Its easier to give birth than to raise the dead.

Church Planting and Missions is our topic for the week. Our teacher gave us ideas on how a missionary is likened to someone who is tasked to plant a seed. He reads Mark 4:26-29:


The Parable of the Growing Seed
 ²⁶ He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. ²⁷ Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. ²⁸All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. ²⁹As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”


He told us that its not easy to plant and wait for what you have planted to grow and be fruitful. One needs to be very patient with the idea the he needs to wait for the proper time to harvest. One need not boast of his knowledge or skills since everything relies upon Gods discretion. 


Vision impartation takes the center stage for it plays a vital role in having people to support and help someone doing church planting. 


Four principles were covered by this namely, Pray, let people know you are church planting, believe that God uses people as His vessel to bless you and lastly trust Gods provision.


We are looking forward to more of Church Planting next meeting. 

Mountain Men

Data analysis is our topic tonight. We watch a film by Akira Kurosawa, a Japanese director who was so loved by our teacher, Dreams.

We were given enough time to Observe, Analyze and Recommend. Our teacher gave us the opportunity to observe a good film which to our knowledge as students of ethnographic research is so inspiring. I have pasted here a copy of the film for your convenience.

We are so blessed with our teacher. He doesn't get wrong answer. He is apt to complement everyone who participates while encouraging those who rarely speak to give out their ideas and or even opinions.

The Data gathering which later on will lead to compiling and markings is surely a tedious tasks. He instructed us to be very patient so that we may observe accordingly and give analyses without any biases. Our night became extra especial since our teacher announced our final requirement of a paper dealing with ethnographic research.

The Freedom Writers

I have graduated last year with the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in Literature. I know how it is to be teacher. I was a student teacher before in Highschool when my Values Education teacher had a trip. My students were so engrossed with their experience with a student teacher that they almost forgot about their real teacher(no joke!).

So, I had a share of what it is to be a teacher. I take record of their daily attendance and gave them assignments and required reporting. I never knew then what I was doing not until I received a letter from a student who said that I changed their lives. I was awestruck that I dont know what to say. I even forgot to say thank you for the compliment or is that a compliment since I am not sure as to what change transpired. And so I required a journal. this I believe will testify for the change they so claimed.

Memories of this event returned when our teacher showed us the film "The Freedom Writers". The sory of how a single teacher ingrained with her students the need to pursue greatness not just for personal benefit and satisfaction but also to affect others lives.

I have been encouraged to somehow evaluate my call and how to even pursue greatness, not to gain mans respect but to give God the highest praise.

The Ethnographic Research Cycle

I came across this cycle which I believe could be helpful for those who like me are into ethnographic research. I really find this subject more than interesting, for it brings out the excitement in me. The desire to learn and know more.

Ethnographic Research

Oh yes! This is one subject that seems to make every student interested. Aside from the inspiring stories from our teacher, we also had lots of fun with research. Since this is a missionary training program, we are somehow educated with different possibilities in reaching out our target people groups.

Our well mannered teacher installs the need for us to be good observers. He said that whenever we are faced with unusual situation, act and or even person, we need to be ready to observe. He gives us hints which can assists us in formulating open-ended questions which we can use to extract the information we need regarding our keen observation.

This subject goes more than research, for it also enlightened us with various possibilities in reaching out the lost souls for our Savior Jesus.  

Jesus wept

Boys dont cry, this is the line from a famous song and sayings at the same time, but are boys really not allowed to cry? It has been a great reproach to any boy in our class of 1987 when someone heard or known that a boy cried. It will be the talked of the class and with your newscasters classmates help it will be talk of the school. This is why I really have a hard time crying even when the situation asks of it.

We discussed that our learnings are the primary motivation for our personality. We are somehow molded by the environment where we belong. Our teacher reminded us of the past though she doesn't have a personal knowledge about it, she was able to somehow enlighten us as to why we do what we do. Her example of Jesus' tears somehow calls for ones emotion to surface at the proper time and place.

You need not hide your fear or doubt, even sorrows, when you need to cry, be not afraid for even Jesus wept.

Personality Development

We are now with Personality Development subject. We had a great time with our instructor who happened to be very dynamic. Her in-depth knowledge and experience allows a very good discussion with the team.

At first, I really feel that going through the past is not an easy task, well she is requiring us to revisit the past, even when we were still at the wombs. WOW! I am hesitant but at the same time excited. I know that through this journey I will be able to accomplish the 'opening' and 'closing' of memories and wounds that needs healing.

She is very appropriate as instructor for she even shared her personal experiences with regards to the subject. She is not afraid of her 'dark age' past, a strength that encourages us to do the same.

Personality as she discussed is not just the 'mask', just like what I learned from my college instructor, rather her definition of Personality is, that which constitutes a person; that which distinguishes and characterizes a person; the sum of a person’s qualities, attributes and character traits, through which he expresses his person-hood. So, personality doesn't differ wherever you are, it remains. 

I am hoping to learn more and perhaps be able to share what I have learned from this subject.