NSTP (CWTS) Journal 3

You and I Are Lucky and Loved!!! =)
Finally Exposed

It's really hard to wake up very early morning to go to the meeting place where we will be transported to our exposure sites. In my case, I need to wake up earlier to buy breakfast and buy the food for sharing for our host families because I only live in a dormitory and my home at the province is a bit far from Manila and would take about 2 hours of travelling if I will be asking for my mother or aunt to cook for our host family. The only fast food restaurant that is open at that time is McDonald's and there are sure a lot of people to buy for food. After waiting for the long line to reach our turn and buy food, my friends suddenly felt lazy and just rode "sidecar" going to Harrison Plaza. Upon reaching the site, there were already a lot of people and jeepneys parked all over the parking lot and of course, it will be a big challenge to find our section in such crowd and the jeepney that we will ride in the ocean of jeepneys. Thanks to our blockmates, they guided us the way to where our section is. A good news was delivered to me as we will pick our own partners, and finally departed from the site.

It was a long way going there or maybe, I just felt that way because of the traffic that we encountered. The place is very new to me as it was my first time to go to a place like that. At first, it was very uncomfortable because of the environment but soon, the host families gave us a warm welcome that made me calm down. My partner and I followed our host as she go through their place that is like a maze for me because there are a lot of turns before reaching her house. The moment we entered the house, it was quite awkward because of the silence but soon, our host family shared their stories and the youngest among the children of the family played with us. She is quite silent and shy, but later on, she started to share a little bit. Our other blockmates' host families are also near our host's house and soon, we decided to play with the children as a whole, and proceeded to an open space where we can play with them. We didn't mind the sun and just had fun with the children. Personally, I also enjoyed it because I had the chance to play the games of children that I missed the most during my childhood days. After having fun, we ate our lunch with our host families. We presented our food to share with them and they also prepared their dishes. It really made us feel that we are also part of their family and they always smile like they have no problems at all.

We made our way back where we meet for departure, and ended the our exposure day with a prayer and sharing. Some of our blockmates shared their experience with their host families, and their conclusions. The same goes with the host families. They shared that at first, they thought that we are very different from them, but they soon realized that we are also people with open hearts and that can put our shoes in theirs, and that we can connect with them. With that, we waved goodbye to our host families which we already became close with, and we left the site with a lot of learning and experience that is filled with love.

It was really a good experience to know and see what other families faces, and motivated me to help and to do what I can do in my own little ways. I realized that I am already lucky to be born in a stable family that can give me my basic needs and can send me to a good school. For that, the greatest gift that I can return to my parents is my studies. It made me remembered what they said in the past: "The most significant inheritance that you will get from us is your education. Remember that it is more important and has a greater value than gold and wealth as inheritance."

NSTP (CWTS) Journal 2

Looking For the Way

Today, I am lost. I don't know if I will get excited or not about listening to different groups discuss the same topic all over again. And the topic is about the reflection of the bible study that we had last meeting. I love to listen in their opinions, but only listening and doing nothing else only make me sleepy which is the thing that I don't get excited about. As the time pass by, I didn't really felt that way. I wonder why? Maybe I just enjoyed the whole time in the class. Let's have a look in the class that I can't miss. =)

Last meeting, we received letters about going to a barangay as our exposure, and we should pass our relpy slips in a week. We also passed our index cards to be used as indentifications. As the class formally started, each groups presented their ideas about the topics in last week's bible study. And ofcourse, each of them presented in every creative way they can think of. The part that strikes me most in the first group's report is that we are little gods since we are created from the likeness of God. That made me really realize that we are all loved by God but we shouldn't forget that we are only "little" and we do not have the same position as Him. I was also entertained by the video that the next group presented since it is animated and it attracts me most. But not just because of the visuals, I also got messages from their video, teaching us how to be strong and that God is always beside us and watches everything we do that He will never leave us alone. The song "Who am I" was presented by our group, and we want to share the message of the song that he sacrificed Himself for us, and He does not judge us for what we've done but because of who we are. The next group left me the message that everyone of us are equal that we are all sons and daughters of Him.

Somehow, I don't like movies that have sad endings, but the last group still made me watch a video that taught me another lesson even though it was a bit sad. It showed an ordinary father and his son. The father really loved his son and the people on the train even though they have different traits - good or bad, the same as for the son. There was a time that the train is in danger and the son saw that, trying to do whatever he can but he fell on the trail. Now, the father will chose if he will sacrifice his son or the people on the train, he can only choose one. In the end, he chose to sacrifice his son for the people in the train to be saved. The father represented God, and the son represented Jesus Christ, whom He sent to save us by sacrificing his own son.

After the presentations, we were oriented about our partner organization and our exposure the next sunday. We are also assigned to interview the family that we will meet on the exposure day. The thing that make me worry is that we would have partners and it would be a surprise! I hope that I get along and know more about with him or her.

It was a really fruitful afternoon as we learned things about God, our Father. The learnings at that day really made me excited to apply what we learned and to share them as we are given a chance to. And finally! I feel that I'm not lost anymore. I can now think of what I feel about the coming activity. Looking forward to the exposure day and to the next meetings. =D

NSTP (CWTS) Journal 1

Before, I Think It Was Nothing, and Now,...

CWTS, Civic Welfare Training Service, as soon as hearing that we will have this subject, I honestly thought that it was boring. The first phrase that comes in my mind when I think about CWTS is community service. Therefore, there might be outdoor activities in some other community other than what we normally see. That thought alone made me worry and scared since I am really not good at places and people that are unfamiliar to me that it seems like I am an alien at their place. But, what has changed after our first meeting in CWTS? =)

As soon as reaching our room for the class in CWTS, the thought that it will be a boring class still can't get off in my mind. Oh, well, I just chatted with my friends to forget about that thought while others also have their own worlds  but a knock at the door made us all back at the real world. The man that knocked on the door was looking for Popoy Aguilar and he was asked a favor from Popoy's mom. Our block immediately offered help.

We then found out that he is our facilator trying to find out what we will do at that situation. As the discussion goes on, he divided us into groups that we will share our hopes and concerns for the subject, and went back to the discussion. We took a break in the discussion and introduced ourselves one by one.

The topic that made me super interested is about the film "Snoodle's Tale". The design of the film is very attractive for me since I love animations more like a kid. But the most significant thing that I got from it, is the lesson about believing in yourself despite of what others think about you because in everything that we do, it is always God that really knows and appreciate our actions for He is the one who made us that we are all special in His eyes.

The facilatator also gave us handouts that contains lines from the bible and shared our thoughts to our groupmates. It made our minds feel refreshed and calm. The class ended with a short video with the title "Father's Love Letter" that gave us the message that everybody is loved by God and we are all His sons and daughters that he care for.

Were my thoughts changed after a class in CWTS? I think it changed a lot and it was fun. =) 

A lot of lessons are learned after listening and sharing thoughts through experience. And, it wasn't that boring as I think before having the class. =D