Gumagapang. Naglalakad. Lumilipad.

Around me is a profound serenity. The sun hasn’t risen yet but I can already feel the awesomeness of all creation. The east is colorful and vibrant, prepared to reveal the glory of the coming sun. But the west seemed depressed and hopeless, eerie, cold, and dark. I looked into my heart, I saw myself in the west. But when the sun has risen, we know that every mood in the west, will eventually be gone.

So is when the Son has come into my heart. This hopelessness, coldness, affliction and depression, will be gone. So I waited…

Read the whole story at http://figment.com/books/308623-By-the-River-Cagayan-I-Sat-Down-and-Wept

Why, my soul, are you lonely?

Why are you downcast?

Where has your joy gone?

Where has the happiness been?

Why has love departed you?

Or why did you let it flee?

Where is your company?

Where is that you call friends?

When no one cared to ask,

how you are and what you’ve done;

When no one cares enough

to spare a question for them to catch.

You O soul, still rejoice!

For there is a greater Thing

That is sure come

That He promised that He will come

He will rescue, He will come

Rejoice, for hope will erupt

Company is available

From Him who never leaves

And never forsakes…

I’ve been to various outreach programs before. That was due to a class in Education, which focuses on alternative education programs of the Department of the Education. But the outreach activity we did last night is, by far, the most life-changing.

First, I would like to share what was happening to me before we went to Luneta to play with the kids. I was in total search for God in my heart, in my life, in my academics, and in my relationships. It’s true that I am already a Christian but due to some things, I felt otherwise. My quiet times were just soooo dry. I am feeling hopeless in my academics. I was in my dumbest moment of life. Yes, dumb is a time of life.haha…

Anyway, that was before we went to Luneta. I’m so glad that God used the circumstances to make me see HIM more- because HE is real, HE is alive, and HE cares… :)

I am not pegged to join the gang in the outreach. I am supposed to be somewhere else. The the events of that Saturday morning made me cancel my overnight appointment, which eventually allowed me to go to Luneta.

The way to Luneta is a fun one. We were ‘crazily’ singing and praising God. We all know that great things are coming.

So we did our thing in Luneta. We played with them, ate with them, prayed for the kids. But one story struck me, the story of Rafael.

It’s just that God is impressing me something about this boy. He’s got a great future. He will be the change for His family.

So I talked to him. He is a grade 2 14-year old. He is in Luneta to help his dad in stuff needed to be done there. He goes to class in the morning with his little bike. Every Friday, we goes to Luneta to help his dad. What’s amazing with this boy is that he has a dream. He dreams of becoming a soldier someday. Even though it seems impossible for him to reach his dreams, he still has. He’s a very enthusiastic story-teller. He hooked me to his stories of life in Luneta. He told me about his friends who takes on solvent (rugby) and how he tells them to stop sniffing that chemical by bringing a lighter near them. 

He is a hopeful boy. God used him to remind me of the hope I have. Not because I am in a better position than Him, but because He is hopeful despite his situation.

Rafael is in a very vulnerable state. He could be influenced soon by his peers to sniff solvent. He could be accused of stealing. He could resort to steal whenever he feels a desperate need. Waaah…. Someone disciple this boy!

God made me see HIS love, not just for me, but also for the kids of Luneta. God’s power and wisdom is manifested through the life of these kids. The hope that is in them and future that God has for them-they need to hear these and be constantly reminded of them. They need to know these…

May pagka-introvert pala ako…hahaha

What defines a man?