I am now bidding goodbye to an amazing year that has opened more avenues for me to experience a lot of my FIRSTs as well as learn new insights and meet new people along the way.
Overall, I feel very grateful because my blessings have outnumbered my challenges. I could never thank God enough for everything that I have savored and hurdled this year.
I wish to thank my families, friends and loved ones too for all the Love and Support they have accorded to me all this time. Of all the people and things in my life that come and go, I am just lucky to have something constant and solid in my life. I am truly blessed to have you all in my life!
And I'd like to thank you all for supporting my blog here and for all your heartwarming feedbacks. I look forward to sharing my journal with you as I journey ahead! Cheers to MORE BEAUTIFUL DAYS Ahead!!! :)
I pray that 2016 may usher in more wonderful things for all of us!
As part of my yearly tradition here, I like to share with you a review of the highlights of my 2015 in photos and videos.
I love Christmas time! It is the time of the year when I feel the love of my family and friends the most (it's in the same month as my birthday, that's why!)
Last December 24, my mom, my niece and I went to brave the Christmas rush for the eve's gift giving. Later that morning, my 13-year-old niece told me that she had wanted to buy some stuff too. I asked her what is she looking for. She said she would get some presents for some people too. So we went to avail the buy 3 lotions and get 3 for free. The kid went to the counter to pay all her buys. I then checked how much money she had in her wallet. "5 dollars. But it's O.K.", she replied smilingly. Come Christmas eve, I was surprised that she gave each one of us a lotion. Such a sweet and thoughtful act from this little girl to give out from her little savings. I was humbled and inspired by her thoughtfulness. That night too, I saw my niece so happy with all the gifts she received.
On the other hand, my sister also surprised me with a 50-dollar gift card. My older niece handed me the card. She then asked, "Tita, what else do you need? You have all material things that I can think of. What will you do with that gift card?" That got me thinking. In fact, I cannot think of anything I wanted for myself. Yet I was ecstatic to use the credit for boxing day. Do you know what I had in mind instead? I used it to buy small gifts for my family and friends back home. I could just imagine how happy I could make someone feel with what little I can give. It's the thought that really counts after all.
And my reflection led me to realize that no amount of material things can ever replace the love and care of my family and friends. I feel happy and blessed with what I now have in my life. And my niece is right. My life and everything in it is already my greatest blessing! I could not be any happier than to be able to share my blessings to others! I really pray that I may continuously find Joy in Giving.
Indeed, the Joy in Giving is a Reward in itself!
Watch this video about a Kind Man who wished to make other people happy and whose acts of Kindness did not go unnoticed:
Funny but I am always left speechless when asked with this question. Thankfully, my heart is beating perfectly these days.
Anyway, I wish to share with you this short Pixar Film which I really find cute. This should give hope to those single friends out there who have been waiting and praying for their One True Love. :D
---Somewhere out there, Someone is waiting and praying for you too!---
It's true they say that as we get older, we wish for our birthdays to become more meaningful and silent at that.
Today is my 33rd. I know it's just a number! But I cannot help but feel a bit emotional on how the 33 years went by. To me, they were full of colorful stories worth remembering and sharing. And while I was fully reliant on God's grace in all those years, I could say I do not regret any of the things I had to do as my part which I did. Every experience transformed me and added value to the person that I am today.
This photo speaks of Serenity to me. I pray that at the later part of my life when I get to sit on a bench like this, memories will come flashing back and I will feel so much at peace with how I have lived my life. No regrets, just full of Love and Gratitude.
With this, I offer a plea to Heaven for all the innermost desires of my heart - my wishes for my loved ones, the people I care for and myself.
May everyday be a day of witnessing, experiencing and sharing God's love to and from the people around me.
Thank you all for taking a little part in my life! :D
Waking up to this sight of the Glorious Sunrise everyday!
About a month ago, I was in a state of immense emptiness. Life seemed to be nothing more than just a repetitive series of meaningless events. I felt lost.
Then, thankfully through a sharing by a friend in our community, I came to know about the Missionaries of the Poor. My curiosity and desire to experience something extraordinary led me to a beautiful place of Love and Hope in Kingston, Jamaica. Little did I know then how my life was about to change.
Everyone I met there had left an unforgettable mark in my entire experience. Let me share a bit of how each one of them had inspired me in one way or another. A Kind Jamaican Woman
At
first, I felt a bit worried knowing that I will be traveling alone to a place
that I have never been to before. I do not know anyone from there. But somehow,
peace had taken over me upon my arrival at the airport. In spite of my mixed
emotions, the only thing that I held onto is God's faithfulness to His words
and promises that He will never leave me as I do the mission.
And He
sent me an angel to affirm to me that He is with me every step of the way. A
kind woman had asked me what I was there for. Perhaps, I must have obviously
appeared to be a first timer in Jamaica. She happened to be just standing
before me while we were making our way to the immigration post. "I came here for a mission",
was all I said with a sense of peace and excitement this time. Her eyes lit up
and her lips curved a wide smile. "Oh, really? Tell me ALL about it."
And we talked for like almost an hour after that. She never left my side until the
brothers arrived to fetch me. She even offered me her cup noodle so I have
something to eat if I ever get hungry. Through her, I got the message clearly. I was purposely called to
experience an amazing mission.
The Fellow Volunteers
I am
grateful to have met and worked with 5 other volunteers during the mission.
There was a wife/mother who temporarily left her family to serve at the centers
for 2 weeks. She was like the mother of the group too. Also there was the
father-and-son tandem, who left the comfort of their home and chose to spend
their thanksgiving serving the needy. The father was a pediatrician and
the son was a 17-year-old swimmer/basketball enthusiast who could be elsewhere
enjoying his school break. But they were there for the mission too. Lastly,
there was this lovely couple who was newly married and decided to spend the
last few days of their honeymoon vacation to do the mission. Imagine that! I do
not often meet beautiful people with such passionate and humble hearts. It was
really refreshing to me.
The
Brothers
Before
going for the mission, I had browsed over the video clips about the missionary.
What stood out to me was the dedication of these brothers who gave up their
lives and all that they have in the service of the poor and the needy. True
enough, I, myself, witnessed the loving services they extend to the people
under their care. I was deeply moved by their compassion and selflessness.
Everyday they put the residents' needs ahead of their own. Only true love can
make such enormous sacrifices.
Through
each day that I worked with them, I have come to see the amount of Love I am to
give away as I heed to God's call of loving the least of my neighbors. Thanks
to the daily mass and prayers too for it has sustained everyone with the
strength and grace needed for the works.
Here with Bro. Lorenzo and Bro. Augusto, the Superior Generale of the MOP
The
Sisters
While
working with the sisters, I was attracted to the kind of life they were called
to live. They reminded me of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who is one of the great
people I look up to in life. Each one of them does little things with so much
love. I have seen inexplicable Peace and Joy in their faces, something that I
rarely see in my world.
The
Residents
Each
resident I met there taught me a thing or two. I remember one child who really
caught my attention. He was from the Bethlehem center. I liked calling
him Bob Marley. It was Sunday and I had volunteered to work with
young boys. I was going from crib to crib to greet the kids when I heard a
little voice saying "Hi". It was audible enough
for me to turn around and look to its direction. It was from a cute boy
extending his arm to reach for me. I went near him and touched his face. He
then locked my hand in between his cheek and shoulder. He was so
adorable.
Taken from the MOP newsletter
Seconds
later, I was called by one of the brothers to help dress up another child. I
tried to pull my hand but Bob would say "No" as loud as
he could. I went nearer to him. Then, I realized Bob has no legs. He only has
one arm too. For a minute there I was glued to my place. How can I ever leave
him? So I carried him around to wherever I went. Being with Bob throughout the
mass was a joy to me. I felt that it meant the world to him to be with me. It's
the least that I can do for the kid. His smile was like reaching the sky. It
was priceless!
I
also loved working at the Faith center. I thought that since I didn't have the
chance to serve my father as he died when I was a kid, I may as well serve
through the residents there. It was a different kind of experience altogether:
helping them, talking to them, listening to their stories, singing
Christmas carols and playing with them.
That
day I realized that there is a bigger world out there, that there is a greater
calling for each one of us to look beyond our own little life. Though I
struggle with my own problems, they are nothing compared to the needs of the
people in the centers.
Yes,
I decided to do the mission not only because I wanted to help the brothers and
sisters in their works for the poor, but also because I, myself, needed help. I
needed all of them to remind and show me what True Love means. And, indeed, I
found True Selfless Love through the Missionaries of the Poor. I took
away with me more than what I could ever give and share. My life is now changed
forever. Truly,
"The
call to serve the Poor is an invitation to Happiness"
- Fr. Richard Ho Lung,
MOP, Founder
Thank God for each beautiful soul I met during my
mission! Everyone was awe-inspiring! Thank you too to all those who helped me gather things to be shared to the residents, brothers and sisters! May God bless your generous hearts!
