Your First Overseas Trip

Your first overseas trip was to Jakarta, mom's home city and country.
That was Jan 2009, when you were about 4 months old.
Mom and Ee-Ee Belly brought you home. I did not follow because of limited leave to apply.

Mom and dad did a lot of preparation for your trip.

Besides getting the passport done, we consulted doctor and friends how to make you comfortable during the flight.
You were unexpectedly calm and almost slept all the way until reached our home in Jakarta!

Grandpa and grandma, and Grand-grandma, and all friends and relatives were so excited to see you. Son, you will have a tough time to remember our big family and friends in Jakarta, but you have to know them and keep in touch with them. Family and friends are the most valuable gifts from God.


After few weeks stay at Jakarta, we met in Singapore.
So, Singapore was the second country you visited. (how you took bath in hotel)

We stay there for 3 days to attend a wedding reception of our friend, auntie Candy.
We were glad to meet auntie Yenny and little Argen in Singapore too.
I was grateful to have that few days break from my work to spend time with you and mom.

Wonderful.

Shepherding a child's heart through Provebs (part 2): Point of Reference

‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; but fools despise wisdom and instruction.’ Proverbs 1:7

‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.’ Proverbs 9:10

(photo in week 1)

To raise you up in wisdom, discernment, discipline and a good heart, you need a point of reference.
This point of reference should be big enough to encompass your whole being and all your experience in life.
This point of reference I give to you is God.
But, it is not any god. The God I give to you is God the Creator and the Sustainer of all the existence, who had once for all revealed Himself through and in the Bible.
Only God is big enough to be your point of reference for what you think and do.

I cannot be your ultimate point of reference.
I am neither perfect nor wise enough to know everything in life to guide you all the time.
Your friends, your teachers, your own self, cannot be the point of reference for all your experience either.
No, we are all not big enough for that.
But, since God is the Creator and Sustainer of all things, He knows all things.

Therefore, He is our ultimate point of reference.
By trusting Him and His Word whole heartedly, is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom.
The consequence of not believing in God is you will believe in anything else.
And believing in anything is no different from believing in nothing.

So, son, I will lead and guide you to this one and only God.
Because, to make sense to your life, you need a point of reference, and only God is big enough for that.

Shepherding a child's heart through Provebs (Part 1): Goal of Parenting

'The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:
To know wisdom and instruction,
to understand words of insight,
to receive instruction in wise dealing,
in righteousness, justice, and equity;
to give prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the youth.
Let the wise hear and increase in learning,
And the one who understands obtain guidance'
(Proverbs 1:1-5)

(photo in week 1)

The goal of your upbringing is to possess wisdom, discernment, discipline and a good heart.
But these are things that you tend to ignore and avoid from me.

Instead, what you are asking from me are the best toys; best food; best games; best devices; best entertainment and best of many other things.

I will give you these within our family affordability, by God grace.
But, you need to know from the beginning.
These things cannot accompany you, satisfy you or carry you far down the road in you upbringing.

What matter most are things inside you: Wisdom, Discipline and a Good heart.

As your parents, we are entrusted by God to raise you up towards this goal.
All other good things outside of you will follow if you are careful with what is inside you.
And these will come naturally if you learn to fear the Lord, glorify Him and enjoy Him.

'The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.' (Proverbs 1:7)

Your first holiday trip

Your first holiday trip was to Cameron Highlands, located at Pahang state.
It was during Christmas (your first Christmas too). We stayed there from 23rd to 25th Dec 2008, at Highlands Convention Center of Gospel Hall, where your dad was on of the preacher for their student camp.
Besides me and mom, we have two lovely young lady Devi and Christina with us. They both are musician. Devi vocalist and Christina pianist. They love you very much and during that three days, they were your baby sitters.

Cameron Highlands is your dad's favorite retreat place.
Before married to your mom, I used to drive to Cameron on my own for my personal retreat, during which, I read, pray, fellowship with church members, sightseeing and occasionally, preach.
It is good for our spiritual and mental
restoration.

You visited few places during this trip.
Tea farm, strawberry farm, various restaurants (too see us eat!), market and souvenir shops.
You seems to enjoy the place and the cool weather too.

The last place we went on our way back was a restaurant called
Strawberry Moment. They serve everything make with strawberries.
It is an interesting place to enjoy the desert and
spend time with friends and family.
We had a good time.

We will definitely go back together again, son.

A Prayer from your Dad's Friend and Mentor

This is a prayer from my mentor and friend, Dr.Samuel Ling for us through e-mail, when he knows of your birth.

"Dear Heavenly Father,

We praise you for your grace, for the birth of Fidel.

We pray that he will learn to fear you, love you,

trust in you, serve you.

We pray that Liana and Joseph will receive strength,

wisdom and grace,

sufficient for each day,

to fulfill their calling as parents.
We trust in you, overcome our unbelief.

Give each one the physical rest needed for each night,

each day.

In Jesus name, Amen."

Your name is Fidel

When I was first married with your mom, I was very afraid of bringing a baby to the world.
Not because I didn't want you, but it was because I was worried of you being born into this world of pain and suffering.

When considering a name for you, I asked myself.
What I want my son to be?
What I wish my son to have in order for him to be able to face the trials of life ahead of him?
The answer that came to my mind was Faith.
I wish and pray that you would be a man of faith.
Not a kind of self-confidence, but faith in the One true God of Trinity.
Therefore I named you 林怀信.
Fidel is your name.
Which in Latin roots means Faithful.

I know, you will be a man useful in God's kingdom, and a blessing to people around you, if you remain Faithful to God and faithful of who you are and what He entrusted you.
Dad and mom cannot accompany you through out your life's journey.
But, we are grateful to have each moment with you.
Only God can lead you all the way,until we shall meet again in eternity.

Remember son, Your name is Fidel.

Our first encounter

(your first photo)
(the next day of birth)









The moment and the feeling of the very first time we met is still very clear in my mind.
Your mom was still in the ICU after operation when the nurse push you into the room where I was waiting anxiously.
I almost cannot believe what I see.
My little boy, my own son, opened his eyes and staring back at me.

A life is a gift, as well as a miracle.
When a son is born, at the same moment, a father is born.

Our relationship begins here.
On the 20 Sep of 2008, 12:09am.
I will be your father and you will be my son.