Experience in the Philippines

During the last 3 weeks, there were 18 of us who went to the Philippines, on a mission trip. The majority of us were university students involved in the Catholic societies at the university of Southampton and London. We were hosted by the Verbum Dei community living in the Philippines, i.e., by the male (brothers and Fathers) and female (sisters) branch, plus many lay members.

In this week’s email guidelines, I want to share with you our experience in the Philippines mission trip. I hope it can also help you to pray too.

MONDAY: MATTHEW 5

Since we arrived to the Philippines, we were very much taken by the poverty. It stroke us a lot to see so many slam areas, or squatters, as they call slam areas. The first days we stayed in Taygaytay, a city near Manila, where there is a Verbum Dei house.

In one of the chapels there, I remember praying the beatitudes:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, theirs in the Kingdom of God... Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, they shall have their fill...”

Although it is difficult to see poverty, we were all very touched by the smile and joy, especially of the children and by their generosity of all the Philippinos. This made us think about our lives, having so much more and yet complaining very often; and also think about the children in the UK having so much more, such as ipods, computers, mobiles... and yet not being as happy as the children in the Philippines.

This lead many of us reflect: where does happiness lie?

They were rich in generosity, simplicity, in family life and support, in faith. Aren’t these key factors to happiness? Isn’t this to be blessed for being poor in spirit?

TUESDAY: MATTHEW 12:46-50

“Who is my mother and brothers?... Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven...”

The main purpose of our mission trip was this: to live and share God’s will, that is so well expressed in the Our Father: “Your Kingdom come”. For the majority of children we met, it was the first time they met and spoke to a non-Philippino. By sharing our time, lives, cultures and also letting them share their traditions, festivals, songs (they love singing!), dances... was a way to express and live God’s kingdom; in other words, the dignity that each one of us has as being God’s children. Dignity and equality of being loved, eternally loved and wanted, despite culture, colour, race or social condition...

I think living in the UK gives us all a great opportunity to live, trying to build up God’s kingdom, that dream/ will of God that we all, at least once in life, have desired it too.

Lord, help us to break the ice and speak and share beyond our comfort zone, help us to dialogue with others, free us from prejudices.

WEDNESDAY: MATTHEW 13:1-9

Today’s gospel reading is the parable of the sower. Reading it, it made me pray to Our Father, as the sower, who sows the seed of the kingdom in our hearts. In other words, God has sown in us the desire for the truth, for justice, for sincerity, for solidarity. However, today’s parable makes us also reflect on the following question: where is that seed in my life? Did that seed fall on the edge of the path, or on the patches of rock, or among thorns? Or did it rather fall on rich soil?

The Philippines is a country full of corruption. Although the majority of the houses are very poor, we could also see some small areas with big buildings, as rich as the city in London! I felt it was such a striking disparity! However, we can admit that greed, selfishness, pride, laziness, hopeless... exists everywhere. It is not enough to blame some people like the politicians for it. We are all responsible toward building up society.

The question can rather be, how seriously do we take the seed of God’s kingdom? Do we believe and recognise it was given to each one of us?

THURSDAY: JOHN 20:1-2 . John 20:11-18

Today we celebrate the feast of Mary of Magdalene, to whom the risen Christ appeared. After the resurrection of Jesus, the disciples were all in despair. Mary of Magdalene too, especially for not find the dead body of Jesus.

“They have taken my Lord away!”

Her Lord, the One who showed her the dignity of her life as none had showed her and had treated her. Her joy and hope recovered when she recognised his voice, “Mary”. He was the centre, the purpose of her life. He was the One who moved her to “go to the brothers and tell them I am ascending to my Father, your Father, my God, your God...”

One thing that stroke many of us in the Philippines was to see how God is so much part of the culture. We could see everywhere signs of God, in the buses, called jipnis, in the stores, in the taxis... and people wouldn’t be shy to speak about their faith. It is such a contrast with our secular societies here in Europe.

This led us to reflect: who is God in my life? Is He a small part of my life or the centre of my life? It also helped us to pray asking Him to be more at the centre of our lives, options, daily decisions, as well as asking Him to help us not to be shy or afraid of sharing our faith to others.

FRIDAY: JOHN 15:1-8

“I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, with me in him will bear much fruit.”

This experience in the Philippines helped us all to grow in our faith. Even those who didn’t use to pray much felt the need to find time to reflect and to write a diary. Lots of questions came up, such as, who is God? Why are there injustices? What us my vocation in life? Can I do anything? Why was I born in another country, with other conditions and family? What is my responsibility?

Sharing this with God and seeking answers was extremely helpful. Having the opportunity to have a mass every day was a blessing and refreshing to be in contact with the source of all life, love and hope.

We also felt very encouraged by meeting Carol, the principal of the school for deaf children, where we did some volunteering work. Carol was an inspiring person because she had also founded a NGO that supports children who can’t afford transport and school expenses to go to school. We had also contact with some sisters that run an orphanage and with the Verbum Dei community in the Philippines, especially with a group of young men who are training to be VD missionaries. All these people were signs of hope for us and, off course, for that society.

Seeing and sharing with them, helped us to grow in the desire to be also signs of hope to our society which is in need of it too.

So, I invite you to pray for them and for us; help us Lord to seek how our lives can bear fruit of love, generosity, hope. Be our vine, and feed our hope unceasingly.

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Verbum Dei UK