The Gift...

I haven’t felt so fulfilled…

To be used as His instrument of love and peace…
Everyday when I wake up…
I no longer go by my schedule…
I go by what He gives me that day…
And at the end of the day…
I no longer feel empty…
But filled with so much love and peace…

My brother...

Who always finds a way to save me when I get stuck with something…
I see him as a wise man…
You would go to his room and talk to this person about some problem and you would come out with a wise solution…
Despite of all our clashing behaviors and disagreements…
I LOVE YOU…and
I THANK YOU…
For loving me and taking care of me…
Despite of my hardheadedness and stubbornness at times…
For without you I wouldn’t be here
And I wouldn’t be who I am now…
In everything you have achieved in your life…
You remained to be humble in all things…
And your passion for reaching out to those who are in need…
You have always been my INSPIRATION…

Rain...

I haven’t experienced this pouring rain for so long. I decided to go out and take a shower in the rain. It felt so good. It felt like back in the days when I used to do this in the province. I played with the kids, I helped Jessa—one of the beneficiaries- with her laundry, took pictures and just laughed and enjoyed the pouring rain.

My first tears...

I never felt like being a part of an "ideal" family and sharing this dinner time with them. This has been the best meal ever! Kuya is a transformed man since he and his family moved to the GK village. When he used to live at the squatters, he used to go home drunk every night. He would always fight his wife and Christian, the youngest son would always witness their fights. After he moved to the GK site, he voluntarily stopped drinking. He said, "This house is the greatest blessing we received from God. This house is like the house of God... And I also want and have to be the good example to my children."

Immersion

Through immersion and living at the GK site, I was able to witness how their life is from morning till at night. I can see it with my own eyes. I can broadly see their lifestyles, their routines, their values. There's nothing like capturing the stories of these people and hearing it yourself. Nothing like it. Nothing like witnessing everything yourself. That’s when I get to know the community. Beyond getting to know them is loving them by sharing my life with them. Eating what they eat, playing what they play and doing what they’re doing. And that’s what makes this experience valuable and exciting. It is really beyond introducing a program to the community. It is about sharing my life with these people. At the end of the day, people will not remember us for what we've done... but for who we are...