My Decision to Enter IFFA

My one-month stay at IFFA and in the Philippines has been a great time of confronting myself in the deepest core of my being. I have always asked God why I have to stay here. Was my decision to come here right or wrong? In front of all these questions, God spoke to me, and I too spoke to my inner being; I need to decide to be here and not anywhere else. If I am here, then there must be a reason. Since then, I have tried my best to integrate myself in the processes of IFFA and that of my friends.

Now I feel very much satisfied with my decision. I feel happy living in IFFA. I have many new friends, who come from different cultural backgrounds in Asia. Despite our differences, I can dare say that we have a lot in common, the Asian-ness of our culture and way of life. Day by day, we continue to appreciate and understand each other more than before in the sessions and the activities we do at IFFA and at SVST. In each session, I learn many meaningful things. These help me to adjust and transform myself in many different ways, and always for the better.

Mary Thanh Thao, Vietnam
IFFAsia

You can read Mary's whole testimony, and other related articles in Asian Hearts Speak - Sept 2009.

Encountering My Father

My prayer life begins to consume every part of my life with God. I always ask Him for his guidance before I speak or in any decision that I want to make. I give Him full control of my life. He is ever present in my mind and heart. For me, the reality of prayer is really the fruit of faith. As I look back, there are moments when I pray and ask God for a lot of things, but when I receive them I am dissatisfied. Sometimes, I receive a sweet gift, but sometimes it turns out to be bitter. I get disappointed, and I tend to think that maybe God doesn’t know what I want. As time passes by, I come to realise that God, indeed, knows my needs. He may not give me there and then when I ask, but He surely does know what is best and when is the best time for it.

Prayer is really my energy source in all that I do. Sometimes, my human weakness gets hold of the best of me, and I feel lazy and tired, and I seem not able to concentrate during prayer. Yet my only consolation is my trust that God understands. I feel that in order to have a good relationship with God I need to learn to let go of my worries and just simply trust. I have a wonderful experience each time I meet God in prayer. I speak to Him first and He listens. Next, He speaks and I listen as his daughter. And the last step is where we both wrap ourselves in the silence of each other. I look forward to encountering my Father everyday in all that I do.

Theresa Hoang Anh, Vietnam
IFFAsia

You can also read Theresa's testimony, and other related articles in Asian Hearts Speak - Sept 2009.

Asian Hearts Speak - Sept 2009

We're happy to share with you the initial issue of Asian Hearts Speak, the newsletter of the Institute of Formation, Fondacio Asia. Please read on and learn more about our institute and its students.
IFFAsia - Asian Hearts Speak - Sept 2009