True North Missionaries Journal

“This is the prayer we need to pray every day, every day: Holy Spirit, may my heart be open to the Word of God, may my heart be open to good, may my heart be open to the beauty of God, every day.”

– Pope Francis

Last year, I attended the YFC International Conference in Palawan and from my entire experience, I took away three revelations that I still honor to this day. The Lord has really guided me to get me to where I am now, and it was all thanks to how desperately He was wanting to intervene in my life. Allow me to share what I learned:

1. Live in the present moment
I arrived at this conclusion in a rather unfortunate matter, but in hindsight it was all a part of the Lord’s plan. After the conference, PAC region delegates headed towards El Nido in Palawan for island hopping. Never in my life have I seen such a pristine view of beach and sky. It was truly paradise that was right in front of me and what consumed my mind the most was “How can I capture this moment so I can relive it forever?” I was so obsessed with wanting to immortalize the scene and experience because most likely I’d never have the chance again. On the last island we hopped to, I kept my phone in my swimming trunks and took so many photos when we were on the beach. Long story short, I forgot the phone was in my pocket and I dove into the water, and when I got out, my phone and everything saved in it were completely destroyed. I was completely struck. I could’ve been really depressed and mourned the loss of an expensive and sentimental piece of technology, but when we all got back on the boat, I had a very profound moment. I looked back at the island we were leaving, and thought back to all the events and moments that I tried to keep on my phone. Nothing was ever really lost. It’s not like I won’t be able to remember anything at all. The entire YFC ICON experience still rings so vibrantly and vividly through my heart and mind, so to expect a digital photo to carry more feelings that what I was able to personally experience was ridiculous. I was there, and it happened, and God made sure it was etched into me permanently. As long as I stop paying attention to the medium in which I record life events and look at life itself, the Lord will make sure nothing that has impacted me will escape my heart.

2. Appreciate family
This lesson sounds a little silly, but it carried alot of meaning when I came upon it. After Palawan, I was still staying in the Philippines a little bit longer because I wanted to see family on my mom’s side. My mom’s side is pretty rowdy so I was very excited and looking forward to seeing how much my uncles, aunts, and cousins have grown. I landed in Naga City in Bicol because that’s where my mom’s side mainly lived. What I didn’t know was that my dad’s mom’s sister (grandma’s sister on dad’s side) was residing in Naga City as well. My mom knew the entire time, so she suggested I go visit her. She was in a retirement home for those that chose the anointed religious life and she was a Daughter of Charity. Apparently I met her before but I don’t recall ever meeting her the last time I was in the Philippines. She was in this retirement facility because her sight was diminishing and was completely deaf. But despite all that and her old age, she was still able to remember me and still read my lips and know what I was saying. I was in awe. This woman who I’m blessed to be related to is the very embodiment of joy and Love. This particular moment when I was able to talk to her was the absolute best part of my entire trip to the Philippines, including ICON. Through the encounter of her, I then realized that this same joy and Love can be found in the rest of my family as well. Aside from them just being a source of joy, I looked at my entire family as a source of Christ that I can draw inspiration from to emit that same Love. It doesn’t matter the age or health, Christ is in us always and makes Himself known to us always.

3. Love Relentlessly
This is the greatest lesson I learnt on the trip. To pinpoint it to one part of the entire experience is impossible. Throughout the Social Actions prior to the ICON, the International Conference itself, the bonding with the other International delegates and the family visits, one message was constantly evident; pursue to love others as much as Christ desires to pursue us. To love myself, my family & friends, my service and this blessed Community. I was reminded to love without obstruction and to love unconditionally and overwhelmingly. Simply put, I was reminded to love as much as Christ loves the Church.

God is greater, and will consistently make Himself known to us. Allow the Lord to intercept your life and you will be changed forever. Amen.

When you do the sign of the cross to bless your food, do you look at your plate and take the time to appreciate what’s on it? Or you just do the sign of the cross, pray the before meals prayer and dig in? Or go directly to your phone, while you eat, or chat with your friends? Or do you pause and think of those who wish they could eat what you could?

Lord God,

I am guilty of all the above, not really paying attention on how fortunate I am for having a complete meal. Often times, with colleagues, friends, and CFC-youth/SFC bros and sis, we go to high-end restaurants and proudly take expensive food selfies.

–Child, it may seem to be a good buy for the quality of food, but it must not be a reason to over indulge and ignore the fact that there are those who hunger and thirst. Those who you can even help. Also, you don’t even get to finish your meal right and often  you just throw away the left over, just because you don’t want to bring it home.

In the CFC community, must we not strive to be more like you Lord humble, and selfless?

Yes, us missionaries aim to spiritually feed our brothers and sisters with your word and promises, but Lord please always remind us that we must not ignore the physical needs of the poor specially when we could do something about it: ANCOP, Rev-up, BCOP. Besides each of us are called to be Champion of the Poor right Lord?

Lord God please send your angels to always remind us to “choose the ‘most humble’ purchase” – Papa Francesco

Love,

JKM luli

“Store your treasures in heaven”

One definition I would use if I were to define “love”, is that it would be a conscious decision to lay ones life down for the other. The best example of love in action can be found in the life of Jesus who willingly laid down his life for his brothers and sisters that they may have eternal life,  but it did not mean he didn’t have a hard time doing this. This past weekend I was reminded of how human Jesus really was during his time of ministry.

If one were to look into the bible, it can be found that Jesus had very human emotions and feelings. He felt anger (Mark 11:15), he felt sad (John 11:35), he was tired (Mark 6:13), he was afraid (Mark 14:36), and he felt alone (Mark 15:34). These are emotions/feelings that I am sure all of us have felt in some way in our lives.

I have felt all of these emotions in this past week and there were so many moments where I did not know what to do, other than pray. When I pray, I feel a sense of peace knowing that the Lord is listening to me, so for this past week all I have been asking the lord was “what is it that you want me to do”?

During my multiple times of reflection, I came to the realization that every day should be a day to learn something new and to really let the Lord into ones life, one must be vulnerable to the leadings of what God gives us everyday. This also means to accept the things we cannot control and to have faith that God is leading is in the way to holiness.

Praise God for this community and the people who have come to know the Lord. If there’s one thing that I know for sure, is that the Lord answers our prayers and that I was reminded of how loved I am.

A sister shared with me a quote from the journal of St. Teresa of Avila. “It seems very easy to say that we will surrender our will to someone, until we try it and realize that it is the hardest thing we can do if we carry it out as we should… The Lord knows what each of us can bear, and when he sees that one of us is strong, he does not hesitate to fulfill his will in that person. Would you like to see how He treats those who make this prayer, ‘Your will be done’ from their hearts? He gives His gifts in proportion to the love which He bears us. He gives more to those whom He loves most, and He gives in accordance with the courage which he sees that each of us has and the love we can bear for Him. When He sees a soul who loves him greatly, he knows that soul can suffer much for him, whereas one who loves him little will suffer little. For my own part, I believe that Love is the measure of our ability to bear crosses, whether great or small.”

To love is one of the toughest things one can do for ones brothers and sisters. This past week, there have been times where I would do is gather all my thoughts, and think that I have to deal with everything all at once, but a good reminder was to take things one step at a time, and to deal with it over time. To love is also a decision and sometimes we need to take it one step at a time to see how we can love the best in any given moment.

I hope that you, the reader, take your time when making a decision and allow that decision to be out of selfless love so that you may be at peace knowing that God will be glorified.

And with that, may God be forever praised.

When the Lord calls me to serve Him and His people. I have learned that the greatest thing that can ever happen, is when I just let Him use me the way He wants to. I see the most joy in others when I allow myself to be loved by Him. When I allow Him to show me who He created and calls me to be. When I let God who created the universe not just be God, but Father. When I let Jesus the one who died for me not only be Saviour, but Friend. When I let the Holy Spirit not just be this Giver of gifts, but let Him live in me.

It has only been 3 months since the year started and I feel overwhelmed. Overwhelmed by all the things that I am called to do, however beyond that I realized over this weekend that I am more overwhelmed by His love. I have been reminded that I can only continue to serve because of the One who has served me first. I can only love because of the One who has loved me first. With that being said I just want to say praise God for God! I should not be surprised that He continues to out do me in love. When I think i’ve given enough, He gives me more, just so I can give more back. LOL

I am grateful for this realization. I owe it to those individuals who were at Camp Lifted this weekend. Thank you so much for being God’s blessings in my life.

Camp Verse Isaiah 40:31 “but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” (NRSVCE)

Lord I know you will call me. I pray I may answer. 

“Do you have what it takes to be a MAN?”

 One of the many questions that resounded and clung in my head during SFC Knight’s Tales last weekend.

It may sound simple but it is such a deep, profound question to a point that some boys, and men-to-be avoid it. Why? Being a man entails responsibility and discipline. It means leaving childish ways behind and to basically “grow up.” Also, the idea of manhood leaves some confused and lost especially if they don’t have a father figure in their life. Also, the man’s pride/ego can definitely hinder growth. What’s even worse is the fact that the society’s distorted view of manhood and manliness takes away its true meaning, its purity and its sacredness. The society tells us to indulge in pornography and masturbation, to take advantage of women, to party and drink like there’s no tomorrow, to be greedy, to abuse power bestowed upon us, etc.

But society’s standards are not of God. He doesn’t want us to waste our lives with worldly things. He created all of us with a purpose, a higher calling. As men, we are called to be protectors of His creation and to the ‘’Eves” He has blessed us with, to continue to proclaim His word to the generations to come and to fight for what He believes in.

Personally I haven’t reflected to the question above, let alone have a definite answer. I stumble, struggle (even to this day) with temptations. One of the questions the speaker asked during a session was “what do you think are the qualities of a true man?” Discipline was blurted out. Even with my current age, I struggle with discipline even to a point where sometimes I don’t care about improving myself, just letting myself fail or give up without fighting a battle. I struggle a lot with passivity, doubts, with overthinking that leads to laziness. But the SFC KT weekend reassured me that even though I don’t think I am at the point of saying I have what it takes, His love IS always greater whatever state I’m in. That He’s ready to take my nothingness, my lacking-ness and fill in the missing parts because…

 “I WAS, AM and WILL ALWAYS be made for LOVE because He is love and He created me out of His love.”

Through SFC KT, God wanted me to know that He sees me as a man…that I don’t need to prove to anyone my manhood because He ALREADY affirmed me by giving me the desires to battle, to love and to adventure. He already affirmed me when He gave me the gift of faith. He already affirmed me that I’m strong by choosing Him over the world. He just wants me to trust in Him, to give Him control over my life, my inclinations, my imperfections, to allow His love to transform me.

Being a man is not being the mightiest because only God holds that title. Rather, as men He calls us to be strong in our faith, to be strong in our will to avoid the worldly things that lead us away from Him, to be courageous in advocating for His word. So as much as the journey being a man in this world is challenging, I’ll try my best not to give up because

“The Lord never gave up on me and He never will”

God never gave up on Adam. In fact, He even sent Adam’s descendants a Savior through Jesus Christ. So brothers, I’m affirming you that you definitely have what it takes to be men of God!!! Continue to #lovemore and hope in Him.