I am UMYF @ Fairview Park United Methodist Church

The LUMC-UMYF participants and I

Unexpectedly, the Lagro United Methodist Youth tagged me along to their activity at the Fairview United Methodist Church last Saturday night. The activity was a fund raising activity for this year’s Manila Episcopal Area wide Christmas Institute. It was entitled “I am UMYF”.

[The “Christmas Institute” is an annual activity of the United Methodist Youth Fellowship aiming to fructify or refresh the spiritual life of the young people in church and strengthen their faith in God. They do it yearly during Christmas break so thus it is dubbed as Christmas Institute.]

We performed a medley of worship songs as our contribution for the activity. Other participants from different Methodist churches performed as well like the Del Monte UMC youth who played violins and hand bells as they serenaded the audience while they dine.

It was nice to perform with the youth. It made me feel like a youth again and I’d always be.

"Songs of Salvation" the Concert @ the Lagro United Methodist Church

"Songs of Salvation" concert participants
 

For the past two weeks, we had been practicing for our youth’s concert, “Songs of Salvation”. Last night was the big night as the performances unfolded. The Lagro United Methodist Church youth and praise band presented a medley of spiritual songs and dances together with the youth groups from our two mission points at the Spring of Life (Palmera-Pitong Bahay) and Pangarap Village.

“Songs of Salvation” also showcased a drama through music and dance, and a black theater presentation, which messages centered on the value of having a solid faith-relationship with Christ. It highlights the fact that apart from Jesus we can do nothing. The concert celebrated the love and salvation by grace through Christ alone.

The Village United Methodist Church praise band led the “praise and worship” and Rev. Orlino Veron preached the message. Bro. John Paul Luna, gave a testimony about the value of Bible Study in the life of young and growing people, and how it had changed his life.

 The concert ended with a sort of candle lighting ceremony. While the worship leader sang, he passed the light down to each of the youth holding a small candle encircling the people inside the church. It aimed to symbolize how the light of Jesus should spread through the lives of each youth that profess that Jesus is his Lord and God.

It was a great concert for the Lord Jesus Christ. I'd like to acknowledge the able leadership of the UMYF President, Trixie and band leader Aaron. Also Elijah, Rozenne, youth leaders in the mission groups and the never ending support of the church leaders and youth advisers, Ghen, Sally and deaconess Roselle.

May God's name be praised and exalted in the midst of His people forever and ever, Amen. 

A Tribute to the Elderly: Church Outreach Ministry- Part IV

inside SM Mall of Asia

Mom with Lior

  

Our next stop was at the SM Mall of Asia. The last time we went there was three years ago and Dad was still with us. Mom and the other elderly boarded a mobile cart to take them to the nearest elevator. It would be effortful for them to walk the distance especially for Mom. It wasn’t like at the Manila Ocean Park where she rode a wheel chair. It was nice that Ghen, Sally and Anabelle were alternately guiding her by the hand.

Mom & I with Ghen, Sally; Anabelle w/ Ate Beks at the background

We went there to have our snack at Razon’s at the second floor. We had a luscious halu-halo (a Filipino dessert) treat with small cheesy ensaymadas (bread with cheese and sugar toppings) on the side. Sally and I even put some cheese in our (halu-halo) dessert for an added taste. Everybody had a great snack.

Afterwards, it was time to go home. We took a little walk toward the Bayview side of SM-MOA where we could board an elevator. Kuya Danny was pushing my wheel chair so I got there ahead of everybody. I had a good view of the Manila Bay sunset although it was a little cloudy that day. Unfortunately, I did not have a camera so I failed to capture the sight.

Soon as the others got there, we left through the elevator.

We got tied in a traffic jam on our way back to Lagro. It took us almost two hours or more on the road so, they decided to stop over “Jollibee” (a fast food restaurant) to have our dinner first. Although, mom and I just decided to stay in the van while the others went inside. They just brought us burger steaks and drinks.

It was a great day. Mom enjoyed it so much. I hope we could do it again next year.

A Tribute to the Elderly: Church Outreach Ministry- Part III

 After the “Dancing Jellies”, we went to “Kulturang Pinoy” just beside “Boom na Boom” (a famous carnival) near Diosdado Macapagal Avenue.

It was a new treat for me and mom. I hoped dad was still with us. The structure was a typical nipa hut and at the entrance, we were greeted with ethnic music. After the warm welcome, the guide led us to the last room at the right side where they asked our group to dance some ethnic dances of the country. Pastor Orly, Ate Annie , Ate Anabelle and Tito Noni were the first who were brave to perform the dances. Sally joined too. Their performance was caught in video. It was great fun! 

After that, we went to another room on the other side of the area. It was a video room where we watched a very moving video about the life of elderly people, the hardships that they face and experience in their old age and their appeal to their children to understand what they are going through. Everybody was in tears as the movie ended.

 

We left after that and boarded our vehicles again. We were going to SM Mall of Asia.

A Tribute to the Elderly: Church Outreach Ministry- Part II

Next stop was the “Dancing Jellies”. It was at the western side  of the Manila Ocean Park if you’re facing the bay.  It was a large, dark room surrounded by thick glass aquariums on the walls. 

There were different species of jellyfish swimming and floating inside those colorful aquariums. The alternate lighting pattern of red, green and blue on each aquarium enhanced the exquisiteness of the scenes as the transparent body of the jellies absorb the lights.

However, the most memorable and fascinating part was at the last section of the dark room where there were glass columns, around three in all, filled with dancing jellyfish while colorful lights also dance in each column. Then, the section was surrounded by mirror walls, which caused the area to look so big. It was such a fascinating illusion! I’d never enjoyed being in darkness that much!

Too bad, I had no camera...  

Perhaps, it was a good place for kids to see but even adults can appreciate  a wonder of nature in the lives of jellies. They may be very small and might look very insignificant, but they could be very dangerous and deadly too. 

Looking at them inside those aquariums can move us to appreciate the wonder of God's creation....

looking on at the jellies

A Tribute to the Elderly: Church Outreach Ministry

A short devotion before leaving the church

Every year, our church (the Lagro United Methodist Church) is giving tribute to the elderly members by treating them out. This year, the group went to the Manila Ocean Park, “Kulturang Pinoy” at Boom na Boom and a halo-halo treat at SM Mall of Asia. I went with mom.

Group Picture inside the Manila Ocean Park

First stop was Manila Ocean Park. It was our first time. At first, I was a bit worried for mom because it was a large area and it would be difficult to walk around for her. I had no problem because I was on a wheel chair. The group stopped at the gate for a while the “elder assistants” (what a term) went ahead. I was relieved to see Ghen, who was assisting mom coming back with a wheel chair for mom. It was great! People can borrow a wheel chair inside for free! They only need to present an ID.

Mom and I at the Manila Ocean Park bayview

We had lunch first then we started going around. We went out to the bayside where we had a good look at the Manila Bay. Ghen pushed my wheel chair and Sally pushed mom’s.  It was just sad that I didn’t have my own camera that time. My phone’s camera was broken. I even noticed what seemed to be a floating kitchen under the piers of the building. It was surprising how people can be very resourceful with their lives. After a conversation about “calling” and “God’s plan”, we went back inside to join the others.

at the Sharks

Then, we went to see the Oceanarium. I felt excited ‘cause I’d been seeing it on TV shows but for sure, it would be different up close and personal. Indeed, it was a wonderful experience to see rare animal life like sharks, sting rays and different kinds of deep sea fish especially the huge tunnel-like aquarium where you can see  different fish-species and sting rays swimming around and above you. Although, it was not as big as I thought. Mom loved it! She would want to go there again if possible.

The place is convenient for mom. I hope we can go there again. Actually, we were suppose to watch the musical fountain show but it would start at 6pm so it would be too long to wait for it. Ate Becks just decided to reserve it for the next time. Hope it would be soon, hehehe...

Last stop inside the Oceanarium