Weddings & Wedding Anniversaries · Love is indeed "a many splendored thing!" When it is given and...

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Weddings & Wedding Anniversaries Editor’s Thoughts: ……………………………….. “June – A Time For Weddings …” …………. Eddie Zamora Featured Items: A June Bride: The History Behind June Weddings ………………………………………..… Ed Zamora The Best Love Story ……………………………………………………………………..….. Deborah Ann Belka A Potpourri of Marriage Quotes ……………………………………….………… Compiled by The Editor SULADS Corner: “God Sent Us An Army” ……………………... By Sulad Jed Calayco. Balugo Elementary School Gospel Outreach Report ………... By Sulad Noel Malig-On. Canaan SULADS Mission School Patch of Weeds: …………………………………………………………….…..…….……………….…….. Jesse Colegado LIFE of a Missionary: ……..….. “The Country Previously Ruled By Cannibals” ……….………….. Romy Halasan CLOSING: Announcements |From The Mail Bag| Prayer Requests | Acknowledgements Meet The Editors |Closing Thoughts | Miscellaneous

Transcript of Weddings & Wedding Anniversaries · Love is indeed "a many splendored thing!" When it is given and...

Page 1: Weddings & Wedding Anniversaries · Love is indeed "a many splendored thing!" When it is given and returned, it enriches both the Lover an the Beloved. And as long as two people love

Weddings & Wedding Anniversaries

Editor’s Thoughts: ……………………………….. “June – A Time For Weddings …” …………. Eddie Zamora

Featured Items:

• A June Bride: The History Behind June Weddings ………………………………………..… Ed Zamora

• The Best Love Story ……………………………………………………………………..….. Deborah Ann Belka

• A Potpourri of Marriage Quotes ……………………………………….………… Compiled by The Editor

SULADS Corner:

• “God Sent Us An Army” ……………………... By Sulad Jed Calayco. Balugo Elementary School

• Gospel Outreach Report ………... By Sulad Noel Malig-On. Canaan SULADS Mission School Patch of Weeds: …………………………………………………………….…..…….……………….…….. Jesse Colegado LIFE of a Missionary: ……..….. “The Country Previously Ruled By Cannibals” ……….………….. Romy Halasan

CLOSING: Announcements |From The Mail Bag| Prayer Requests | Acknowledgements Meet The Editors |Closing Thoughts | Miscellaneous

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“June – A Time for Weddings,

and of course, Wedding Anniversaries By Eddie Zamora

considered writing about weddings and anniversaries because my wife and I got married in June, and we just celebrated our 45th Wedding Anniversary this week. There are two other former MVC faculty that I know who also celebrated their 45th Anniversary this

month. There may be others, maybe many more, so allow me to greet all the former June brides and grooms a Happy Anniversary! June is popular month for weddings. It is like a tradition, or maybe it is. For us June just happened to be the best time to get married—it was after the Nursing Board Exams, and before the next school year started. In fact, many faculty members missed our wedding because that was when the College held its annual trip to Iligan City so teachers could have their physicals at the Mindanao Sanitarium and Hospital. Monday, the day after our wedding the MVC faculty started the Faculty Colloquium. Having administrators for our sponsors did not help in getting myself excused from the first day of meetings. So that is how I started married life, sitting at faculty meetings, unlike others who have a week or two of “honeymoon bliss.” But even without a honeymoon, I could gladly admit that it was a good life for us, a marriage that have lasted all these years, raised three kids who are not young anymore, each one hopefully ready to face the future. One thing that I think contributed to our happy 45 years was spending the first 13 years of our marriage as part of the Mountain View College community, a place where we gained friends, lots of them, and where our children learned their first lessons in life, and also made plenty of friends—friends for life. Life in MVC is very different from one where families are not part of a community. The weekend services are something we have enjoyed, things we have missed here even if we have weekend services here. There is just something about MVC. Maybe it is because we are up in the rural area, very close to nature.

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On Sunday we will have a group of MVCians come together at our home, to spend a few happy hours, (Happy Hours? No not the Happy Hour we hear about here--all food and drinks are okay by MVC standards) remembering the good times at the Hilltop. We will also say Good-bye to friends who visited California for a few months—the Rufo Gasapos and Ely Deslates—we all enjoyed having had them around. We hope they also enjoyed what they experienced here. May God continue to bless us all and give us more years to give services we are able to give.

Eddie Zamora,

Redlands, California

A June Bride: The History Behind June Weddings Ed Zamora

e hear so much about couples wanting to “tie the knot” in June. I tried to find reasons for this “tradition” or myth and I found quite a few, some logical, some practical, others quite amusing but held some truth in them.

One of the reasons dates back to Roman times. The Romans celebrated the goddess Juno, the wife of Jupiter. She was the goddess of marriage and childbirth. So naturally if one wishes to have the blessings of the gods on their future, he or she would want to wed on the month special to Juno which was June. A more practical reason for our early forefathers in the 1400s and 1500s was, most people did not take baths during the winter months. There was no running hot water like today and it was too cold to bathe. So in May the community took the cleansing bath. When June came around

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everyone smelled good! That was a good time to get married. In June there would be plenty of flowers, ideal for the decorations. Another advantage for marrying in June (then) was the wife usually gave birth in the spring. When autumn and the harvest came around, the wife should have recovered from child-birth and could help in harvesting crops and canning fruits and vegetables. On the choice of the wedding day there was even a rule. Then there is the saying that goes, “Monday for health, Tuesday for wealth, Wednesday best of all, Thursday for losses, Friday for crosses, Saturday for no luck at all. So Friday weddings was not acceptable. Today though, Sunday is the best choice because that is the day when most people are free. “Today, the tradition of the June wedding continues for many reasons. In many regions, this is the time of year during which the weather is the most favorable and predictable. The days are also longer in June, flowers are in bloom, and colleges are out of session for the summer. Congratulations to all of the couples who will be wed this June. We wish you the best.” (this is from the internet)

So for our readers who are planning to get married, we wish you all the very best. May you have a happy married life.

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The Best Love Story By Deborah Ann Belka

A love story not written,

with ink from a pen but dripping with blood to release all from sin.

The scarlet thread of love, woven throughout history

reveals to all the world salvation’s true mystery.

The design of redemption, was always in God’s plan

it was the only way to show His mercy, to all of man.

For, God knew our souls, needed true deliverance

so He sent His Son, Jesus to atone, for our ignorance.

Grace mixed with blood,

the day those nails were driven making the death of Jesus . . . the best love story ever written!

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world,

that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

(from Cup O'Cheer)

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A Potpourri of Marriage Quotes Compiled by The Editor

Chains do not hold a marriage together.

It is threads, hundreds of tiny threads which sew people together through the years. That is what makes a marriage last - more than passion or even sex!

~ Simone Signoret

Marriage, ultimately, is the practice of becoming passionate friends. ~ Harville Hendrix

Two souls with but a single thought; Two hearts that beat as one. ~ Fredrich Halm

A Marriage Blessing

As you enter into the little world, that you promised to make brighter for each other,

may He who harnesses the waves and hanges the sun out in the sky

and puts the song in the birds especially bless you

and make your marriage a good and happy one!

Love is indeed "a many splendored thing!" When it is given and returned,

it enriches both the Lover an the Beloved. And as long as two people love each other,

nothing in this world is too difficult or too impossible for wanting to do something for the one you love

takes all the burden out of it and roughest way becomes smooth when you can travel it hand in hand

~ Helen Steiner

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Marriage - Poem by Mathilde Blind

LOVE springs as lightly from the human heart As springs the lovely rose upon the brier,

Which turns the common hedge to floral fire, As Love wings Time with rosy-feathered dart.

But marriage is the subtlest work of art Of all the arts which lift the spirit higher;

The incarnation of the heart's desire-- Which masters Time--set on Man's will apart.

The Many try, but oh! how few are they To whom that finest of the arts is given

Which shall teach Love, the rosy runaway, To bide from bridal Morn to brooding Even.

Yet this--this only--is the narrow way By which, while yet on earth, we enter heaven.

Your Special Day

Forty years together … Not many reach this day

While other marriages seem to fail Yours was here to stay.

Together through all your struggles

Together through all your strifes A three-fold cord not broken

Remaining together as husband and wife

Although life has given you problems You have also experienced much joy When you welcomed to your family

Three girls and one boy

So in addition to these loved ones Your friends would like to say:

“Congratulations and Best Wishes On this .. Your special day.”

Poem by Carolyn Demonbruen

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Golden Day

Today as both of you look back With happiness and pride

Upon the fifty cherished years That you’ve spent side by side,

May every memory that you share Of dreams you’ve seen come true, Help make this special Golden day

A happy one for you!

You and I

You were you and I was I; We were two before our time.

I was yours before I knew, And you have always

Been mine too.

Keeper Of My Heart

Today we celebrate the Joining of our hearts

We were meant for each other Right from the start.

We were destined to be together And never to part

You are my friend, my lover And the keeper of my heart.

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SULADS’ Corner: “God Sent Us An Army” By Sulad Jed Calayco. Balugo Elementary School

“When you need, God knows. When you ask, God listens.

When you believe, God works."

unning out of food while on the mission field was quite a common occurence, and we were not an exemption. Being a Non-Governmental Organization, the SULADS cannot really offer large amounts of monetary assistance for our monthly needs. Some of our

SULADS friends find themselves blessed when assigned to areas where it is possible to gather or produce a sustainable alternate food source. But not all of us get to be that fortunate. In our case, the monthly stipend is the only resource we depend on and running out of rice in the middle of the month was something we sometimes had to live with.

Worried about our food supply as the monthly reporting and distribution of stipends was still far off, I found myself on my knees as I cooked the last remaining rice we had. Knowing that the Lord knows our needs, I felt relieved after I communed with God through prayer. I had faith that God would in one way or another sustain us through the month. That week, Balugo was going to celebrate its foundation day, or as it was locally called "Araw ng Balugo." As I watched the people prepare for the celebration, I saw the sitio leader direct the transportation of 5 sacks of rice. "We could at least join in the celebration and get to eat rice they prepared," was the first thought that crossed my mind. Later that day, I was surprised when a student, Angel, approached me and asked for an empty sack. "Why do you need an empty sack? What do you want it for?" I asked. "For your share of rice, of course!" she responded matter-of-factly.

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"Rice?" I asked for an explanation, not believing my ears. "Yes! The sitio is giving rice to everyone and you need to give me an empty sack so I can put your share in it," she replied. I hurriedly gave her an empty sack. When she returned, she handed to us our share of rice that weighed about 6 kilos. We later found out that rice was being distributed to every sitio by the Philippine Army with the directive to distribute the goods to all the sitio residents. We thanked God for continually proving that His promises are true. God really knows our needs and acts to sustain us. In this case, God sent us the Philippine Army to supply our need.

SULADS’ Corner: Gospel Outreach Report By Sulad Noel Malig-On. Canaan SULADS Mission School

n our village, we have one patient who died from leukemia. The people in our village were very sad about what happened to our friend. We have 20 students in our adult class, 10 Day Care pupils and 78 pupils from Grade 1 to Grade 6.

We are able to maintain our falcata plantation and we have our banana plantation for the Dorcas project. We also have abaca and sweet potato available.

Together with our elders we do home visitation for backsliders every evening. Every morning and afternoon we have our worship together with the students.

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© SULADS International, Inc.

If you would like to support this mission program dedicated to taking the Gospel to the people of Mindanao, please write a check to Gospel Outreach. Mark it for the SULADS and send it to: Gospel Outreach P.O. Box 8 College Place, WA 99324 You may also donate to the SULADS using your credit card by logging on to Gospel Outreach's donation site (http://www.goaim.org/) and follow the directions. Again, mark it for SULADS. If you would prefer, you may write your check to the General Conference of

SDA and mark the donation for SULADS and send it to: General Conference of SDA Donations 12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring, MD 20904 Thank you for your support of this very important project. If you do not want to receive any more newsletters, Unsubscribe To update your preferences and to unsubscribe visit this link Forward a

Message to Someone this

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Man Robs Bank to Escape Wife, Gets Home-

confinement Sentence

Kansas man who robbed a bank last September and told police that he was hoping to get caught so he would get prison time to escape his wife, was sentenced Tuesday to six months of home confinement after pleading guilty.

The man took the guilty plea in January. He told the judge on Tuesday that he had heart surgery that left him depressed when he committed the bank robbery, the paper reported. His public defender told the court that the suspect had lived a law-abiding life and was in a stable relationship with his wife. He has four step children, the report said. He handed a note to a bank teller in Kansas City, demanding cash and warning he had a gun. He took the money-- $2,924-- and went to sit in the lobby where he told a guard he was the “guy he was looking for.” Officers arrived quickly. An FBI agent wrote in the affidavit that the man had earlier been arguing with his wife. He told investigators he wrote the note in front of his wife, telling her he would “rather be in jail than at home.” The Associated Press contributed to this report

Investment Banker

young man buys a donkey for $100, but when the farmer delivers it, the donkey is dead and the farmer has spent the money so he could not return it.

"I'll take it anyway and raffle it," says the boy.

A

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“You can’t raffle a dead donkey," says the farmer. “Yes I can. I just won’t tell them it's dead," says the boy. A month later the farmer meets the boy and asks him what happened. “I sold 500 tickets at $2 a ticket." "Didn't anyone complain?” asks the farmer. “Yes,” the boy replied, "Just the man who won... so I gave him his $2 back." The boy is now an investment banker.

(from Elixiem Amoguis)

Wedding Vows

rs. Frobisher and her little daughter Patty were outside the church watching all the comings and goings of a wedding. After the photographs had been taken, and everyone had driven off to the reception, and all the excitement was over, Patty asked

her mother, "Why did the bride change her mind, Mommy?" "How do you mean, 'change her mind'?" asked Mrs. Frobisher. "Well," said the child, "she went into the church with one man and came out with another!" (from Pastor Tim)

50th Wedding Anniversary

uring their 50th anniversary wedding celebration at a banquet in their honor, my Dad was asked to give a brief account of the benefits achieved from being married for so long.

My father stood up, thought for a long moment, then said, "Well, I've learned that marriage is the best teacher of all. It teaches you loyalty, meekness, forbearance, self-restraint, forgiveness, and...." he paused. "And?" someone cried out from the back of the room. "...and a great many other qualities you wouldn't have needed if you'd stayed single!" my father exclaimed. The room erupted in laughter.

M

D

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Wedding Anniversary

n our 25th anniversary, my husband took me out to dinner. Our teenage daughters said they'd have dessert waiting for us when we returned. After we got home, we saw that the dining room table was beautifully set with china, crystal and candles, and there was a note

that read: "Your dessert is in the refrigerator. We are staying with friends, so go ahead and do something we wouldn't do!" "I suppose," my husband responded, "we could vacuum." (from GCFL)

Wedding Pass

friend of mine joined the Navy and soon after had to attend a wedding. He asked an officer for a pass and was told he had to be back by 7 p.m. Sunday.

"You don't understand, sir," my friend said. "I'm in the wedding." "No, YOU don't understand," the officer replied. "You're in the Navy."

Happy Anniversary

On a Sunday morning a couple celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. In the small church where they had worshiped for many years, the pastor called them forward to be recognized by the congregation and prayed a blessing over them. Afterward the pastor asked them if there is anything they would like to say to one another in everyone's presence. The wife turned to her husband and with a rather weak voice said, "You are tried and true." Her husband replied, "HUH?" "Ahem. You are tried and true." "OH YEAH?! WELL I'M TIRED OF YOU, TOO."

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Anniversary Flowers

t was our second anniversary, and my husband sent me flowers at the office. He told the florist to write "Happy Anniversary, Year Number 2" on the card.

I was thrilled with the flowers, but not so pleased about the card. It read, "Happy Anniversary. You're Number 2." (from Clean-Laffs)

Golden Anniversary

n aged farmer and his wife were leaning against the edge of their pig-pen when the old woman wistfully recalled that the next week would mark their golden wedding anniversary.

"Let's have a party, Homer," she suggested. "Let's kill a pig." The farmer scratched his grizzled head. "Gee, Ethel," he finally answered, "I don't see why the pig should take the blame for something that happened fifty years ago."

(from ArcaMax Jokes)

50th Wedding

Anniversary

n an airplane, I overheard a stewardess talking to an elderly couple in front of me. Learning that it was the couple's 50th

wedding anniversary, the flight attendant congratulated them and asked how they had done it. "It all felt like five minutes..." the gentleman said slowly. The stewardess had just begun to remark on what a sweet statement that was when he finished his sentence with a word that earned him a sharp smack on the head: "...underwater."

(from GCFL)

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Match Made in Heaven (To our dear readers: Please ignore the theology. If you can't, please skip this story.)

Mom's Last Laugh

onsumed by my loss, I didn't notice the hardness of the pew where I sat. I was at the funeral of my dearest friend -- my mother.

She finally had lost her long battle with cancer. The hurt was so intense, I found it hard to breathe at times. Always supportive, Mother clapped loudest at my school plays, held a box of tissues while listening to my first heartbreak, comforted me at my father's death, encouraged me in college and prayed for me my entire life. When Mother's illness was diagnosed, my sister had a new baby and my brother had recently married his childhood sweetheart, so it fell on me, the 27-year-old middle child without entanglements, to take care of her. I counted it an honor. "What now, Lord?" I asked sitting in church. My life stretched out before me as an empty abyss. My brother sat stoically with his face toward the cross while clutching his wife's hand. My sister sat slumped against her husband's shoulder, his arms around her as she cradled their child. All so deeply grieving, no one noticed I sat alone. My place had been with our mother, preparing her meals, helping her walk, taking her to the doctor, seeing to her medication and reading the Bible together. Now she was with the Lord. My work was finished, and I was alone. I heard a door open and slam shut at the back of the church. Quick footsteps hurried along the carpeted floor. An exasperated young man looked around briefly and then sat next to me. He folded his hands and placed them on his lap. His eyes were brimming with tears. He began to sniffle. "I'm late," he explained, though no explanation was necessary. After several eulogies, he leaned over and commented, "Why do they keep calling Mary by the name of 'Margaret'?" "Oh, because that was her name, Margaret. Never Mary. No one called her 'Mary,'" I whispered. I wondered why this person couldn't have sat on the other side of the church. He interrupted my grieving with his tears and fidgeting. Who was this stranger anyway? "No, that isn't correct," he insisted, as several people glanced over at us whispering, "Her name is

C

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Mary, Mary Peters." "That isn't who this is," I replied. "Isn't this the Lutheran church? "No, the Lutheran church is across the street." "Oh." "I believe you're at the wrong funeral, Sir." The solemnness of the occasion mixed with the realization of the man's mistake bubbled up inside me and came out as laughter. I cupped my hands over my face, hoping it would be interpreted as sobs. The creaking pew gave me away. Sharp looks from other mourners only made the situation seem more hilarious. I peeked at the bewildered, misguided man seated beside me. He was laughing too, as he glanced around, deciding it was too late for an uneventful exit. I imagined Mother laughing. At the final "Amen," we darted out a door and into the parking lot. "I do believe we'll be the talk of the town," he smiled. He said his name was Rick and since he had missed his aunt's funeral, he asked me out for a cup of coffee. That afternoon began a lifelong journey for me with this man who attended the wrong funeral but was in the right place. A year after our meeting, we were married at a country church where he was the assistant pastor. This time we both arrived at the same church, right on time.

In my time of sorrow, God gave me laughter. In place of loneliness, God gave me love. This past June we celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary. Whenever anyone asks us how we met, Rick tells them, "Her mother and my Aunt Mary introduced us, and it's truly a match made in heaven." ~Author Unknown~

(from MountainWings)

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List

n her golden wedding anniversary, a grandmother revealed the secret of her long and happy marriage. "On my wedding day, I decided to choose 10 of my husband's faults, which (for the sake of our marriage) I would overlook," she explained.

A guest asked her to name some of the faults. "To tell the truth," she replied, "I never did get around to listing them; but whenever my husband did something that made me hopping mad, I would say to myself, 'Lucky for him that's one of the 10.'" (from Da Mouse Tracks)

Wedding Tradition

lthough we were being married in New Hampshire, I wanted to add a touch of my home state, Kansas, to the wedding. My fiancee, explaining this to a friend, said that we were planning to have wheat rather than rice thrown after the ceremony.

Our friend thought for a moment. Then he said solemnly, "It's a good thing she's not from Idaho." [For those outside the US, Idaho is known for its potatoes... rim shot!] (from Mikey's Funnies)

Wedding Car

fter our friends were married, they left the church and were disappointed to see that their car looked completely normal. No one had decorated it with "Just Married" signs or tin cans or balloons or anything at all.

"Disappointed" was not, however, the word used by the priest who married them. His car was very similar in make, model, and color as the groom's vehicle. (from Doc's Daily Chuckle)

Weddings and Funerals

ld aunts used to come up to me at weddings, poking me in the ribs and cackling, telling me, "You're next."

They stopped after I started doing the same thing to them at funerals.

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Wedding Colors

A five-year-old boy was in church with his parents, witnessing the wedding of a family friend. "Mommy," he whispered, "why does the lady wear white?" His mother smiled and whispered back, "Because she is very happy to be getting married." The little boy thought for a moment, then replied, "So why does the man wear black?" (from GCFL)

Hold Your Peace

t a wedding ceremony, the pastor asked if anyone had anything to say concerning the union of the bride and groom, it was their time to stand up and talk, or forever hold their peace.

The moment of utter silence was broken by a young beautiful woman carrying a child. She started walking toward the pastor slowly. Everything quickly turned to chaos. The bride slapped the groom. The groom's mother fainted. The groomsmen started giving each other looks and wondering how best to help save the situation. The pastor asked the woman, "Can you tell us why you came forward? What do you have to say?" The woman replied, "We can't hear in the back." (from Mikey's Funnies)

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FOREVER LOVE

n a tattered box at a garage sale, they lay, waiting to reveal century old secrets. Thumbing through a stack of miscellaneous items, I found two yellowed letters. Postmarked on November 17 and 18, 1908, two-cent stamps had provided passage from South Fairlee,

Vermont to Bradford, Vermont. Later at home, I read the correspondence from “Ed” to “Miss Abbie B. Avery.” In Ed’s exquisite penmanship, his salutations were, “To My One True Love” and “My Dearest One.” I pieced portions of their romance together from his letters. Apparently, their affection had been concealed from friends and families because Ed addressed Abbie’s fears that the postmaster would become suspicious about their frequent letters. Ed wrote advising Abbie not to fret because soon they could announce their love to neighbors and friends. Abbie kept an engagement ring hidden, too. The gold band a bit too large, Ed planned to have it cut down by a jeweler. Mixed in with Ed’s romantic musings were notations about everyday life, his coon dog, chopping wood, and a job “examination in N. Y. on December 8th 9 A. M.” He was hoping to land the job and fund their new household. If he didn’t, Ed had alternate plans. He wanted Abbie as his wife. Ed informed her about a “sad errand,” singing a solo at his friend Frank’s funeral. Frank’s widow once said about her marriage, “I should prefer to be with Frank in the wilderness than in a palace with anyone else.”

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July’s the month when I tend to think more about courtship, romance, and marriage. My grandson Adam, at age four, had just learned about weddings and marriage, and he told us that one day he would marry a girl and “have true love.” True love. David and my wedding anniversary is today, July 29, forty-four years. We plan to take a few trips in the fall when the weather in our region of the country isn’t so hot and humid. I’ve often said, it should be against the law in south Texas to issue marriage licenses during July and August because later in life because later anniversaries come in the midst of heat waves. Odd, though, the weather wasn’t a factor in July of 1967 when we dove into matrimony. The war in Vietnam loomed. Dave had already been drafted. We had no doubt that he would find himself in that war torn country. Within a few months Uncle Sam confirmed our doubts. A favorite excerpt about weather and love comes from Ogden Nash’s Summer Serenade: “When shirt is wet and throat is dry, Look my darling, that’s July . . . Shall we postpone our love for weather: If we must melt, let’s melt together!” Perhaps Ed and Abbie married on a chilly day, near Christmas. In one closing he wrote, “I am enjoying life greatly . . . before long we shall both be happy . . The hour of darkness approaches, and I will say good night, my love. Yours forever, Ed.” A forever love for Ed and Abbie — I hope it was so. I hope so for you, too. Index card verse for week 30: “So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth” (Malachi 2:15).

(from Cathy's Weekly Newspaper)

Long and Happy Marriage

n their 50th wedding anniversary, a couple summed up the reason for their long and happy marriage.

The husband said, "I have tried never to be selfish. After all, there is no 'I' in the word 'marriage.'" The wife said, "For my part, I have never corrected my husband's spelling." (from Mikey's Funnies)

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Tanna Island

reetings from Vanuatu! This week I visited Tanna, one of the beautiful islands of Vanuatu. Tanna is 40 kilometers

long and 19 kilometers wide, with a total area of 550 square kilometers. Its highest point is the 1,084-metre summit of Mount Tukosmera in the south of the island. A major tourist attraction in Vanuatu is Mount Yasur. It is an accessible active volcano on the coast near Sulphur Bay, southeast of Mount Tukosm. This stratovolcano is 361 meters above sea level and is caused by the eastward-moving Indo-Australian Plate being subducted under the westward-moving Pacific Plate. Mount Yasur has been erupting almost continuously for over 3 years. The eruptions that often occur several times an hour, are classified as Strombolian or Vulcanian. In spite of its continuous eruption, there is an easy access to the top and it can usually be approached safely. Many tourists come to Tanna to see the glowing volcano at night. Several of our Adventist brethren earn their living by taking tourists to the volcano with their Isuzu Dmax pickup trucks. A few years ago, the actor Jackie Chan came to Tanna to shoot one of his movies, called Chinese Zodiac. The glow of the volcano was apparently what attracted Captain James Cook on the first European journey to the island in 1774. Cook gave the island the name of Tanna, probably from the local name for earth, “tana” in the Kwamera language. Today the mountain is a sacred area for the John Frum cargo cult. Members of the cult revere John Frum, a deified messenger. He is often depicted as an American World War II serviceman who will bring wealth and prosperity to the people if they follow him. It is believed that Frum resides in Mount Yasur with his countrymen.

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Boat to Tanna

The marketplace on Tanna Island.

Mt. Yasur: the most accessible volcano in Vanuatu as viewed from the ground and the air

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The village of Sulphur Bay, the center of the movement, claims the volcano as part of their territory. The Vanuatu Government monitors the level of volcanic activity in the interests of the public, both tourists and locals alike. Kwataparen Secondary School, the only Seventh-day Adventist school in the island is located on the southwest part of the island of Tanna. This boarding school has about 11 teachers and 280 students altogether. The school has no landline or Internet access. Basically, the island of Tanna is still primitive since some tribes want to live a primitive life and do not want modern conveniences. On March 6, 2015, a category 5 cyclone PAM – the most intense tropical cyclone of the South Pacific in terms of sustained winds descended on Vanuatu. The buildings of the school were damaged. With the help of ADRA and other NGO’s our school was able to function after several weeks. ADRA Vanuatu built a chapel in the school compound, which also functions as a refuge center during cyclones. Early this year, the Vanuatu Mission donated a new truck to transport students from their villages to the school.

Chapel built by ADRA Vanuatu

CFO (L) and Principal (R) of SDA School

Construction for New Buildings and Classrooms Next year, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will build new modern buildings for the school. The plan is that school will stop operation for a year. The students will be distributed to nearby schools while the old buildings will be demolished and new buildings will be built in their place. I visited this school last week and I can see a bright future for our only SDA school in Tanna. Please include Kwataperen Secondary School in your prayers this week.

Romy Halasan Port Vila

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Announcements

1-WEEK MISSION TRIP to Navajo land, Page /Coper-mine, Arizona. The sulads will be conducting a Vacation Bible School on July 16-22, 2017. Sulads & friends welcome to join. (1 ½ months away!) It has proven to be a heart-warming, life-changing experience! For info: Asher Himbing (in Facebook) His email: [email protected]

SULAD KAAMULAN in Canada: an Ethnic Cultural Festival, Thanksgiving and SULAD Reunion with the Gitxsan Nation. Where: Gitwangak Village in Canada. When: August 4-6, 2017 (3 months away!) All sulads, MVCians and friends are invited. For info: Limwel Ramada (reachable in Facebook)

Email the group at [email protected]

SULAD 50th ANNIVERSARY GRAND REUNION

(Yes, we’re celebrating a few months early)

When: June 24,2018 – July 01,2018 (12 months away) Where: MVC Campus. Bukidnon, Philippines. Who: sulad pioneers, new sulads, sulads from all over the world and products of the sulad mission schools will be there to celebrate God’s goodness, to get spiritually recharged, to fellowship with each other, to hear sulad reports first hand, and receive continuing education training! Outstanding speakers and trainers. Visits to mission schools. A SULAD FAIR with booths and exhibits. Food tasting. Parade of Tribes. Authentic presentation from various tribes. Meet new friends. Network with fellow sulads. Cool activities for sulads’ kids. So, save the date and plan on being there! For more info : Joy Caballero-Gadia (Facebook) or email: [email protected]

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Needed: MVC Alumni write-ups (articles) for Junior Devotional 2019

MVC is tasked by the PPH (Philippine Publishing House) to coordinate the making of the Junior Devotional for 2019. Inviting alumni around the world to participate in this endeavor. Guidelines from PPH: 1. Write in conversational manner. 2. Write to describe not to prescribe. 3. Be specific. 4. Dwell on a single lesson, trait or action. 5. Have a creative title of not more than six words. 6. Include the Bible text/passage your story tries to

point out. Suggested Bible versions: NIV, ESV, NKJV, NLT and NASB.

7. Must be 350 words or less, including the memory verse which is indicated below the title of the article.

8. Include your biodata. 9. Observe proper citation.

Contributors whose articles are chosen to be included in the devotional will receive Php 350/article upon the release of the devotional.

Deadline for submission is on July 2017.

Submit articles to [email protected]

Reasons for rejection: 1. Contradicts SDA beliefs and practices. 2. Misses to emphasize the devotional theme. 3. Too preachy 4. Invades other's right to privacy. 5. Fails to comply with the requirement for the number of words. Suggested topics to write about: Spiritual matters, family, friends, studies, values, health, dating, social concerns, technology, hobbies, answered prayers, and nature.

1 weeks left before deadline Your devotional story is needed

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From The Mailbag

Dear Uncle Ed and Auntie Ellen Zamora: I enjoyed looking at these photos - of Florence Kern Auditorium beautifully decorated for your wedding and the wedding party (especially Uncle Dizon and Lolo Gayao) looking so young. I felt a pang of regret that 2-year-old me decided that I did so well at the rehearsal and was therefore exempted from marching on the wedding itself. But I can tell from photos that I wore that apple-green flower-girl’s gown for many Sabbaths after! It was a fav! Today, I decided to color CF apple-green in honor of your special day. Happy 45th Wedding Anniversary! May all your days be blessed with Love, Joy and Happiness! From Joy Caballero-Gadia

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Alumni Calendar When What Where For More Info

July16-22 SULAD VBS Navajoland Arizona Asher Himbing Aug 02-05, 2017 ASI Int’l Convention Houston, TX www.asiministries.org Aug 4-6, 2017 Sulads Kaamulan @ Canada Canada [email protected] Sept 1-5, 2017 MVCSN Alumni Reunion Cancun Ted Ray Llasos (Facebook) Dec 28-31, 2017 GYC Phoenix, AZ www.gycweb.org Jun 24-Jul 1, 2018 SULADS 50th Anniversary

Grand Reunion MVC Campus Joy Caballero-Gadia

2019 Summer (TBD)

MVCSN Golden Anniversary Reunion

MVC Campus Devaney Bayeta, Pres MVCSN Homebase Chapter

2019 Aug 12-17 Int’l Pathfinder Camporee Oshkosh, WI www.camporee.org

Acknowledgement

A special THANK YOU to

• Jessie Colegado for the chuckles in “Jessie’s Patch of Weeds”;

• Romy Halasan for the stories about Missionaries’ LIFE

• the SULADS and Gospel Outreach for “SULADS’ Corner”;

• Lyn Tabingo for editing; Joy Caballero-Gadia for the layout

Meet The Editors

This week’s issue of Cyberflashes was by Eddie Zamora. Next week’s issue will be by

Melodie Mae Karaan Inapan. Please direct all entries to her or any of the editors.

NAME: EMAIL ADDRESS:

Eddie Zamora ezamora594 at aol dot com Evelyn Porteza-Tabingo etabingo at gmail dot com Jessie Colegado Cyberflashes at gmail dot com Joy Caballero-Gadia watermankids at yahoo dot com Lily EscaraLare LyLare at Hotmail dot com Melodie Mae Karaan-Inapan melodieinapan at yahoo dot com Raylene Rodrigo-Baumgart raylene.baumgart at gmail dot com Romulo ‘Romy’ Halasan romsnake at gmail dot com

If you wish to subscribe to Cyberflashes, to unsubscribe, or if you changed your email address and want Cyberflashes to be sent to your new address, please send your request via email to any of the editors. We spell out the @ and dot signs in the email addresses to prevent worms, viruses, and robots from harvesting them. If you would like to correspond, simply substitute the correct symbols.

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Prayer Request

FOR THE CONTINUED HEALING OF: Pat Caballero, Leonora Gagatam, Jerusalem Era, Ruth Fabella & Ellen Fabella (wife and daughter of Dr. Armand T. Fabella), Felix Sareno, Elmer Aguro, Rayelch Modillas, Rebecca Antemano, Roxie Pido, Virgie Osita, Pastor Oseas Zamora, Pastor Remelito Tabingo and members of the MVC Alumni & Friends who are sick. COMFORT FOR THE BEREAVED FAMILIES OF: JB Mendez, Ronnie Enero, Theodoro Inocellas, Pastor Antonio Dandoy, Vizminda Brion Murcia, Asher Ortaleza, Federico Blaza, Araceli Arit, Jovita P. Solis, Wayne Chavit, Nanette Chio, Kerry Tortal, Elmore Jornada, Rolly Boniales and other families who recently lost their loved ones.

Closing Remarks: “Marriage…” By The Editor

here may be some who are planning on marriage in the future, in June or in other months. We wish you the best of everything. Remember what God said in Genesis 2:18 (NIV) –“The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper

suitable for him.’” Marriage was instituted by God in the beginning. The only thing we have to strive for is to find the helper suitable for us. Pray about it, God will guide you. He does not want you to be alone.

T