My Daily Salty

Starting new year's eve last week, I decided to do a short daily journal, a micro diary so to speak, of my 5 most important and significant activities of the day, and I call it "My Daily Salty". I use the word Salty because as a Christian, I want to always remind myself as 'SALT in the earth' and that I have to strive (daily) to keep my saltiness, just as what the Lord Jesus says,

You are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his flavor, 

with which shall it be salted? it is thereafter good for nothing, 

but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. -  Matthew 5:13

The only reason I'm doing this is for me to easily remember my daily activities for that specific day, especially now that I'm growing older, and my memory is not the same as when I was in my twenties. And I'm not doing this to cherish memories and hold on to it - and cry on it during my nostalgic moments - definitely not that kind of diary.  The Apostle Paul says,

Brothers, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, 

forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth to those things which are before,

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

 -  Philippians 3: 13-14

Bolt & Ken Lee (Home Video)

A video of Bolt and Ken Lee just a few hours ago while I was petting them.  God bless you all!

November Rain

It rained cats and dogs yesterday here in Jeddah, the first ever rain of the year. Everybody get so excited every time it rains here. You will see most of their videos and photos in social networking sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Here's mine from Instagram.

A video posted by Pépe Cabréra (@cameranicabrera) on Nov 11, 2014 at 1:50pm PST

And here is the full video I uploaded from You Tube.

Our Alto Goes on Vacation (UPDATE)

Picture: Our Alto getting its rear tires changed early this year.

It's been exactly a week today since our car broke down...again. Last year was the first time it broke down. Our daily routine changes significantly without our car, I mean, it's hard, especially when you get used to it. We have to take the taxi now to go to work, although we could reimburse our transportation expenses from our company (through invoices),  it's still not the same as having our own car, and that's no brainer.

Also it's been a week since we informed our company office of our predicament so that somebody would take it to the mechanic, but to no avail. We understand that there's no one available just yet but really, sometimes the desperation and the stress of haggling with a taxi driver who at least does not carry a familiar (undesirable) scent almost took its toll on us. Now we are thinking of getting our own car, not a big or expensive car, but just a tiny city car that can adequately ferry us around Jeddah.

We're thinking of getting a Kia - Picanto God willing, or something similar to its stature (cheap and tiny). But we still have to wait for few more days to plan this out. We want to know how the situation goes whether it bodes well to the company by giving us a decent car or they being satisfied with astronomical reimbursements. Who knows they might provide us a new car (which is good) or send our majestically decrepit car to the mechanic which is fine also. 

Our car is a Suzuki - Alto, I think it's the cheapest car around. We've been using it for more than six years now since August of 2008. Thank you Lord Jesus for blessing us with this small and humble car. But hey Alto, you should be resurrecting your rear for my sake otherwise it's all about agony in the streets and reluctantly getting immune to the stress, sun, carbon monoxide, dust and familiar scent that is!

UPDATE - January 27, 2015

Our Alto is back from the dead. My company decided not to buy a new car after all and instead, just fixed it. When I saw the car this afternoon, it was so filthy, I hardly recognized it. I've already washed and cleaned it and ready for tomorrow. I thank you Lord Jesus Christ for bringing back Alto. Hallelujah!

Video: Tearful Woman Confronts Open-Air Preacher

I love this video. A tearful woman confronts open-air preacher. This woman only likes to see the love, forgiveness, mercy and compassion of God, which is typical of some Christians. She has forgotten the other side of God, a God that hates sin, a God that is just, a God of order, a HOLY GOD. Yes, Yahweh is a loving God, and that's why He uses people like this preacher to spread the gospel and to warn people of their sins. DON'T BE DECEIVED!

In those days came John the Baptist, 

preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, 

REPENT YOU: FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND. ~ Matthew 3:1-2 (AKJV)

Indiegogo Campaign: Help Build 'Light in the City Church'

The Light in the City Church located along the coastline of Silay City in the Philippines has been existing for over a decade with little or no support from anyone apart from the little they could get from members who are mostly small fishermen. The Church building used to stand in a stilt that every time a storm ravages the sea, the waves leave it unusable. The members then had to pool scant resources to rebuild it, and the same cycle repeats every year, God knows how many times in a year. Now they have decided to shift to a much safer location courtesy of one member's generosity to offer part of his backyard. The makeshift worship center has just been started gradually as little help comes in a trickle. I hope and pray that their dream to build a decent and safe worship center be realized by God's grace and your precious help. Praying for you all and God bless everyone. 

Click link below to donate and 

don't forget to share this Indiegogo Campaign!

For God is not unrighteous 
to forget your work and labour of love, 
which ye have shewed toward his name, 
in that ye have ministered to the saints, 
and do minister. ~ Hebrews 6:10

I'm Reading: 'Brave New World' by Aldous Huxley

It's been a while since I've read my last novel, and this classic, (then) 'futuristic' novel 'Brave New World' by Aldous Huxley is a perfect read. "Published in 1932, this warned against the dehumanising aspects of scientific and material 'progress'", says the book. Note that I'm not in any way promoting this book, it's just that this book is so intriguing to me. When I read the short description at the back of the book, some of the elements in it sound so much like the present day and it has that eerie resemblance to (the evil, dystopian) New World Order, which I heard so much about, that's said would rule the world in the very near future. It's like the prophecy in The Book of Revelation and of Prophet Daniel coming to pass. 

This is a good read, but still, 

nothing can compare to the knowledge 

and wisdom the Word of God can give you. 

Keep on reading your Bible daily!

It's The Thought That Counts

All along I've been saying I'm crazy about simple things -- much more if it is a gift, and nothing beats the thrill of unwrapping it.The object inside more often than not is immaterial, it is the thought knowing you are special to the gift giver, at least to prove a point, that really matters.

Needless to say, for the first time in my life I sent a gift via Fedex to the most thoughtful and sweetest friend I ever have who happens to be  in France -- proof of which is the gift she sent me last February. These simple things I brought with me from my vacation in the Philippines may not be that storied of monumental proportion that deserved a trip across the Mediterranean but certainly they were well-thought of and heartfelt just as my intentions were. 

One of the two items I sent her was a small rooster figurine  (whose beak unfortunately got detached most likely due to careless handling) and the other was a tee shirt which I bought from a kiosk in a mall that sells Christian tee-shirts. Mind you, it was no ordinary t-shirt with the message emblazoned on it, "Jesus Heals". I have been praying for her because she has some sort of illness that I believe is nothing compared to the power of Jesus. Way to go little rooster and the T and my prayers for you my friend! (the photos below were proof they safely arrived, though not completely sans the little guy's beak. And the video I took in a shop where the T-shirt didn't escape me.)

"I am still wailing over my beak. Wonders how on earth people can be so careless and indifferent that reduced my life to being miserable. "The gesture though of my human tells me there is hope and she would do anything to make me whole again, literally, yehey!!"

"I'm still cute though sans my beak. I could only pray my twin back in the KSA gets a more humane treatment and does not lose his."

Yanbu Shop Opening (May 28-29)

Just less than a week after I came back from vacation, I was up again for yet another tiring out-of-town trip further north in Yanbu in time for the re-opening of our new shop in that city. I don't usually fret over workload instead I got thrilled at the prospect of brushing off some cobwebs accumulated from a month-and-half vacation. There was no time slacking off as tons of work awaited us yet totally buoyed to visit the city after a long hiatus.

If my memory serves me right, our last visit to Yanbu was way back in 2009 when our store was still new and not really one of our top priorities to visit. Now, the once little store in the corner has more than doubled its size with an entirely modern design and fittings. So it was required of us to prepare the new store for its grand 'reopening'.

This was also the first time for us to take the plane to Yanbu. We usually rent a car or get someone to drive us to go there. Yanbu is approximately 470 kms. from Jeddah, so it's not near by any stretch of imagination, though you'll reach the place with eyes closed, they say, if not permanently closed :) There is only one road to take to get there, so the chances of one getting lost to Yanbu is nil, except if you ignored the massive street sign that welcomes you to Madinah, (a forbidden city for people like me) that branches out from the main road to your right. So, 3 hours maximum is all you get to expend on the road, that is if you feel you are 'king of the road' in an SUV, otherwise 4 hours is not bad if your rented sedan barely can keep its balance when ten-wheelers and bigger vehicles bully you to the edge of the road. 

By contrast, commercial plane will be too slow if you don't get there in over 40 minutes, in fact a sports page of an English daily is all you need before you realize altitude is already plunging in haste for landing. You don't always experience being so wanted and adored all your life but at the airport, throngs of taxi driver are ready to lose reputation just to win you over at a bargain. Whoever has the lowest bid gets to carry your bag and head out to your location in a jiffy. Thankfully for us, our staff had been early at the airport and did the haggling.

It was so convenient for us because our shop is at the same building of the hotel where we stayed for the night. Kentucky and Hardees are just across the street so meals just come in handy. The bad thing is, going to the beach as earlier planned had to be scrapped  due to time constraint. But no regret, the stay was all worth it. We completed our work earlier than our estimate so we had ample rest before we headed back to the airport. Overall, everything went smoothly except for some glitches when supposedly no one was to take us back to the airport due to lack of transportation facilities. 

At the last minute though, one old Saudi emerged to our rescue but not after he got the fare safely tuck in his pocket. One of our staff went out of his way to find this guy for us. Again, the anxious episode did not end there when it was almost late for us to get a boarding pass. This fine old man seemingly oblivious of time subjected us yet again to a long wait while he haggled for four watermelons on the road that maybe he will gladly gift his waiting wife and children. And that wait seemed endless as we raced against time, battling well-guarded tantrums at bay. Patience is always a virtue, that I can vouch to, and we reached our destination on time. Indeed, all is well that ends well. Thank you Lord Jesus for our safety.

Saudia Airline to Yanbu.

Prince Abdul Mohsin Bin Abdulaziz Airport of Yanbu.

When we arrived at the shop from the airport.

Checking in at the hotel.

Going to KFC for lunch before working.

At Heaven Juices on the 2nd day of our stay.

Fresh pomegranate juice and avocado shake at Heaven Juices.

Traditional lunch from a restaurant across the street.

With our shop staff in Yanbu.

View of the mannequins & street from the back of the window.

At the boarding gate to Jeddah.

Watch the Video!

It's Mine Fashion,

Omar ibn al-Khattab Street,

Yanbu, Saudi Arabia

Tel: +966143228390

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