Child of God
a fun-loving cheerful group of L9s
from the Church of Holy Spirit
a Catholic parish in Singapore
This blog journals our mission trip
to Bicol in the Philippines
pervious posts
Thanks Be To God
Dona Mercedes - Day 2
A Short Dona Mercedes Welcome
Mass, a New Phase and Goodbyes
MISSIONARIES' DAY OUT
STORM ADVISORY #1
Typhoons and Calming the Waters
DON'T BE ALARMED
Day 3
Spirit Filled Day
November 2008
December 2008
May 2009
June 2009
July 2009
October 2009
Mission Formation
Mission from Glen Koh's Blog
Mission from Kelly Tseng's Blog
Catholic Church in Singapore
Mission from Mark Lee's Blog
Dona Mercedes - Day 2
A Short Dona Mercedes Welcome
Mass, a New Phase and Goodbyes
MISSIONARIES' DAY OUT
STORM ADVISORY #1
Typhoons and Calming the Waters
DON'T BE ALARMED
Day 3
Spirit Filled Day
in his time
October 2008November 2008
December 2008
May 2009
June 2009
July 2009
October 2009
links
Mission InformationMission Formation
Mission from Glen Koh's Blog
Mission from Kelly Tseng's Blog
Catholic Church in Singapore
Mission from Mark Lee's Blog
talk
credits
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Friday, December 19, 2008
6:11 AM
This is our last blog from Bicol as we are due to leave the hostel about 10.30 am to be ferried to Legaspi City airport so we can make it for the 1.40pm Cebu Pacific flight to Manila. Then it's a super-layover in Manila as we wait for our 8.30 flight back to Singapore. We're going home!
But leaving this place that has become so dear to each and everyone of us (in individually different ways) during our short stint has been difficult. We'll be leaving behind wonderful children who so welcomed us with open hands and cheerful smiles. At Guinobatan East and West, Masarawag, Republic Academy, Tagaytay, Pamasan and Dona Mercedes. Even the teenagers at St Benedict's Academy whom we serenaded in a carolling. Even Mrs Camba, the old lady whom we visited for a carolling session. Lola Kikay, the 98 year-old lady in Dona Mercedes. And then the volunteers, who so gave their time and efforts for this mission. We'll also be leaving behind the Bicol University College of Agriculture and Forestry's campus, which was home to us for two weeks and gave us the physical security that we needed.
We will miss the stunning countryside scenery, particularly at dusk. The imposing presence of Mayon Volcano. The beautiful moonlit and starry nights.
Each of us who went to this mission - from the mission leaders, to the parent chaperones, to the teenagers themselves - have a story to tell when we get back home. And I am sure these stories would inspire many more of our parishioners and teenagers to get out of their comfort zone and drop their preconceived biases about places they actually know little or nothing about, and go out and tell. If you are looking for your purpose in life, fellow teenager, seek no longer. God wants us to Go Out And Tell.
Already, some of the boys in this L908 group have committed to help plan and organise and actually accompany another mission trip to Bicol next year. They say they would do it whether or not the next batch of L9s would also go to Bicol. To me, that is one big achievement of this mission trip: we have managed to arouse among our youth the desire to go on a mission outside the comforts of their homes. There's so much that they can do, and their impact would be great. Even the priests at the Assumption Parish have acknowledged their potential.
We have already thanked everyone who helped us in this mission - our very supportive parish community, our families and friends, our support teams both in Singapore and Bicol. We thank them again here. And we hope that the young volunteers who received our scholarships - Debralyn, Elvie, Joel, Jhonel and Windel - will use their scholarship money (which, at 5,000php each isn't really much) to facilitate their education.
We also thank God for the many blessings and miracles that he has bestowed to this mission trip.
We will miss Bicol. Mayon. Guinobatan. The children. Legaspi. Halo-halo. The ubiquitous tricyle. We will forever be haunted by the sight of the lost village of Maipon. But some of us may venture to come back. And who knows, some of us may venture to go forth elsewhere to go out and tell the good news.
In a few minutes, the teenagaers will be up and about, making their last minute preparations and packing. Then it's going to be a quick breakfast, then a final briefing from Uncle Al. And off we go.
To God Be the Glory.
2 comments
This is our last blog from Bicol as we are due to leave the hostel about 10.30 am to be ferried to Legaspi City airport so we can make it for the 1.40pm Cebu Pacific flight to Manila. Then it's a super-layover in Manila as we wait for our 8.30 flight back to Singapore. We're going home!
But leaving this place that has become so dear to each and everyone of us (in individually different ways) during our short stint has been difficult. We'll be leaving behind wonderful children who so welcomed us with open hands and cheerful smiles. At Guinobatan East and West, Masarawag, Republic Academy, Tagaytay, Pamasan and Dona Mercedes. Even the teenagers at St Benedict's Academy whom we serenaded in a carolling. Even Mrs Camba, the old lady whom we visited for a carolling session. Lola Kikay, the 98 year-old lady in Dona Mercedes. And then the volunteers, who so gave their time and efforts for this mission. We'll also be leaving behind the Bicol University College of Agriculture and Forestry's campus, which was home to us for two weeks and gave us the physical security that we needed.
We will miss the stunning countryside scenery, particularly at dusk. The imposing presence of Mayon Volcano. The beautiful moonlit and starry nights.
Each of us who went to this mission - from the mission leaders, to the parent chaperones, to the teenagers themselves - have a story to tell when we get back home. And I am sure these stories would inspire many more of our parishioners and teenagers to get out of their comfort zone and drop their preconceived biases about places they actually know little or nothing about, and go out and tell. If you are looking for your purpose in life, fellow teenager, seek no longer. God wants us to Go Out And Tell.
Already, some of the boys in this L908 group have committed to help plan and organise and actually accompany another mission trip to Bicol next year. They say they would do it whether or not the next batch of L9s would also go to Bicol. To me, that is one big achievement of this mission trip: we have managed to arouse among our youth the desire to go on a mission outside the comforts of their homes. There's so much that they can do, and their impact would be great. Even the priests at the Assumption Parish have acknowledged their potential.
We have already thanked everyone who helped us in this mission - our very supportive parish community, our families and friends, our support teams both in Singapore and Bicol. We thank them again here. And we hope that the young volunteers who received our scholarships - Debralyn, Elvie, Joel, Jhonel and Windel - will use their scholarship money (which, at 5,000php each isn't really much) to facilitate their education.
We also thank God for the many blessings and miracles that he has bestowed to this mission trip.
We will miss Bicol. Mayon. Guinobatan. The children. Legaspi. Halo-halo. The ubiquitous tricyle. We will forever be haunted by the sight of the lost village of Maipon. But some of us may venture to come back. And who knows, some of us may venture to go forth elsewhere to go out and tell the good news.
In a few minutes, the teenagaers will be up and about, making their last minute preparations and packing. Then it's going to be a quick breakfast, then a final briefing from Uncle Al. And off we go.
To God Be the Glory.
2 comments