Seven Highlights

Welcome to my first "attempt-at-debriefing" post. I'm writing this to bring closure to my almost-seven-year-stay in Malaysia.

Life is full of ups and downs. Of moments both sweet and sour. I shall write about both (and all the things in between). But for this entry, I shall be focusing on the sweet.

With that, here are the seven highlights of my Malaysian adventure:

1. Leading worship. I "led" worship during intercession and dawn prayer meetings back in elbi. Also once during a Women's Encounter. But I mainly sang backup in the worship team (altos and contaltos unite!). My stay in Malaysia brought me to a journey of guitars, ukuleles, and blistered fingertips. During the HC launching in 2010, I couldn't believe one of my dreams was coming to life - I was leading worship in front of nations, in the nations.

2. Writing songs. I wrote songs every now and then during and after college. But none that I was especially proud of. Yet these past years in Malaysia have been so emotionally charged that I couldn't help but pour out my heart through music. I wrote love songs, worship songs, and feel good songs. I even sang a couple of them on open mics up on stage. I became somewhat braver here in Malaysia. I hope I can bring that bravery back to the Philippines.

3. Writing prose and poetry. Hence this blog. And this. And this, too.  So many moments of solitude made me rediscover my love for words.

4. Learning to love (part 1). It was during my stay here that I graduated from my NBSB status. But then I jumped right into the LDR club. It has been a sweet, yet difficult, journey. It's time to close the gap.

5. Learning to love (part 2). It has been a journey of loving God more. Of loving my family more. And loving people who are not my family more and more. In the end, this whole thing is all about love, love, love.

6. Driving through a rainbow. I have a Malaysian driver's license, not an International nor a Filipino one. I took lessons here. I drove for 3.5 years here. I accomplished my first long drive (six hours) here. And I bought a car here. Which I must sell. Immediately. Huhu. Bye, Caleb.

7. Seeing lives changed. God loves His children so much. I witnessed that in ways and measures different from how I saw it in the Philippines. I saw people from different nations coming to know the Lord. I saw my own people being sweetly broken before Him. I saw Him moving in such unexpected ways. I know God has touched so many lives through the family I have here. I know He will continue to touch so much more.

God is a good, good Father. And He is perfect in all of His ways. Hence my use of the number seven for this list and the lists to follow. I think seven is also significant because, on the seventh day, God rested. And so it shall be with me, on my seventh year.

Shalom.

A dream fulfilled.