Author: Niccolo Arboleda

Being in my mission area in Edmonton is a lot different from Toronto. In Toronto the life is so busy that  and you’re in a place where there is so much noise and distraction and I guess in my 10 or so years in community it’s a place that I have gotten used to and became comfortable with.

Here in the mountain region it’s very different. Its a lot more peaceful and there’s nature everywhere giving me a lot more time to reflect on life. In a way I think I’ve been able to reflect more on the journey that got me to where I am. It allowed me to have a wonderful realization.

It’s really a blessing that God allowed me this journey for I am sure that I’m not worthy to tread it. I remember when a long time ago I used to be new in CFC-Youth/YFC. I was so passionate about mission, even though back then mission would be going to Brampton and Milton would be where the world ended (These are cities beside Mississauga where I lived). It was exciting and I loved the mission and the God of the mission so much.

Of course times have changed. I’m older, I’ve seen more things, been to more places, collected more battle scars, and I know more about my faith than I ever have before; all these things are great but I can honestly say that the mission might not be as exciting as in my early days in YFC. I kind of miss those days of not knowing anything and just doing it all for God no matter how much I was lacking in knowledge and strategy. Maybe I wasn’t as effective but those were one of the happiest times.

The funny thing is I’m glad this is where I am at this point. The honeymoon phase of the mission might have ended for me but there has never been a stronger call from God to the mission He has entrusted to us. God’s joke is that I can actually still re-live all of those early days in YFC in the very youth I’m having  one on one’s with right now.

A lot of them might have problems, heart breaks, angst, and confusions in life and that in a way makes them ineffective; but that’s okay it’s not like I didn’t have those things. What I do see is potential and an excitement for the mission that even surpassed mine in my early days in community. I can see in them a Love for God that has just realized itself like a flower blooming in spring.

I’m blessed to journey with the youth because I get to mature in faith yet re-live the excitement of something new.

God is truly the best joker because after 10 years of serving him I only now realize that this adventure of YFC isn’t about figuring everything out but falling in Love with God over and over again.

I came back recently from a provincial immersion in Negros Occidental. We went to a lot of places while I was there including San Carlos City, Calatrava, Sipalay, La Carlota, Talisay, and even Guimaras which is outside of Negros. I have done a few camp talks already (I’m actually saving my PowerPoints so I can use them later on if ever), a session for a Youth Power, a session for a ShouT, and a voice over for rejoice weekend.

There’s really a lot of travelling involved and a lot of the time it’s not too comfortable. The roads are bumpy and sometimes you get the open air vehicle or boat (meaning no air conditioning). It gets really hot and sometimes you’re put in situations where you don’t really know what to do. Despite all these things the Lord was very clear in what he was telling me through this experience.

Mission is a blessing.

There were a lot of things to do in the mission within the provinces but what I realized if that mission is a Gift from God. I remember how fast time would go when I got to a place to do mission only to feel as I am leaving the area, how long ago that activity seemed even though we just left. It is almost like the mission is a time vacuum where God allows you to realize your true purpose and in the same time bless other people through that process of realization. A moment so very close to the heart.

It really requires a giving of one’s self to others despite any discomforts that might entail yet the mission allows you to go beyond yourself and see God moving in what you are experiencing. I remember when we conducted a youth power in Sipalay, I was at the beach looking at a distance and the ocean stretched as far as the eye can see. I realized at that moment that the Lord was telling me that I was meant for that place, a place beyond where the eye can see, beyond myself, beyond my sin. That place is mission.

I was affirmed when my training head said that we all have sin but in mission we will have many opportunities to be holy. It is because in mission we are allowed to go beyond ourselves and our own comforts. Mission is truly a moment of grace.

The YFC ICON CHRIST UNLIMITED has finished and I am preparing to leave for my immersion area in Negros Occidental. Looking back at the ICON I am very thankful for the experience. I was in the security committee and I was in charge of the security for the Social Actions which is pretty much the pre-ICON.

This ICON was a very different experience from my first ICON last year. One reason being that I was an International delegate last year. The reality is that the international delegates in a way have a comfortable ICON experience. I remember having transportation ready for me when ever I would need to go somewhere, I would be with the other international delegates at the very front just by the stage, we would be in a hotel for the duration of the conference, and there would be a tour after the ICON for us.

This year I was really stretched outside of my comfort zone like I’ve never experienced. I started on the tuesday before the ICON already staying in the BIT (Bohol Institute of Technology) which is the school which the Social Actions will be held. If you’ve never tried sleeping in school, let me tell you it is a far cry from sleeping in a hotel especially if there are 320 of you staying there. Since it started on Tuesday I was serving as Security, corresponding with the Philippine National Police and waking up early to start off the day. After the Social Actions I served as security in the ICON proper where it got even more stressful and we had less sleep than the Social Actions. I wasn’t able to listen to all the sessions as I was in my post most of the time. The biggest struggle for me was probably the heat. I had forgotten how hot it would get and I have never seen my skin turn a charcoal colour before this point.

Despite all the uncomfortable experiences this ICON has to be the best one I have been to yet. The Lord spoke powerfully of His great love through my experience in this ICON. He gave me three messages about the ICON and the mission:

It is not about being comfortable but being grateful for the Lords providence.

It is not about just serving the youth but more importantly being Christ to them.

It in not about just saying yes to God but experiencing His unlimited Love through living out that Yes.

I remember when the ICON finished and feeling stretched and exhausted in many aspects. My body hurt, my mind was tired, I was exhausted, sleepy, and hungry; despite all of that I was happy. I felt fulfilled not because it was over but because the Lord is victorious.

I realized that I haven’t been stretched this much in a very long time. It is in these moments that I feel the most fulfilled at the very edge of my limit. I realize that personally it is in the challenges that the Lord blesses me the most. I remember all the times when I was challenged in preparing for a conference, those were when I slept the most soundly the night after. It is an affirmation that God is our strength and He is Unlimited.

As for now the Lord has won so lets rest for today, tomorrow is another day to serve Him.