1 month and 2 weeks of not posting a blog. Yikes! I fell out of my routine again, but as I read earlier in Proverbs 24:16 “Even if good people fall seven times, they will get back up.” This blog is an attempt to get back up and start creating again.
I meant to write about saying “Yes” to filming in Singapore. I’ll show you some photos so you can visualize what I’m writing.
This is Tomos. We met while serving in Japan. I don’t particularly remember the first time we talked but I just know we clicked. Like instant friends! Us being the most talkative people in the group must be a factor, but yes, you get the point.
When I arrived home in the Philippines, Tomos sent me a prayer request from a friend he met in Thailand. He said he thinks that I’m a good fit, and that I would get along with this friend of his. That’s Corrie.
She’s praying for 2 hosts for a video series she’s making: A Journey Guide to Cross-Cultural Trips. I think it’s just perfect. I’ve just been to one.
So, I said Yes to God. Days after, I chatted Corrie that I’m interested to help. The next cool thing happened: Tomos will be the 2nd host.
I still find it funny that Tomos sent me the prayer request saying I’m a good fit without knowing that we’ll do the project together.
Who Are You Saying Yes To?
For the three of us, it’s easier to say No to this project. We were going through a lot of challenges and doing other projects. I was still in the process of my cross-cultural trip to Japan, add to that taking care of my family, catching up on projects, and feeling physical and emotional heaviness.
Tomos was organizing a big event that’s scheduled the day after our filming schedule. And Corrie’s sick and facing a big trial in her life.
But how did we all say Yes to this? Why did we say Yes to this?
Because we know it was God who’s inviting us to take part in this good project.
And you know what? It was also Him who enabled us to go through and complete the project. Despite the craziness of our goals, despite the weather, despite our busyness, despite not having enough energy, despite everything. We couldn’t have done it without Him and His steadfast love.
When we learn the value of who we’re saying Yes to, and what it is for, the easier it is to say Yes. And easier to say No to things that matter less.
Rewards from Heaven
Here’s the thing with saying Yes to God— He rewards His people in the process. For the three of us, He knew how to make our hearts glad and filled. We were only together for 5 days but God showed us His hands and favor over our journey.
1. Crazy Ability and Talent
Did I say that we’re supposed to film 10 videos in just 4 days? And also in different locations. Did you know that we have to take at least 3 angles for most of our script? Ultra crazy how we were able to pull it off.
Aside from the fact that that goal alone is crazy, there were other problems that arise like filming location rejections, weather changes, and more.
Corrie only gave us the script the day of filming that script. I still wonder how Tomos and I memorized all those pages. We only memorized the script literally minutes before we filmed. Although there were hundreds of takes because I keep messing up and forgetting my lines.
I say it’s God’s hand who gave us this talent because Tomos and I were never filmed in a formal setting like this. Technically, this was our first time acting. Thank you God!
2. Favor From People
We received huge favors from people we met in Singapore. Locals said they almost never experience Singaporeans being as nice as we talk about different favors we received!
Receiving favor looked like being treated ice cream by a stranger, getting the largest chicken when I ordered (this is funny haha the vendor pointed out she gave me the large one instead of the small ones. The chicken will only be used for props but I couldn’t refuse lol!), coffee shop owner allowing us to film last minute in their crowded cafe, MRT guards not kicking us out even when we filmed for almost 2 hours in the subway, auntie helping us when a teammate fell in a little swamp, and many more!
It’s fun receiving favor from both Christians and non-Christians.
3. Divine Connections
I think the Lord allows “last minute” things to show His power. If not for the crazy connections we had, the three of us wouldn’t pull off a good film, or have an excellent filming location. Shout out to Ling (OMF Singapore SA Coordinator), En Hui (Corrie’s close friend in SG), Belly (Tomos’ friend from his Thailand trip), and Paul (Media person of OMF International).
We also were blessed to meet Christians during our grab rides which I’ll share more in the next section.
Going to Singapore also helped me A LOT to process my trip to Japan because apparently I found it very hard to move on and let go. Having Tomos as my co-host was the greatest blessing because I could just yap about the people I miss in Japan. My friends listen to my stories and empathize with me but it just hits different when you tell it to someone who knows ALL the people you talk about.
We also met Stella who worked in Japan for a year. She shared her journey with us, along with her notebook of letters (which I also have!) and photos from her trip. Meeting her, I think, ended my yearning for my friends I met in Japan.
(Side story: While Corrie, Tomos, and I are cooling down in Starbucks, I asked them “How do I stop missing my friends during my trip?” to which Corrie answered, “Why do you have to stop missing them? It’s amazing that you miss them. That means you have good memories with them. You don’t have to stop.”)
4. Grab Rides
We rode Grab over 20 times during our 5-day trip. That’s insane. Haha! And every Grab have their own stories. My favorites are:
- Sir Grab driver playing worship songs and has a cross on his grabcar. He shared Christianity in Singapore with us. He mentioned that SG is the Antioch of the modern day, being multiracial and multireligious society that served as a major trading hub and commercial center that connected various cultures1. He also prayed for us and refreshed us.
- Uncle Grab driver while it was raining cats and dogs. We were memorizing our script in his grab and we realized that we’re basically sharing the gospel with him too! He had no music on and the rain was pouring heavily. Aside from hearing the gospel, he witnessed God’s hand over the weather as it stopped raining heavily when we arrived in our location.
- Brother Grab driver who lost his faith. We were memorizing our scripts again and the driver asked if we were filming for a Christian video. He shared that he backslid and used to be an active Christian. Corrie shared and talked to him, as well as prayed for him while me and Tomos were silently (albeit loud) witnessing God’s touch in our lost brother’s heart.
- Limousine Grab car on the way home after dropping Tomos off. Not much of gospel sharing but it was such a fun reward after filming for 4 days! Corrie and I chatted while our seats are reclined to the point we’re almost lying down in the grab. The leg rest is also a chef kiss experience.
Thank you, God!
5. Weather
Our devotion focused on God’s steadfast love. God prepared our hearts to trust in Him and His steadfast love. God showed us that we can trust Him with the things we can’t control. Like the weather.
God moved awesomely with Singapore’s crazy weather. This is actually my favorite reward. Seeing God’s hand control the weather.
The weather was favorable when it’s time to film and unfavorable when we have to rest.
I mentioned earlier that during one of our grab rides the rain was pouring heavily. Like cats and dogs level. But we just prayed and trusted that God will stop the rain when we arrive in our location. It didn’t stop.
Instead, the Lord moved the clouds away from our filming location. When we arrived in the location (Corrie said at this time, raining or not, we will film), we can see the clouds from the other side very dark and the other side with clear sky blue! Insane.
The Lord also moved the clouds to cover our filming location when it was too sunny to film. Too sunny that it was giving me intense headache (and I’m from the Philippines which is just as hot). (Corrie said at this time, we will film, then boom the clouds covered the area!).
We also thank God for the days it was supposed to rain but it didn’t until we got home. And also for the time that it rained a few hours before we went out to film so the temp’s a bit cooler.
We thank God for the amazing rain in Chinatown that forced us to rest and enjoy chatting with Belly. It was also adventurous to run away from rain because we were already so soaked!
How “harsh” the lighting was and “hot” the location was (nobody jogging/playing)
During film hours + God gave a family to play (we need for background) for the entirety of our rolling time
The weather before going to the location
The sky when we arrived to the filming location
6. Favor in Locations
There were last minute changes to our locations because we couldn’t get a permit or because of time constraints. Amazingly though, the locations God led us to were a lot better than what was planned.
If Tomos wasn’t invited to co-host, we wouldn’t know Belly who told us about the Seletar Airport because we couldn’t get a permit to film in Changi airport. The location was 10x better than filming in Changi, in my opinion.
We also couldn’t get a permit to film in the planned coffee shop location, God gave us a better one. The coffee shop is called the Ritual. And thank God for saving us a couch to film the scene! When Corrie visited the coffee shop after our film schedule, the two couches were occupied.
There’s a section that we have to film about “Re-entering”. Corrie planned to film in a church, like going back to a familiar place. Fortunately, we didn’t get a filming permit in the church we wanted. We filmed it in a house with stairs in our accommodation instead. MUCH MUCH better and more fitting to the script.
We didn’t have the time to go to Marina Bay to get an overlooking view of the last part of the film. En Hui shared Henderson Waves with overlooking view of greeneries and buildings. This is also my favorite location 🙂 Why it’s better for me? The background of Henderson Waves looks identical to the Journey Guide’s booklet cover.
Last but not least, I’m not sure if I should write this too but we were also able to film in Changi airport without a permit (haha!). We had to stay very quiet and film the whole scene in just one shot. Thank God nobody approached us and asked us to delete the footages.
Thank you God for these amazing places and showing us how awesome You are!
7. God Our Strength
Tomos said, “…the fact our busy schedules opened up for this period, and we were so busy before and after and also ill, but God kept us from collapsing until it was finished!“
It was God who sustained us and gave us energy. Crazy me ran 26km 2 days before our filming schedule, spent that night celebrating with my friends, then there’s church next day, and then a 3-hour flight. It was as crazy busy/heavy for Corrie and Tomos who were going through harder phases in their lives.
There were days and nights we didn’t know and feel if we can actually do it. Good thing that God doesn’t depend on us. He gave us His Spirit to give us strength, energy, and joy as we filmed.
I didn’t know that filming was taxing mentally, physically, and emotionally. My initial plan to vlog each day gone with the wind because there’s just no way I can. Haha! But through God we got through and finished all the 10 videos in just 4.5 days, even with little sleep, little rest, and little preparation.
Thank you, God, for sustaining us. We all had our much needed rest a few days after arriving back home.
We thank God for rewarding us with an adventure we’ll never forget.
For His Glory
I remember saying to Corrie “I hope that the Lord reward you greatly for this project.” I said that with the knowledge of what she’s going through, and of course for the hard work she’s putting in. She just answered “I just hope that the Lord will use this video series for His glory.” (non verbatim)
Our Yes to God and No to the world are active participation in giving Him glory. Isn’t it the greatest thing to live hand-in-hand with our loving Creator?
- The ‘Antioch of Asia’? https://www.christianitytoday.com/2024/09/singapore-antioch-asia-billy-graham-mission-lausanne/ ↩︎