True North Missionaries Journal

What is a mentor? A MENTOR is someone who teaches or gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person. It can also be defined as a wise and trusted counselor. MENTORship then is a process in which this “someone” offers their help and advice to another. Going beyond this, MENTORing should then be more than just answering occasional questions or providing ad hoc help. It is about an ongoing relationship of learning, dialogue, and challenge.

I am where I am thanks to a mentor by the name of Shayne Funcion. Ate Shayne is a full-time worker who was first assigned to Cebu but has recently been transferred to the heart of the Philippines Mission- Manila. She is balancing three service roles at the moment; YCOM Phils. Head, Pastoral Formation (PFO), and a Sector Youth Head. To call her a powerhouse would not give her any justice. We met in person on Sunday,  March 4, 2012 and that was when my journey back to Christ and into mission life began.

We’ve both talked about first impressions and have shared more than a few laughs. I was a much different person back then- trust me, eighteen months is more than enough for a person to turn their life around. She was extremely patient and loving despite who and how I was. She was persistent with my attendance at CFC-Youth events and really invested a lot of time in our blossoming friendship. She never failed to affirm me and support me. She believed in me more than I believed in myself. She trusted me enough to expose me to service life despite being inactive for three years! She made me share at a monthly worship assembly, give a talk at a Provincial Youth Conference with 2000 participants, participate at their Area Core SHOUT and speak at a Covenant Orientation for a mission area hours away from Cebu. She really did put me to work! God wasn’t just a teaching, God was the experience.

Because of her I gave CFC-Youth a second chance. Because of her I took off the temporary bandaids for my emotional and spiritual hurts.  Because of her I realized my true worth as a daughter and woman of God.

Now, as I serve as a Sector Head for GTA West I realize that at the end of the day my greatest task and responsibility is to love- to love without borders, to love without expectation, to love creatively, to love unceasingly, to love willingly. If our mission as CFC-Youth is to be and bring Christ wherever we are, then we are to be love and bring love to every place and person we meet. That’s all Ate Shayne did. She simply loved me. Loved me despite my past and told me to focus on the present. She looked beyond the character I was pretending to be and simply waited for me to unveil who I was. Her love brought about acceptance and trust. She told me that nothing about my past would make her feel any differently about me. She only asked for one thing in return, and that was to simply be open to God. That’s it. The only expectation she had from our friendship.

Wow.

It only takes one person to change someone’s life. One person to make somebody realize that they were made for more. One person to make somebody understand that there is a God whose mercy and grace is beyond any of their failures, faults and shortcomings. It was because of one person that I began to seriously consider and discern for full-time pastoral work. It is also because of one (other) person that I never forgot that same love, acceptance and trust even after moving back to this side of the world- my MV mentor and friend, Ellen Maigue-Talagca.

A blessing is not a blessing until it’s shared. So I am sharing the gift of new life by sharing with them the love that was given to me. Love is a decision, not a feeling therefore I am choosing every day for the rest of my life to love the people the Lord has entrusted to me. I will love my household. I will love my members. I will love my leaders. I will love my Couple Coordinators. I will love myself.

To all the Ate Shaynes and Ellens in this world and to the Ate Shayne/Ellen of your lives, Thank You. Thank you for seeing the God in me and the God in us. Thank you for showing this world what accountability is. Thank you for showing us true mentorship. Thank you for being a manifestation of God’s mercy and grace. Thank you for all your prayers.

Love breeds forgiveness. Love breeds acceptance. Love breeds healing. Love breeds life.

You built a wall to what? To protect yourself from the zombie apocalypse only to find out they are smart enough get over the wall. Now you’re in trouble.

It’s crazy how you nervous you can get when you’re opening new doors in your life.  At first you hesitate because you might feel like there is nothing behind the door.  Doubt and fear run along in your head.  You start to pray asking the Lord for strength, courage, and clarity, most especially to be with you when you open this door.  Now that you’ve got your spiritual gainz, you’re ready to take the next step which is to open the door.  When you do, you begin to be overwhelmed with what’s inside. Now what do we do? I find that yeah, I build walls, because I become scared again. The evil one does not want you to be there and he tries his best to make you go back.  But I find after speaking to a few people especially who have been in this situation before the best idea is to keep going, to absorb everything and to do everything with a joyful heart.  Embrace your cross! It will take you all the way to the top!

@itsmetimmm

I was blessed with the opportunity to meet Fr. Thomas Rosica, CEO of the Canadian Catholic Media Foundation, Salt + Light. He shared insight on a very difficult, seemingly controversial, teaching that Jesus gave us last Sunday in the Gospel.

“If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.”

I initially did not understand why Jesus would ask me, or any of us, to hate my mother, father, wife, children, brother, sister, etc. However Fr. Tom explained that we need to make ourselves aware of the context and language used 2000 years ago. Nowadays, “hate” means to despite, detest or to be hostile. However, the Greek word for hate, miseo, was often used in terms of subordination. To hate something or someone meant to put it below something or someone else. In this case, Jesus is telling us that we need to put Him above our family, friends, and ourselves.

This teaching was a great reminder for two reasons:

1. I need to put Jesus first in my life. He needs to be above everyone and everything.
2. I need to be very mindful of what I say to others.

I often find myself putting others in front of Jesus, hurting others with my words and in turn hurting Jesus double time. I need to recognize that the words I say and the thoughts I have are relevant ways for me to choose God and charity.

Lord, thank You for revealing yourself to me through the Gospel. Help me to put your first in my life. May Your will be done in my life. Your words pierce my heart and give me the joy that I desire. Speak to me, Lord.

 

 

In the east the sun rises

I’m a cryer.

At eTNC Jesus Expo when Eastern CFC-Youth Canada witnessed the Rodriguez family on stage to display their water into wine experience, I was brought to tears.

It seems to be that in moments of extreme natural beauty my emotions are overwhelmed which allows me and my lovely brain to temporarily bypass my usual management of emotions.

—

I spent the last 8 days in Vancouver with Montréal’s Area Head/travel buddy, John Magtibay and my fellow Canadien MV/significant other of 8+ years, Hannah Pambuan. Originally this trip was supposed to be a solo affair because I was temporarily relocated to a Vancouver branch for work, but praise God that I was blessed with loving companions.

In a random turn of events, the three of us ended up being lucky enough to make day trips to Seattle as well as Whistler during the week with another fellow MV/#bestfriend, Nica Agregado. At the peak of Whistler Mountain I met God.

Normally, the emotional side of me would’ve taken time to slow down and just soak in the natural beauty around me, but while on top of Whistler Mountain we were pressed for time and busy taking loads of pictures, and so… sadly, I wasn’t able to cry.

After our adventure on Whistler Mountain, John, Hannah and myself took a very literal plunge and went bungee jumping. John went first, Hannah went second, and finally it was my turn. As the bungee instructor counted backwards… three, two, one, I jumped on cue with no hesitation.

I think I’m desperate to experience the Lord.

—

As we were driving south back to Surrey on highway 1, John, Nica and Hannah were in a constant state of awe from the view that was presented to the west. The setting sun was still peeking through the mountains, which caused an amazing contrast of shadow and light. As the driver I only caught glimpses of this natural wonder that occurs daily on the west coast, but it was enough to make me shed a single tear.

There’s something special about the way the sun sets in the west, it does so gradually and beautifully, until it reaches it’s natural end.

In the west the sun sets.

Special thanks to the Aguilar family. You guys represent the beauty of our community.

– Jesse R.
“I Am, and We are Missionaries”

When Jesus called the twelve disciples, He called ordinary people who did ordinary things. These men did not have any special education nor were they wealthy. After reflecting on yesterdays Gospel (Luke 6:12-19) it became very clear to me on why God choses people to serve. We are all called to serve the Lord in our own very personal way. Just because we are well educated or come from a wealthy family does not mean that God doesn’t need us to serve Him. We are all called, just like the twelve and we all have something different to offer. God calls us for our hearts. He calls us to be willing and faithful to Him. Not being afraid of where He will lead you but fully trusting in Him and making little sacrifices out of obedience and love. He doesn’t call us for how much knowledge we know or how well we excel in a certain thing. The Lord calls us by our hearts. He cries for our hearts to be in union with His Sacred Heart.

How much are you willing to die to yourself when the Lord calls your heart? How much are you willing to surrender? 

 

But turning away from them, he wept. Genesis 42:24

We are familiar with the story of Joseph, how jealousy leads his brothers to sell him as a slave. He ended up in Egypt and eventually found favor with pharaoh. Then there was famine across the land and all came to Egypt to buy for grains. It was in this situation that the he recognized his brothers buying grains. Memories all came back to him, hurts, feeling of betrayal and being unloved. He was angry of course and wanted revenge. But then eventually love overcomes all hurts, betrayal and anger. He wept because he felt the pain coming back, and yet he was able to see the blessing beyond it all. He saw the fingers of God guiding him in the exile, how He can turn tragedy into victory.

We have that Joseph in us, that indomitable, resilient and forgiving spirit. Lord, grant us that spirit of Joseph. Amen.

Last night, I had a great conversation with my son, Geve, as I was driving him to his soccer practice.  We talked about my dad, my grandparents and great grandparents, his plans for the future and his soccer team.  Not really deep topics but was really touched me was the connection I felt with him.  It was only a 15 minute conversation but it really made an impact on my life.  Most of our time is devoted to service, we serve God through others, but I realized that our family is our service as well.  As much as I talk about taking care of our members and having one on ones on them, when was the last time I had a one on one with my sons and my wife?

I will never get tired of being a kid with them, I will continue to play video games with them (and get clobbered and not liking it because I’m so competitive), I will continue to play basketball with them and wrestle with them.  That’s what God calls me to do, to be a steward of my children but also to be a friend to them.

Last night ended with the kids asleep and me and wife snuggled together on a sleeping bag in our living room watching the Food Network until midnight-priceless.

Lord, thank you for the wonderful gift of family and reminding me why you have called me to be a father and husband!

P.S. It’s my son Geve’s 17th birthday today, what a blessing, please say a prayer for him!!!!