Newsletter n 1 of Rolandas April July First experience of Philippines

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Tiffany Scott
5 years ago
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1 Newsletter n 1 of Rolandas April July 2015 Good day! This time the newsletter about SD community life in Philippines will be a little different. It s because of me, the new volunteer, Rolandas, who has occupied the room and place of former volunteer, kuya Bruno. You may miss him and his writings, but I will try to continue his mission. My story begun, when brothers of SD community found me, the young biologist, in a little, 3 million people stowing, northern country named Lithuania. Land there was covered with ice and snow, so I was unable to rise up any plant, but brother Pim-pim as (Seraphim) told me not to worry. Since now you will grow not only the earthly plants, but much more! he said. After preparation time with br. Emmanuel I left my little SD student house community and begun a big journey to unknown land. First experience of Philippines First time I had a flight with such a huge plane! Everything was successful and I stepped my feet on the land of Philippines in Manila city. I was flooded with a warm and humid Philippine air and I realized, that winter is over. Forever. Riding a local taxi car with kuya Gerald, staff member of SD community, I felt like in a movie of good guys trying to catch a bad guys or something, because driver was so fast and crazy, that people in the street was running away, scared not to be hit. Yes, that s traffic in Manila :-). American jeepneys with 70 music and paintings, streets, crowded with lively, colorful, noisy, friendly people, greeting me with Hi Joe and looking far different from those, who live in my country. Children, crowding around to ask some questions or play some local games, which they have plenty. Coconut palms growing in the streets and beautiful sunsets. I think I felt in love with Philippines from the first beginning.

garden of local fruit trees and plan of monastery to be built in the future. All these services involve local people as well and have benefits for them.

2 Discovering Sapang Next day we arrive to Sapang village. I think you already know a lot about it from Bruno letters, but if for short, community there has a student formation house, clinic, library, bamboo workshop, farm, guest house with a big developing garden of local fruit trees and plan of monastery to be built in the future. All these services involve local people as well and have benefits for them. Also community participate in local events and initiate them as well. So, working together really has an impact for wellbeing of inhabitants of Sapang and neighbor villages. Today SD community in Philippines is really expanded, because former scholars are working in Manila, Laguna province, and other distant places of Philippines. They continue to participate in community life by prayer and action in their places. Sometimes they visit Sapang, attending events and gifting their sharing. Members in Sapang do the same. Sometimes they leave the schedule for a while to go for a mission to visit these former scholars and their families or new places to share their life and joy with Christ. Easter Camp Little by little I discovered community and involved myself to preparation to a big celebration the Holly week. Brothers Emmanuel and Seraphim came and Easter camp in Sapang begun, welcoming more

flowing from their heart! We had many games, teachings, witness, sharing, work, prayer.

3 than one hundred young people from many different places, including Talim island, Laguna province, Manila, tribal people from Laiban and even people from distant places, like Tacloban city, which had suffered from violent typhoon Yolanda in year flowing from their heart! We had many games, teachings, witness, sharing, work, prayer. Also daily mass celebrations, feet washing, cross stations on the top of the volcanic mountain Tagapo, night Vigil and Joy of resurrection. This time was fruitful. Philippine youth really have a plenty of life

Schedule Now I live together with scholars of community in formation house.

Actually we live almost the same rhythm as SD brothers in Belgium. Waking up 5.

working and studying hours and other responsibilities.

4 Schedule Now I live together with scholars of community in formation house. They help for community to develop and later community help for their studies. Actually we live almost the same rhythm as SD brothers in Belgium. Waking up 5.30 or 6, we have morning, midday and evening prayers, meditation and rosary prayers, working and studying hours and other responsibilities. We have bible studying and bible sharing. Once a week we go to neighbor village to attend a choir in the mass. On Saturday we have SD prayer, so, usually many people come to pray

and share together. Sometimes when someone in the village dies, we go to pray in that house. People there have a tradition to gather in the house of dead person.

Also we had not forgotten to visit and pray in the burial place of SD community of Philippines founder, lay missionary kuya Nick. Farm In community we have a farm.

5 and share together. Sometimes when someone in the village dies, we go to pray in that house. People there have a tradition to gather in the house of dead person. Usually almost all the village gather to pray, sing, eat, talk, and play many games for few days. Also we had not forgotten to visit and pray in the burial place of SD community of Philippines founder, lay missionary kuya Nick. Farm In community we have a farm. Before it was just a field, but now everyday it more and more looks like a real farm. We planted there many local vegetables and fruit trees. Many of them I discovered for first time. We already have there ladie s finger, eggplant, cassava, string beans, sweet potato, chilli, banana and soursop trees. It s nice to grow vegetables there, because in the future community may become more self-sufficient for its feeding needs. Everything there is growing really fast. All we need is to do some work. And we are not alone. Community got a big material (seeds, substances) and intellectual support from lecturers of Luzon university (Northern Philippines) and Catherine Touzard - sustainable development specialist from Hong Kong. Thanks to br.emmanuel and many connections that he has in Asia. Visitors gave us some knowledge. They teached us progressive strategies, gave us many advice of growing tropical vegetables. One example of improving soil was to employ earthworms for decomposing organic waste and producing fertilizer. Thanks for their sharing! We will try it practically.

6 Children camps After Holly week we had several children camps. There was one for children of Sapang. Another camps was organized by organizations Tahanan puso (Points-Cœur), Sisters of good news, Enfants du Mekong. There is really good things happening in Philippines, that children from poor families and polluted areas can come to healthy place and experience good things in relationship with God. Maybe in their life they will remember these moments of love and sharing and maybe they will follow good ways, even in hard times.

7 I m really happy to be a participant in the works of community. There is never too much of transferring faith and love of God to others! I hope to learn more of that. Thanks for reading. May God bless you! + Thank you for your prayers!

Rueben is not supposed to be here. At the age 10, however, he was given a choice that would ultimately shape his destiny. His choice was simple: stay

Rueben is not supposed to be here. At the age 10, however, he was given a choice that would ultimately shape his destiny. His choice was simple: stay with his family or leave them behind and move to Tacloban