So I woke up really tired this morning, even though I slept really great last night. I was so tempted to just stay in bed. Some of the Brothers stayed up past 11 last night with the videoke machine. However, morning prayer calls and so does Mass. Mass at the Cathedral here in Digos can be really long. The Cathedral is called Mary Mediatrix Cathedral. This mornings Mass ran really long given the fact that the priest gave a 15 minutes homily for a Daily Mass and since it is in the native tongue I typically zone out. When I come back to reality I realized that the guy is still talking. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy attending Daily Mass it is part of my life, but when it runs so long, I get really distracted. This is my thing with Mass, I believe a Daily Mass should last about 25 to 30 minutes. If it runs under 20 minutes, I feel as if I don't get much out of it, it is like let's hurry up and get this over with. Then if a Mass runs longer than 30 minutes well distractions take over. Something else happened today that I have never experienced before. This woman walks up and gets a blessing from a woman behind me and then she comes and sits by me and gets a blessing then asks me for some money. I do not carry money around with me, especially if all I will be doing is attending Mass. I told her I didn't have any. This lady was dressed for Mass, even though there appeared to be bleach stains on her brown outfit and she was wearing a mantilla. Mass was not even over yet, grant it, it was the end of the Mass, but still she interrupted Mass for me. After she left me, she went to another Brother and did the same thing. I feel bad that I cannot give money to every beggar that I see, I do not have the money to do that, but I don't give money period, if I am going to give them anything it is going to be food.
Since today was a slow day since students in the college have exams the rest of the week, it is really quiet here. I went into Digos twice today to go look for some items and both times I was in the city, I got a beggar asking me for some money, actually one child was screaming at me. I went into the city first with Br. Dado to go get a new load for his phone. On our way back to the school we stopped by a bakery to get some bread. By the way the bread here is amazing! There was a beggar outside, but when she saw me in the store she came up right behind us with her cup. An aspirant was with us and he gave her a peso, but as we were leaving her, Br. Dado gave her a piece of bread. That is how I prefer it. After that I went with Br. Kokok to go find me some shaving cream, which we had no luck. Filipinos don't seem to have a problem with facial hair. Checking different stores, we ran into children that were begging. One boy was like "money money money." Then we passed a little girl doing the same thing, but this time she was screaming it and she was only screaming it when I was passing by. Like I said, how I wish I could do more, but they see me as a rich American. Especially seeing the kids really breaks my heart.
In regards to campus ministry work, I didn't have much to do today. So I chilled in the office and read the Bible, trying to get through as much as the New Testament while I am here and will probably finish reading it back in the states. I also am trying to learn the National Anthem to the Philippines. I have gotten all the lyrics down, but I still need to practice. Br. Roger has said if I can memorize the anthem, he will then give me customized Cor Jesu basketball uniform.
I am starting to get really sad because I only have four weeks left here in the Philippines. I just hope the time goes slow, but I know it will go by fast. I want to truly cherish the time I have left.
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