Three events took place for the past month, aside
from SSA and CoH HIV workshop, for the first time our team has conducted a team
building for the Senior High School teachers of this university in Manila.
Since I have obeyed the Lord in sharing how His
grace has been and still keeping me with my SSA struggle in late 2013, this
particular workshop I have facilitated for this particular church in
Mandaluyong was the best so far. Not only the participants were very engaged
from the beginning till the end but also I have noticed how comfortable I have
become with being honest and open about realities in this battle. People were so blessed to understand the
reality of SSA, however; more and more people are coming to me to reveal that
they have known someone close to them, either a family or relative, who is also
living with HIV. In my first year of doing this seminar, this has never
happened before, only until the last few workshops I have conducted including
the latest one in Malate. Truly HIV is getting bigger in this country and is
actually inside the church community.
In connection with HIV, four facilitators from the
first batch of Channels of Hope, myself included, have conducted a two and a
half day workshop at Iloilo City. What so amazing that happened was … two
participants who are working already in the advocacy felt blessed and grateful
that they were moved to share voluntarily their personal experiences as persons
living with HIV to the whole group during the closing ceremony! What a blessing
indeed to all of us!
Another wonderful thing that took place was when
the Amara team has facilitated for the first time a team building activity for
the staff and teachers of the Senior High school department of this university.
We have sensed, as a team, that this group just has simply wanted to enjoy this
beautiful resort and beach of Laiya, Batangas before the class starts that they
have asked us a few times to cut short the program. Although we agreed, we have
decided to give our best and make the most of the time allocated to us. However,
they were able to enjoy virtually every part of the three activities we have
prepared, especially the last one, that they have extended the time and asked
for an extra session the following morning! Truly a psycho-spiritual /
psycho-social activity never fails to touch a certain part of the hearts of the
participants. Moreover, they have expressed their interest of getting us again
for the future similar or related activities … what an affirmation of God’s
good work through us, and a blessing at the same time!
While these things are personal to me, on the more
personal side, I have submitted two book proposals to two publishing companies
in the midst of writing the articles I have mentioned from my previous entry.
My prayer is that the “Embracing the Pain” would be published first as soon as
possible as an introductory book for me as a new writer prior to my first
testimonial book and articles. Presently, I am in the midst of writing my fifth
of the seven articles so please continue to pray for me as I do all these
God-glorifying works, which definitely would make me a “target” of the enemy …
as He always do. But no matter what happens, no matter how much I struggle, no
matter how many times I fail or got victorious, one thing is for sure …there is
no turning back. The more I stay in this journey the more it is becoming
clearer that I cannot live without Jesus as I travail the tapestry of this
odyssey on earth called life.
Praise the Lord for everything as in everything!
Shalom!
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