The Torchbearer

The God of the Great Endeavor gave me a torch to Bear.

I lifted it high above me in the dark and murky air.

Straightway and loud hosannas the crowd acclaimed its light.

And followed me as I carried my torch through the dark and starless night.

Till mad with the people’s praises and drunken with vanity,

I forgot it was the Torch that drew them

And fancied they followed me.

And my arm grew sore and weary upholding the shiny load,

And my tired feet went stumbling over the hilly road.

I fell, the torch beneath me, in a moment the flame was out.

But lo! From the throng a stripling sprang forth with a mighty shout,

Caught up the torch as it smouldered and lifted it high again,

Till fanned by the winds of heaven it fired the souls of men.

As I lay alone in the darkness,

The feet of the trampling crowd, pass over and beyond me,

Their praises proclaimed aloud.

And I learned in the deepening shadow this glorious verity,

T’is the torch the people follow, who ‘ere the bearer be.

Humbert Wolfe

I copied this poem
from the desk of my mission president when I was called as an Assistant to him
on my mission a decade ago.

Wherever I go, this poem is a constant reminder to me to be humble especially if you are called to lead. Those who have been called to serve should remember always, despite the adulation and abounding praise and vanities we will receive, we are there to direct people's attention and life to Him, we are instrument to His hands, whatever path of destiny we are are traversing, our simple pride will always be sublime to the praise and glory of our God.

IMAGINE A WORLD WITHOUT FILIPINOS

IMAGINE A WORLD WITHOUT FILIPINOS
by Abdullah Al-Maghlooth, Saudi Arabia

Found here, and here, and here.

"Saudi Arabia has the largest number of Filipino workers — 1,019,577 — outside the Philippines. In 2006 alone, the Kingdom recruited more than 223,000 workers from the Philippines and their numbers are still increasing. Filipinos not only play an important and effective role in the Kingdom, they also perform different jobs in countries across the world, including working as sailors. They are known for their professionalism and the q uality of their work."

"Nobody here can think of a life without Filipinos, who make up around 20 percent of the world's seafarers. There are 1.2 million Filipino sailors. So if Filipinos decided one day to stop working or go on strike for any reason, who would transport oil, food and heavy equipment across the world? We can only imagine the disaster that would happen."

"What makes Filipinos unique is their ability to speak very good English and the technical training they receive in the early stages of their education. There are several specialized training institutes in the Philippines, including those specializing in engineering and road maintenance. This training background makes them highly competent in these vital areas."

"When speaking about the Philippines, we should not forget Filipino nurses. They are some 23 percent of the world's total number of nurses. The Philippines is home to over 190 accredited nursing colleges and institutes, from which some 9,000 nurses graduate each year. Many of them work abroad in countries such as the US, the UK, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Singapore."

"The Philippines, which you can barely see on the map, is a very effective country thanks to its people. It has the ability to influence the entire world economy."

'We should pay respect to Filipino workers, not only by employing them but also by learning from their valuable experiences.We have to remember that we are very much dependent on the Filipinos around us. We could die a slow death if they chose to leave us."

----Abdullah Al-Maghlooth, Saudi Arabia

You can find them in the hospital you went for check-up, or the care center for the aged, you can see them building bridges and towers with its engineers and technicians, you can see them manufacturing your food, your drinking water, and you can see them in banks, offices, and even your housemaids or houseboys. You can see them when you travel on cruise ships. You can find them in houses taking care of the old ones in your family, or teaching Math and Sciences in your school. Filipinos are everywhere, yes, almost 8 million of its best, brightest and diligent people are all over the world.

And I am proud that I am one of those overseas Filipino toiling in foreign land to live a decent life and offer my child a better future.

The whole story here

Don't Throw Away your Plastic Bags

PLASTIC RECYCLING can be so fun, and crafty like this

and this too

"A fact about plastic bag: Introduced just over 25 years ago, the ugly truth about our plastic bag addiction is that society's consumption rate is now estimated at well over 500,000,000,000 (that's 500 billion) plastic bags annually, or almost 1 million per minute."

And so we implore everybody to recycle. And one of the best recycling method we have discovered...

It saves a lot of money, and energy. Plastic comes at various sizes so everybody can chose their size, they be small, medium or large, or even extra extra large.

So this summer let's recycle, and you know, its fun to swim, the splash of water, oh so refreshing!This boy found a new way to do it.You don't need to buy BATHING SUIT.

Easier to wash, and yes, dries easily.

Happy Recycling everybody!

HOW RICH ARE YOU? Let's Find Out.

Every year we gaze enviously at the lists of the richest people in world. Wondering what it would be like to have that sort of cash. But where would you sit on one of those lists? Here's your chance to find out.

How Rich are You?

Find out Here

RICHLIST RANK= 804,100,258
You're in the TOP 13.4% richest people ... Out of nearly 7 Billion people all over the world.

With your new found wealth, please donate a little to this organization.

BELIEVE INTERNATIONAL

This organization was feautured in Caring TV, and Deseret News.

BELIEVE International is a non-profit organization staffed entirely by unpaid volunteers with the objective of alleviating poverty in the Philippines. With approximately half of Filipino citizens living in poverty, education of the country’s youth is a luxury. Yet, education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty.

Providing an education for your own children can be difficult. But imagine being forced to choose between buying food and educating your children. Education, for large numbers of children in the Philippines, is simply beyond reach.
Click here to Sponsor a student.

With a hundred dollars, you can send a kid to school for a year, which includes enrollment fees, school uniforms & supplies, and transportation.

Students are encouraged to write letters to their sponsors. This communication will let the student share with you how your generosity has affected his or her life. If you choose, you can respond to the student’s letter and your email or letter will be delivered through one of our volunteers.

In case you would like to donate any amount, you can do so in two ways:
Donate online, Mail in a completed donation form and check.

My mission companion and friend, Craig, son of the current president of the organization wrote this:

"The website lists some of the current children that need help (there are over 100 who need help, with more needy children being identified!). You can view the child's profile and you can choose which child to sponsor. A donation can be made right on the website through various methods - Paypal, Credit Card, Bank Withdrawal, etc. The problem is that no one knows about this organization. I NEED YOUR HELP to spread the word about this amazing organization so we help these children...educate...and lift themselves out of poverty."

So if you can help us by sponsoring a student, or donating to the cause, or simply adding this button link to your blog or website, you will be greatly appreciated.

just copy this photo and put a link to the site.

Thank you! And congratulations for being 'rich'


Note: Photo's of the students posted in this entry was taken by Carvel and Betty Whiting

©2008 THOUGHTSKOTO

The Rope

There was once a mountain climber, who wanted to climb the highest mountain. He begun his adventure after many years of preparation, but since he wanted the glory just for himself, he decided to climb the mountain alone.

And lo, the journey begun, when the night felt heavy in the height of the mountain, and the man could not see anything. It’s so dark, all was black. A zero visibility, and the moon and the starts were covered by the clouds.

As he was climbing, and it’s like forever, only a few feet away from the top of the mountain, he slipped and fell into the air, falling at a great speed. The climber could only see black spots as he went down, and the terrible sensation of being swallowed by gravity. He keep falling…and falling, and in those moments of great fear, it came to his mind all the good things and bad things that had happened to his life.

He was thinking now about how close death was getting, and he closes his eyes; when all of a sudden he felt the rope tied to his waist pull him very hard. It’s tightening! His body was still hanging in the air. Only the rope was holding him, and in that moment of stillness, he had no other choice and he started to scream,
HELP ME, OH GOD!

He sobbed. Dreams failed, he would be remembered as someone who died in the mountain, in an accident in his quest for glory. He thinks of his family and friends, and those people he cared about. “Oh God, help me”, in the deepening silence of the night his voice is helpless and hopeless but he managed to call God.

All of a sudden, a deep voice coming from the sky answered:

“What do you want me to do?”

The climber answered, ‘Oh God, is that you? Save me my God!”

“Do you really think I can save you?” said the voice.

“Of course, I believe You can” said the climber.

“Then cut the rope tied to your waist…” ordered the Voice.

There was a moment of silence; and the man turn between two choices. He will cut the rope and fall or hold on till morning and wait for rescue.

He decided to hold on to the rope, and the Voice is not heard anymore.

The rescue team tells, that the next day a climber was found dead, and frozen…his body hanging from a rope. His hands holding tight to it…
ONLY 10 FEET AWAY FROM THE GROUND.

And we? How attached are we to our rope? What are the things that make us hold on to the rope, like fame, glory, worldly things, status and beauty. Are we willing to let go?

©2008 THOUGHTSKOTO