4 Summer Destinations to Get Away and Reconnect with God

Summer is coming very soon, and surely, the first thing that would probably cross our minds is – where should I go for a summer vacation? Of course, as believers in Jesus, we are trained to think that we must be wise in our spending, at the same time, we must not forget the One Who is about to provide for this much needed rest. I have listed my top 4 picks, not because they are popular, but these are the places where I had (or still having) the best moments with the Lord.

1. Israel
If you have a lot of extra cash to have the most magnificent time with the Lord, go visit Israel. For obvious reasons, this country was gone for almost 2,000 years, is currently speaking a resurrected language (Hebrew) which was dead for almost 2,000 years, and is a survivor of multiple wars. The existence of Israel is a miracle in itself, and for those who have never visited the land, I recommend that you should before the Messiah returns. After all, the new heaven and the new earth when the Messiah returns to reign will be here, literally, in Israel. Imagine walking along the Mt of Olives, where the Lord ascended and will return. Or see for yourself the places where our Lord Jesus performed miracles. Or touch the Canaanite tunnels where Abraham and Melchizedek probably did the first communion. Israel is filled with stories and visuals that will bring life to your bible reading. After all, when we were kids, we loved books with pictures more. What if you are able to see, feel, touch, smell the locations that the Bible is talking about? How awesome that would be! I have been living in Israel for a year and a half, and I still could not get enough it.
What you need to know: If it’s your first time, I would suggest that you join a tour. I recommend that you either (1) join your local church if they are organizing one. The advantage of being with your churchmates is that you have someone to rave with, and passionately share your insights and revelation. Plus, you can share your thoughts in your local language, and you can cry freely. (2) Join a tour organized here in Israel. I highly recommend joining scheduled trips by One For Israel. This organization has a Bible School in Israel, and their mission and vision is just amazing. They also specialize in Apologetics the Hebraic way, so you can have a taste of how our forefathers would discuss with non-believers during their time. (3) Come to the Feast of Tabernacles to join many Christians all over the world to celebrate the event. The biggest organizer during the feast is the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem. Many Christians flock to Jerusalem during this time because the Bible tells us in the book of Revelation that the only feast we will be celebrating during the Millenial reign is the Feast of Tabernacles. So it’s exciting to see a foreshadowing of things to come when the Messiah returns. Note that this event happens during autumn, when the weather in Israel is just perfect.
Practical tip: Learn a few Hebrew words like Shalom (hello), Toda raba (thank you very much), Bevakasha (please or you’re welcome), Sliha (sorry or excuse me), Sherutim (bathroom), Hamud (cute). I can guarantee you that you’ll fall in love with the land. Bring your most beautiful smile, as Israelis love seeing smiling people. While you focus your eyes on the Lord, don’t get yourself distracted with the people, as Israel is known to be the land of many good looking people.

2. Hongkong
If you have a fairly ok budget, I recommend that you visit Hongkong. It doesn’t seem like one of the holiest places to visit, but there are a few things that you can find that are amazing. Ma Wan island is a very small island where you can find a park called Noah’s Ark. They have a replica of the ark, and they have a lot of cool things that a child of all ages will enjoy, from 3 till even 80 maybe. It’s encouraging to go there as you will see how much Christians are willing to invest to find proof for the Bible. You’ll be so amazed at how accurate and excellent the Lord is with the details. Another interesting place to visit is Cheung Chau. It’s accessible by ferry, and is perfect for those who like to walk. I took a hike in that area, and it’s just peaceful, serene and beautiful. The best treat that I had there is I found a Baptist church and seminary right on top of the hill. We know Hongkong as more Buddhist than Christian, but seeing traces and strongholds of our Lord in places where He is ideally not so known is quite encouraging. Extra bonus, you can cross over to Macau and do a really fun activity – bungy jumping. One thing I can say about bungy jumping, is that control is something that we don’t need. We can let go, be free and enjoy life. It doesn’t have to last for just 10 seconds. It can be for the rest of our lives.
Practical tip: When you visit Ma Wan, make sure you come there first thing in the morning. One day is not enough, and you’ll surely want to come back again. Bring decent hiking shoes if you plan to go to Cheung Chau. If you’re planning to bungy jump, don’t torture yourself by hesitating to jump. Just jump, and enjoy. While you focus on learning more about the Lord, don’t get yourself distracted with shopping. It’s a really big temptation.

3. Mt. Pulag
If you’re Filipino and you’re into adventures, but you don’t want to suffer too much, Mt. Pulag is perfect for you. There is a trail called Ambangeg trail. It’s an easy climb, and you get to see many beautiful sceneries. The nice thing about being in Mt. Pulag is you get to have a stopover at Baguio to have those delicious strawberry taho. Have you ever wondered what it is like to see what God sees? Or seeing the bigger picture? Sometimes, it’s not easy for us to grasp the bigger picture, but maybe, all we need is another perspective. Climbing a mountain will give you a different view of the world – how water forms connect to each other, how valleys form the most incredible suspension, and can house such beautiful creations. Somehow, this will give us a tiny glimpse of how the Lord sees the beauty of His handiwork.
Practical tip: Best way to climb a mountain is to join a hiking group. I have only tried hiking with Trail Adventours, and they are just amazing. You’ll fall in love with their guides, how patient and proactive they can be. I found real friends from this group. You’ll enjoy their company.

4. Anilao
If your frustration is not being able to swim, but would like to see the underwater, take heart! You don’t need swimming skills to dive. All you need to know is how to walk and breathe, and have some skills to survive, which is something that can be learned. The Philippines is so rich in natural resources, and we have one of the best marine life in the world. Anilao is just a 2-hour drive away from Manila, and can be done as often as you want. Have you ever wondered why the Lord hid the underwater? Isn’t it just like our relationship with Him, something that we must intentionally pursue because the glory of it is worth pursuing and experiencing? Same thing with diving.
I have many reasons why diving for me is such a wonderful activity: (1) you can’t talk. You are just forced to listen and pay attention. In our daily lives, we sometimes miss out listening and paying attention. These are 2 very important ingredients to loving well. (2) You have no other choice but to follow the dive master. Just like our relationship with the Lord, if we just understand this principle, that following the Leader is the key to survival, then we can truly live. Also, the dive master knows the underwater very well. Go where he goes, you’ll see the underwater with his eyes. (3) You cannot dive alone, you need to have a dive buddy. It’s just like fellowship. We can’t live the Christian life alone.
Practical tip: Drink lots of water before the dive. If you feel hungry after the dive, it’s normal. Don’t feel bad about overeating. Don’t drink lots of coffee before diving, even if the Batangas coffee is just too delightful to say no to.

Appointed Time: Shabbat

Last weekend was a vacation to remember.

Vacation, what does it really mean for me? My last recollection of a real vacation was the first week of July 2014, when I spent my birthday with my family in Davao. Since then, I was so focused on my move to Israel, getting myself acclimated in a new country and a new job, meeting new people, touring friends, and not "overspending" (or should I say, cheapskate-ing?) that I have forgotten what it means to get away from the world AND just be still before the Lord.

So last weekend was that time. As usual, I have a list -- this time, it's my thankful list.

1. I did not feel hurried. I hate being hurried. I feel like anything that is immensely urgent is not from the Lord, because God never hurries me. He takes His time, and He enjoys time, especially with me. It was good because my vacation buddy wanted it the same way as I do -- chill, relaxed, slow-paced. We went on a vacation with nothing planned, except hiring a car and reserving a beautiful cabin at the Mt. Hermon area (Neve Ativ). We didn't have a schedule, and we played by ear. Since there was no agenda and planning, there was no expectation as well. The absence of expectations made it virtually impossible to be disappointed.
2. The life of luxury. I used to enjoy life in luxury. I would reserve the best hotels that I could afford, with the perfect location and a great view, dine at Michelin-star restaurants, find some urban adventures and just enjoy life. 11 months ago, I made an oath to myself to turn away from the life of extravagance, like a vow of poverty of some sort. I succeeded to a certain degree -- until I asked the Lord if I could be spoiled for the month of July while Erin and Guj were here. Somehow, I knew that the Lord was supportive of the idea, which I really appreciated. Each time I would submit my plans to Him regarding my expenses, He gives me confirmation that He is supportive on the matter. In this vacation, I could see very clearly His hand upon the situation -- He changed my heart into a joyful one days before the vacation started, He gave a lot of confirmation in the process, and during the vacation until the very last minute, my heart was just full of Him. On the physical luxury part, the cabin was really fabulous, the staff of the hotel was amazing, the car that we rented was great (which I really enjoyed driving), the places where we ate and went to are just heavenly. That was my life that I thought have died along with my resignation letter. But with the mercy and favor of the Lord, He allowed me to taste that life once again, this time with a new set of eyes and taste buds. I expected the Lord to create a longing in my heart that I would ask Him to restore that life once more -- but I didn't. Instead, I told the Lord, "thank You for that glimpse and the favor. I have not regretted my decision about giving my everything to You. This is the life that I chose, and this is my life with You. You are my Luxury. Not material things."
3. Spending it with a good friend. I learned that I could have and I can be a "for better" friend. I have always labeled myself as a "for worse" friend. It's possible to just laugh about silly things, or be quiet and ignore each other and it's ok, just watch a movie without any intellectual discussion during or after the movie. It's ok not to know everything about each other, it's ok not to talk about your burdens all the time, it's ok to be different from one another, it's ok not to be serious. I missed that. I felt like it's been ages since I had a "for better" friend, or when I was a "for better" friend. I have come to realize that being a "for better" friend allows one to be a separate individual, because in reality, no one can really share our joys. Being a "for worse" friend is a time of unity, that friends share each other sorrow, and be comforted with the same comfort that they have received from the Lord. Friendship comes from balance between the two -- "for better" and "for worse". And I hope I understand this lesson very well, because I would like to have the next one -- "till death do us part". I would like to have real friendships that last longer than a season -- who can both be "for better" and "for worse" at the same time.
4. Lots of time to pray. It was so interesting that the Parshat Torah for the weekend was Deut 3-7. How timely it was that the places that we went to were mentioned in the chapters, i.e. Hermon, Golan, Gilead, the land across Jordan, the Kinnereth, etc. It was like the Lord knew the timing, and He intended for us to read the Parsha in that specific location. But the Lord did not stop there. He put a beautiful verse in my heart last Sunday morning when I woke up -- about Elijah finding God in the still small voice. Prior to that, the Lord showed us several rainbows, a few good clouds in the sky, and at some point, when I was alone eating my chocolates, there was a strong breeze while I was having my prayer time. But my heart was not moved. Only when I woke up with that still small voice early in the morning that tears fell from my eyes after reading the rest of the chapter: 1 Ki 19:13 - the Lord asked Elijah an important question: "Why are you here, Elijah?"  That was a critical question that hit home for me. The Lord started to search my heart, my anxious thoughts, and I knew where He was leading to. I read further and got to verse 15 -- the road through the wilderness of Damascus. I giggled a little bit reading it, as I was close to the border between Syria and Israel. So I decided to take a walk along the mountains of Hermon. I poured out my heart to the Lord, at the same time, hearing from His heart about the Middle East situation. It was a good time to cry and pray and listen to the Lord. After that, I knew my time there was worth it. It was ordained that I must be at that place and that time. 

So now I learned an important lesson -- in EVERYTHING, trust in the Lord. Cease striving. Just walk with Him. And I am happy that everyday is another day to learn more about His heart, about His plans, and I can speak to Him and hear Him with greater precision. Though I may stumble and fall, He will pick me up and get me back on track.

P.S. I am starting to plan my 2016 vacation.  Yay!  I love vacations!