Life is......

Life is relative.

This is in tune with the idea that says, “It doesn't matter how long you live here on earth. What matters most is how well you live.”

These thoughts came across to my mind.

“I have to live in order to serve others”.

“I have to live in order to dream for a life that God wants me to have”.

“I have to live in order to touch others’ lives.”

I’ve been praying to God how it feels to be following His leading.

I’ve been asking God of what it is to be His servant and how overwhelming it is to be in the service of the King.  

I have spent years of college thinking, planning and pursuing of what my future should be like.

But being hired in DCAA, my first love, was the most significant thing that ever happened in my life.

"You are temporarily hired." How can I ever forget this statement? This was Sir Mike's remark during my interview on April 27, 2016. Honestly, I didn't know what this means until the contract signing. I was temporarily hired because I haven’t signed yet the contract. I was delighted and I still am to be one of the DCAA employees since 2016.

On my first year, I signed a 3-year contract and decided to end it on its last year. In 2018, I was fully convinced to return back home and apply in a public school there in our hometown. So, I submitted a letter on Dec 15, 2018 stating my intent of ending my service the next school year. But that didn't happen. The following year, I signed a 10-month contract. And that goes the same this year. In short, I submitted the letter of intent to end my contract twice and yet, signed a contract again the next year. How unchanging!  

For these past few years, I keep on receiving messages and pieces of advice from my college friends, relatives and even family members to apply in public school.

 They say, “You can do more”.

“You deserve something better”.

“You are more than your job right now”.

“You can get higher salary rate”.

“You you can help your family better”.

“You can be more successful”.

The list of reasons goes on. 

These are the things that I sometimes take into consideration. I even took the English Proficiency Test (EPT) last year.  But being able to serve in God's vineyard, and follow His leading is far more important. God's grace is sustaining me and my family. God never fails us. He always cares and He always provides.

DCAA has seen lots of my ups and downs. I've encountered failures and disappointments. I’ve displayed my lapses, imperfections and shortcomings. Yet, DCAA has shown me its trust and confidence. It keeps on telling me that I can do better and I've always got the room for improvement.

I’ve had painful experiences. My father died without my presence. It was the most devastating moment of my life. In fact, I did write a poem for myself to deal with the pain.

Part of the poem says,  

“Gloomy days I know would pass,

So I prayed and cried so hard;

Pain and sorrow in God I cast;

Then little by little as if a waft,

Faith and hope filled my heart;

Faith to believe that “everything will be alright”,

And hope to say that “ These would not last”.

Yes! It really did work!

And believe me t’was fast!

I couldn’t survive it without the support and guidance of my DCAA family.  To say “thank you” is an understatement. 

Thank you DCAA from the bottom of my heart! And I want to thank you the most for giving me a clearer purpose - a purpose of doing God's will and living the life He wants me to have in the first place.

Long live, DCAA!