New Day

Well I felt a little better today. I woke up feeling really groggy, I think it has to do with the mood that I was in yesterday. I feel like I still have a lot to learn about myself and a lot about self control. I can't let my emotions control who I am because that can affect how I am in ministry.

On the plus side I got a few new things today. One I finally got my Cor Jesu College ID, it might be something small, but it makes me smile, it is a souvenir I will definitely be taking back to the states with me. I also got two t-shirts that say "Proud to be Cor Jesian". I like the shirts but they are just really big on me. All the Filippino shirts that I have tried on fit me differently, for instance I fit in a 2XL with some shirts, well it just so happens that the shirts I was given today are about a 5XL, yeh it makes me feel huge, people I have lost weight and the rest of my shirts from the states that are XL are getting to big for me, so that is comforting.

We also went to Mass at the Benedictine Monastery today, it is always nice going there. I also tried Durian for the first time. It is sort of the staple fruit for the Filipinos. The way it is described is as follows "smells like hell, but tastes like heaven." Well I don't think it tastes like heaven, but it is okay. I also took some time today to read the Bible, something I should be doing more of. I read all of the Book of Revelations today. Tomorrow it might be something else. Played basketball tonight, it was pretty fun but my team lost. Washed clothes today, nothing exciting about that.

Well in other news and I didn't post this yesterday, but my brother and sister - in - law are expecting baby number 2. They just found out that they are going to be having a boy. So now I am going to have a niece and a nephew. However, it is hard for me being so far away because I feel like I miss out on so much. I will definitely make up for that in the future.

Different

I feel really different about today. I had some really high points with today and some really low points. It seems that the low points are those that are weighing down hard on my heart. On the high notes I was able to get a lot accomplished in regards to powerpoint presentation for our opening prayer for Saturday and the outline typed as well as the prayers of the faithful typed. I also attended a meeting for a new program with the Br. Polycarp Foundation. It was a great kickoff to a program and it really makes me want to spread the word to our schools in the states to help raise funds. The program will feed first and second graders who are underweight and not getting the right amount of food they need. They will be fed a lunch and the parents will be taught how to cook healthy food on a budget that they can afford. I really want to raise funds for this program.

On the downside, I did go and buy some water guns today, something that I have been wanting to do. Note to self, no water guns with the students especially when the students need to be at work. I feel terrible. Also I guess my joking is a bit extreme sometimes for some of the Filippino, so now I feel bad about that and I am now more afraid to joke. I guess I need to figure out what the boundary is, but let's be honest they joke with me all the time. I guess you can say I am really beating myself up over the childish mistakes. I guess it is something I really need to reflect on. I guess I am letting the thought of having fun overtake what I really need to be doing. I can have fun, but I need to be serious as well.

Time

Well today turned out to be an interesting day. Yet again I had a problem with the shower working. I pretty much had to rough it out with the water. The Basic Education Department here gives to each class a saint name. Well one of those saint names is St. Maria Goretti, who's feast day is today, also since St. Benedict's feast is on Sunday. The two classes came together for a Mass in the Brothers chapel to celebrate these two feasts. It was also a fun day for those students, they didn't have to wear there uniforms and they also had a really big potluck. I was invited and even though I had already eaten, I did enjoy some of the yummy deserts.

I am trying to figure out what is the best way to break up my day in regards to working at Campus Ministry and spending some time to myself. I found just completely stopping myself from all activities was not the best decision because I would be to distracted and would want to be back in the school. So today I tried something different. I spent time before lunch doing some reading in one of the books that I am reading. Then I took some time after lunch just for quiet time and rest. I am also busy trying to put together an opening prayer with Br. Dado for the religious assembly this Saturday for Digos. I think we got it done, I just have to time it all out. Then after that I started to read more on the Brothers Rule of Life. I think it worked a lot better than what I had been doing. Like I have mentioned before quieting down is not one of my strong points. Br. Dan also arrived today so we took a walk around the school and just chatted. Although I enjoy the time here without him, it is good to see him periodically.

I have to give a shout to Jo Jie "Lady Guard", that is what the students call her and she is one of the security guards at the gate of the school. I have taken the time to go each day to visit with the guards since they are protecting the school and, therefore, keeping me safe. In chatting with them I am helping them with there english. All of the security guards are all pretty cool and I enjoy chatting with them all.

I have to mention the Student Development Center ladies because I go each day to say hello to them. They really make me feel like I am at home and I really appreciate there friendship while I am here and even after I leave.

Tomorrow is going to be interesting because we are having a memorial/tribute to an 8 year old student who lost her life to dingy (malaria). I hate it when little children die, so I hope I can just keep it together.

Crazy

Well today started out as one of those days that I thought would end up being a complete failure. So the shower that I use sometimes doesn't give me any water, so I usually have to wait for the water to come out. Well at the same time, the director of Campus Ministry called the house looking for me. It had me thinking that I was going to be in some trouble, which I wasn't going to be. I was finally able to take my shower, but when I went to put my contacts in, the lights when out. It was really windy outside and it began to rain, so double fail. I was able to get dress in the dark and finish everything I needed to do. I went outside and realized with the director was calling me. We had to bless the new Basic Education Department's canteen, which I do have to say is really nice. The blessing had to be put on hold due to the weather.

So with that put on hold. I headed to the Campus Ministry office where we had a meeting that last maybe two hours discussing events for this month. Let me just say it is going to be a very busy month, but very rewarding. I also have been put in charge of putting together reflections every morning for BED during there flag ceremony. It is a short reflection and I have already put together the reflection for next Monday. I don't like to wait till the last minute to do something like this. I also took some time to go visit the ladies at the Student Development Center. I absolutely love them all, they are really great. Annalou told me she reads my blog, so this shout out is to you Annalou, hey that rhymes! Oh and Janette is my Filippino sister!

Because this afternoon was looking quite busy. I took the short time that I had after lunch to spend some time to myself. It gave me a chance to relax. Sometimes I find it very hard to quiet myself down when I am in a quiet place. It seems that I am able to reflect more when I am surrounded by people. So this is something that I need to reflect on. How can I grow closer to God when I can't really do when I am by myself? Something completely different than what formation is asking of me. I guess I am just going to have to learn.

This afternoon we had our regular Monday Mass, which is usually in the Brothers chapel. This week we had to move everything into one of the AV rooms because we are inviting one class a week form the Basic Education Department to join us. So moving an altar and ambo is not really fun especially when it is hot because you sweat a lot. It was nice and the priest that was the celebrant is a really nice guy. He even complimented me on my weight loss since it has been a few weeks since I have seen him.

After Mass, the Brothers and myself gathered for faith sharing, it was the first time we have gathered like this since I have been here. It was really nice just hearing about what the other Brothers go through and how much they turn to the Brothers when they are having a rough day. I absolutely love this community. I feel really connected to them.

To end the evening, Joe Joe the director of Alumni Affairs at Cor Jesu College invited us over to his place for dinner. Br. Roger and myself were the only ones able to attend. Let me just say when I stepped into his house I didn't feel like I was in the Philippines anymore. I thought I was back in the states. He has one of the nicest houses that I have seen since I have been in the Philippines. It was great just visiting. He is really nice and is a very generous man. He has a giant heart of gold. Plus he gave me this really cool bag that was made by Filippino muslims.

Although I have two months left I am really going to miss this place once I am gone!

Happy Fourth of July!

Even though I am not in the states, it doesn't mean that I can't celebrate the fourth of July! However, my day started off with Mass, of course it would, why wouldn't it not start with Mass because that makes my day. I really like attending Mass at the Benedictine monastery here in Digos. There is something about Benedictine monastery's that I really love, I guess you can say that it is an advantage of attending a seminary that was at a monastery. Well the chapel they use is not very big, but it was packed. I was also very happy to see some of the Hummingbirds in attendance at the Mass singing. They always seem to amaze me. I actually met two of the monks today, since this was the third time attending Mass there it was about time I actually started to introduce myself. I don't think they realize that I am with the Brothers. They seemed like some really nice guys. They invited us next Sunday to there celebration of the Feast of St. Benedict. I am really excited about attending and am really looking forward to it.

Once I got back to the house though I really wasn't sure what I was going to be doing today. What I found on the t.v. was Edward Scissorhands, which is a movie I always enjoy watching. Br. Roger came up and said that we were going to go swimming with Joe Joe, who is the director of alumni affairs for the school. Joe Joe is super nice because he wants me to have a great experience of the Philippines while I can. So we get to the Aquino Resort, I may say resort, but it is not what you think when it comes to resorts. They had two swimming pools, one for kids and one for adults, some huts, and many fish ponds. The people that own the place make there money off of the fish they raise and sale and the resort that makes money. I was really impressed by the fish ponds because this family is making money off of tilapia that they raise. What was going through my mind was how much they are making doing this, but supposedly they are doing quite well, which makes me very happy. The day included eating, swimming, videoke, and Red Horse, which is the beer around here. It was a really fun day! Now I am completely exhausted.

I am finding out that in each day I am here, I am impressed by something. Like today the fish that was being raised by this family to sale. I was also impressed by the Hummingbirds today at Mass. One of the girls in the Hummingbirds was the cantor for the psalm, which she did a wonderful job. To me it spoke more than her just singing, it was a reflection on the life she is trying to live as a Catholic woman. From her singing, it showed to me that faith is more to her than attending Mass every Sunday, but something that is involved in her daily life that she so freely expresses through her contribution to a liturgy. I want to thank her for sharing her faith with me.

Whaaaattttttt?

So It seems that there are many periods of the day where the Brothers I live with start speaking in the native tongue, which leads to me asking what like all the time. So much so that they have started making fun of me by the way I say what. It's just become so natural for me to say what.

Well today started off well because I was able to sleep in. The college was having there acquaintance party all day and to start it all off there was a Mass. So the Mass was suppose to start at 8 a.m., well it was 8 a.m. and there was no Mass kit, not lectionary or sacramentary, therefore, sending me into a panic because none of the Hummingbirds were around which they have a key to the office. Then the priest was kind if impatient, he is Filipino, but I wonder if he has ever heard of Filipino time. Lucky enough everything got sorted out and we started Mass about 30 minutes late.

After Mass, I washed clothes, yet again, enough said! It takes forever.

This afternoon was pretty fun. Some of the Brothers and myself went to a really small island and I mean really small. A football field is larger than this island. They have canopies and of course water to go swim in. It turned out to be a beautiful since it was pouring this morning. I enjoyed it and got me some sun. We were only there a few hours. Got back to campus and performed the dance again to the students, they enjoyed it. I also went to Madame Rose's house, which was a lot of fun. Got to see Jampy, who is always so adorable and her puppy.

Tomorrow I will be attending Mass at the Benedictine Monastery here in town and then something fun again since it is the American Independence Day!

Urgent

Yesterday was Davao del Sur day, so we didn't have school. I do have to say I think yesterday was probably my most laziest day here in the Philippines. I just sat around the house and watched movies. I did play basketball last night, but that was about it.

However, something really urgent came up last night. Come to find out my Visa expired. Br. Dan sent me an email letting me know that I needed to get to Davao to have it fixed. On our actual Visas in our passports it says that the visa will not expire till August 3rd, but when we arrived in the Philippines they stamped it and then put a date of June 18th in there. We noticed this when we got here and went to the airport to have it checked out, but they told us we were fine. Obviously we weren't. So I was up really early this morning and on a bus with one of the Brothers at 6 a.m. for Davao. The worst part about traveling from Digos to Davao is that it is really long and very tiring. I was hoping to get the Visa taken care of and back to Digos as soon as possible because I was already missing a school Mass, and wanted to go to the school we helped build, which is a public school, to have Mass there. Well other errands got in the way with some of the Brothers and I got back to Digos too late, so I missed both Masses. However, I was exhausted. I went to the Director of campus ministry to explain the situation because he had no idea, and he was alright. I ended up coming to lay down for about 2 hours. I was able to catch the First Friday Mass at the Cathedral that is meant for the college students. It was nice because I hate it when I miss Mass.

I have learned in my time as a seminarian and now as a Brother how meaningful it is to attend Mass. My day pretty much is not complete if I am not able to attend Mass. I have enjoyed reading our Rule of Life where it talks about the Eucharist so far in four of the rules. Some feel like attending Mass is an obligation, but I don't see it that way. It isn't an obligation, it is an opportunity to grow in a relationship with Christ in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. By attending Mass I feel connected on a global basis to other people. One friend of mine even though we don't see each other we always tell each other "see you at Mass." If it seems as if I am going to miss Mass I start to panic because it is so important to me. Gotta love it!

In other news, one of my professors from Le Moyne has asked me to write a letter to support her application for tenure. I am really honored that she has asked me and I am looking forward to composing this letter.