What's Happening in the Coming Months

We're planning ahead! We have to! World Mission Day is several weeks away. Then we move towards the end of the Liturgical Year with the Feast of Christ the King. We'll be entering into the new liturgical year before you know it. So it'll be Advent, Mission Trip, Christmas and 2009 is on our door step.

These are the plans still in the making. We need you feedback so shout it out to us!

acts29 Youth Retreat
Nov 14-16 (Fri nite- Sun evening). Open to any youth. Free of Charge. We promise it's going to be an out-of-this-world, once-in-a-lifetime experience! But in order for it to be as amazing as it can be, you as participants make the difference. Do challenge yourself, step out of your comfort zone and experience life to the full! Come, Experience God!
More details out soon! Watch our website for registration

Advent Mission Payatas (Philippines)
Dec 1 -14. All youths welcome. Non-acts29 youths who cannot commit to 14 days due to schooling can opt for 7-9 days.
Accommodation: Paaralang Pantao, Montalban
Est Cost: $500 (including airfare, lodging and food)

Advent Mission Singapore
Details out soon

New Year Eve Thanksgiving Party and Countdown
So we're thinking a function hall, with emcees from the Nonises (Yup even Bobby) hehe
Sit-down Chinese Dinner
Games like Dun forget the Lyrics and MTV games... and acts29's home-made Punk'd videos
Special Performances by Iggy.. and others...
of course, there'll be gifts/prizes...
and lastly, ladies will look like ladies that day and guys will have to be in shirts and ties!
come to think of it we have never seen acts29 dressed up to the 9s...

How did the Games Day Go?

Saturday... it poured.. it rained cats and dogs... but that didnt stop us 29ers from having a good time.
We started off with indoor games. Black-Out member paired with Tree-Hugger member. And the game was "how well do you know your friend?"

Funny moments during the game:
What is your friend's Baptism name?
Iggy wrote for himself: Ignatius
Ben wrote for Iggy: Bernadette.... hehe

What is your friend's birthday?
Brother and sister team - got the date wrong! Either they did not know who was being asked or they really didnt know! haha

Winner:
Mad and Celesther

It was still drizzling when the indoor game ended so we decided to play on the youth centre's field instead of at the basketball court.

Black-Out was down by 1 member... Cos IGGY the BLACK-OUT TEAM MANAGER came in GREEN!!! that's so IGGY... So Captain's Ball kicked off! The rain got heavier and the ground got real muddy. People started to loose their footing and there was the occasional trip, slide, swooosh into the mud. Wet, dirty muddy! that's the way we like it!

At half time, the score was 5-3 with Tree Huggers in the lead. Black Out team captain AANQW was none too happy with his team's performance. We switched to reverse Captain's Ball (that means you can only throw the ball backwards not forwards). Black-Out team members hoped that this new style would help them. However it did not. Spyke from Black Out at 1.84m was intercepting all the throws from Black Out. Black out was not only disadvantaged from lack of members, they were also out-done in height. However Ben 16 from the Black Out was everywhere on the field trying to steal back the ball. And AANQW was blocking all the attempted shoot-ins from tree-huggers. However black out was consistently marked by arggressive players like T Wu and TimHo who fought violently for the ball from little blackout members like Des.

Black Out was also plagued with injury when Faith fell on concrete ground during half-time and injured her wrist. But the fiesty player, played on. In the end, the game ended with 9-5. Tree-huggers were the Champs.

The day didn't end there. The muddy, soaking wet players marched to the showers washed up and changed into dry clothes. Tim Ho looked like a new person when he emerged with clothes donated by Aunty Theresa. Never seen Tim in a red t-shirt till that day! Towels were also provided to those who didn't bring their own by Aunty Theresa. When the rain subsided into a drizzle, the group headed to Sengkang (Spurs den) for KFC and MACs.

We want to thank the Lord for blessing us with such a community where we can be ourselves and laugh at ourselves. At the same time, we are brothers and sisters who continue to be there for each other and sharing the faith as one.
Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict the 16th reminds us that:

If we are to understand the mission of the Church, we must go back to the Upper Room
where the disciples remained together (cf. Lk 24:49), praying with Mary, the “Mother”, awaiting the Spirit that had been promised. This icon of the nascent Church should be a constant source of inspiration for every Christian community.

Apostolic and missionary fruitfulness is not principally due to programmes and pastoral methods that are cleverly drawn up and “efficient”, but is the result of the community’s constant prayer (cf. Evangelii Nuntiandi, 75).

Moreover, for the mission to be effective, communities must be united, that is, they must be “of one heart and soul” (cf. Acts 4:32), and they must be ready to witness to the love and joy that the Holy Spirit instils in the hearts of the faithful (cf. Acts 2:42).

John Paul II wrote that, even prior to action, the Church’s mission is to witness and to live in a way that shines out to others (cf. Redemptoris Missio, 26). Tertullian tells us that this is what happened in the early days of Christianity when pagans were converted on seeing the love that reigned among Christians: “See how they love one another” (cf. Apology, 39 § 7).

Let us continue to be a community of prayer and love. :)

All Black-Out and Tree-Hugger members do shout out and tag about the event!

And don't forget next Sat's meeting 3pm - Mission Briefing for December. All members to attend. Music Team, music as usual and ppt slides will be arranged by Iggy.

Have a great week peeps!

29ers GAMES DAY

HEY 29ers...
2 more days countdown to our 29er GAMES
Are you ready? The list you're waiting for is out. HERE it is:

29ers CRAZY BALL GAME 23 AUGUST 2008

BLACK OUT(Black Team)
1. Team Manager/Coach: Eagleinsuit - vast experience in coffeeshop soccer, former Chemical Defence (mock suit experience)
2. Team Captain: AANQW - PTI Trainee
3. Secret Weapon: Bendedict 16 - National Youth Olympics Basketball trainee n wushu kid
4. Faith - therapeutic movement
5. Des - Triple E spirit
6. Celesther - School Team Air-Pistol Shooter


TREEHUGGERS (Green Team)
1. Team Manager/Coach: Spyke - Sengkang No 1 Football Manager, former cammando (trainee)
2. Team Capatain: T. Wu - Pseudo Commando
3. Secret Weapon: TimHo - SCOUT who cooks up a storm anytime!
4. Joce - volleyball school team setter
5. Maddy - Legion Marian Movement
6. Francis - Taekwando black belt 2nd dan, sanda, karate, judo

FOR YOUR INFO:
Manyzer-coaches are also players.
Umpire: Sherlyn!!!
Team Names chosen by unsuspecting Captains

Dress Code:
No Name Black team - Paaralang Pantao black t-shirts
TreeHuggers - Paaralang Pantao green t-shirts
Footwear - whatever suits your style

Rulezzz of the Game
1. Footwork - no running with ball.
2. There are no other rules, no breaks, no half-time.

Report at Hougang CC: 245pm
Warm-ups: Captains
Motivational rahrah: manager-coach
Kick Off: 3pm (scissors/paper/stone)

How to play the Game: It gets whackier every 15minutes
1. Regular basketball (game time 15min)

2. Netball style - no dribbling/bouncing the ball (game time 15 min)

3. Netball style backwards - all players run backwards, except shooters.
(1 shooter per team. Shooters are blindfolded. only one person allowed in semi-circle to pass ball to shooter. All can give instructions to shooter for shooting)

Managers-Coaches can start planning NOW.
Everyone practice moving backwards TODAY.


3PM PROCEED BACK TO CAYC FOR 29ERS INDOOR AIR-CON MYSTERY GAME.
2 WINNERS - FREE DINNER

QUESTION AND ANSWER SECTION
Q: What if a "colour blinds" comes in a salah coloured-tshirt. (i.e. Iggy appears in Green instead of Black?)
A: Easy... Black loses a team member, Green gains a team member. If you're afraid of that.. then bring an extra tee for the colour blinds

Q: What if the Hougang CC court is in use?
A: We'll assign "chopers" who will go early to "chope" the court, primary school style with water bottles. But if there's 7-month activity on court? We'll carry on in CAYC's field. Game 1 and 2 will be replaced with Captain's Ball

Q: Will there be any soccer matches? for the Gabrielites....
A: for the Flood the Green Playground Peeps.. We promise a soccer event soon...

Q: Can I use other skills in this game?
A: Sure you can! Remember there are no rules! If Benedict 16 (black team) is as good as Kobe Bryant, just use your (green team) black belt 2nd dan skills. Then Black team can counter that with their ace air pistol shooter. No one said you can't air pistol shoot your opponent. And green team can counter that with lots of prayer from the Marian Movement. And if bad team is really losing badly, call out your TRIPLE E SPIRIT! THAT'S THE WAY TO WIN THE GAME... and dun forget you have your commando trainee, pseudo commando, MRF and PTI to help you along!

Q: What if I don't know how to play basketball?
A: Good Question! Well we thought that through and have embedded 10 Greatest Michael Jordan Moves. If you can copy and paste one move, your team's a winner!

The Right to a Birth Certificate

You know in every country I know of... it is mandatory to have a birth certificate to be enrolled for school. My birth certificate is something I have taken for granted. It's always somewhere... but i've got it.. even if it gets lost, I just need to get a duplicate made, simple... no fuss. As a kid, I also never knew what was the purpose of having a birth certificate other than knowing my name, parents' name, where I was born and what day I was born on. But the most important thing to anyone is to know what's on the birth certificate!

If my mum remembered my birthdate wrongly, the birth certificate would clear up the misunderstanding. If someone called me by another name, the birth certificate would verify who I was. If I got seperated from my parents, the birth certificate would tell me who they are, where they lived... and just for that nostalgic moment, I could return to the very hospital I was born in so many years ago.

Then I went to Payatas and I realized the plight of every person in Payatas and every person born into poverty. There's so much uncertainty. Names can be changed anytime. Parents can't be verified or tracked. And birthdates are just a guess. Birth certificate gives one a nationality and an identity. And it also protects a child! It also is the passport to an eudcation... education that breaks the poverty cycle!

I'm happy to read that in Mumbai, an NGO is working to getting birth certificates for the kids there. And even happier to know that the Indian government has a target to register every citizen (adult/newborn) by December 2008. Let's hope they keep to their word. India is setting the example. It has 1 billion citizens.. by now more...

What about the Philippines?

Is it fair that a scavenging parent earning 8-300 pesos a day has to fork out 900-2000 pesos to secure a birth certificate for her/his child? Maybe the rich can afford it. But simple Maths tells us the parent in the dumpsite cannot afford that certificate or that of the other 6 kids. And why should the children suffer because the parent can't afford it?

Is it fair that an illiterate parent has to fill up many forms on his/her own just as an educated person is expected to? Is it fair that a working parent has to make a 2hour journey or more and stand in queue for about 7 hours just to get one form? and to return the next day to join the same queue? and this stupid cycle goes on and on????
sometimes the printer is spoilt and the parent has to return the next day? the child eagerly waiting for his birth certificate would have literally starved to death by the time mum/dad is done with queuing and queuing and paying and paying!


And this same thing happens not only in the Philippines but in other countries too where the poor are the nobodies in society! Who cares about their birth certificates? They are poor because they are lazy? They choose to be poor and live in dumpsites and squatters? And the biggest irony is that their own people and their own governments don't care about them. I know because I see it, because I've spoken to Filipinos who openly express disgust at the bunch of people living atop smoky mountain. I know that there are good people who care, who want to do something. But right now there are not enough of these good people in our societies!

Wasn't there some noble dream to eradicate poverty by 2010? isnt that what governments want to see happening too? I just wonder the powerful, the leaders, the rich... eradicate poverty or eradicate the people we label, "Poor"?

If you're reading this and you want to eradicate poverty or want to do something good... go to where the poor are... know his/her name, his/her parent's name/s, where and when s/he was born.... because that person is somebody with a right to live, to exist, to be a citizen, to be identified and known... Then go a step further... secure a birth certificate... as an affirmation that s/he ia a Person (your friend and brother/sister) and acknowledge his/her meaningful participation in the world/country/society/community/family.


I have a 2010 goal. I would like to work on getting birth certificates for the people in Payatas. If possible for everyone in Philippines and in other countries.... but i think this is a goal we can all share in wherever we are.


Sherlyn
Singapore

http://www.gulfnews.com/world/India/10221868.html

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=43440

Heart Speaks

I can't help but feel the emotions as I read this blog. Thanks for writing such strong truths. When I was in the cue with Jennylyn, all around us were images of pain, to tell you the truth I wanted to ran away. I waited for Jennylyn as she was being interviewed inside the office. All of us waited we are around 30 people outside and the rain is pouring heavily. I wanted to curse our government and blame why such corruption around us. We can’t even stay in a decent place while we’re cueing. Yes I complained and the feeling was suffocating. I am the most “able” among the group. The rest look hapless and weary. I closed my eyes so hard, I don't want to see nor listen for a moment, but I hear them all supporting each other, even advising others where to go next where to ask for donation. They are even cueing for free biscuits and coffee donated by the vice mayor just to give something to the mourners. Why think about the mourners? I realized how generous these people are!

I was sitting beside a father who had crutches, he told me he can't control his urine since year 2000, I asked him why he is cuing there? Why not go to charity hospital? He told me his wife had stroke and his children are all very young. Beside him was a young girl, his child, around 13 years old, his companion who’ll talk to the social worker and seek assistance. What to do? My heart aches and I beg the Lord’s miracle for them. The young girl came back after the interview with another requirement to go to the Social welfare service to get some social analysis report and endorsement. In my heart I want to burn the place. But the father beside me, reservedly said, let’s just see what we can do next. I realized how patient these people are!

Jennylyn also came out of the office with nothing. They want her to secure the original death certificate! Crazy! That time I avoided looking at her eyes. I was so angry! The place was in Buendia, we live in Payatas, we travelled 3 hours to be there and they won’t give her anything! The social worker told her to give the original death certificate and after 1 week she can get the 3000 pesos subsidy from the Office of the Vice President!!! 1 week more!!! That’s just the same cost if we pay for the added medicines for the her aunt’s body! We left the place with a heavy heart. I walk her to Jollibee and over lunch she told me. Ate May I realize God has purpose why he didn’t give us the money. Maybe he’ll give it to the 3 month old baby beside us with cancer! I was speechless. I realized how sensitive and concern these people are!

I learned something in this journey, the value of just giving...JUST GIVE!!! it doesn't matter how much, but when we encounter someone who ask for help just give! It's not foolish! Subconsciously maybe we fear we'll be used or we're being manipulated, but we have gifts--- to feel, we got gut feelings, intuition and conscience. The heart and brain can decide and discern!!! If we have somthing to give why keep it?

May God bless us with these gifts of generosity and keen heart to reach out to the needy in our midst!!!!

May

The Rich and the Poor Divide

The Rich and Poor live very very far away from each other. The Rich have boats, planes, cars, buses... but they don't know how to get to where the Poor are. They don't know the way there. The Rich don't know who the Poor are and they hardly talk about them.

The Poor on the other hand know where the Rich live. They see them on TV, hear about them from the radio and they've heard others talk about the Rich. But the Poor don't have the means to get to where the Rich are.

Recently Nicasio and Joannie were making their rounds on the dumpsite, begging for pesos. Why were they begging? To bury their mum who died of TB. How much could they get from the other scavengers eking out a living. Prob 1 to 10 pesos per donor. What did they have to raise? 15,000 pesos!

Having a funeral or burying the dead is not a difficulty for the Rich but for the Poor, HOW? When 1 peso matters so much, how can they grasp 15, 000 pesos? Mayb went with them to the Social Welfare Department to get some discount on the burial. There were tons of other Poor in line. All with the same problem. All with the same worry, "How long more would the formaline last? How long more could they postpone the burial?"

It's easy for the Rich to get to the burial grounds. But what about the Poor? They have to walk, across 2 rivers, trudge through the mud... in some distant corner, lies a plot, a burial for the Poor.

Being born is just as difficult for the Poor. They don't get the same privilege as the Rich do at their birth. For the rich, they're born in hospitals. The family is there to certify the birth of their child. And the family can afford the certificate. For the Poor, they are born at home or in a clinic. Often family is not present and no one to certify the birth. Anyway the Poor can't afford the certificate. The Poor lack the basic right to be certicfied born, to exist in their country. This is how they go through life without their certificate. The Poor cannot engage in meaningful participation in society. Well, they can't even enter school. The Poor will never read or write. They just have to survive: breathe, eat, sleep. They dwell with other Poor, they squat where there's space. They live from hand to mouth, worrying about their next meal. Education is but a dream. Birth certificate is out of one's reach. The Poor have to secure their next meal and that of the other 7 mouths to feed in the family. They would be starving if they were to line up 8 hours in a government building for their birth certificate. They would have to beg, borrow, steal 2000 pesos to pay for the cert, and still earn something for food that day. And if they got that far to the line with the 2000 pesos, they would have no idea how to complete the form nor have the necessary information required.

The Rich have identity. They have names, addresses and contact numbers. Their face is seen everywhere, their voice heard. The Poor cannot prove their identity. Who would remember their name? Who would bother with their address or ask for their contact number? They all look the same. Their voice is silent.

The Rich may say that's how it is. The Poor are used to rejection, suffering and hunger. Let them be. What would Jesus say?

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke+16:19-31
"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23In hell,[a] where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'

"But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'

"He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'

"Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.'

" 'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'

"He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' "

Catholic group wastes whole uncooked chicken for game at retreat!!!

Today we were leaving the Catholic Youth Centre after our meeting and we noticed that a church was having a youth retreat. The youths were playing Captain's Ball in the field. We thought it was interesting as the ball didn't look like a ball. Curious we took a closer look. To our surprise, we realised that the ball was acutally a whole uncooked chicken... Then surprise turned into disgust as we realised that the chicken was getting torn and thrown all over the grass... obviously not to be consumed...

ok but we won't judge lah... maybe they did cook and eat the whole chicken in the end...despite it's final condition by the end of the game. Also I'm not going to mention which parish this was.

This seems to be the in-thing now especially at orientation games for JCs, Polys and Unis. I know from people who have attended such orientation the food used gets thrown away, beyond consumption standards.

If you're a Catholic/Christian read this... for your own soul... one of the seven deadly sins.

Guttony is the over-indulgence and over-consumption of anything to the point of waste. In the Christian religions, it is considered a sin because of the excessive desire for food, or its withholding from the needy.
If you have a different religion I'm sure that your religion also frowns on the above mentioned. If you have values and morals, your conscience would tell you this is wrong.


World Hunger and Poverty: How They Fit Together
862 million people across the world are hungry, up from 852 million a year ago. 3

Every day, almost 16,000 children die from hunger-related causes--one child every five seconds.

In essence, hunger is the most extreme form of poverty, where individuals or families cannot afford to meet their most basic need for food. 1

Hunger manifests itself in many ways other than starvation and famine. Most poor people who battle hunger deal with chronic undernourishment and vitamin or mineral deficiencies, which result in stunted growth, weakness and heightened susceptibility to illness.

Countries in which a large portion of the population battles hunger daily are usually poor and often lack the social safety nets we enjoy, such as soup kitchens, food stamps, and job training programs. When a family that lives in a poor country cannot grow enough food or earn enough money to buy food, there is nowhere to turn for help.

Taken from http://www.bread.org/learn/hunger-basics/hunger-facts-international.html


Hunger exists not only in 3rd world countries. Hunger exists in Singapore too. When we went on our 1st Angel Network outreach we had loads of food to give away. We didnt just give the food. We met families, individuals, elderly who shared their stories with us. One family shared that usually non-profit groups give them canned sardines, baked beans, square biscuits, milo, salt, sauces, oil, beehooon, rice. Treats would be canned chicken curry or rendang. What were luxuries for them? Eggs, chicken, pork, fish, milk, sausages, Jacob biscuits. What about prawns, sotong, crab???

I remember buying a whole chicken for a family once. The mum was delighted. The family of 6 would ration the chicken for at least 3 meals. Another time we included eggs for another family. The kids were so happy to get them.

If orientation groups really want to use food to break the ice, why not. But please don't use food to throw at each other. Imagine a group member having to play such a game, a member whose family can't afford chicken for lunch or dinner.

Suggestion for orientation activities where food can be used:
1. Organize an outreach to distribute chicken, eggs, meat, fish to families who are in need. It's easy to spot these households. Contact acts29 if you need tips...
2. Help at the soup kitchen of St Michael's Church or Nativity Church, daily food prepared for the poor.
3. Contact Archdiocesan Commission for Migrants and Itinerant People. They need people to spot new construction sites and people to deliver food to these sites (usually for new foreign workers)
4. Go to Serangoon Road, give lunch to the foreign workers you meet. Most of them earn so little a day that they can only afford rice and some lentils/plain curry.
5. Contact Gift of Love Home run by the Missionaries of Charity Sisters (by Mother Teresa) and sponsor a meal for the elderly residents.
5. There are so many other places who would welcome food.

Feel free to contact acts29 for more details.

Also acts29 would like to invite the Catholic Chicken-Throwing Youths to our annual 24hour FAST (For Asia Solidarity Together). This is held in Lent. So do join us next March. This is a time for young people to actively work together to eradicate poverty and hunger in Asia and also eradicate gluttony in our affluent country.

God bless

Planning a Church Retreat for Teens?

Planning a Church Retreat for Teens? How to get retreat rules across to teens? watch this video I stumbled on from youtube. It is produced by teens from Church of the Holy Spirit. It's hilarious... I love the comic timing for the actors... really original... something like Be Kind Rewind.


myspace layouts

Pilgrim's Progress Part 4

17th July: Holy Spirit, Soul of the Church
For in one Spirit we were all baptised; and we were all given to drink of one Spirit (1 Cor 12:13)

This morning Martin finds a wooden pole in the Gents. During Sacrament of Reconciliation, Daryl spots an Aussie with cable ties for the flag pole and he asks for some. The Aussie not only gives Daryl the cable-ties but also gives him a wooden pole. So now we have 2 wooden poles. This makes Martin very happy! during the Catechesis, Martin sees that Malawi's flag pole is a tree branch and he gives them one of the wooden poles and the Malawis are also very happy.

Today's Catechesis is straight out of Catechism of the Catholic Church. I've taken notes that fill several pages. What I can remember is that God infuses his breath into our lives. this Holy Spirit is our dynamo. What I see between Martin and the Malawi is the work of the Holy Spirit, soul of the Church, who empowers us Singaporean and Malawi to be sons/daughthers of God and brother/sister to each other.

With our flag pole we're on our way to Barangaroo to welcome the Pope.







My naive friends ask me if the Pope will be coming pass this way (where we were). I laugh and tell them, "No lah. So many people. So many lorongs (lanes). Chances are very slim." The pope finally gets off the boat and into the popemobile. Soon he makes a turn down our lorong. I think my friends wished very hard that day.






We screamed, we cheered. Everyone around us went crazy! It was such a wonderful feeling. I imagine what the crowds felt the day they welcomed Jesus on Palm Sunday. I imagine how the crowds felt when Peter and Paul walked past them in the Acts of the Apostles when their shadows fell on the people. The power of the Holy Spirit just filled the whole place. Great Joy filled our hearts! This pilgrim so many years ago disagreed with the Church and her traditions and did not like the Papal figure was now a changed person. I laugh at myself. Years ago I cannot imagine doing something so "idolastic"!, "worshipping this cult figure", "blesphemy". But I know now that Jesus chose Peter to lead his flock and for 2 thousand years this leadership has been passed down from one to the next. I know that the history of the Church is not that clean and perfect. There have been popes who have been less than ideal. But I decided not to judge from the past because I live in the present and I judge in the present. In my life so far I've only known two Popes. Pope John Paul the 2nd won my heart and enriched my faith. It's because of him I signed up for WYD in Cologne only to welcome Pope Benedict the 16th who despite his age has taken on such a heavy responsibility and continues to be an icon of Christian leadership, faithfulness, holiness and humility just as JP2 had been. I cheered heartily for the Vicar of Christ because I cheer for Jesus and the Church he established. Yes the church has not been perfect, but when I see the good the Church has done, I see that has been more positives than negatives.

I am affirmed as the Pope went past me today that the Church is us, we are the Church. We trudge back to the place we now call home, St Ursula's College. We're so tired. We have to wait 15 mins for the train. Sylvester wishes for a train that would not stop at any other station except ours, Kingsgrove. Seems impossible. But the train that comes turns out to be an express train. "No stops. Direct Kingsgrove" Thank you Jesus.

In the college, we find a less-cold place to pray the Evening Vespers. I'm still a cold, hungry and tired pilgrim. But blessed beyond words.

Pilgrim's Progress Part 3

16th July: Called to live in the Spirit.
If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.

Catechesis at Our Lady of Fatima was enriching. My body bears the breath of God, the Ruah, the Holy Spirit. the Holy Spirit is the Lord and Giver of Life. Life always leads us into the light, from darkness to light, from chaos to calm and hope and peace. I like these words spoken by the presenting bishop from the U.S. Because it is truth. This is why we should aim to celebrate life and give life, not celebrate death/abortion/wars or allow these things to happen.

this pilgrim is here to see the Pope, to encounter Christ in others, to have a good time but also to change and grow closer to Christ. We are called to change from wandering people to journeying people. There are aspects in my life where I've been wandering around, where I've not made a stand for. Will this pilgrim make a stand for God's creation, for Mother Earth? will this pilgrim make a stand for peace?

I recall the Village Space by Catholic Mission Australia which we had attended the morning before (15th July). It was such a moving experience. We felt as though we were part of the stories being dramatised. They were real stories, real experiences being re-told to pilgrims. Pilgrims who don't know anything about Ugandan child soldiers, the devastation of coal mines, uranium mines and nuclear power plants and the struggles of the indidgenious people. Yet I felt a sense of helplessness. These things and many more other issues seem beyond me. I don't even think we can change a small place like Payatas. What is this pilgrim to do when we hear about food shortage in the world? crazy weather conditions? nuclear power plant to be set up in the neighbouring country? and so on? Do we continue to shrug our shoulders and we wander around as tourists enjoying what the world has to offer for the moment? or do we set off on a journey for the truth?

to set off on a journey we have to leave behind what's familiar and not know the destination and the power that enables us to do this is the Holy Spirit. I think of the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims who have gathered into Sydney. The same Holy Spirit who empowered the disciples at Pentecost has brought us here as One Church.

with Patrick Fox after a radio interview with SBS




The Homily during Eucharist:
We are called to be witnesses. But I cannot be a witness unless I have seen or heard Jesus (we have seen the Lord). During this World Youth Day, who have I seen, who have I heard?

Mary hears Angel Gabriel and says "yes" to God. but everything goes wrong for Mary! interesting right? and true too... yet Mary doesn't complain. We must sruggle with the ways of the Lord. When we see the meaning then we are not caught in the misery of the world but we see Jesus. We are called to be contemplatives... seeing and praying... to become more missionary.

Bishop Eugene Hurly's message at Act Today, Change Tomorrow
The call of the beloved need not make sense to us. But it is His call that we can commit ourselves to. How do we judge the reality of life? God calls us to love. Our reality of life is to response to love and Real life is made of experiences we have day by day.

At Asian Youth Gathering
With Fr Thomas and Turkmenistan youths


with Marie Mondu and Domninica, PNG


with Bishop Cornelius, Brunei and Bipul, IMCS


Today Martin makes a wish... He wants 2 flagpoles. actually he only needs one but he decides to try God and just ask for 2! We've been moving about for a week with our flag and we have no flag pole!

Pilgrim's Progress Part 2

14th July 2008 Monday 7am. Place: Bathurst (in a college sports hall)

Head still throbbing. Many pilgrims still all around me but less noisy cos they're all sleepy too. Forget about using the toilets! several hundreds queuing.. not worth it. I decide i'll wait till 5 mins before mass when the toilets are empty.

Commissioning Mass begins (my 2nd one so far). I guess this is for missing the Commissioning in Singapore.

It's a relief to know that Singapore is scheduled as the 1st batch to leave for Sydney. like typical kiasus, we're quick to chope a bus, the seats and dump our luggage into the luggage van. We're on the road to Sydney with Ricardo, Anna, Kelly (from Mayland) and about 40 other Venezuelans. I learn that there is never a dull moment with Venezuelans. We sang, we clapped, we cheered all the way to the train station. (about an hour's ride). After all "Yo Vine Para Amara Dios" (I came to love God)

We got to the train station (can't remember the name) and once more the 6 of us continued on our journey to Sydney. It was exciting and at the same time a little anxious because we did not know what to expect next. We found our way (thanks to Location IC, Martin) to Kingsgrove, St Ursula's College. Btw, i was still hungry though the headache was almost gone. It was almost 5pm and we were starving as our last meal was breakfast.

At this point of the trip, we felt all alone in Sydney but it's also from here that we began to see how Abba Father takes care of us every step of the way. I made a wish the previous night in Bathurst. I shared with Mayb how I wished that in Sydney we would not have to share rooms. It would be quiet just Mayb, Debbie and I. hehe

Now in St Ursula's College, Mayb and I were taken to the classroom we would be staying in. God answered my prayer! It was only Mayb, Debbie, Angela *from california and me! Great! thanks God!

Back in Bathurst Mayb wished for a simple meal, rice and soup. The people in Cowra
were great and we loved their BBQ. It was always hotdogs and we love hotdogs. But I guess we had one too many. When we arrived at St Ursula's College, our hosts were whipping up a great cookout meal... hotdogs and bread... we really like hotdogs.. but this pilgrim needs rice and hot soup. After snacking on a hotdog each we made our way out and found a Malaysian chinese eatery. Mayb had her wish come true. Rice and hot soup!

There were many pilgrims at the College too. The pilgrims from the Singapore Youth Ministry Office were there too. So we were happy to meet them. There were about 60 indonesian students too and ICPE pilgrims from India and other countries. However there were only 3 bathing compartments/wooden cupboards. Each wooden compartment had 3 shower heads. 2 compartments were reserved for the ladies and the guys had to make do with 1 compartment. thankfully we had heaters but the guys didnt on the 1st night. Even then it was cold in Sydney and the warm water wasnt that warm as there were too many people showering so the water couldn't heat up in time for each pilgrim's shower.

Opening Litury
place: our lady of Fatima parish (next to the college)
parish priest: Fr Remy.
Let Your Light Shine

Night time:
The classrooms didnt have heaters. I had on 3 tops, 1 woolly sweater and 1 winter jacket.. and 2 pants for the nights. it was cozy in the sleeping bag but I'd shake from the cold every time i had to come out of the sleeping bag.


15th July Opening Mass at Barangaroo. Singaporeans would say it as "bar-rung-gar-roo"
Lots of walking, many pilgrims. It was crazy. at one point there was such a massive jam on the road to Barangaroo we were stuck for almost 2 hours. the meal packs were bad. We had meat pie which is supposed to be an Australian favourtite. But i highly doubt Australians would agree with the meat pie we got. We missed dinner as it was too much of a hassle to collect it in Barangaroo. This was the start of World Youth Day week. We left when the Mass was about to end to avoid the human crush. In the process, I fell and scraped my knee. Ouch! I hate bleeding.






We rushed because we were trying to get to St Mary's Cathedral.

This was what I recall from Cardinal Pell's sermon at the Eucharist. Jesus is our shepherd who searches for the lost sheep (hmmm i'm reminded of the 1000 sheep and what would Will do if 1 went missing???) Jesus welcomes the the lost sheep. Those suffering and in pain, Jesus offers healing. Jesus the shepherd calls out to all who are suffering especially those without religion (or deny God) to love, healing and community. In Ezkiel, there is the place where the desert is of dry bones. Autralia is a country which has been suffering a severe drought for several years (that explains the high food prices??). But where there is life there is hope. we are always able to act and choose. We believe in the power of the Spirit to connect people's hearts because God's forgives.

You know, the 1st day out in Sydney as a pilgrim wasn't that great! I wanted to bail out of the cold clasroom-cum-bedroom and hop into a nice hotel. I fell and scraped my knee and it hurts and I hate pain. I didnt like the crazy human jam at Barangaroo. I can imagine how the Jews felt as they left Egypt! one big exodus-cum-human-jam. I'm in a cold and dry place. I miss my warm humid Singapore. and did I mention I'm hungry? But something clicked in me during the Eucharist. Maybe it was the sermon. Maybe it was recieving Jesus once more during communion. I felt the desire to continue on the journey to the Cathedral.

St Mary's Cathedral
As we predicted the Cathedral was quiet except for several other like-minded pilgrims (smart-fellows). We had the cathedral to ourselves :)
Met an ultra cool dude. Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. http://www.3op.org/frassati.php
His words struck me: "to live without a faith, without a patrimony to defend, without a steady struggle for the truth, that is not living, but just existing."
I think that this is especially true today for young people who live in 1st world countries, who have "everything" and yet their hearts are empty.

But let's not look at others. What about this pilgrim? Am i just existing here in Sydney? What are my struggles so far? What am I here for? Do I want to journey on as a pilgrim or enjoy Sydney as a tourist?


Btw, we (mayb, Debbie and I) have developed C.O.S - crush on Saint! hehe

Pilgrim's Progress Part 1

World Youth Day was a unforgettable experience despite the physical discomforts a encountered along the way.

When we arrived in Sydney on the 9th of July, the weather was 8 deg celsius. It took awhile to clear customs. Every bag was personally checked at the the customs section. Sydney airport did not seem equipped to handle the thousands of pilgrims expected to arrive in the next few days. When we finally got out of the airport, it was already dark and pretty cold. We managed to get on an airport shuttle. We checked in, found a reasonably priced Thai eatery to have dinner. In Australia, each meal is about AUD$10. .Tired from the flight we trudged back to our 6 bed heater-less dorm. By Midnight (singapore time 2am) we were fast asleep.

We had to wake up early on 10th July, 6am (singapore time 4am) to get to central station and board the countrylink train to blayney by 645am. Thankfully were only 6 it was easy to move about even with all the luggage. We each had roles. Martin was the IC for location... "find the place and lead us there". He found the way to Central Station quite easily and sooon we were off for Days in the Diocese. The train ride was fairly pleasant. We were able to buy toast for breakfast and slept alot. We arrived at Balyney at 1130am on schedule and was greeted by Jim who drove us to Cowra where we recieved a warm welcome from the parishioners of Cowra. With us in Cowra were Americans and Zambians (not Zimbabweans, terence! haha)


May and I were soon on our way for homestay with our host Rebecca husband Will and 2 adorable boys, Flyn and Elliot. We will never forget our homestay experience! For starters, we were going to live on a really large farm about 1300acres of land which had 1000 sheep (and 1 black sheep! haha). I'm not kidding... we would have no prpblem sleeping at night! just count 1000 sheep.. hehe

Baa


Baa-baa-baa


Baa-baa-baaa x 1000


The farm has a pretty cool name: RainTree Farm. I enjoyed being away from the city. It was quiet and peaceful on the farm. What amazed me about my hosts was how D-I-Y they were and simple too. Rebecca is a potter so the family doesnt buy plates, cups, dishes etc. It's all homemade. Rebecca works in her pottery studio, a shed on the farm close to the house. Will makes his own jam and bakes his own bread. He also brews his own beer. He feeds the sheep every morning and checks on the barley which he'll harvest this December. He also has his own dark room studio on the farm. The couple are having an exhibition of their pottery and photography this September. I am excited for them.

Me at the wheel!






The days in Cowra flew by. Before we knew it, it was time to head for Bathurst to meet other pilgrims in the diocese before heading off to Sydney. But before we left, there was a commissioning Mass celebrated by Fr Owen. We planted a tree too. It was hard to say goodbye to everyone. We felt at home already. We made many friends. It was really cold in Cowra but the people warmed our hearts.

Cowra's parish: St Raphael's


This pilgrim has to get to Sydney.


Terence lost his head


with Fr Owen


Rebecca, Flynn and Elliot



We arrived in Bathurst after a couple of hours on the bus, 13th July. We were ushered into a supersized hall. Pilgrims from the U.S (Maryland and Wisconsin) Sweden, India (200 pilgrims!), Zambia, Mexico (1), Venezuela, Congo, hmmm and about 20 other countries??? We lined up our bags according to country. and this would be the place where we would be sleeping! It was still cold in Bathurst and very crowded. So crowded I was getting a splitting headache. I had to adap to be with all these people in one hall. We only had lunch at 4pm. there was a stall selling sandwiches. by 11pm, I was hungry (the stall had closed), very tired, very cold. It was crowded and noisy. Somehow managed to find a spot and wormed by way into my sleeping bag... Head was throbbing and would throb all the way to Sydney! sigh... this was it... a taste of pilgrimhood.

This is for ALAN...

i know this means nothing to you. But right now there's a very hungry ALAN in Manila.. who heard that we're having lunch/dinner.. hehe..
Alan hope u can work better after seeing the pic !

St Philip Minh and Companions

18th June Wednesday 545pm, our journey in Penang continues.
The day brings us to an interesting place. Thanks to our generous and impromptu guide, Helena, we find ourselves attending Mass at a quaint chapel atop a hill. It is the chapel of the College General (Seminary in Penang).

College General, Penang is one of the few seminaries in the world which possesses relics of martyrs who were once either students or professors who have borne the ultimate witness to Christ, in blood. Its rich tradition of heroic men who have achieved martyrdom is a testimony to all Christians, especially those who have walked along its corridors as well as those who will do so in the future. It is hoped that the faith of these martyrs will inspire and motivate us to emulate their love of Christ.

http://www.rc.net/malaysia/collegegeneral/CGMartyr.htm
http://www.rc.net/malaysia/collegegeneral/History.htm

I've been to College General once many years ago. Knew little about the place. So here we were attending a Eucharistic Celebration.. feast of some martyrs - we did not actually know what the occasion was until the celebration began. By the end of the celebration I was very much inspired Philip Minh and his companions. I had come to Penang not expecting anything in particular but I ended up recieving a kind of retreat!

What I learnt during the celebration...
If you're of this world you end up having to please the world. Are we able to stand out from the crowd and be counted? That means speaking the truth and standing up for what we believe... The Martyrs stood up for what they believed.

If you belong to the world, the world will love you as its own. Are we so in want to be loved by the world that we allow people to trample on us? For the 5 martyrs, popular opinion did not matter. They stuck to their freedom. When we speak the truth we have freedom. When we lie we cannot experience this freedom. When we stick to our belief according to God's way (not just our way) we find freedom. What is our response to this call to live our faith? We may not be privileged to die for our faith... but we are privileged to live our faith...

yes I am privileged to be able to wake up everyday and live and move... the martyrs died for their faith.. Christ invites me to live for my faith. I am affirmed that truly only Christ can give us PEACE. and it is in receiving his peace.. we have freedom. Freedom to stand up and be counted. Freedom to speak the truth. Freedom to live my faith! :)

Chirst be near at either hand
Christ behind, before me stand
Christ with me where e'er I go
Christ around, above, below.

Christ be in my heart and mind
Christ within my soul enshrined
Christ control my wayward heart
Christ abide and ne'er depart

Christ my life and only way
Christ my lantern night and day
Christ be my unchanging friend
Guide and shepherd to the end

The Lighthouse

The Lighthouse turned out to be one of the highlights of my trip to Penang.

this mission centre started as a soup kitchen, giving meals to the poor and homeless. At present 60 people file in daily for tea and 100 others dine in regularly (monday to friday) 4-7pm. The organization has been running solely on donations! great work guys!the volunteers cook and serve their clients/guests.

Everyday homeless people can come by to wash their clothes and take a shower. They are each given a bar of soap daily.By 6pm they collect their washed and dried laundry. The lighthouse also organizes street outreach where volunteers befriend the homeless and give those who have not been to the Lighthouse a packet of food. The friends/guests/clients of the lighthouse are known by their addresses and "positions" E.g. manager of 7/11, excecutive at the so-and-so Bank, or CEO of so-and-so company.. sweet.

The clients also come to the Lighthouse early in the day to watch TV in the activities room. Some are elderly, some are middle-aged. The Lighthouse also does job placement for those who can work. Each day, a group of those seeking work, go off to do odd-jobs and also graveyard maintenance. Interesting. The lighthouse does not judge or discriminate or label anyone. All are welcomed! Sometimes we go round the 1-room flats and meet able-bodied middle-aged people who are not working and are asking for help. Sometimes I can't help but ask in my heart "Why don't you work? What's wrong with you? Are you lazy?" The temptation to judge or to compare is not Christ-like. That's something I learnt from the Lighthouse. Sometimes I'm tempted to label the kids of Aunty Rosa but still cannot. After seeing how the Lighthouse has been serving I am inspired to do more for Angel Network.

Penang Here We Come

Last week, Alvin, Daryl and I took a bus to Penang. The bus was good. I recommend fivestar 18seater. Alvin expected a ride in a jalopy but was impressed with the reclining seats, personal entertainment system and massage. For me, the comfort of the bus made no difference. At 2 in the morning, I was desperately wishing the bus could be turned into a large toilet at the press of a button. Do not eat Ramlee chicken burger at Yong Peng!!! the expired charcoal pills I had brought along was of little consolation. I thought that the arduous journey would finally end when the bus entered Penang Bridge. To my utter horror, traffic on the bridge at 7am was another fiasco. How did a leisurely trip (a supposed walk in the park) turn out to be harsher than getting to Payatas???

It's been 5 years since my last Penang trip. There's a new Terminal Bas Express at Sungai Nibong close to the bridge and near the new Queensbay area. Not very good for someone in dying need of a toilet!
http://www.malaysiasite.nl/nibongeng.htm

Penang has changed somewhat. More cars now on the roads. Just like in Singapore and we wonder why fuel prices are skyrocketing!?? there's also a lot more property development. More condos now dot the skyline. Even the public flats have been given a makeover. The once shabby squalid flats at Tanjong Bungah have been given a new lease of life. The lights are much brighter add a fresh coat of paint and the ground floor is now abuzz with shops (open for business kind). No longer a dark and dingy hangout where dubious characters linger in the shadows probably trying to get a quick fix. Also Gurney area has been well-developed. Gurney Plaza looks busy and the G hotel too. However, I can't accept the demise of beloved Komtar. Sad. No more 7am Macs Breakfast when we arrive. But there's Prangin Mall, kinda MBK-ish (Bangkok). We were happy to find Midlands mall, more or less the same as before. And Maranatha still gong strong on the 4th floor.. hahaha. Penang is a small place. Consumerism is just going to be kind of stagnant. Unless there's a sudden inlfux of mirgants and the population is growing fast. Else developers should not open malls as and when they feel like it. When one mall is launched, another mall dies. Poor shopowners who go out of business. Lucky for those who can relocate to the new mall. So techincally, it's not wise to keep opening new malls and abandoning the old ones. Just upgrade, expand, refresh.

We stayed at Batu Ferringhi (Ali's Guesthouse). Cool place according to Alvin and I. Daryl did not quite approve of the shack that greeted us. But the people behind Ali's seemed to be more serious about business than Shalini's (where movement in the typical Chinese living room can be easily observed by Kpos like us). The Ah-Poh and chinese man in singlet seem oblivious that they were running a guesthouse. Though they've got good reviews as a family-run establishment, we still wanted a place that would treat us as guests and not distant relatives or in-laws. The Baba Guesthouse, a simple 1960s Chinese house gave us the impression of Ah Peis hanging around in their cotton-thin blue-striped PJs (like old folks' home set up). Actually we never saw anyone go in or come out from there though the door is always wide open. ET Guesthouse? Saw the sign but have no recollection of having seen the place. Ali's is like a kampong place yet, chalet looking.. and Daryl gave his final stamp of approval when he spied the sign "Cable TV available"... arrrggghhhh!!! I warned Alvin in advance: Cable TV means he's not sleeping.. He'll be up watching whatever sports is available till the wee hours of the morning. Still we decided to check in and settled for a small but comfortable triple sharing room. Daryl was happy with the cable TV, I was happy there was a toilet. Alvin was happy with the large comforter on the bed! after freezing on the bus for 10hours. note: always have a jacket and/or blankie when travelling on planes, trains, buses. This is the 21st century! there is air-con... and it can only get colder!

Once we settled in, lackadaisical mode swung in. Batu Ferringhi is really a slack place where I would like to open a mamashop/makan place and watch the world go by. After a month I'd probably be bored stiff and would expand to a guesthouse. After a couple of months, I'd probably open an internet cafe cum arcade (24hours). The mamashop would by then also be a 24hour convenience store. Probably after that, I would organize night street basking, artists on the sidewalks painting portraits. and the makan place would by then be burger joint by day, side walk alfresco dining by night. Guesthouse would have a jacuzzi installed already, cable, wireless and other upgraded facilties. There'd be foot therapy where fish can bite on your feet. There'll be spa and massage on the beach front. And a large pond for fishing! hehe...
Then there'd be beach parties every weekend! Beach soccer and volleyball competitions. Sandcastle building competitions and so on.

After a year Batu Ferringhi would no longer be a slack place but bustling, busy an crowded.. and I'll wonder "why did i ever come to such a busy place???" hahaha and then retreat to Bhutan.

We lived the next 2 days rather nonchalantly, doing nonchalant stuff. Went to tropical fruit farm. How to go? Board the only bus 101 going round Batu Ferringhi (btw rapid bus is good.. almost SBS standard.. take the Hin bus at your own risk haha) stop at Telok Bahang's depot/interchange. Wait for minibus 501 and it'll go to the base of the fruit farm.. i must warn you 1st about the climb up to the fruit farm... phew... hehe For 25 Ring, we went on a tour with a Jacky Chanish guide and a promised fruit buffet at the end of the tour! Many Arab tourists joine too.. they didn't care what Jacky Chan was saying. They were grabbing every fruit in sight. Poor Jacky Chan had to tell them "No dont eat our fruits! Not now! Not here" a few Arab ladies found great delight posing for photos with every fruit tree they saw! After awhile we were hungry and deserted Jacky Chan. So did some of the Arabs who also headed for the fruit buffet line.

The fruit buffet was my first one ever! Who would have a fruit buffet?? ... I imagined that there would be a START line and someone would blow the whistle which would trigger a mad dash down the path for fruit trees which would be everywhere, waiting for us to ATTACK. ... like Sonic and Hedgehog? there'd be ripe mango trees on the left and the mangoes would be in grabbing distance. There'd be sweet rambutans on the right screaming "eat me! eat me!" Further down there'd be jackfruit (already cut and open) dangling before us. Grapes on the bushes (yes they have grapes) and whooo.. mouthwatering... and the finale.. just before the finishing line there'd be tons giganto fleshy yellow durian already waiting for us to devour. The king of fruits. whooo!

However the reality turned out to be very different from my imagined buffet. The real fruit buffet was disappointing...typical buffet set up. a few miserly catering trays... some regular featured fruits.. mango was not the filipino happening kind. didnt even have BANANA! and at batu ferringhi the Banana house had tons of banana. and the batu ferringhi mango was much juicier! and noooo durian in sight!! sobsob.. refund! refund! refund! If Alan, Iggy, Tim were there.. they would have rioted!

Other nonchalant activities that I don't actually need to mention here.. so this paragraph is pretty nonchalant: meals at nondescript roadside stalls, bus rides on long winding roads, dozing off on the bus while on long winding roads, sauntering here and there (confession: it takes effort to saunter. especially when the other 2 are always lagging behind. They make me look like I'm in a hurry). Sitting on the beach looking at the starless sky. Alvin burying his Tat Seng in the dead of the night. Alvin digging for his Tat Seng under the sweltering midday sun. Alvin walking from Penang Road to Macalister to Nagore in search of a new Tat Seng to replace his buried Tat Seng. Quite nonsensical.. but that's our friend Alvin. We don't try to understand him, we just try to live with him... hehe

Anyway after 2 days of slacking on the Batu (aka stone).. we batu (stoned) on the batu (stone)... Daryl was the 1st to want out! "City! Gimme the city!" he gave a ranting speech, praising us for the simplicity thus far.. and it was about time to reward ourselves with a hotel in the city... (actually he just wanted a fridge to store his chocolates. heehee!) so we packed up. bid the Ali folks farewell, waved to Shalini, ET and Baba and boarded the bus (what else? 101 lah) to Komtar. we "trekked" towards the 1st decent looking hotel (not the Singapore air-conditioned hotel!). With the help of Alvin's fishing rod, which efficiently pointed us in the right direction, we finally came to Cititel. A little boring.. but nvm Daryl got his fridge and stored his chocolates.

We went out to familiarise ourselves with the area.. make friends with the people in the neighbourhood... found a Catholic church just behind the hotel.. and on the church's premises was a mission centre called the Lighthouse where homeless people come in for free meals.. now we're talking.. i don't mean we were planning on posing as homeless and get a free meal.. Helloooo?? ok but the thought did cross my mind lah.. we could check the place out find out more about their mission, learn something from them. There was also a Catholic information centre.. bookstore thing. very cool.

Helena this wonderful Penangite Youth worker picked us up later in the afternoon (from where we were having our lunch just across the hotel) and drove us to the Lighthouse just behind the hotel... hehe and we wonder how come petrol so expensive.. here i want to add. that Helena this cool gal.. drives an environmentally green car.. she uses natural gas.. hehe not that kind of natural gas lah! anyway.. she rockzz.. (be a planeteer.. saving our planet is the thing to do!!! Captain Planet) So there was technically no sin commited driving 25metres up and down :)

I Need You More, More than Yesterday

How to grow in faith?
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

So lean on the Lord. Depend on the Lord. Trust him. Put your plans/hopes/dreams into his hands.

Many times, we have the answers, the solutions and we know how to make things better. We cannot let others see our weaknesses. We have to be strong and show others how indepdendent and capable we are. We hide our fears or loneliness. We cover up our broken lives. We put on a show to conceal our simple-mindedness. We don't let anyone at anytime laugh at us. Why do we try so hard to impress others? when the One we should be pleasing is God Almighty, our El Shaddai.

Proverbs 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Acknowledge God Almighty by referring all our ways to His will, trusting in His power, wisdom, providence, goodness, righteousness. Acknowledge that without Him we can do nothing. Most of our failures are due to our pride, for we think that our own wisdom, strength and piety are sufficient, and so we do not acknowledge Him as necessary in all things. We need God’s direction in everything, for this alone is a safe path to tread.

Jeremiah 9:23-34 Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”


Lindell Cooley - I Need You More lyrics
I need You more
More than yesterday
I need You Lord
More than words can say
I need You more
Than ever before
I need You Lord
I need You Lord

More than the air I breathe
More than the song I sing
More than the next heartbeat
More than anything
And Lord as time goes by
I'll be by Your side
Cause I never want to go back
To my old life

Right here in Your presence
Is where I belong
This old broken heart
Has finally found a home
And I'll never be alone

Marian Evangelization Community

The group of 15 from the Philippines arrived on Saturday 10th May... After 9 days of lots of walking, eating and singing, they've gone home.
The 9 days with this amazing group of singers was really a new experience everyday.
Yes they have a great voice when they sing together. Everyone just stops in their tracks to listen to them. It's not just the voice or the technique but their soul expressed in each song they sing. Truly inspiring.

I miss their sense of humour and their jokes and impersonations. And they laugh at themselves readily too. I learnt that walking is certainly not one of their fortes. I also realise that we walk alot in Singapore... to the bus stop, to the train station. We're always walking. Sorry you had to walk so much!

We had a wonderful time with you. Alan, Cathy, Jay, Mayb, Beng, Vince, Cha, Tin Tin, Marich, Ian, Jorge, JR, Diane, Juslyn and Pam. You have touched our hearts. I know the friendship that started here will continue to grow. God bless...

My Catechism in Payatas

Today I was in Payatas and we met up with the kids who were recently baptised. They eagerly came to the school and we had our 1st Catechsim lesson outdoors, on the school's porch. The large umbrella shelter provided a soothing relief from the scorching sun. Temperatures have soared to 37 deg celsius. I wonder how those atop the dumpsite can take all that heat being absored into their body each day..

The 10 kids are of various ages.. From 4 to 9 years old. It's an odd group and at 1st we felt a little lost. As a teacher, I know that we need to group them. The kinders can have singing, colouring, games and listen to stories of Jesus. The grade 3s and above can have singing, simple Bible study and faith sharing. But due to limited resources, we continue our meeting in the outdoors as one group.

We ask them why they got baptised. 1 kid answers,"For Birth terticate (certificate)". We ask them to describe how Jesus looks like. There is silence before 1 kid blurts out "The one on the cross?" I begin to feel sorry for them and sorry for myself even.. hehe. What am I to do now?

At that moment I thought, "Just share with them the name of Jesus". We share about the power of His Name. They can call upon the name of Jesus anytime, everytime, anywhere, everywhere. When they're happy or sad, lonely or with friends... and Jesus will always be with them. I ask if they knew how much Jesus loves them. They didn't know. Then I remembered something my friend, Iwan, had done recently. So I ask them to stand and stretch out their hands as wide as they could. I ask them to recall a time, they felt lonely or sad, or happy; a time they just wanted Jesus to be with them. And we sing "Jesus Jesus Jesus". The kids are pretty brave.. they are churning out their own tune of our newest song "Jesus" hehe.. Just one word in this song, "Jesus".

Here was a group of little ones gathered outside, hands stretched out, eyes closed just singing "Jesus, Jesus". Even the 2 mothers with us, joined in. I was wrong to feel sorry for them. In their simplicity, they can embrace the love of Jesus so freely, so openly. We asked them if they would like the group to pray for them. One by one, they raised their hands. "Pray for my lola. She's been sick". The little one was invited to stand in the centre of the circle. With hands stretched out, we led in prayer, in Tagalog and English. Each kid would vouluntarily come to the centre and asked us to pray with him/her. One little girl said, "Pray for my kuya (older brother). He's passed away". The kuya had died even before she was born. Yet this was something she wanted Jesus to know.. she wanted her Kuya to be with Jesus.

This was not just their Catechism. This was my Catechism too. The kids taught me something. We often label poor children as helpless, vulnerable and in need of care. It's like the poverty of a child is so complete since s/he is poor and have nothing to contribute. Today I saw 10 children, in the afternoon sun, hands stretched out, leaning into the wind, embracing God with great love and joy. And I realised my own poverty in seeing their wealth.

April 17 2008.
Paaralang Pantao
Pampanga Street, Payatas

HeartSpeaks - MaryJane's Mother

She asked her daughter Mary Jane, to send a letter to Tita Letty explaining why she couldn't make it for our first trip to the government office, (where we will get their National Bureau of Investigation Clearance which would later be needed in getting the birth certification of the children). In the letter, she wrote, "It’s too shameful for me to join the group because I don’t have any money to contribute for this clearance. All I have today is a ten peso coin left to buy food for my 2 kids."

I judged her wrongly. I thought that she was an irresponsible mother who did not care anymore. Or a mother who would just wait for her children to grow up a little and let them be cooked on top of the garbage mountain. Along the way I felt anger thinking of little Mary Jane. She’s one of our outstanding students. I wonder, "Can she ever make it to formal school?"

In the afternoon, we were back in school with the other mothers and I read her letter.

The next day, I met her, Martina, a young mother of 3. She was smiling shyly in front of the school gate. She had just ended her night-shift at the dumpsite and had come to school immediately after work. We told her to have a of clothes after which we went to the government office with her. I realized how dignified she is. She shared how she worked harder now for the 3 children, since her husband left them last December. Her husband was a drug addict and drunkard, whose irresponsibility is well known to her children. The children even persuaded her to leave their father.

With courage she narrated that she needs to earn at least 150 pesos daily to sustain their needs. The dumpsite’s heat at times is really unbearable according to her, "It’s different these days. The sun’s heat penetrates the insides of my body.” She told me how much she earns. (27peos = 1 Singapore dollar)
1 kilo of coke cans (= 40 cans) - 30 pesos.
1 kilo of bottled plastic bottles (= 30 pcs) - 15 pesos.
1 kilo copper wires (which she would still need to burn) - 40 pesos.
1 kilo of plastic wears or old basins cost 15 pesos
1 kilo of plastics costs 50 pesos can cost 20 pesos.

All this depends on her skillful senses on top of the mountain.

Mary Jane once share with me that her dream is to be a teacher. She reads very well and her Math is excellent. Martina told me that Mary Jane once told her that she buy a big house for her and she would not let her father in. Martina brags about Mary Jane’s independent character. At times she sells fish balls and no one can trick her with the payments.

All this time I saw Many Jane as just a 7 year old kid. I often look at her and sense the innocence, the warm smile and light heartedness that I fail to see in the other overly-burdened kids. I realized how a mother’s love fills the empty spaces that probably fills her. Martina revealed to me the wonders of the greatest LOVE.

Braving the heat of the sun, 7am to 5 p.m a day; digging through the garbage piles; going beyond any sickness. Letting go of the pains which her husband caused her. Supporting the needs of her three children. Dreaming for them and helping them achieve the dreams one day at a time, fills my heart with the pride for a mother’s life; a gift from God like Martina.

Let’s take a moment to pray for her and the many other Martinas surviving in Payatas. May her story be a source of light, of God’s providence and care. Let’s pray for the many Mary Janes receiving such unconditional love. May they fill the other empty hearts around and let them realize the greatest value of suffering and love.


P.S.
Tita Letty gave a slot of the birth certificate funds for Mary Jane. Touched by the mother’s honesty and persistence. Truly there is so much more that what meets the eye.