FAIR SUNSHINE

Evening and morning comes so naturally that I tend to take it for granted, even in the early morning watches. The house is nearly done but we have already spent the whole week here, adapting well to the overly cold and foggy mornings, the crowing of chickens, and blaring music from our early-rising neighbors. It is only starting to sink in that we finally, by Father's gracious hand, are in our very own house. Many were the times I would stop to sit and be awed at what Father has allowed me to do. I had two months to learn and design the septic system, engineering and architecture, plumbing, roofing, and reinforcement - before commencing to build it. Time, money, and expertise were all against me. All I had was the desire to wait on God for what He wanted me here for. In a span of two and a half months, while our landlord kept visiting to make sure we were packing to move out of their property by year's end, the work slowly began moving forward. We had sold our car, bu...

Six days worth of work with my son and we have been granted some great bonding time as we toiled under the scorching heat and occasional afternoon downpour. Our limited budget has constrained us to work on this ourselves instead of hiring professional help. So far, the floor framing will be completed this week with a few corrections along the way, should the Lord allow us. I had not taken into consideration the type of wood which we, having no table saw, have to deal with the different warpings and inconsistencies. But the Lord gives us the wisdom to work around the issues. Simple solutions to seemingly complicated adjustments come to mind even during breakfast. I somehow feel Tubal-Cain's pains. But I am humbled to note that funds for the left and right wall miraculously came out of nowhere and we are thus all the more encouraged. Help also came from Qatar from a dear sister whom I recently just met, (last week) to fund our tract supplies, just when we are about to run ...

It seems surreal to see this before my very eyes. I have been looking at this only on the screen of my laptop, but up to the first day that we dug into the ground ourselves, persistent to prepare the ground to receive the rain we were asking for, unable to find professional help for a week or so; suddenly out of nowhere, a call came. He was a professional mason. Needless to say, our immediate need for somebody who can work on our base properly was answered. That same night he came over to check on the plans I drew, and to discuss settlement. Now the funds are again cut in half. It will go to the workers instead. Yet I have peace in it, and after he left I thanked the Lord. I was determined beforehand not to skimp on the foundation. Father is mindful even of that. I volunteered to drive the workers to and from where we currently lived to where the build would be (16 km) so they won't have to spend money on commuting. We are shouldering that expense on top of their fees. (May ...

After over a month of working at home as a recluse, the design for the house I am planning to build is nearly complete. I just have to add some few outside supports for proving the roof against typhoons. The design has also undergone simulation against earthquakes. But our real security rests in our God, who does as He pleases. Budget constraints have knocked our previous shipping container plans to using just lumber. My years in skateboarding building halfpipes from scratch have been put to good use. I have also anticipated and included space for prayer gatherings and overnight prayer watches with the brethren. There were issues regarding the land Father gave us, but we decided to proceed with the build instead and leave the outcome to God. We will pray in faith and prepare the soil to receive the answer to that faith. If the day should come that the government would tear the house down, then I leave everything to the Lord. I have nothing to be anxious about. Much greater...