Exhausted

It's been a while since I last posted a blog, but things have been a little crazy for me especially since I have been traveling back and forth to Davao for the past two days going to visit Br. Dan in the hospital. Last night I even stayed the night at the hospital, didn't really get to sleep much, so I am currently really exhausted. The trip to Davao has been taking almost an hour and a half each time I go into the city and coming back. To make things more frustrating, when I went on Wednesday to see him, I have to get back to Cor Jesu to teach a class, the bus I was on broke down, which really didn't make my day. I missed the class that I had to teach. It's been hard for me to take the time to quiet myself just because I am worried about Br. Dan. They were moving the IV to his other hand last night and it was hurting him when they were trying to insert it. I have never seen him in that much pain before in my life. This morning he was in good spirits, he was actually able to sleep a few hours last night.

Other than that, haven't been too busy. Played basketball on Wednesday night with some faculty and staff and tonight we played volleyball. I like how the teachers really get involved in the recreational sports.

Because I wasn't able to teach the class on Wednesday, I taught it today. Now the class that I was teaching is a second year high school class. Their are two sections, section A and section B. I taught section B who gets a lot of comments made towards them that they are lazy, noisy, stubborn, and just don't listen. So my goal was to raise there awareness of this, which they already know about and try to turn it into something a little creative. I engaged them with a Gospel reading from Luke and had them act it out, it was the parable of the good samaritan. My challenge to the class was to see if they can improve in the last month that I am here at Cor Jesu. This should be interesting to see.

They will be fogging Cor Jesu tomorrow to kill the mosquitoes, so it is going to be an early day and a long day since I will also be heading back to Davao and will be there all day.

Dang

So today was the last of the recollections for me. It was sad, but nice. I felt more confident after this one on possibly taking on the responsibility that comes with facilitating a recollection. I am also very confident now in leading meditations. Today two of the students broke down after the meditation. They really got into what I was saying and they felt that they were actually in a beautiful haven with the opportunity to talk to Jesus. Amazing how you think something like a meditation could have such an impact on someone's life. As I was saying yesterday, it seems like most of the students have lost a parent. One girl today shared and expressed how it feels for her since she has lost both of her parents. Even though she has suffered so much with the loss of her parents, she just came across as a very strong woman. My prayers tonight were with her and those that have lost parents.

I also found out that Br. Dan had to go to the hospital due to dengue fever. I will be going to visit him and hoping that he gets better really soon.

I will keep information on him updated as he gets better. He should be there for about 5 to 10 days.

Recollection

Today started another round of recollections put on by the campus ministry office. The recollection we had today was a lot more emotional for the students. What really touched me was the fact that the meditation I lead today put one girl into tears. She really got so much from it and I was taken back I really didn't know how to talk to her. Just all around, more people were brought to tears. If one person starts to cry during a story, then that story might impact someone else. It was also the first time we had two guys really break down. Throughout all the recollections I am starting to discover how poor some of the students really are. Some were thankful that they had enough money to attend the recollection, it just worries me how they are able to afford the tuition. It seems like they really are getting by one day at a time. Besides the poverty, I am also discovering that some students lose a parent early in there life. In my small group last week, out of a group of 10, 3 had already lost there father. I'm glad that they are able to come to the recollection and get some of this stuff off of there chest and just let it all out.

Other than the recollection, been taking it easy. So I have remembered some other things particular to the Filipino culture. Most of the men have hair gel in there hair. No lie almost every guy you see has hair product in. It's funny and sometimes there hair is hard as rock.

So my computer charger is not working, so it takes me forever just to type one blog now, so hopefully I can either get it fixed or replaced, we shall see.

Earthquake and Ants

Well I wasn't able to post a new blog last night because it was super late when I got back from Davao, but yesterday was a crazy day. I experienced my second earthquake here in the Philippines yesterday morning. It registered a 7.4 magnitude and the epicenter was in the water, which I am thankful for because no telling what kind of damage it could do. I was sitting at my desk and I realized my desk was shaking to the point that I got up and ran to get under the doorway. At first I thought it could of been me either dizzy or disoriented, but when I sat down I felt it again and this time ran downstairs where the other Brothers were in the dining room, right when I saw them they said "you felt the earthquake." Nothing was damaged with this one and there was no tsunami. I was talking to one of the students today and he says he hates the feeling he gets when he experiences an earthquake, it's like the room is spinning. It was interesting to say the least.

After that little episode we went to the beach for about 30 minutes, just to go swimming for a little while. It was nice. I also got to see some of the fishermen at work. That is interesting as well.

Went into Davao yesterday just to go to People's Park and to the mall. This is another thing about Filipino's especially the girls here. If you have a camera and you are about to take a picture, they want to be in the picture. Even when I look at them, they scream like gitty little girls. Let's just say all eyes were on me while at this park. It was a really nice park, they had walking areas and grass areas where people can meet. Walked around the grass area and took some pictures with the people around there.

On our way back to Digos last night, the entire bus was full. So to make the trip interesting, I was having to stand up in the isle while we were heading back, it was that full. I thought I was going to have to stand up the entire time, but slowly people were getting off. I was able to find a seat, plus I was extremely tired.

This morning went to Mass at the monastery, I like that place. Tonight going to Janette's new house for a little get together. I am really looking forward to this because I know this is going to be a fun night.

Right now this will probably be the last time I blog from my laptop. For some reason my computer charger is not working probably, no lie I think there are ants in my charger. I only say that because when I unplugged my charger it was covered in ants. Ants seem to be everywhere in the Philippines. Hopefully I can get it fixed or find another one.

Words

You never really know what kind of impact you could have on someone especially when you just talk to the person. Well tonight I got a really nice compliment from one of the students who was at our last Recollection and who I got to hang out with last Sunday at the swimming pool with the badminton team, he is on the team. At the recollection he went into some very personal stuff, especially dealing with his past. This guy has so much potential in life as well as in badminton, I told him I don't want you to be caught up in the past because it could impair your future. Who knew that those words of advice that I spoke to him could mean so much to him. He sent me a message thanking me for the advice, then he told me that he is adding me to his prayers. He also told me that I am a guardian angel to him as well as to others. I wasn't expecting to receive that. It really let's me know that I have something that I can share with others.

Today was just like yesterday, really slow. I finished working on my reflection for the BED. I also got a surprise concert by some of the Hummingbirds today, which I filmed. It was incredible, they are all really gifted singers. I washed clothes as well today, nothing exciting about that. In the afternoon, I was between the Campus Ministry Office and the new Vocations Office that Br. Dado has. It is a nice office and he is trying to get it all set up. I also did some reading on what one of our Brothers in the states put together on the Rule of Life. Interesting reading. Was suppose to play basketball tonight, but those plans fell through. Maybe next time though. I might be going to one of the high school classes next week and straighten out there students, hehe.

As you can see nothing to exciting happened for me today. Well wait a second, we had three stray kittens dropped off at Cor Jesu. We took them in, but one of the dogs got to them and ended up killing all three kittens. It was quite sad. They were just kittens.

I am trying to think of other things that are distinctive of the Philippines, but I am having writers block on that. However, one thing that is strange to me is that the Filipinos even when it is hot outside will wear a jacket, it happens more in the morning. It is cooler in the morning, but not to cool. Their sense of cold is a whole lot different then mine.

Joy

I didn't post any blog yesterday because I was just way to tired. The recollection we had yesterday was really long, but it was good. I was able to go to confession yesterday as well, which was nice. I went to bed earlier than usual last night because I was so tired, expecting to do it all over again today.

I was on the assumption that we were going to be having another recollection today only because when we had a meeting at the beginning of the month I had this whole week marked off with recollections. So as I am waiting for the bus to come around and the rest of the campus ministry staff to show, nobody showed. Eventually I found out there was no recollection, which brought me joy because I needed the break. Then I didn't wan to do anything. Well I can't really say that because I got the reflection that I needed to do for the Basic Education Department done, but then I enjoyed my day. The Basic Education Department was having their acquaintance party today so I went to different parts of it, actually I went to all the fun parts. I even ended up performing Dani California to them all, which I think they enjoyed. For some reason I was more nervous performing it in front of them. Then I also enjoyed the disco they were having, dancing with the other teachers and how all the students wanted me to dance in there group. Let me just say some of the stuff I was seeing today would definitely not be allowed back in the states. No it wasn't the dancing that was making me nervous, it was how the students wanted us to dance with them that made me nervous. It rained again today, really bad actually different parts of the school are flooded. I ended up going to jump in a puddle, which could be called a pool more than anything.

It seems that there are so many small things I think about that I want to make mention on here, but sometimes I forget. Especially where I am at or Digos in general they usually don't have any toilet seats. Just random stuff that I think about that I experience with the Filipino culture. It's like I need to write certain stuff down as I experience the culture.

Here is the link to view the video of me singing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pOE8GUawmM

One shot!

So since I was in high school I realized that I could shoot half court shots backwards. It is actually easier to shoot them backwards then forwards. Well on Saturday I was shooting them, it usually takes me a few times to actually make it because I have to see how hard I am throwing the ball, the way I am throwing it, etc. Well today I was talking to one of the worker students telling him about it because there was basketball going on outside today. Well I went out there and asked the children if I could shoot half court shots backwards and if they would rebound for me till I make it. They agreed. What happened next was absolutely amazing. My first try at shooting it was a complete success. NOTHING BUT NET! I was really happy, students were cheering, and the whole time I was shocked because it took me only one shot. Gosh I wish I had had my camera out there.

Other than that today was day 2 of recollections. The group was much smaller today then it usually has been, instead of a group that numbers over the 40's we had a group of 28. Another thing was that this group was composed more of males then females. I gave my meditation again today. I get such an incredible feeling every time I deliver the meditation. From the feedback we were getting from the students, they were going deep into the meditation that I wanted them to go into. However, tomorrow I am going to be adding more on what I do in the morning with them. It is a trial in the hopes that I will facilitate one of the recollections next week. It just makes me really nervous just trying to know the material, but also because there is a language barrier. I challenged my group today to try to speak in English, but some felt that to explain they had to speak in their native tongue which I completely understand. I just want them to experience something while on the recollection. The recollections give me time to be by myself and to think, but it also helps me to understand what these students are facing in there lives.

Had an animation session tonight with the other Brothers. I am amazed how deep they go into what the General Chapter asked of the Brothers back in 2006. I hope to take back with me some of these things to put into practice. I also like how the perpetually professed Brothers make up a formation plan as well to let the council know how they are doing and what they are doing. I think that needs to be a practice, just because it is hard for me being the only novice and not being able to here the formation plans that the perpetually professed Brothers are going through because let's be honest, we say ongoing formation, but how can we bring this into practice.