Monday, August 9, 2010
It's going to be hard...
I can already tell everyone that it is going to be extremely hard to say goodbye to some of the people I have met here in the Philippines. How do you say goodbye to some people that you have learned to love as friends and family? This is what I am dealing with and it makes me sad. I actually cried a little tonight knowing what I am going to have to face in the coming few weeks.
Today was probably one of the hottest days that I have had to dealt with being the fact that we did not have electricity till lunch time, so I was sweating my butt off. So to say the least, I stayed outside most of the morning given the fact that being inside was much hotter. I even pulled a chair up and sat outside the campus ministry office just so that I could cool off. I was able to get a drawing of me with a zipline with rebels waiting for me, so I could give it Br. Eli, who won't let me go to this one place to go ziplining because he is afraid that rebels will kidnap me. He enjoyed the photo.
The afternoon went by pretty fast, was able to see Br. Romel and Br. Noelvic who came in from Manila for the retreat. I also went and got sized for my very own Cor Jesu College basketball uniform. I have seen a picture of what they will look like and I am looking forward to actually getting it.
Other than that nothing to exciting happened today, did go videoke with the Brothers tonight, which was fun. I know once I leave here I won't be doing that anytime soon.
Will be on retreat for the next three days!
Today was probably one of the hottest days that I have had to dealt with being the fact that we did not have electricity till lunch time, so I was sweating my butt off. So to say the least, I stayed outside most of the morning given the fact that being inside was much hotter. I even pulled a chair up and sat outside the campus ministry office just so that I could cool off. I was able to get a drawing of me with a zipline with rebels waiting for me, so I could give it Br. Eli, who won't let me go to this one place to go ziplining because he is afraid that rebels will kidnap me. He enjoyed the photo.
The afternoon went by pretty fast, was able to see Br. Romel and Br. Noelvic who came in from Manila for the retreat. I also went and got sized for my very own Cor Jesu College basketball uniform. I have seen a picture of what they will look like and I am looking forward to actually getting it.
Other than that nothing to exciting happened today, did go videoke with the Brothers tonight, which was fun. I know once I leave here I won't be doing that anytime soon.
Will be on retreat for the next three days!
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Lazy Sunday
Even though Sunday's are typically the only day I can actually sleep in, I do not take that advantage. Why you might ask? I like to attend the Mass at the Benedictine Monastery here in Digos and it is also the time I can actually see and chat with Br. Thomas. He is one of the younger monks there and we have been keeping in contact with each other through facebook. What I also really like about attending Mass there is that I know the music is going to be good. To me nothing says a good liturgy then good liturgical music. Also in development, one of the monks has already asked his prior if I could possibly stay the one night at the monastery, which I don't think is going to be a problem. Now I just have to find the time in the next three weeks.
I came back by the house to relax, nothing was really planned for the rest of the day. I watched a movie and then went to Mass again for the second time today. First time was because I like Mass at the monastery, second time was because it was the First Communion of the grade 3 pupils here at Cor Jesu College, which was held at the Cathedral. It was really nice and I am glad that they went over all the music with the students because they were singing loud and proud. It was also nice to be able to witness them receiving Jesus in the body and blood of Christ. Let's just say, they had a lot of cute faces after they had consumed it. Plus our cooks son was making his First Communion, so I went to cheer him on. He is a cool little guy who hangs out at the house sometimes.
Other than attending Mass, I went to a few of the stores here in Digos to try to find some shaving cream, but no luck. I guess Filipinos don't grow facial hair fast enough that they would need to buy shaving cream. Speaking of hair, one thing that I kind of makes me sick is seeing moles that have hair growing out of them, but here they are everywhere. One of the guys that brought up the gifts during the offertory had one bad and I was thinking to myself "why don't you cut the hair?" Plus it is really creepy.
So busy week this week, will be gone Tuesday through Thursday on the semi-annual retreat with the Brothers, it should be fun.
I came back by the house to relax, nothing was really planned for the rest of the day. I watched a movie and then went to Mass again for the second time today. First time was because I like Mass at the monastery, second time was because it was the First Communion of the grade 3 pupils here at Cor Jesu College, which was held at the Cathedral. It was really nice and I am glad that they went over all the music with the students because they were singing loud and proud. It was also nice to be able to witness them receiving Jesus in the body and blood of Christ. Let's just say, they had a lot of cute faces after they had consumed it. Plus our cooks son was making his First Communion, so I went to cheer him on. He is a cool little guy who hangs out at the house sometimes.
Other than attending Mass, I went to a few of the stores here in Digos to try to find some shaving cream, but no luck. I guess Filipinos don't grow facial hair fast enough that they would need to buy shaving cream. Speaking of hair, one thing that I kind of makes me sick is seeing moles that have hair growing out of them, but here they are everywhere. One of the guys that brought up the gifts during the offertory had one bad and I was thinking to myself "why don't you cut the hair?" Plus it is really creepy.
So busy week this week, will be gone Tuesday through Thursday on the semi-annual retreat with the Brothers, it should be fun.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Time please slow down, thanks...
Just the mere fact that I am leaving at the end of this month makes me sad. I passed the airport today and was thinking to myself, oh gosh I am going to be here soon. Why couldn't this exposure last 6 months instead of 3? I think what is hard about leaving is the fact that I wonder if I am ever going to see some of these people again. I don't want to forget some of these people, it is just hard to say good bye in general. I usually don't like good bye's, I like to say see you soon, then it gives me hope that I will see them again.
I didn't blog last night because I was way too tired after the volleyball game we had, which the team I am on won again. Yesterday I went to a school called SPAMAST. Now I originally thought this school was an elementary school that was developed through the Br. Polycarp Foundation, but I was way wrong. SPAMAST is actually a college and it is a school that deals with marine technology and aquatics, so it was very interesting and I was definitely shocked when we pulled up and I saw all college aged students. Cor Jesu helps with the first Friday Masses at the school, so we were there to provide the music and assistance wherever it was needed. It just so happened that the priest celebrating the Mass was the priest I saw get ordained on Wednesday. SPAMAST just so happened to be his second Mass to celebrate since his ordination. He really knew how to work the crowd, he tried to do his best in english when it came to his homily, but he went into the native dialect. He actually mentioned something about me not understanding and having a huge nose bleed. When a Filipino does not understand what is being said, they say "nose bleed" as if so much is coming at them that it causes their nose to bleed. It's a fun little expression. Came back to the Cor Jesu and then began to wash some clothes, which takes me forever.
The afternoon got busy for me. I had to read over the Campus Ministry information that will be published in the student handbook, I walked back and forth from the Cathedral a few times, either for office purposes or to have my confession heard. However, I did not attend the first Friday Mass at the Cathedral, but I did go with JoJo because we were going to be attending the vigil of an alumnus who died from bypass surgery who was only 30 years old. When I got to the house, the first thing that came to mind was the fact that my own brother is 30 and how I would feel if this had happened to him. What was interesting is that they family is a family I see all the time at daily Mass. I believe the father is the man I receive Communion from. Myself, JoJo, and the Hummingbirds helped with a prayer service, which I was able to lead. I feel bad though because I wasn't sure how to pronounce his name, so I had to ask JoJo when it came to pronouncing his name the first time so I wouldn't screw it up. I think the family enjoyed it and it really made me happy to see the Hummingbirds there outreaching to the community. Like I said at the beginning of this long paragraph, we played volleyball last night. There is never a dull moment in the volleyball games, you just have to be there to see for yourself.
Today was an interesting day to say the least. Last night I couldn't sleep, so I woke up tired, not wanting to go to prayer, wishing I could stay in my bed, but duties call. To my astonishment I was the only one that was awake, which made me frustrated because the two people that drive were asleep and this means that I would have to find some way to get to the monastery for Mass. Br. Dado ended up being awake and we took a tricycle to the monastery. However, trying to get a ride back was difficult, I think we ended up walking almost a mile, in our cassocks waiting for a ride. So that was sort of frustrating. Then I really got frustrated when I asked permission to accompany JoJo and some of the students to a location within Digos that will be used I guess for picture taking, but that was shot down. I wasn't in a good mood after that, I went back up to my room and just laid down. This became my reflection for the day. The more I thought about things and my time here, I started to feel bad because right now one of our aspirants is in the hospital terribly sick and here I am wanting to go do something fun since it is the weekend. I feel like I am being selfish with what I want to do with my weekends. Although I hate coming to this conclusion, but I need to stop trying to make things all about what I want while I here, but then again I am only here for a little big longer and who knows when or if I come back. All I know is that I really want to go to Eden Park to see the Philippine eagle before I leave. The day did get better, I ended up going with Br. Eli to Samal island. It's been two months since I have been there and this time around I wasn't sick and the water was a lot higher. We only stayed for a little while. In going to Samal, I actually missed a basketball game that I was suppose to play in here at Cor Jesu, hopefully we will play a few more before I leave. Time is running out and there is only a few things left that are important to see while I am here, I just hope that they come together.
I didn't blog last night because I was way too tired after the volleyball game we had, which the team I am on won again. Yesterday I went to a school called SPAMAST. Now I originally thought this school was an elementary school that was developed through the Br. Polycarp Foundation, but I was way wrong. SPAMAST is actually a college and it is a school that deals with marine technology and aquatics, so it was very interesting and I was definitely shocked when we pulled up and I saw all college aged students. Cor Jesu helps with the first Friday Masses at the school, so we were there to provide the music and assistance wherever it was needed. It just so happened that the priest celebrating the Mass was the priest I saw get ordained on Wednesday. SPAMAST just so happened to be his second Mass to celebrate since his ordination. He really knew how to work the crowd, he tried to do his best in english when it came to his homily, but he went into the native dialect. He actually mentioned something about me not understanding and having a huge nose bleed. When a Filipino does not understand what is being said, they say "nose bleed" as if so much is coming at them that it causes their nose to bleed. It's a fun little expression. Came back to the Cor Jesu and then began to wash some clothes, which takes me forever.
The afternoon got busy for me. I had to read over the Campus Ministry information that will be published in the student handbook, I walked back and forth from the Cathedral a few times, either for office purposes or to have my confession heard. However, I did not attend the first Friday Mass at the Cathedral, but I did go with JoJo because we were going to be attending the vigil of an alumnus who died from bypass surgery who was only 30 years old. When I got to the house, the first thing that came to mind was the fact that my own brother is 30 and how I would feel if this had happened to him. What was interesting is that they family is a family I see all the time at daily Mass. I believe the father is the man I receive Communion from. Myself, JoJo, and the Hummingbirds helped with a prayer service, which I was able to lead. I feel bad though because I wasn't sure how to pronounce his name, so I had to ask JoJo when it came to pronouncing his name the first time so I wouldn't screw it up. I think the family enjoyed it and it really made me happy to see the Hummingbirds there outreaching to the community. Like I said at the beginning of this long paragraph, we played volleyball last night. There is never a dull moment in the volleyball games, you just have to be there to see for yourself.
Today was an interesting day to say the least. Last night I couldn't sleep, so I woke up tired, not wanting to go to prayer, wishing I could stay in my bed, but duties call. To my astonishment I was the only one that was awake, which made me frustrated because the two people that drive were asleep and this means that I would have to find some way to get to the monastery for Mass. Br. Dado ended up being awake and we took a tricycle to the monastery. However, trying to get a ride back was difficult, I think we ended up walking almost a mile, in our cassocks waiting for a ride. So that was sort of frustrating. Then I really got frustrated when I asked permission to accompany JoJo and some of the students to a location within Digos that will be used I guess for picture taking, but that was shot down. I wasn't in a good mood after that, I went back up to my room and just laid down. This became my reflection for the day. The more I thought about things and my time here, I started to feel bad because right now one of our aspirants is in the hospital terribly sick and here I am wanting to go do something fun since it is the weekend. I feel like I am being selfish with what I want to do with my weekends. Although I hate coming to this conclusion, but I need to stop trying to make things all about what I want while I here, but then again I am only here for a little big longer and who knows when or if I come back. All I know is that I really want to go to Eden Park to see the Philippine eagle before I leave. The day did get better, I ended up going with Br. Eli to Samal island. It's been two months since I have been there and this time around I wasn't sick and the water was a lot higher. We only stayed for a little while. In going to Samal, I actually missed a basketball game that I was suppose to play in here at Cor Jesu, hopefully we will play a few more before I leave. Time is running out and there is only a few things left that are important to see while I am here, I just hope that they come together.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Here we go
So I feel as if I am slowly running out of time here. I have less than four weeks left and it is really making me sad. I have to enjoy the time that I do have left. I just know that it is going to go by super fast.
Well I wasn't able to blog last night because I was really tired. Yesterday morning was really busy. I ended up going to two Masses, one for the daily Mass, but we had forgotten that we were invited to an ordination, which we attended. The ordination was at Mary Mediatrix Cathedral. I guess they waited for that date to have the ordination since it was the feast of St. Jean Vianney. The Church was really packed, but as a religious we had reserved pews. It lasted two hours, but as any where you go, the rite is the same. However, here in the Philippines during the offertory, offerings other than the bread and the wine are brought up, like fruit, can goods, paper. However, this new priest is going to have a lot of new stuff. What else was different was the fact they let the guy address the crowd before we were dismissed, which took a little while. One thing that is hard with everything is the language. I am trying my best to learn it, but I don't have enough time to learn it. Other than that, I went to the tailor yesterday to get another shirt made. I realized that I am going to end up heading back to the states with more clothes than I actually brought with me.
Last night I had the hardest time trying to fall asleep. My air conditioner was leaking water into my room, so I was constantly up checking that, but the problem was resolved today thanks to the maintenance people here at Cor Jesu. I hung out in the Campus Ministry Office, typing up some Morning Offerings that the Brothers use here to take back to the states with me as well as prayers for the intercession of Venerable Brother Polycarp. I feel like the community I live in does not pray for the intercession of him enough. We want him to be a saint, it requires our prayers. Two words for lunch today: fried chicken! Absolutely amazing! I spent the afternoon reading some stuff on the our Rule of Life. It is important for me to try to learn as much as I can about the Rule of Life and how to best live it.
Since I wasn't playing basketball or volleyball tonight I went and hung out with the security guards. They are all really nice and I enjoy getting to know them. They really try there best at speaking english to me. I really am going to miss them all. I took a picture with some of them today, which I might have developed and give it to them to remember me by. They might not be here if I ever return here. As we were talking, they kept on saying something about a white lady here on campus. I was shocked to hear there was a white lady on campus, but come to find out the white lady refers to a ghost. Very interesting indeed! I think ghosts are really cool. Who knows what could happen here in this last month.
Well I wasn't able to blog last night because I was really tired. Yesterday morning was really busy. I ended up going to two Masses, one for the daily Mass, but we had forgotten that we were invited to an ordination, which we attended. The ordination was at Mary Mediatrix Cathedral. I guess they waited for that date to have the ordination since it was the feast of St. Jean Vianney. The Church was really packed, but as a religious we had reserved pews. It lasted two hours, but as any where you go, the rite is the same. However, here in the Philippines during the offertory, offerings other than the bread and the wine are brought up, like fruit, can goods, paper. However, this new priest is going to have a lot of new stuff. What else was different was the fact they let the guy address the crowd before we were dismissed, which took a little while. One thing that is hard with everything is the language. I am trying my best to learn it, but I don't have enough time to learn it. Other than that, I went to the tailor yesterday to get another shirt made. I realized that I am going to end up heading back to the states with more clothes than I actually brought with me.
Last night I had the hardest time trying to fall asleep. My air conditioner was leaking water into my room, so I was constantly up checking that, but the problem was resolved today thanks to the maintenance people here at Cor Jesu. I hung out in the Campus Ministry Office, typing up some Morning Offerings that the Brothers use here to take back to the states with me as well as prayers for the intercession of Venerable Brother Polycarp. I feel like the community I live in does not pray for the intercession of him enough. We want him to be a saint, it requires our prayers. Two words for lunch today: fried chicken! Absolutely amazing! I spent the afternoon reading some stuff on the our Rule of Life. It is important for me to try to learn as much as I can about the Rule of Life and how to best live it.
Since I wasn't playing basketball or volleyball tonight I went and hung out with the security guards. They are all really nice and I enjoy getting to know them. They really try there best at speaking english to me. I really am going to miss them all. I took a picture with some of them today, which I might have developed and give it to them to remember me by. They might not be here if I ever return here. As we were talking, they kept on saying something about a white lady here on campus. I was shocked to hear there was a white lady on campus, but come to find out the white lady refers to a ghost. Very interesting indeed! I think ghosts are really cool. Who knows what could happen here in this last month.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Don't interrupt, rude...
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.
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.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Holy Crap it's a Bat
Well I had something happen to me today that was a first. I was heading to Davao at like 5 a.m. to visit Br. Dan and we were driving along the road, then all of a sudden something flies in the vehicle and hits the top of my chest below my neck. I told Prince, our driver, something just hit me. We waited a second, then he turned on the lights and it was a bat, I was like holy crap it's a bat. I started to pick my feet up, I placed them on the dashboard, out of pure shock. It then hopped on the seat and flew to the back of the vehicle, I was going to hop out and open the back door, but then it flew back to the front, where I was able to kick it out of the vehicle. Man was it exciting and funny. If only I had my camera. The fun of the Philippines you never really know what is going to happen. I wonder if I could be Batman now.
Well went back into Davao as I said to check up on Br. Dan. Br. Dan's health has improved tremendously. The dengue is under control as well as his pneumonia. The doctor said that once his blood pressure gets back to normal, she is going to release him. I know that makes him happy. It was good to see his color back to normal.
Today was Br. Roger's birthday. I really thanked Br. Roger today for always willing to take me to somewhere new here in the Philippines to help increase my experience here. He even talked to his brother about taking me to a gun range to shoot a bit. Since we were in Davao all day, we got back this afternoon a couple of hours before his birthday fiesta began. It was nice to have so many of his friends here with us to share in this moment. He even asked me to lead the prayer for the blessing of the food. And of course we had videoke, why wouldn't we. Unfortunately the song selection wasn't that great, but I made it through though not the best. I have been inside now for almost an hour and they are still out there singing videoke.
I am hoping that tomorrow my schedule will go back to normal, hopefully Br. Dan will be released. I need some me time and hopefully I can make time for that tomorrow, which I should because exams start tomorrow for students here.
Well went back into Davao as I said to check up on Br. Dan. Br. Dan's health has improved tremendously. The dengue is under control as well as his pneumonia. The doctor said that once his blood pressure gets back to normal, she is going to release him. I know that makes him happy. It was good to see his color back to normal.
Today was Br. Roger's birthday. I really thanked Br. Roger today for always willing to take me to somewhere new here in the Philippines to help increase my experience here. He even talked to his brother about taking me to a gun range to shoot a bit. Since we were in Davao all day, we got back this afternoon a couple of hours before his birthday fiesta began. It was nice to have so many of his friends here with us to share in this moment. He even asked me to lead the prayer for the blessing of the food. And of course we had videoke, why wouldn't we. Unfortunately the song selection wasn't that great, but I made it through though not the best. I have been inside now for almost an hour and they are still out there singing videoke.
I am hoping that tomorrow my schedule will go back to normal, hopefully Br. Dan will be released. I need some me time and hopefully I can make time for that tomorrow, which I should because exams start tomorrow for students here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)