Because We Love You

Dear Joannie, Nic (Nicasio formerly) and JP (Pepito formerly) you're all growing up so fast! Joannie you're growing into a confident young lady. You're already like a little Ate May, watching out for the little ones around you. Nic you're becoming a thoughtful young man. :) and JP still cheeky but you're learning to share.

Joannie don't be afraid to share the great love you have for Jesus with others! Life's going to be different from here on. High school can be challenging, especially with the "fraternities" and peer pressure. When things get tough, always remember your dreams! You've come this far! You've already achieved what you once thought was impossible! Keep on working towards your dreams. We'll always be here to give you the support you need :)

Nic I know life's been hard for you. You've lost the people you love most and I know you still miss them. It's also not been so easy to adjust to this new life and to the new school. No more Paaralang Pantao. But you know what? You inspire me! Because with every obstacle you meet, you've put your trust in Jesus and you prayed "Jesus don't abandon me". And He's not abandoned you. He never will and we won't either. Thank you for giving Singapura a place to call home too :)

JP I can recognise your laugh anywhere anytime. You know why? Cos you're special. There's only one JP and no one can ever replace you. I know you've missed out on so many things before and I know you want so many things now. Sometimes you get upset because Ate May or I say "no". We say "no" because we love you. Maybe you don't understand why we don't give you everything you want, but someday you will. We love you and that's why we helped you get rid of the 1000 ants in your drawer and washed your clothes for you :) and hug you when you're sad. and send you to school and sometimes we scold you only because we want the best for you. We are your family and this is a place you can always call home :)

You know what else? Kuya Alvin is so happy to be with all of you. I never see him smile so much! haha :) and NO he's not angry, he's just quiet! He never washed clothes before but he did it for JP! Wow! and the next time he comes back he'll even cook fried chicken for all of you! :)

Nic and JP, be good ok??? :)

I hope the 3 of you will stick together through thick and thin and keep on supporting each other and always be there for Jovelyn too. Jovelyn I was so touched when you responded when I talked to you! I know you're not ready yet. But I know someday when you're ready you'll talk and step out to see the world. I want to take you to Ate May's place in Bataan where the sea is so beautiful. Where you can see fishing boats and walk on the beach. I hope we can all go with you one day :)

I'll see you very soon for ice-cream... :)

Introducing our Fire House (Payatas)

Dear friends,
acts29 is happy to introduce to your our communinty home, Fire House. We rented a small unit, just 20sqm, in Payatas this March and welcomed our 1st few residents.

We were at 1st stunned at the choice of name. We had asked our little residents to come up with a name, expecting more traditional choices. However the name Fire House was chosen by these somewhat prophetic and contemplative residents.

On deeper reflection the name aptly reminds us of the presence of God in all our lives. The symbol of fire throughout the Old and New Testatment represents the presence of God's glory. In the Acts of the Apostles, the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit when what seemed like tongues of fire descended upon them. 6 years ago at the beginning of our mission, we recognised the Holy Spirit working in our lives. Our Fire House members have also recognised the same Holy Spirit working in their lives.

None of us expected that when we first said "Yes" to Jesus (to let the little ones come to Him or when we 1st commited to the food project), we would one day be saying "Yes" to our Fire House.

Our House is first and foremost a sanctuary, a place of refuge. It is a shelter for tired and weary little feet, for coarse rough little hands, for broken hearts and broken dreams looking for healing and a new life, a new beginning. 4 pairs or feet, 4 pairs of hands, 4 broken hearts walked through the door of this House in March and began a new life, a life filled with hope.

We've only just begun. With your support and prayers, we'll continue to provide shelter, food and family structure through our community house to homeless and at-risk children and teens.

It is with our sincerest and deepest gratitude to each and everyone of our extended community, all those who have been supporting us... that we wish to say THANK YOU - for your prayer, for your word of affirmation, for buying our t-shirts or bakwa, your donation, your pledge to our food project and to the education sponsorship, your time to read this blog or our website and for sharing our mission with others. Thank you for saying "Yes" to this call to serve. However little you may think you have contributed to our mission, it has gone a long way to make Jesus known and loved through the 100 kids we serve every day at 1pm (lunch), through the kids recently baptised and to be baptised this year, through the TB kids who are on the road to recovery, through the kids who are saying NO to drugs, through the kids who now have birth certificates and are getting ready for formal school this June, and through the 4 lives who now have a home, a hope and a future.

Thanks be to God!

Ps/ Photos of our Fire House will be uploaded next week when we're back from Payatas

Yes Lord Yes Lord Yes Yes lord

This is a recent reflection of Mayb (Payatas Coordinator) which echoes very much our thoughts and feelings in the mission. Thank you May! :)

Dear Lord,
It’s been more than 3 years since the very day I said YES to Your call to serve. Tonight I hear a voice in my heart, asking how things have been, how Your love has been revealed. I recalled the many fears I have when I said, okay Lord. YES, I recalled the uneasy feelings, the insecurities as I trek the road to the school. My playful heart imagined a scene that the things around me are not as what they may seem to be. Perhaps beneath the dark and dirty creek that I see was a blue river, perhaps beneath the shabby ragged men and women were noble and valiant people. Perhaps within the frail and under nourished kid is a wise individual. Perhaps beneath the poverty lies an abundance of some sort of a thing. I remember breathing within me hope. I remember telling You, I surrender, I let go. Make me Your instrument. I remember the thought, Your words, You are near, You are in everything.
You led me to many tiny hearts. I survived the deepest pains because you showed me their smiles, their hearts - full of simplicity, full of acceptance, full of contentment. I envied them at the same time a part of me, wanted to carry them far away from what seemed to be real. Muddy, dirty, poor, sad, weak; what others say hopeless realities. Yet thinking about what lies beyond this seeming poverty helped me Lord in the journey. Yes Lord, You are always greater. You are always beyond what my senses can offer. You helped me wonder, You helped me touched the things I can’t imagine to hold. Sometimes, you helped me walked on water and witnessed heartfelt miracles. You woke me up in the reality of Hope and the reality that with every insecurity lies a mightier and greater Truth, which you have revealed to the young, to the weak and the poor. And tonight I remember how You have held me tightly through the gift of this community, to the many hands and fateful encounters. You have brought me to a paradise full of little hearts and flickers of lights. You are greater than all things. You are our strength and courage. You are our patience and refuge. So keep me. Hold me. Help me remember the wonderful moments that You graced me in this journey.

And we continue to say Yes to this call to serve

What kids say about our food program

ARJAY MOGOL 6 years old
“Masarap ang pagkain sa school. Paborito ko ang chicken, sopas at sotanghon. Salamat dahil tinutulungan nyo kami at sa aming pag-aaral din.”

Food in school is delicious. My favourite is fird chicken, macaroni soup and sotanghon.
Thank you for helping us. Thank you for teaching us also.

JAMES BORCE 6 years old
“Feeding? Ah Kainan. Gusto ko ng mongo, itlog, sotanghon, chicken, ang dami. Thank you ate Day-day. Thank you sa lahat ng tumutulung para makakain kami. Masaya ako at tinuturuan nyo din kami.

“ Feeding, for me feeding is Eating time! I like mongo vegetable, eggs, sotanghon, chicken, I have many favorites. Thank you everyone for helping us so we can eat well. Thank you ate Day-day (our cook). I am happy because you are also teaching us.

LORAINE H. BORROMEO 6 years old“
Gusto ko ng kalabasa, baboy at isda.” Salamat dahil binibigyan nyo kami ng pagkain.

“I like to eat squash, pork and fish..” Thank you very much because you always give us food.

CRYSTAL ROSE B. ARCA 6 years old
Salamat dahil nakakakain kami ng mabuti ditto sa school.

“Thank you very much because in school we always eat well.”

CRYSTAL MAE SAPIAN 5 years old
Kumakain ako ng pagpag sa bahay, halo halo taba ng baboy, at buto. Gusto ko ang pagkain ditto sa school, masarap, mongo, adobo, chicken, sinigang. Salamat sa pagbibigay nyo sa amin ng pagkain.

At home I eat pagpag, mix pork fats and bones. I like the food in school, it’s delicious. I like adobo, chicken, sinigang. Thank you for giving us food in school.



LORD AMBERLAND MEDINA 11. years old
Gusto ko kumain ng sopas at chicken, masarap sila. Nakakatulong ang masusustansyang pagkain ditto sa school. Thank you ate and kuya.

I like to eat macaroni soup and chicken, it’s delicious. Eating nutritious food here in school is very helpful. Thank you very much Ates and kuyas.

RESTY TOLENTINO 6 years old

Gusto ko ng fried chicken ksi may ketchup. Masustansya ang kinkain naming ditto. Thank you kasi naging malusog kami.

I like fried chicken because it has ketchup. Food in school is nutritious. Thank you because we are growing healthier.

ALBERT DELA CRUZ 9 years old

Gusto ko ng ketchup at fried chicken, sopas at kalabasa. Masasarap at masusustansya po sila. Salamat po at tinutulungan nyo kami para makakain kami ng mabuti.

I like ketchup and fried chicken, macaroni soup and squash. We are eatinf delision and nutritious food in school. Thank you very much for helping us eat well.

ANABEL DELA CRUZ 7 years old

Salamat at nakakain kaming mabuti, salamat sa mga tumutulung. Gustong-gusto ko ng fried chicken

Thank you because we are eating well, thank you for helping us. I really like to eat fried chicken.

ANGELA GOLONDRINA 8 years old
Madalas ako kumain ng gulay sa bahay. Dito sa school madaming pagkain, Salamat sa mga tulong ninyo sa amin.

At home we always eat vegetables. Here in school we have plenty of food with many varieties. Thank you for helping us.

ABIGAIL MACANTAN 6 years old
Gusto ko ng kanin, gulay, isda, fried chicken.. Salamat pos a inyong lahat na nagbibigay ng tulong sa amin.

I like to eat rice, vegetables, fish, fried chicken. Thank you everyone from giving and helping us.



After a hearty meal these kids are ready to strike a pose!


The kids who gave their views with the best cook in Payatas, Ate Daday! :)

Little Thank Yous from our Kids

Mary Jane's Message:
"In school I clean and play. I want to be a teacher someday. Thank you for sending me money so I can study."





Erwin's Message: "Erwin is cleaning. Erwin's favorite subjects are Erglish and Math. He dreams of becoming a soldier one day. Kuya Rey (Raimas) thank you very much for helpingErwin study."

Fasting opens our eyes

Fasting is an aid to open our eyes to the situation in which so many of our brothers and sisters live.

In his First Letter, Saint John admonishes: “If anyone has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, yet shuts up his bowels of compassion from him – how does the love of God abide in him?” (3,17).
By freely embracing an act of self-denial for the sake of another, we make a statement that our brother or sister in need is not a stranger.
It is precisely to keep alive this welcoming and attentive attitude towards our brothers and sisters that I encourage the parishes and every other community to intensify in Lent the custom of private and communal fasts, joined to the reading of the Word of God, prayer and almsgiving.
From the beginning, this has been the hallmark of the Christian community, in which special collections were taken up (cf. 2 Cor 8-9; Rm 15, 25-27), the faithful being invited to give to the poor what had been set aside from their fast.
This practice needs to be rediscovered and encouraged again in our day, especially during the liturgical season of Lent. It is good to see how the ultimate goal of fasting is to help each one of us to make the complete gift of self to God
May every family and Christian community use well this time of Lent, therefore, in order to cast aside all that distracts the spirit and grow in whatever nourishes the soul, moving it to love of God and neighbor.

Excerpt taken from: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/lent/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20081211_lent-2009_en.html

Prayer, Almsgiving, Fasting

Dear Youths,
Acts29 invites you to journey with us this season of Lent all the way to Easter.
His Holiness Pope Benedict the 16th is inviting all of us to a time of PRAYER, ALMSGIVING AND FASTING.

Youth Meetings during LENT. This Sat meeting will be held at Caritas, 9th floor, Catholic Welfare building. For youths 14 years and above.

30hour FAST
The 30hour FAST is on 7th-8th March, Church of the Holy Spirit. 14years old and above are welcomed to join us! To register email: 30hourfast@gmail.com.

What you need to know:
1. Kindly download Sponsor My Fast form and get your family and friends to sponsor your FAST. Money from this donation will help fund the FAST and the rest of the proceeds will go to Catholic Charities Week.
2. Sponsor My FAST forms must be given to the registration team on 7th March.
3. Registered Participants who do not show up on the day of the FAST are required to pay $10 (to cover the cost of the FAST.
4. Registration of attendance begins at 1130am, 4th floor Holy Spirit Church attic. FAST briefing is at 12pm and FAST pledge will be taken at 1230pm

What will be given during the FAST:
1. White tshirt for you to design your own FAST t-shirt which participants will wear for the FAST
2. FAST booklet
3. Drink breaks
4. Light dinner after Mass (Eucharistic Celebration)
5. Acknowledgement of Participation (certificate)

What you need to bring:
1. sleeping bag
2. jacket
3. toothbrush/toothepaste and small face towel
4. shorts for games/outdoor activities
5. Jeans/skirt and shoes for Mass

Who cannot FAST/participate
5. Participants who are late for the briefing and the pledge
6. Participants who are ill on the day of the FAST
7. Participants who require food in order to take medication
8. Participants who are going out during the FAST (for medical safety)

God gives us everything we need to do His will

We are now in our 2nd month of 2009 and our mission is alive and kicking in case you're wondering as it's been a little quiet on the blog.

We have many things to thank the Lord for. Our fundraising efforts have been good! We've been praying hard. We've raised enough money to see through the 5th year of our food project and have sent the last installment (Jan to March). We are grateful to all our benefactors whom God have sent our way. Without their support and prayers, our mission would have been futile. As our 5 year mark came to and end, we also had a change of guards with a new finance team taking over the food project, probably for the next 5 years. By Easter, the new team would have started raising funds for the feeding in the new school year.

The medical mission in December has also brought good news. Some of the children there who were diagnosed with tubercolosis are now receiving medication for it and it is free. We want to thank the children from Church of St Ignatius who gave the TB fund, thus making it possible for us to get the vials needed for the PPT testing (tubercolosis testing) of 100 children and Xrays of a few kids done. An answered prayer!

Our Payatas co-ordinator, Mayb, has worked extremely hard, serving the Lord and his people in Payatas. For 2009, Mayb has managed to negotiate for free registration of birth certificates for the children. While there is still some cost involved, it is not going to be as much as what we paid for in 2008. Another answered prayer.

Our little ones in Payatas who are at-risk and are now in Payatas C Elementary have adjusted into formal school and are doing well! Erwin and Mary Jane are in the top class of Grade 1. Nicasio and Pepito are classmates in Grade 1. They're also attending school regularly and bugging Mayb for more tuition :) Joannie who starts high school this June is all excited as she never thought she would be able to afford to go to school. The reason these kids are in school and realizing their dream to study is thanks to the generous sponsors who have come forward to sponsor their education. For 9000 pesos ($300 sing dollars), these children have enough pocket money, school transport and materials for the whole year. They no longer need to work in the dumpsite. Thank you! God is answering all our prayers!

We still have many prayers for our mission and we believe that God will continue to provide for us and lead us to build His kingdom.

Our Angel Network is expanding. We're starting a street outreach to the homeless. Ironically, we're homeless too! However this experience has taught us that we can still serve and be a community despite the challenges ahead. If anything, we see our homelessness actually strengthening our community! We're looking for a place. preferably free or with reasonable rent where we can hold our meetings, build a music ministry and store our mission miscellaneous stuff (the things to send overseas). We continue to trust in the Lord to provide for our needs according to his riches and glory.

We also offer to the Lord the challenges we are encountering within our families. We need to continually offer the peace of Christ to our families even when His Peace may be rejected or unwanted. We also offer our prayers to Mayb whose father has been unwell and for her sister who is due in May. It's not easy to serve the Payatas Mission and also to care for the family members. I am so thankful that Mayb is holding up so well despite the difficulties before her. And Tito (Mayb's father) is such a loving and supportive dad! I'm sure God is touched with the gift of the mission car! :)

A couple of weeks ago, we suffered a loss and we're still in the process of mourning the loss of Uncle Joseph, an elderly, we had adopted under our local mission "Angel Network". We were supposed to be having our recollection. So in the midst of the recollection, there was the visit to the mortuary, the wake and the funeral. I realize that our recollection was not our program but God's. God showed us just what he wanted us to reflect on - Angel Network, the elderly destitute, our purpose.

Our interaction with the elderly destitute started back in Anawim, Philippines. The old people there touched our hearts. I didnt feel sorry for them or had pity for them. I respected the way they lived. Despite being abandoned or having no one to care for them, they did not complain or give up on life. And they aged with grace and dignity because they were in a community where they were valued. Eventually, the ones I was very attached to passed away. I realized that I began to close my heart to the others because I feared having to lose another friend. I guess this is my struggle but now I'm willing to take that step to re-experience the Anawim here in Singapore.

We knew some day that the elderly we've adopted would pass away. We just didnt expect it to be now. As young people we think we have all the time in the world to make a difference. In truth, we don't. The elderly may not be here tomorrow. The elderly destitute here can still lead meaningful lives like how we've seen in Anawim. It's up to us to affirm them that God's plan of love is still being offered to them.

I realize that what we've accomplished so far is beyond our own abilities. I don't know how it is that our Payatas mission is growing and we have a kids' Baptism program to implement. I also don't know how it is that the Angel Network with the elderly is still moving along, even though we struggle to speak the dialect. If I knew that some elderly would pass away and the police would call on us to collect his body, I would not have had the courage to say 'yes' to Angel Network. But somehow he's given us the grace to do His will. Perhaps you're reading this and wondering if you should join acts29 :) and you're fearful that you would not have what it takes. You're in the same boat as us... Just believe that God will give you everything you need to do His will and continue His mission :)

The Great Commandment, the Great Commission

It's not that difficult to be a good Christian. Jesus' teachings were simple and his instructions were simple too. But it is we who make his teachings and instructions complicated and difficult to follow. We put obstacles before us and give opportunities to the devil to weaken our faith.

The Catechism program for teens in our churches can sometimes be rather complicated. Some churches have textbooks. Some churches have complicated Catechists. Teens are simple folks. Too much teaching can end up with only a little going into their hearts.

While it is good to teach our teens important stuff like how to read the Bible and what is Eucharist and sacraments, etc... we 1st need go take stock of the faith condition of our teens. Teaching the above things are not important if in the 1st place they have no faith. Often in every Catechism class there are more teens with little or zero faith than teens with faith. Many teens think this is what Confirmation means - "this one is a Catholic, confirm... this one may be not be Catholic, cannot confirm." Teens need people to come down to their level and share their faith(both ways).

So let's keep things simple the way Jesus did.

Number 1: the Great Commandment. Always go back to this. Love.. Love God because God loves us... young people want to experience God's love but they don't know how to open their hearts to him. Especially if they've been hurt and have locked up their heart and built a fortress around it. Only God can undo their hurt, heal their wound and love them perfectly.

Number 2: the Great Commission. Serve God. Make Disciples. If young people know and believe God loves them unconditionally, they will go all out to serve Him. We should not wait till the coming of Confirmation Day before we tell them about the Great Commission. We should tell them about this Commission all the time. Because God calls them to serve Him.

The Great Commandment and the Great Commission is for everyone to embrace not just teens. We can share this with our family, our friends, classmates or colleagues, neighbours. Talk about the Great Commandment. Talk about the Great Commission. The more we talk about it, the more people will know it... the more we will live it, the great commandment, the great commission!

The Greatest Love John 13:4

The greatest love a person can have for his friends is to give his life for them.
We know that Jesus gave his life for us... Now the question is for us to answer. If Jesus is our friend and we love him.. the greatest expression of our love would be to give our life for him.

Not literally to end our life as that would be the opposite of loving him. But giving our life over to him.
Take my life and let it be
Consecrated Lord to thee
Take my moments and my days
Let them flow in ceaseless praise

When Simon Peter gave up fishing and followed Jesus, he gave his life over to Jesus. When Paul gave up persecuting Christians, he gave his life over to Jesus.

For those of us who love Jesus then know that Jesus gives us a task, to lay down our life for him. When God gives us a task he always provides everything for us to be able to accomplish it. It may seem tough to lay down our life for Jesus. Perhaps even impossible. God wants us to follow him like Peter and Paul did. God wants to use us just as he did with Peter and Paul. In actual fact, it's not impossible because God will make a way for us just like how he made a way for Peter and Paul. Peter spoke 600 words and converted 3000 people converted(people who didn't understand the language he spoke in yet they heard him speak in their own languages). Paul preached to the Gentiles even though he was a prisoner in Rome. Despite his imprisonment, he spoke about the Kingdom of God and taught about Jesus boldly and freely.

Some of us love Jesus by giving him 5 minutes a day. Some of us love Jesus by giving him $1 a week. We know we can give him more but we won't because we dare not empty ourselves to him. We're afraid that if we empty ourselves, we have nothing left for ourselves. So we make sure we keep 50% and give him 50%. and then we wait for God to give us his 50% But God doesn't and so we give him another 10% (we're left with 40%).. Hoping God would pour back 60%... but he doesn't. Why? Because God wants to give us 100%!!! 100% of his love, his joy, his peace.

At the wedding in Cana, Jesus put back 100% wine into empty wine jars. The new wine he gave tasted even better than the previous wine. If we have the desire to give our life for Jesus, we have to give him our 100%.

An Ordinary Day for an Ordinary Time

Christmas is over. We've entered into the 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time. 2009 is here to stay and January will soon be over. The ordinariness of life has taken over. One such ordinary activity we often engage in during the start of the year is we struggle to keep up with New Year resolutions. Many of us, even little kids in school, have set their goals for the year, making projections. The students would have set exam targets and those taking major exams are already preparing for the Day of their 1st actual paper (sometime in Oct). Some adults are making arrangements in case they get retrenched or looking for other jobs. Soon the Budget for 2009 will be released. Singaporeans everywhere are anticipating the budget and waiting for the GST rebates to come in.

So it seems the year has just started but from the plans that have been made, it seems we already know what to expect for the rest of 2009! It's as if we've lived through 2009. We're obsessed with managing everything esp. our time. I wonder if we're good responsible stewards.. or if all our plannings are done out of fear.. fear of the unknown future... So whatever comes our way... we have what we need to survive... We don't anything to want to rock our goals for an ordinary year.

Today's readings are close to my heart. For one, the story of Samuel brings me back to the time when as a hyperactive 10 year old, my siblings were exhausted out and I had no one to play with. While looking for geckos to freeze (then to thaw beside my sleeping sisters), I chanced upon a dusty Bible at the bottom of the shelf. While flipping though the pages I came across the story of Samuel and his famous words "Speak Lord your servant is listening". I marvelled at this little boy... and wondered how interesting it would be if God too would speak to me! I would have someone to interact with when everyone was too dead-tired to play with me. And so I prayed, "Speak Lord your servant is listening (and I'm very bored)". What do you sound like God? (Do you have a deep low voice like my dad? Or a loud voice like my mum?) In order to remember the prayer of Samuel I named by teddy bear, Samuel. I've kept to Samuel's prayer since then. Not a day has gone past, when I've felt bored or alone. God always finds ways to entertain and amuse me. God always finds ways to show off his works that leave me marvelled and in awe. God always finds ways to keep me busy and yet out of trouble.

The Gospel is also special because it led me to discover mission. The disciples asked, "Master where do you live?" and Jesus replied, "Come and See". In wanting to see how Jesus lived, I searched here and there. As a teen I was able to travel alot at very low rates (like $20 to $50, sometimes for free). I went to Disneyland. I rode all the rides all day. I went to Europe, saw Buckingham, Eiffel Tower, went to a mountain in Switzerland. I had a good time. I went to Australia, I went horse-riding and rode in a hot-air balloon. I had a good time. I went to Tokyo and watched sumo!!! I like sumo and I had a good time. I did the ordinary things a visitor would have done.

Then one day I went to a place like none other. A massive place where the mountains were made of rubbish, where I opened my mouth and a fly flew in and then flew out, where it was always smoky and musty, where there was no running water, where a lady had a heart-atack and nowhere to go and where undernourished children worked for long hours in dangerous conditions for a pittance. I didn't have a good time. But at the same time I didn't want to go home. The un-ordinary encounter of the people had begun to change my outlook of what ordinary should be.

We set goals, projections, resolutions to determine our future. The commitment each day to stay on track in meeting our targets, achieving standards, to be approved and accepted by others in the hope of having a successful and prosperous future can often rob us of loving Jesus in our ordinary lives.

We may percieve ourselves to be loving, joyful, peaceful, kind people. But the reality of who we are in such a competitive world can be found in how others encounter us. Do the people we interact with daily go away with a sense of joy? Do they feel loved because we have gone out of way to be loving? Do they have peace because we have peace? Do they strive to be kind because they have been moved by our kindness? Before this ordinary day ends, perhaps we can take stock of what fruits we have borne from previous years?

Jesus is the same yesterday, today, forever. If time brings about change, change that we cannot prevent, then Jesus brings about consistency. Jesus gives us consistent joy, love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. In order to enjoy his consistency, we have to be consistent in our relatioship with him. Let him show you what he can do with your ordinary time and your ordinary life. Let's not worry about the "what ifs" and have any fear of the future. Let us spend the year loving Jesus. God does not give the future, He only gives the present, moment by moment.

Have a fruitful year!

Chinese New Year Outreach

acts29 will be having a Chinese New Year Outreach on 31st Jan Saturday from 930am to 1130am. We need volunteers for this event and hopefully these volunteers after the CNY outreach would like to continue a 1 year outreach program.

Those interested to volunteer for the outreach can email me at:
sherlyn@acts29mission.org

Who are we reaching out to?
Households in 1 room rental flats in Toa Payoh
Mostly elderly living alone

What will we be doing there?
As we have collated data on the households we'll be visit them and get to know them.


What do we need?
We need volunteers who can go around to befriend the residents.
We need donations of foodstuff.
1. Bread (white or wholemeal)
2. Fruits
3. Coffee/Tea
check back here as we update the list this week

What do we need to do before the outreach?
Those who have signed up as volunteers need to pick up some dialect. Teochew/Hokkien/Cantonese. Volunteers will be assigned to the various households according to the dialects they can communicate in.


What words should a volunteer learn in dialect?
Volunteers should be able to converse in simple dialect. Volunteers should be able to introduce themselves (name, where they live, why they are here, what they are currently doing e.g. study or work)

How are you?
Have you eaten?
What is your name?
What do you like to eat?
What do you do during the day?
What do you like to do?
How can I help you?


What happens after the visit?
Each adopted household will have their own individual needs. We'll come up with a year plan based on what we know about the households. Hopefully enough volunteers can come forward to take up a one year commitment.

If you're free on Saturday morning, please sign up and use this opportunity to love God's people! :)

Year 2009: From Worship to Living the Good News

These are the readings from 1st of January...
…“May Yahweh bless and keep you!
May Yahweh let his face shine on you, and be gracious to you!
May Yahweh look kindly on you, and give you his peace!
In that way shall they put my name on the people of Israel and I will bless them.” Numbers 6:22-27


He came born of woman and subject to the Law,
in order to redeem the subjects of the Law,
that we might receive adoption as children of God.
And because you are children, God has sent into your hearts the Spirit of his Son
which cries out: Abba! That is Father.
You yourself are no longer a slave but a son or daughter,
and yours is the inheritance by God’s grace.
Galatians 4:4-7


We're human in the flesh and human in the soul. We belong in the physical world and we also belong in the spiritual world. We know about the physical world. In our physical world, there's war and famine and poverty. There's also science and discovery. There's greed and money and status and power... we face global warming, pollution, animals face extinction... so that's the physical world...

then what is the spiritual world? In our baptism we recieve the person of the Holy Spirit in our lives who lives in us... We don't have to look beyond the physical world for the spiritual or for heaven/kingdom of God. We only need to look deep within ourselves where the Holy Spirit resides. How is that possible?

Because we are the children of God and it is by the Holy Spirit in us that we can call "Abba! Father!"

When we're troubled or distressed we look to the phyiscal world for peace and healing and joy. We also turn to people for help. We turn to money or people with money! But we should 1st look within us, our spiritual world, the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life.

Turning to the Holy Spirit does not mean that suddenly one will have money, or relationship with people will be ok immediately. It does not mean that life will become better. In fact life may get more difficult.. But life will be more bearable. because the Holy Spirit will give us the strength to face challenges we never thought we could handle. The Holy Spirit will give us the peace to look at our problems in a new way. The Holy Spirit will give us the wisdom to find solutions to our needs. the Holy Spirit's recovery program is not good for just 1 day. His program is good for a life time. The physical world is about nano-seconds and instant response, the time of chronos. the Holy Spirit works in the time of Kairos, His time, God's time.

As children of God, as sons and daughters of God, we should examine how we have been living in the past as people of the physical world and convert to be true children of God, putting God as our priority.

How to start doing so? Let us make our time of worship a priority we give to God each day. Set one hour a day to give to God. Let it be the 1st thing we arrange in our schedule and let everything else revolved around that hour of worship. Our studies or work should not be the centre of our lives and everything flows from it. Our entertainment and games should not be the centre. Our worship should be the centre and our life (our work/studies/relationships/etc) flows from it.

I know for many, the hour of worship will be at 10pm or when we have nothing else to do(after the TV show, after homework, just before I sleep). As long as we live in this manner, with this attitude, allowing the physical world to take priority before God, we will struggle to experience the presence of God in our lives.

Joy of Christmas and the December Mission

It's been awhile since we've had a new post on this blog. My apologies! Also sorry to all those who emailed us at our website. We've been getting so much spam that seveal of your emails was treated as spam mails and I realized it today! oops. to those who have emailed us via our web email address: enquiry@acts29mission.org and have not gotten a reply from us, your email may have been treated as spam and got deleted in the process! so do email us again or tag us so we know and will look out for your emails..

How do we stop all the spams??? as of Nov till now, I've just cleared 500 of them! Tired as I am...after going thru all the emails... I'm determined to post something up here today! tonite!

I was in the Philippines for 3 weeks from November till December and came home for Christmas which is nice because I don't always spend Christmas in Singapore. Lately I've been celebrating it in the Philippines.

Christmas in the Philippines is very different from Christmas in Singapore.
I enjoy attending the 9 days of Simbang Gabi. Christmas in the Philippines is simple. On Christmas Eve, I attend the midnight Mass with friends and their family and we head home for Noche Buena. I was determined this year to make Christmas a meaningful one! One spent with family and friends at home! not in a restaurant! and have home-cooked meal.

In 2007 many acts29 members were in Singapore so we able to have everyday evening advent reflections as a community before Christmas. In 2008, it was difficult as some were still in Payatas and came home late. This year (actually last year haha 2008) my family had a nice dinner at home! I cooked a couple of the dishes like frikadellen and macaroni salad.. hmmm. wat else??

After Mass (some attended midnight Mass), acts29 gathered at my place. We had a Christmas Prayer session after at about 130am. We exchanged Christmas presents with our secret Christmas buddy. Then we stayed up the whole night and spent time together...

December Mission went well I guess. We had a day of TB awareness with the kids. then we had another day of TB awareness with the parents. In Payatas, many people get TB and yup they die of it. Like Nicasio's mum. the Health Centre in Payatas gives free sputum tests and free xrays but of course they're slow to work on it... the residents also don't really want to go for such tests as it's troublesome, they know little about TB and they don't want people to know they have TB which is silly cos TB spreads easily. So TB is now a problem in Payatas. The good thing that came out from the mission is that the Barangay Office is ready to expel residents who refuse to get tested and treated for TB if their kids have been diagnosed with it.
So we're happy that the authorities are joining in the fight against TB.

The medical mission went well. The local doctors came in and did tests on the kids for TB. about 7 kids are now confirmed with TB and their parents and siblings are expected to get tested. If the adults agree to get treated then we will also provide medication for the kids.

the good, the bad, the ugly of Singaporeans on a mission trip

In November and December we opened up Paaralang Pantao to various groups from Singapore who were keen to experience mission. Perhaps you're thinking of being part of a mission trip one day.. well here are things to consider.

Why would you come on this mission trip?
"I want to experience what a mission trip is like..." If this is your reason, don't come for one for the sake of the locals!!! It sounds more like such a person is here to look, see as a tourist would. To be an observer looking in from the outside. From a missionary's view, that's just rude. The poor, the disdavantaged, the locals are not some kind of exhibits so rich people can go look at.

Sign up for a mission trip because you want to share Jesus!!!

Plan, plan, plan
We had 2 different groups of students join us. One in November, one in December.
The group which came in November had started preparing for their trip since September. They came for 6 days and they had a program for 6 days. They prepared their itinerary well. They also came in during the week rather than a weekend so lessons were on.

The second group decided got their tickets only in November and then a few postponed the trip and came 2 days later. So some had only 5 days and the others had only 3 or 4 days. What's more interesting, they were here over a weekend. During the weekends, school does not function. So there's little the group can do on Sat and Sun.
The 2nd group had no itinerary either for their 3-5 days stay.

Prepare, prepare, prepare!
The 1st group that came in November spent one month in preparation. learning about the culture of the Philippines. They learnt basic Tagalog. They also put together worksheets and lesson plans.

When there were last minute changes, the group could adapt and make the changes. When there was no school, the group did their reflection and sharings. They spent time with the teachers of the school and got to know them too.

The 2nd group had little preparation and were lost most of their time there, especially during the weekend.

Simplicity Simplicity Simplicity!
The 1st group that came with us understood the environment they were in. Of course, they had difficulty getting used to sleeping on the floor and using the CR. But after a couple of days they got used to it.

As much as they wanted to go around and see the place, they respected and understood the rules of the school. So they went out only when a local teacher could take them to the shops or walk around the place. They didn't ask to go to the malls. They didnt bring much money and even if they did, they didn't show it.

The 2nd group was not used to the place, the CR, etc. They complained. The teachers and even the principal felt embarrased that they couldn't afford better logdings for our pampered Singaporeans. They were not happy they couldn't go wandering around and they wanted to go to the malls.

Sensitivity and Dignity!
One of the most shocking things we encountered from our Singaporean visitors occured during this December. I'm so shocked that it took place. Unfortunately I was not there to witness it. I can only apologise to the community there that this had happened.

1 or 2 Singaporeans had decided to play Santa Claus to the kids in the area. They had gone out to the nearby shops and bought toys for the kids. When they got back, they started distributing them to the kids who were of course very happy! Then more kids wanted toys and apparently some kids got upset they didnt get toys. Now because the christmas giving had already started, the adult/s had to out to get more toys for all the kids.

Why is this shocking and even disgusting for something ugly like this to happen on a mission trip? We, rich people, have no right to steal the identity of the poor! We have no right to pity them or feel sorry for them! and go out and buy things for them and give out these things to them. The poor have their dignity! The poor should never grow up and have such a memory of their childhood where rich people came and gave them things! how crippling it is for one's sense of self-worth and esteem!

We should never leave on a mission trip with boxes full of toys and clothes to distribute to poor people! Sensitivity is needed! We bring in school supplies and materials for education. We bring in clothes and toys because we have a project. Like a fundraising project. So the poor can help raisefunds for their school by buying the items like clothes and toys all at very affordable prices for the poor. So that at the end of the day, the poor can say I contributed to the school, I paid for these clothes and these toys! So that parents can have the dignity of having given something to their kid which they had bought.

Poor communities do not need rich people like you and me, to come in for the short term and give them free things. They need long-lasting projects that will give them the support they need to build up their dignity and pride!

I'm very proud of the teens who gave their hearts to children and elderly they met. I'm very proud of the youths who came and dialogued with the community, with the teachers and principal. Kudos to those who helped with the Taas Noo Campaign (anti drug campaign). Congratulations to those who prepared for TB Awareness and supported our TB testing. I'm touched that there were those who lived in Simplicity for all their days there, never once complaining about the CR or the floor they slept on or the food. I'm so glad for all those who came and shared Jesus with each other and with the locals there, through their sharings, conversations, their programs, etc.

Mission is not an action. Mission is not a task. Mission is a process. To those who are reading this and if you were one of those who had been here November or December, you'll realize that mission is not easy. Mission does not take place in 3 days or 6 days or even 14 days. Mission takes place over the course of a lifetime and beyond.

Don't just go for mission and look see. That's not mission. Mission is not about
"going there for 5 days.. to do alot of things!" Mission is NOT humanitarian work!

If you're really interested in mission even after reading this... come join acts29. just email us at enquiry@acts29mission.org

Tribute to Tita Neneng of Anawim

When acts29 was starting out, we stumbled on a place situated in remote Montalban. Among the hills and rice fields was a 5 hectare plot of land. The plot of land is called Anawim. Anwawim means "the poor of the Lord". This place provides shelter for the elderly abandoned. Here the elderly live in nipa huts or in brick buildings.

When we first came here we fell in love with the place, the old people and with a strong wise silver-haired lady, Tita Neneng, the mother of the centre.

Anawim has always been our home in the mountains. At the end of our mission in Payatas, this is where we retreat as a community to live together and pray together before heading back to Singapore. Else we come here at the end of our 1st week in Payatas to reflect on the continuing mission back in Payatas. Often we find so much peace and joy that we struggle to return to Payatas or even home.

We stay in one of the nipa huts. Every morning we wake up before 6 and a panaromic view of hills and rice fields greets us. Birds busy building nests fly around in song. We have so many fond memories of this place. Like the 1st time ever Francis sang his heart out in front of St Francis of Assis, not knowing Jarvis was sitting behind. This was where we'd always take our long "walk with the Holy Spirit" and spend the day in silence. This is where we learnt to bathe using a water pump and fetched water everyday for our hut. This is where I started to eat liver and lady's fingers and pumpkin and egg plants. This is the place where Cha taught us to sing our 1st Tagalog song, Sa Araw Ng Pasko. This is the place where we encountered the elderly, the abandoned, the dying. Our hearts get broken each time we return. 1st Chris passed away, sweet Chris barely 30 years old who had lost his sight and wa slurring. Eventually he was bed-ridden. I remember us describing the sunset and sunrise to him. Our hearts broke when Lola Decay passed away. The lola whose hair I had cut ad who would always say "Love Me". Everyday she would just grab us and hug us! There was Lola Bibing an ex-school teacher who would always introduce herself as "only sixteen, never been kissed". Lola Bacion, who remembered my full name and address. Each time there were Singaporeans, she would ask if they knew me.

There was my "Mi Amore". Lolo Lito. and so many other lolas and lolos who loved us and welcomed us into their Anawim.

Next Saturday we will be visiting Anawim. I know Tita Naneng would love to have Good Morning Towels and Tiger Balm! I was going to buy it for her this evening.

I cannot imagine going back to Anawim and not see Tita Neneng there in her usual seat beside the door of the kitchen. Last time we went there because we missed her and Anawim so much. We saw Anawim from Erap City. And as crazy Singaporeans, we did not hesitate. we walked straight to Anawim. Never mind there was a three bamboo wide unsteady bridge to cross over the ravine. Never mind that we had to walk across the rice fields in our flip-flops or sandals, bitten by red ants, ankles covered in mud.
When we reached Anawim, dirty and muddy, she didnt ask us any questions. She just hugged us! Got hot Batangas coffee out (as if she knew we were coming!) and lots of warm pandesal, soft drinks! She got us to wash up! Gave me a new pair of slippers cos my disappeared somewhere in the mud! That was our lola, our friend!

I love going down in the mornings and afternoons and evenings to pray the Rosary with the lolos and lolas. Tita Neneng would always get us to lead. This was a great challenge for those who didnt know how to pray the Rosary. After an experience in Anawim, one will know how to lead the Rosary confidently. During merienda time or in the evenings, Tita Neneng would share with us how God provides for Anawim. Newcomers would sit close to her listening to her stories. And the older ones never get tired. Each year when we come, we'd always ask, "Tita tell the story of Anawim". And it was so uplifting to listen to stories of faith and providence... God's love alive in our world.

Thank you Tita for the Batangas coffee, for the ma sarap meals, for the stories and for your love!

With Tita Neneng at Anawim's 8th Anniversary


http://bosanchez.ph/heaven-has-delicious-tinola-today/

Quo Vadis Weekend

Hey acts29
these are the details of this weekend's Quo Vadis? (means where are you going?)
Saturday morning: Meet at 138 line Amk Interchange. 8am. Fr David will be there.

We'll proceed to Seletar Resevoir for morning walk/trek/hike
After the hike, we'll travel to Changi Jetty for lunch get foodstuffs. Then catch the boat to Pulau Ubin/Camp Nordin. Please note that handphone reception at Nordin is not very good. Your network might switch to Malaysian one if you have auto-roam. If no autoroam, there may be no network.

What you need to bring for the weekend. Please keep your bag small and light because we have camping equipment to distribute!
1. shoes/sandals for hiking in the jungle
2. poncho or raincoat
3. 1.5l bottle filled with water
4. extra clothes (and for swimming too)
5. sleeping bag
6. towel/toiletries (share/keep it light)
7. own fork/spoon/mug/plate or bowl
8. Divine office!!! (DUN FORGET!!!)
9. Torch light

Camping equipment
1. Tent 1 (Sherlyn)
2. Tent 2 (Jocelyn)
3. mess tins (Sherlyn, Terence, Alvin, Daryl, Iggy)
4. Sulphur powder (Alvin)
5. Army repellant (Alvin)
6. Kerosene (Daryl)
7. Solid Fuel (Alvin)
8. Raffia String (Johnny)
9. can opener (Sherlyn)
10. Swiss army knife (Johhny.. duh)
11. Lighters/matchskticks (Iggy)
12. Aluminium foil (Iggy)

Foodstuffs (buy at Changi)
1. potaotes
2. mash potatoes
3. hot dogs
4. maggi mee
5. eggs
6. bread
7. milo
8. marshmallows
9. chocolate
10. chips

How much?
1. Boat ride: $2.50 one way ($5 2-way)
2. Food contributon: $5-$10

We will strike tent/break camp by noon so you can attend Sunday sunset mass.

2009 Paaralang Pantao T-shirt now on sale $10

TB, scoliosis and more depressing news

Recently someone asked me how we could be so optimistic about the situation with the kids in Payatas? Let's take stock of the negative developments in the last 6 months:
1. Nicasio and sisters have lost both parents. We know the mum died of TB.
2. Nicasio and sisters are diagnosed with TB and need at least 6 months medication.
3. Nicasio has scoliosis
4. Pepito, Nicasio's Best Friend is suspected to have TB too. So he'll go for a medical examination this coming week.
5. 20 other kids are suspected to have TB. so there'll be another medical mission in November to test for it.
6. Erwin sill has no one to sponsor his education for the year which costs $300.
7. We've lost Joshua. His mum has taken him out of school and he's most likely at work somewhere.
8. We've lost Arnil who's now working in the dumpsite and according to the other chidren, he smokes.

Other negatives with Payatas:
1. Children exposed to immoral danger such as drugs/porn/abuse (physical, sexual)
2. Children taken out of school to work as scavengers/dumptruck assistants or recruited by drug lords/prostitution houses/gangs
3. Children's parents can't afford to get them a birth certificate because the legal procedure is costly and time consuming (est a 2 month cat and mouse affair)
and the list goes on....

Our greatest worry today:
We weren't able to raise enough funds/pledges this year for the food project so we have only about 2k left till last till Dec. We don't know what to expect in January.
The cost of running the feeding project for one month for an estimate of 80-100 children for 20 school days/month is $1000. If our feeding project doesn't go through after January, the kids will fall out and work in the dumpsite.

Our greatest nightmare:
That any of them gets into an accident and follows the same fate as Marvin.


Our dilemma:
Recently the Lord blessed us with some donation from a group of very generous kids. they gave $400. We wanted to add this to the feeding project which would cover about 8 days of lunches. On the other hand we received news that there's a TB problem. So in the end we chose to allocate the money for a TB Fund at least to get meds for the kids who need it.


The positive side:
If we keep working/keep the food project running... etc
1. the kids will learn to read and write (an essential element of modern society)
2. the kids will learn about Jesus and are prepared for their Baptism next Easter
3. the kids will eventually get their birth certificates, study hard in formal schools and make it some day.

The odds are stacked against us. Many times of course we feel like quitting, giving up. At times we've felt so helpless amidst the sea of poverty. Other times, we feel frustrated because the commnity does nothing about the grave immorality existing in their area even though they know it's wrong and bad. Frustration because for every obstacle overcomed there's another larger one in front.

We need a lot of hope, full measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over. We believe in having hope and passing hope on to others. Hope is not a feeling, an emotion or something like a wish that is magical. Hope is within one's reach. Hope is real and concrete that we can all have, a light that calls out the path which we could not have seen in the dark. Hope is having peace within, from knowing the peace of Christ.

So TB, scoliosis and more depressing news are not enough to take away the peace that Christ gives from knowing Him.

Another reality game for your mission!

This is a game for Fastfood nation!
Learn how to run one of the world's largest corporations - MacDonald's....

Try not to get sacked! Make money for the company!!! so we can have more burgers!!!Enjoy

http://www.mcvideogame.com/