I will be a mother? Oh, no!

Aleona (in green shirt) with the new Batch 6 students

“And now, you will conceive in your womb…” (Luke 1:31)
“How can this be, since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34)

As I start my mission and accept my responsibility as an intern in IFFAsia, this Bible text reminds me of my situation today. I am the head of a household where I am entrusted to take good care of six beautiful ladies from different countries in Asia. Two of them come from Laos, and one each from China, Mongolia, Myanmar, and Malaysia. I will be their temporary mother for 10 – 11 months of their formation at IFFAsia. A 24-year-old young lady like me taking good care of these young ladies? I became an instant mother. Now, I can relate with Mary when she had her first call.

As I reflect on my situation, I find it funny how God planned everything when I said yes to His call for me to be an intern. At first, I didn’t know what will be my assigned task; I just accepted the call. I find it funny because my greatest dream is just simply to be a mother. I desire to have my own family in the future. As I am reaching out for my dream, God is already preparing me for this through my mission. Amazing, isn’t it? I will have a taste of how it will be. However, it is far different than usual because my “children” are all grown up, with almost the same age as me - 22 – 26 years old.

My mission is a bit tiring because I need to be with them always. The household is a place where we build a small family. I take part in the daily tasks like cooking, dishwashing or cleaning our home. When we are in sessions, I am their sister who will assist them with their needs. When they start their studies at Saint Vincent School of Theology (SVST) this June, I will be their classmate in one of their subjects. When they need a person to share, play, go with, I can be their friend. Every day, we eat, clean, cook, pray, and study together; this is almost the same as when I was a student last year, but I had different responsibilities. I must also set a good example for them, and it is not easy. I keep on asking myself, how can I accompany these young people, hoping that in the end they will be good disciples of Jesus? I just started less than a month ago (May 8, 2011), and it is my first time to do it.

It will not be easy for me; however I am still happy because I have my community to journey with me. During my mission I won’t only give, but will also receive. I will learn from the students how to be a good mother, sister, friend and classmate. This will also be a place where I can continue my personal formation and deepen my relationship with God. My objective this year is to let my heart be filled with God’s love as I continue my love story with him. And as love overflows in my heart, I will share it with others. I will keep on reminding myself of my call every time I struggle.

Aside from that, my prayer life helps me a lot to have a peaceful, happy and good disposition in spite of my busy day. I try my best to set a time for prayer every morning before I start my tasks, and for journaling of my reflections before I sleep. It is not easy, but it is helping me to have strength to go on throughout the day.

Yes! I will be a mother, sister, friend, and classmate for them, not only for the 6 ladies in my household, but for the 13 young disciples in Asia. I will do my best! “Let it be done with me according to your will.” (Luke 1:38)

Aleona Natalio belonged to Batch 5 (school year 2010-2011) of the Basic Formation Program at IFFAsia. This year, she continues to be at the Institute as an intern. One of her tasks is to be responsible of one of two households of students belonging to the incoming Batch 6 (schoolyear 2011-2012). This is her reflection on her new mission.

Two Poems

THE LOVE OF MY LIFE

When I was alone
          You made me know the love of my friends;
When I was cold
          You gave me your warmth;
When I was angry
          You sat down and listened to me;
When I was disappointed
          You brought to me Your hope;
When I fell down
          You picked me up;
Every moment, everywhere,
          You are always with me.

The love of You, now I know;
          it is the smiles of the children,
          it is the hands of my friends that helped me to stand up,
          it is the arms that embraced me when I was sad,
          it is my friends who always walk with me,
          it is my family where I can go back to every time.
Your love is everywhere I go,
                   everyone I meet,
                   everything I do,
                   every moment I spend.

Thank you for Your love;
          because of Your love,
          I want to give love to others,
                     to help others feel Your love in them.
And I know I can’t do it alone,
                  I need the help of others,
                  I need my friends and I need You.
I want to share what happened to me,
                          what changed in me,
           to help the youth to know
                      who You are and what You do,
           to bring You closer to them.

Lord, You are the Love of my life,
                      the Way I should go,
                      the Truth I should speak,
                      the Light I should shine.
Lead me in my mission
        to be a witness to others
                 through my daily life.

I NEED YOU, LORD

Sometimes I was excited
          with the new things
          that I discovered;
          I wanted to do many things.
And I was tired.
          I called God
                    and got angry with Him;
          I asked Him
                    why I have to do all.
          But I forgot
                    it was my choice,
                    I did not listen to Him.
I focused on what I wanted to do;
I forgot God.
I forgot He walked with me,
              He talked with me.
But I did not see Him,
      I did not hear Him.
I was confident in what I did,
          I thought everything I did for God.
But I did not know
          when I forgot God’s presence,
          I did for myself
                    more than I did for God.
I was proud of myself.

Now I think
          I have to stop,
          go down to take the time
          to feel and look at
                    the life around slowly,
          to see both sides of the situation,
          to find out the needs
                    of the people
                              and of God.

Yes, Lord,
          I need to stop,
          I need to go back,
          I need You to lead me,
                     You to teach me how to do.
          From that I will do my mission
                    with You and through Your Name.

Mary Thanh Thao, from Vietnam, belonged to Batch 4 of the Basic Formation Program of IFFAsia. She is currently a junior trainer of the Eucharistic Youth Movement, at the same time working at the Pastoral Center of the Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh. The poems she wrote were the fruits of her reflection during her maranatha retreat in 2010.

IFFAsia Launches School Year 2011 - 2012

A Courtship with God

“How beautiful you are my love, how very beautiful!” (Song of Solomon 4:1)

This is my Bible text for the year. God is affirming my beauty as a person. Letting me know that I am His beloved. Saying that I am special, a gift that needs to be opened for others.

As I finished my Basic Formation at IFFAsia, the most crucial part was my discernment, where I needed to decide which path I will choose in line with His will for me. I had three choices in front of me: 1) to be an intern at IFFAsia; 2) to serve in the Youth Development Center (YDC), a social development project of Fondacio Philippines for the youth of Payatas; and 3) to be part of the Youth Ministry in Ina ng Lupang Pangako Parish in Payatas.

It had been two months of discernment. Last January, God opened the door of the Youth Ministry while we were having our Youth Ministry Module. I saw the advantages if I choose to work there. I can apply what I learned, stay closer to my family and it will challenge me. It is certainly a place to grow.

Last January 17, 2011, we went to Sabah, Malaysia, for our one-month Mission Project. In the Diocese of Keningau, God opened another door, the path to YDC. It was a very clear message. While doing mission in YDC, I will be able to stay, and spend more time, with my family, and do mission there also. This message convinced me and I decided to choose YDC.

I went to the Adoration Chapel in the Tatal Retreat House in Keningau where we were staying. I prayed fervently for my choice, asking for His guidance and listening for His answer. In silence, the word IFFAsia appeared vividly in my vision. I was so sad and refused to accept this answer. I was worried that I may not be able to do my mission in my family if I chose to be in IFFAsia because I will have to stay there 24/7. I can only go home once a week. It has been very difficult for me to answer this call.

As we continued our journey in the Diocese of Sandakan, the eastern region of Sabah, I was struggling to accept my new mission. I needed to ask signs from Him to make sure that this is what He wanted for me. And he showed me many signs from other people, so I continued praying about it until our closing retreat back in the Philippines. I was able to see the reasons why I needed to be an intern in IFFAsia. I’m still halfway into my personal transformation, and I needed to continue my love story with God. I know IFFAsia is the right place to help me through this. I also need to improve my social and pastoral skills and to know Him deeper as I grow in my faith.

As I say “YES” again to His call, I will continue my love story with Him as He proposes to court me this year. This is a year of getting to know Him more deeply and accepting the love He offers me despite my own limitations. It is a time to let His love flow. As I journey as an intern in IFFAsia, I will let my heart be filled with His love and share this with others.

Aleona (left), with Roselinah and Chieko

Aleona Natalio, from Payatas, Philippines, was part of Batch 5 of the Basic Formation Program at IFFAsia last year. This year, she committed to a two-year internship at the Institute. Here, she writes about her reflection on the discernment she made to say “yes” to this call of God for her life today.

Helping Build Youth Leaders in Laos

Last May 14-15, 2011, 39 active youth leaders from the different parishes in the Savannakhet-Thakhek Diocese came together for the first Youth Leadership camp. This was facilitated by Baow, Hiew and Fr. Lo (Youth Office, CBCLC).

The 2-day camp focused on the attitudes and qualities of a good leader. The participants also looked at the dreams they have for themselves, as well as for their particular youth groups. The process involved some inputs, group sharings, games and similar activities.

This leadership camp, which will be a monthly event, hopes to make the leader-participants more active in their own parishes, establish connection with each other and follow-up on fruits of parish activities, help them understand about faith and about how to be leaders, and make them more aware of the situation of the youth in their own parishes. The participants will also learn about making plans for their groups.

Baow and Hiew, both from the 5th Batch of IFFAsia’s Basic Formation Program, will be taking turns planning and preparing for these monthly Youth Leadership camps.

Other activities are being scheduled in the Diocese this June, including an English camp for the youth in the center, and a retreat for the youth leaders.

We thank God for the blessing so that this camp can push through. And we thank all those who continue to pray with and for us.

Baow, Laos
(Batch 5, IFFAsia Basic Formation Program)

After completing his basic formation last March 2011, Baow has since gone back home to Laos to fulfill his 2-year commitment on the ground by working for the youth in his Diocese. Last April 2 – 8, 2011, he became part of the mission group sent by Fondacio Asia Youth Pastoral to Cambodia, which facilitated a Leadership Training Program for potential young leaders coming from the Vicariate of Phnom Penh. He now shares this new experience by facilitating similar camps for the youth leaders of his Diocese.