Montserrat

My brother and I went early to catch the early morning prayer at the Benedictine Monastery. We arrived before 6 am and the chapel was already open. We went in and you get a sense of peace. The place was still dark except for the lights on the statues.

May 19: The Heat and Chinatown

Avocado Ice Cream

My wife and I went out early to buy groceries. Since it was hot, we bought ice-cream, Arce ice cream of course, Avocado flavor. One of the things I have observed in Philippine fruits is that they are sweet. There are several mango varieties available in Canada but none of them can beat the sweetness of Philippine mango, not even the Ataulfo mangoes which looks just like it.