How Did The Mission Trip Changed Your Life?

The Subic Mission Team's One-liner in:

How Did The Mission Trip Changed Your Life?

“The mission trip changed me to a much faithful and Christ-centered person.” 

–Renzo Gabriel

“Masaya mag-mission at makakilala ng iba’t ibang klase ng tao; knowing that you glorify one God and at the same time know their stories and learned from it.” 

–May Evangelista

“The mission trip helped me to be closer to God and made me realize that I should serve Him more.” 

–Renz Baxa

“The mission trip fulfilled me.” 

–Meme Asejo

“The mission trip made me a stronger, better, and a holy person.” 

–Kevin Matignas

“The mission trip changed me dramatically in spirit, mind, and heart.” 

–Marvin Eguico

“The mission trip inspired me to be more dedicated to my service.” 

–Ynah Gabriel

“The mission trip made me realize that truly, the majestic power and love of God can reach far places; distance will never be a hindrance.” 

–Tash Salcedo

“Mas nag-enjoy akong mag-serve.” 

–Jhoanne Pataueg

“It is not only in receiving that we experience the love of God, but also in giving ourselves for the sake of others and, most of all, for the sake of Christ.” 

–Kaye Matignas

The Mission Team

Thank you Lord for the mission trip's joyride experience!
Thank you Lord for changing us inside out!


God bless all of the mission trip and all of the missionaries!

God's Work Needs No Delay

Mission Area: District of Iba
Mission Activity: CFC YFL Youth Camp


May 28-30, 2010. The first-ever mission trip to the District of Iba was conducted by a team of 15 different young individuals all responding to the one call of Christ to love Him and to make Him loved. It was such a joyride of an experience! The mission team ran a CFC YFL Youth Camp. The harvest of this youth camp counts to thirty-one (31) new souls!

God’s work needs no delay and so He will not delay you.

“There is a given time for everything and a time for every happening under heaven”

– Ecclesiastes 3:1 (CCB)

It was set as a two-day camp and since we wanted to start on time on the first day of the camp, ie, on a Saturday (29 May 2010), we departed from Manila by Friday (28 May 2010). In traveling to Subic, we have divided the team into two batches. The first batch departs by two in the afternoon (2PM). The second batch departs by seven in the evening (7PM). Those included in the first batch are those who do not have summer classes; while those who have their summer classes and ojt’s are part of the second batch. Unfortunately, I am part of the second batch. Trips to Subic are scheduled by the-hour; the last trip to Subic is scheduled by 9PM. We (the second batch) are supposed to meet at SSS, East Avenue by 6PM. But what happened was different from what was planned. Heavy rain falls caused heavy traffic in Metro Manila. And yes, it was raining heavily by that time. It was already 7PM and we are still not moving from SSS. Two trips to go. I messaged the team to pray for us. Prayer is our most powerful tool. I don’t want to say hello to Subic by Saturday. When we arrived at the bus terminal by 07:20PM, I saw the bus to Subic. The sight of it excites me; but we can’t board it yet, we still have to wait for our two other missionaries. And so, I prayed and I claimed in Jesus’ Name that the bus that has given me part of the taste of the mission will be the same bus we’d board into. It was 07:30PM when the 7PM trip left Manila. And yes, we are Subic-bound!

God’s work needs no delay and so He will give you strength.

“[But (God) answered:] “my grace is enough for you; my great strength is revealed in your weakness”. Gladly, then, will I boast of my weakness that the strength of Christ may be mine.” 

– 2 Corinthians 12:9

I was assigned to give the third talk of the youth camp. Giving a talk is an exciting thing to do. As it is exciting, it is exhausting as well. It is exhausting in a way that, you have to connect all the points into one thread, you have to connect that one thread to the participants, and you really have to be part of that one thread to get connected to the participants. And as you connect to the participants, you absorb other negativities, eg, the heat of the place (or it might be because I am giving the talk), the inattentive of some, and other distractions. But the negatives I absorbed had not made me quit the work that needs to be done. I refocus myself to the very reason why I am there in the first place: the Love of Christ!

It was not only me who has seen the weight of this work. But as I saw its weight, I have seen the greatness of God’s power and might. One facilitator is to four participants, that is the minimum. And that one facilitator is to four to five sets of one-to-ones. With this article, I would like to honor the facilitators of our team. They did their service really well. Though it is a tough service, they had not seen its cost on their human strength. But they had seen its cause: the Love of Christ!

God’s work needs no delay simply because it is all about God.

"This is love: not that we loved God but that he first loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." - 1 John 4:10 (CCB)

Our God is Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent, and above all, Love. The very fact that the work of our God needs no delay is simply because He loved us first. It is all about Him loving us; for His love is ever constant that it does not increase nor does it decrease. God Himself did not delay His love for us: "But see how God manifested his love for us: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8, CCB). In the same way, we should not, as well, delay to channel the love of God to our brothers and sisters. It is because they need what we need: the Love of Christ!

  

Note:

Italics in the Bible verses are mine.

All Bible verses are taken using the Digital Catholic Bible software program, with the Christian Community Bible (CCB) version. © 2007-2008.

Humanizing Humanity

Humanity. It encompasses everything under the sun that concerns and revolves around man—from language to culture, from kind of work to man’s way of life, and any other things where man is involve. In humanity, man is both the subject and the agent.

The 21st-century-humanity is, I think, somehow dehumanized. Everything is done for a particular someone’s own benefits. In commercial advertisements, women are exploited and used to boost number of sales of a certain produce, thus, resulting to profit and gain increase in that industry; and resulting to dehumanized women.

Television series also dehumanize human worth and values. It neglects the sacredness of sex within the Sacrament of Matrimony; and establish the idea that sex out of marriage is a requirement of love—a dehumanized love.

Another example of a dehumanized here-and-now humanity is when you walk in the busy streets of Metro Manila. Sometimes, during the morning rush hour, I try to isolate myself and observe the context of the intersection of Kamias Road and Kalayaan Avenue with every other thing observable. One would realize, as I have realized, that almost everyone, including I, are only living to do each one’s affairs.

Thus, a dehumanized society is condensed in just one word: individualism. An individualized society concerns only one. But humanity concerns every human person with his/her nature.

Humanity must magnify the different colors of human experience taken collectively as one and never individually. Human experience is necessary in order to create humanity and through these human experiences, man can clearly define man himself/herself, thus, humanizing humanity.

(C) 2008.

Ayaw maniwala nung teacher ko na ako gumawa nito. I was dehumanized. Haha.

Hanggang Saan Aabot ang Bente Pesos Mo?

I am a poor kid with a rich GOD!

This is more than a tugs-tugs-tugs story.

April 24, 2010 is a free day. Literally "free". All things were free that day. And the providence of God for me to survive that day was, of course, uncontainable.

These were the course of events that day:

Hanggang saan umabot ang bente pesos ko??

• Gone to QC Memorial Circle via our jeep, so that means a free ride
• Conducted and enjoyed our CFC YFL Cluster 3 UBE Activity
• Paid my registration fee of Php 20.00 for food and water; umpisa pa lang ng araw, wala na akong pera (07:30AM)
• Ate ice cream by the power of Meme's 10 pesos
• Got another free ride from QC Hall to McDonald's at Matalino Street; rode another jeep of ours, another free ride
• Ate McDonald's McSaver Meal via Kevin's money
• Ate sundae - Ynah's pre-birthday treat
• Played counter strike and L4D with some C3 people; my account was paid by my brother
• Rode the last jeepney home paid again by my brother

WOW! God is so great! I was able to do and survive all that with just Php 20.00. Well, for a fact, it was Php 21.00. Haha.

I really forgot to bring money because my means of going to QC Circle was free. I was to buy ice cream at QC Circle when I realized that I have nothing left. Totally zero. But I didn't worry.

The problem of no-money-going-home-how-about-transport did not occur to me. I just laughed at myself and accepted the fact of walking to get home. After the UBE, we agreed to go to McDonald's. Pasimuno pa ako ng lakad kahit wala akong dalang pera. Smile appeared to my face when I saw our jeep in the terminal. "Yehes! Libreng sakay ulet!"

The same story goes on that day. "Yehes! Libre ulet!"

Thank you Lord! You are truly AWESOME! You are my Great PROVIDER!

Praise be forever YOURS!

Refresh!

Create in me, O God, a clean heart; give me a new and steadfast spirit!

--Psalm 51:12 (CCB)

That's the theme verse of our April 2010 CFC YFL Youth Camp. I am one of its team leader together with Paolo, my cousin. And this camp has been a refreshing camp, especially for me.

Refresh! Youth Camp Blogsite: www.2010refresh.blogspot.com

Pre-Youth Camp

Let's go as far as June 2009. Haha. Well, it was in May 2009 that my brother and another co-servant lead the service team for a youth camp (with the theme "Absolute"). And after that Absolute camp, I was next in line, together with Paolo, as its team leaders.

Preparing for the youth camp is reconnecting to the One True Source. The Service Team should be in a life of prayer and fasting.

God is so great that He had given me almost a year to prepare for the scheduled 2010 youth camp. But what God did prepare in me for almost a year was not the camp. God did prepare my heart. And by the time God saw that my heart is prepared, He then prepare the youth camp.

In preparing for the youth camp, the service team should have a S.H.O.U.T.-ing heart! That it should shout unto God declarations of praises!

A Heart of SURRENDER.

I have been serving in CFC Youth for Family and Life (CFC YFL) for five years (and counting). But while I am serving, I am living a double life. And if I am living a double life then I am not fit to be a lead a team who will serve at a youth camp. To know what happened next, click the "Saved Game" tab above.

A heart of surrender is a heart that lifts every burden, every excess baggage, hurt, pain, regret, sorrow, shamefulness, guilt, and everything to God. Turning away from darkness and lifting everything with a firm faith that God will let forgiveness and healing occur in that heart. Let go and let GOD! In preparing for the camp, I did surrender everything to the Father.

A Heart HONORING GOD.

The moment that forgiveness and healing occur, joy and freedom will overflow. That the human person would not want to do anything but to give thanks and praise to the Almighty! A heart honoring God is a heart living in holiness. A heart living a righteous life. As one of our Mission Volunteers said, "Live life to the purest!" (Fyron Umali). In preparing for the camp, I gave myself to live a righteous life. A life pleasing to God.

A Heart of OBEDIENCE.

"Obedience is better than sacrifice." -2 Samuel

A heart of obedience is a heart that accepts and does the will of the Father. More than anything else God wants an obedient servant rather than one who focuses his time and energy doing sacrifices. In preparing for the camp, I put God in command. That if this is His will, so be it.

A Heart UNDER GOD'S LOVE.

Our God is Love. A heart under God's love is a heart that lets God conquer one's weaknesses and sinfulness with God's unfathomable love. Once we put ourselves under the love of God, God will be great in our lives! He will be a great provider! He will provide us with the things we need.

A youth camp needs a youth camp venue. By that time, we have less than a month to prepare for the camp and yet we still do not have a venue to conduct the youth camp. Truly, the Love of God Provides! My heart was an expectant heart; and it expects great things from God. I did not limit my great God because He in Himself is limitless. And by God's love and providence, He provided us with a good camp venue. (Side note: Naka-aircon ang venue.)


A Heart full of TRUST.

Aside from being a servant of God through CFC YFL, I am also a student. I go to school while the service team and I prepare for the camp. Yes, I did worry. One week to go before the camp, we still don't have the camp ID. Yes, I did worry. Hours before the camp, some things are still not on its proper places. Yes, I did worry. But I remembered that I should not be a worry-er; but a warrior! I battled my worries with prayer, the greatest weapon of all. I have put my trust in God that things will be in God's control.

Intra-Youth Camp

And so the youth camp started. Everyone is excited as always. And I just can't thank God enough that everything falls into its proper places right before my eyes. And all I do is to be awed at God's work. And for this camp, we had a catch of 31 new souls. It was an awesomely refreshing youth camp.

I'm giving Session 3 of the Youth Camp.

Also, I was able to give a talk at a youth camp for the first time. I have given talks before but during assemblies only. And it is a dream come true.

Post-Youth Camp

As one service team, we give praise and thanks to God who is the very reason of our youth camp. Every after camp, we always conduct a Youth Camp Evaluation. The evaluation of the core servants together with our coordinators see that the Refresh! Youth Camp was an awesome camp. I also hear other commendations regarding the camp that they enjoyed it. And the best thing was, the participants themselves say that they enjoyed the camp and they were the ones asking us, "Kelan next activity mga ate, mga kuya?" Also, the parents of our participants say that somehow there had been changes in their children. And for us, the service team, hearing and knowing all of these make our hearts dance in joy and gladness.


Truly, I believe that the camp was awesome for it is not about us. It is ALL ABOUT GOD!

With this, may God be forever praised!




Youth Camp Photos

The Service Team

Teaching the Cluster Tres Chant

Session 1. Kuya Justin Francisco. 

In a very formal attire.

Session 2. Kuya DR Arellano.

Session 5. Kuya Marko Caringal.

Service Team doing the Kalye Onse.

Back of Rock Youthfest T-shirt.

CFC YFL Website.

The Great I AM

Big!

Just!

Great!

Almighty!

Righteous!

All Knowing!

All Powerful!

Omnipresent!

Indescribable!

Uncontainable!

Our GOD is an Awesome GOD!

CFC Youth for Family and Life
World Youth Congress 2010: I AM
April 9th to 11th, 2010
Lipa City, Batangas
GOD taught me one thing: "I AM the Great I AM"
I AM. In Filipino, AKO NGA.


Day One
1PM       Arrival
5PM       Holy Mass
6PM       Dinner
7PM       Gathering
730PM    Opening
745PM    Worship
815PM    Session 1: The Great I AM
945PM    Praisefest
1015PM  Party: iSikat


Session 1: The Great I AM
GOD is GOD and I am not! He is the Great I AM (cf. Exodus 3:14)

1. I AM ALL-KNOWING
GOD is Omniscient. He knows everything in us. He knows our strengths and our weaknesses. He knows our needs and our desires.


2. I AM ALL-POWERFUL
GOD is Omnipotent! He is a great and mighty King! Nothing is impossible with our GOD.


3. I AM EVER-PRESENT
GOD is Omnipresent! Wherever we are and in whatever situation we may be, GOD is always present.


4. I AM LOVE
GOD is Love. And in His immense love for us do we find everything.


Don't say, " I have a big problem." But tell your problem, "Hey, I have a BIG GOD!" Our GOD is so great! That He had also manifested it in our WYC 2010 venue, BluRoze Farm Philippines, Lipa City, Batangas. It made me realize and appreciate that we are giving praise and glorifying GOD with His other creations, e.g., the animals, the trees, etc. That the greatness of GOD leaves me in great awe of Him!

"Ang talino talaga ng Diyos! Hindi Niya ginawa ang ostrich na lumilipad! 

Imagine-in niyo 'yun, kapag ang ostrich lumilipad." -kuya Jepoy Meneses

Photo from BluRoze Farm Philippines website.

Day Two
6AM       Wake Up Call
7AM       Breakfast
8AM       Gathering
815AM    Rosary
830AM    Worship
9AM       Session 2: Living a Righteous Life
1030AM  Confession
12NN      Lunch
1PM       Gathering
115PM    Worship
130PM    Workshops
3PM       Break
6PM       Dinner
7PM       Gathering
730PM    YFL Creative Launch
8PM       Worship
830PM    Session 3:I Am Redeemed
1030PM  Praisefest


Session 2: Living a Righteous Life
My Note: This is a "hiwalay and simultaneous" session. One for the brothers and one for the sisters having the same content but different in the manner of delivery.

"LIVE PURE" baller bands given to the brothers during Session 2. 

And it is more than just a baller band.

How do we respond to our awesome GOD? Live a righteous life! Live pure! Righteousness is holiness. It is being holy, pure, and upright. Being and doing so needs us to follow the First Great Commandment: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. (Mark 12:30, NAB). In other words, LOVE GOD WITH ALL OUR BEING!


Love GOD with all our HEART: Do things that pleases the Almighty!
1. Contentment. Don't seek for things that are not there. Glorify GOD with what we have.
2. Humility. We exist to make a big deal about GOD, and not about us.
3. Sincerity. Live a one pure life; no to double life. And we should walk our talk and talk our walk. God deserves none but our excellence.


Love GOD with all our SOUL: Connect to the One True Source through prayer. For prayer changes the pray-er (the one praying). Seven days without prayer makes one weak.


Love GOD with all our MIND: It is all in the mind. Think of holy things. Do away with lustful thoughts. Purity inside and out!


Love GOD with all our STRENGTH: And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17, NAB). Excellence through a right relationship with GOD!


We are also called to be right with our family, friends, CFC YFL brothers and sisters, community, and the Church.


Is it possible to do all these? YES! Jesus Christ, true GOD and true Man, had already set the example of living a life of holiness and He had made it known, loud and clear, that it is possible. Be righteous in the eyes of the Father!


Aside from hearing the session, we also made a commitment. A commitment to live pure. A Modesty Pledge that will remind us that we are created as unique children of GOD.


"Live life to the purest!" -kuya Fyron Umali

St. Benedict's Medal (Click here for info). 

Given to the sisters during Session 2.

Click here to join "Live Pure" facebook fan page.


Session 3: I Am Redeemed

Do you know Job? The man in the Old Testament of the Bible. Job loves GOD and GOD loves and finds favor on Job. Job had everything. And his everything were taken away from him (by Satan). Yet he still chose to follow and glorify GOD. And with this, GOD returned to Job more than enough, more than what he had before.


Job did suffer. Why we suffer, we do not know. There is no clear-cut answer to that. It is a mystery. Suffering due to our sins is a self-inflicted suffering that GOD is not pleased about. But if we experience suffering because we chose to follow Him, this is where GOD shows Himself. This kind of suffering is called REDEMPTIVE SUFFERING.


Our sufferings are redemptive if: (1) it brings us closer to Christ; (2) it blesses others; and (3) it glorifies GOD! Our redemptive sufferings makes us one in the sufferings endured by Christ at the Cross. We may suffer from persecution because we chose to follow Christ; from rejection because we live righteous lives; from sickness and/or death. But all of these redemptive sufferings will make us more worthy and righteous in the eyes of GOD.


Attitudes to take when we are experiencing redemptive suffering:
1. Cheerful and willing
2. Sensitive to GOD's message
3. Praising GOD at all times
4. Enduring the suffering


"I had heard of you by word of mouth, but now my eye has seen you." (Job 42:5, NAB). Job suffered much, but his suffering is redemptive. Through Job's suffering, GOD rewarded him much more! And if we accept our own redemptive sufferings in our lives with firm belief and trust in GOD, definitely, greater things are to come!


Day Three
6AM       Wake Up Call

7AM       Gathering

715AM    Rosary

730AM    Holy Mass

830AM    Breakfast

930AM    Gathering

945AM    Worship

1015AM  Session 4: I Am Just and Righteous

1115AM  Praisefest

12NN      Lunch

Session 4: I Am Just and Righteous

The Almighty is Just and Righteous! And as GOD's sons and daughters, we should also be just and righteous. Through the Cross and suffering of Jesus Christ, we have been made righteous before GOD (cf. Romans 3:21-26; Romans 5:19)


GOD's Justice and Righteousness CALL US TO:
1. HOLINESS - Be holy because I (am) holy. -1 Peter 1:16, (NAB)
2. FAMILY RENEWAL
3. EVANGELIZE


To answer to this call of GOD, we act by living our COVENANT and to remain committed to it. To follow Christ! To build a strong family for Him! To be an active member (and servant) of CFC YFL! To testify GOD's love!


Through this "I AM" WYC 2010, I have greatly appreciated how big, how great, and how awesome our GOD is! That made me speechless of His uncontainable love and joy!

Holy is the Lord God Almighty!
The earth is filled with His glory!

With this, may GOD be forever glorified!


My Note: Some parts of this blog came from the CFC YFL WYC 2010 kit booklet.

I Just Can't Blame You

Hindi ko sinasadya.

If this is the aftermath of the things that have happened, I agree to accept it. But if there would be things that could be done, particularly on my part, then I am more willing to do it.

Just to change things.
Just to have it back again.
Just to build it up once more.

I am so sad with the consequences.
But who to blame? None but I.
Such is my action, such is my responsibility; I am accountable to it. I was hurt. And I hate myself for I am not used to telling things; I'm sorry, I hold things to myself and that's me.

Like what I've said:

Hindi ko sinasadya.