News Flash on Mission Project in Vietnam/Cambodia

THE JOURNEY OF FAITH WITH THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE
Starting the journey by coming home

Early morning of Oct 5th, 2013, the group of IFFAsia students and staff started our journey by entering the land of Vietnam.
We were warmly welcomed in the Parish of Fr. Joseph Tuan (Responsible of Children Ministry of Saigon Diocese, Chaplain of Eucharistic Youth Movement).

We could feel how much we were treated as a family and how much the church today is open to receive us. We are touched by their generosity to open the parish to us, to take care of all our needs without any condition.

Although we have different nationalities but we create a common unity that builds a community.

“They were so kind to us and would really accompany us whenever we needed. Sometimes, unexpectedly, they would just lend a hand for us.” – Jhimus (Philippines)

Witnessing Vietnam Church today
We’ve witnessed a very active and dynamic faith and church life in Vietnam. We saw how the people value their faith and participate actively in the church life. They have a systematic way of building the faith integrated in the person’s life. They make sure that the foundation is built from a young age as seen in the Sunday catechism classes.

The Youth encounter had been a good time to share and discover the life of young people in Vietnam.

“ I was amazed by the spirit of volunteerism of the people who are really actively participating in church activities.” – Evelyn (Malaysia)

“These people are young professionals and some are very young and committed.” – Angela

“Changes start from within”
Meeting also the NGO’s like Initiatives of Changes (IofC), One Body Village and the Businessmen Group showed us how to live mission and affect change in the society- no matter how small the step or action could be. The most important is the faithfulness to take the little steps. “Change start from within.” “Be a voice – lend a hand. Make a difference – Save a life” – a slogan from One Body Village that called us deeply.

“I was able to see weakness that I am not so aware of, that brings such impact on to the society. This experience helps me to be part of starting changes. Start the changes from me.” – Tugso (Mongolia)
“Before this I am easy to give up and often time run away from God. I cannot carry my cross, especially when I have any problem, I always complain to God. But today, I understand God loves me and always calls me to be joyful in God’s power.” – Evelyn (Malaysia)

“I was so afraid of taking the risk for my life. I felt that I have so many things that I cannot balance or handle anymore. Sometimes, it becomes so heavy for me. The time with IOfC, It encourages me to make change for my life. The opportunity is there.” – Suong (Vietnam)

“I am fully aware that I am on a mission, and I can’t contain myself on being the way I was, I should respect other’s culture and belief, I must put more effort to be more flexible, adaptive and interactive to the new community I am engaging with. I am not in my own world now, this is the new world I am dealing with, the world for understanding, world full of respect and compassion to one another and the world with sustainable peace and equality.” – Angela (Philippines)

Time with students’ family
We also spent a good time meeting the family of the students. Parents were very grateful of the changes they have seen in their children. What was also important in all these meetings and encounter was the witness we gave as Institute, the witness of the students of their transformation because of the formation… no matter how small it maybe when put together becomes a bright flame of witnessing God’s transforming love and action in our life.

As we ended the first part of Mission Project in Vietnam…
… what was strong are the words… ”we have pitched the flag of mission in Vietnam as Fondacio” and with the Church welcoming and ready to collaborate with us. We have proven ourselves as an Institute, in our sincerity to form their young lay leaders for the building and the moving forward of the church in Vietnam which today they are seeing the fruits of the difference they are making in the church and society. They are now more open to collaborate with us in whatever mission we are called to respond to in Vietnam.

Initiatives of Change (IofC) is a world-wide movement of people of diverse cultures and backgrounds, who are committed to the transformation of society through changes in human motives and behaviour, starting with their own, in the areas of trust – building, ethical leadership and sustainable living.

One Body Village (OBV) is an Organization which its vision mission are: To combat human sex trafficking in developing countries; to provide at risk children and survivors with shelter, medical and behavioural health care, educational assistance, and vocational training to improve their future.

IFFAsia Mission Project 2012

Trusting in the Divine Providence of God with the spirit of going beyond...

Dear Friends,

Greetings to you all and Happy Valentine's Day!

We would like to share with you what’s going on in the current IFFAsia Mission Project 2012, here at SEARSOLIN, College of Agriculture of Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro.

SEARSOLIN stands for South East Asia Rural Social Leadership Institute. It is one of the outreach units of Xavier University and a training center dedicated to the formation of socially committed and competent leaders in the struggle for poverty alleviation and holistic human development. As an international center of learning, it caters to a wide range of diverse cultural and religious traditions in Asia, Pacific and Africa. It further aspires for a just social order, where respect for human dignity, deference of various religious beliefs, equitable distribution of wealth and care of the bounty of the earth prevail.

IFFAsia students and interns at SEARSOLIN, with Ms. Rachel Polestico, SEARSOLIN Executive Director (4th from right, front row), and Mr. Abraham Chongo, IFFAsia Mission Project Coordinator(1st from left, front row).

The students and staff of IFFAsia arrived in Cagayan de Oro on February 4, 2012 for their Technical and Skills Training. This is being done through classroom sessions, lectures and inputs from various practitioners within their own fields of expertise. A big part of these inputs are very much grounded in visits and exposures/immersions to various community initiatives in the area. Students and staff had an opportunity to visit the victims or survivors of the SENDONG typhoon, in the places affected. They also went to the relocation sites where these people have been provided with temporary shelters/tents. At this point in time, we can only say, it has really been a God-filled experience of last week.

One may want to ask, why Cagayan de Oro, and particularly SEARSOLIN? As we have mentioned earlier on, we have been moved by the Leadership Training Program of SEARSOLIN. It is a program which facilitates change and promotion of the welfare for the emerging rural communities. As a school of discipleship for young adults and professionals in Asia and society, IFFAsia regards itself as being at the service of local churches and communities. It strives to form the young adults/professionals as leaders for a renewed Church in Asia to become actively involved in the affairs of the church and civil society. IFFAsia envisions itself to be a hub of formation for laity in Asia. Its mandate is to transmit the needed knowledge and skills for effective ministry. At the same time instilling values and attitudes that can help to empower young adults and pastoral workers to become responsible leaders, capable of taking on initiatives for church renewal in Asia. Concretely, it simply means putting in place measures that put focus on quality program for excellence.

Having looked at the vision and programs of SEARSOLIN against that of IFFAsia, it became evident that these can be mutually enriching for both institutes. With this in mind, a program (Module) was designed with the theme or focus on: Building Entrepreneurship for Social Pastoral and Development Practitioners. The module aims to equip students and staff with the knowledge and skills needed in the promotion and development of micro-enterprise, marketing, management and micro-finance.

Students and staff, on the banks of the Cagayan de Oro River, offer prayers for all those affected by the Sendong typhoon, which caused massive flooding in a large part of the city last Dec., 2011.

At the end of this intensive course, students are expected to come up with two major outputs. The first is the Business Plan for a particular community (where they are being exposed), stipulating what steps they will take to initiate and implement this business venture. The second is the Social Development Action Plan (SEDAP). This is a proposal plan which will address the question of “what” each of the students intends to do when they go back home to their own countries and “where” (specific place) they intend to carry out these projects.

So far, the students have started exploring self-help financing schemes in support of new or existing micro-enterprises and other income-generating projects within the community. As part of a measure and strategy that help the learning groups to experience and see in action how enterprising people can be, the students were exposed to the present situation of the recent SENDONG calamity that took place in Cagayan de Oro. To help IFF Asia students and staff have a hands-on-experience of the impact of the tragedy, a “Sendong Tour” was organized. This tour gave students a wider perspective of how enterprising people can be even times of great calamity like, people have found a reason to strive more for a meaningful life. Micro-enterprise and Micro-finance are indeed a strategy and modality for survival and livelihood for communities in a recovery situation.

With this in mind, we invite you to journey with us as we continue to learn from local people and the SEARSOLIN community on what it means to be Social Development and Pastoral Micro-finance Entrepreneurs. We ask for your prayers, support and contributions in any way you can toward this year’s mission project. This is a big contribution to our formation program cost. It is also our way of sharing and being in solidarity with our local people out here.

The group having fun after finishing a community survey in Cabula (a local area affected by the recent flooding in the city), part of the requirements in their course.

We will be updating you on a day-to-day basis about the wonders the Lord is doing in these young people from all parts of Asia. God bless you and make you fruitful, generous and cheerful givers of life.

Abraham S. Chongo
Mission Project Coordinator, IFFAsia

We continue to appeal for your support for the project. For financial contributions, please email us at ifa.fondacio@gmail.com.

Progress on IFFAsia Mission Project in Sandakan

Sandakan : The second phase of the 12-day IFFAsia Mission Project held here in the St Mary's Cathedral Parish entered its 7th day today, 7th February 2011. Participants, students, interns, staff and volunteers of IFFAsia were kept on schedule with pastoral and social activities preplanned for them.

Read the whole story in NEWSUPDATE ~ Diocese of Sandakan.

What is it for me?

Wilfred James finished Basic Formation at IFFAsia in 2008. Since then, he has gone back to his diocese in Keningau, Sabah to serve the local Church. He is currently working for the Youth Commission of the Diocese of Keningau.

James writes about his latest encounter with IFFAsia students and staff during the group's visit to the diocese as part of the students' mission project.

Two weeks..among the students..interns...staff and local participants..like what Baow said to me .. That I sometimes bad..sometimes good..most of the time being nice...hehe i guess i overly praised my self..hehe..

Okay back to the mission...thanks to IFFAsia for your coming to Keningau...you dare to dream..dare to take risk... in taking part in the growing of young people in Asia... it is not an easy task! To prepare young leaders for the Church in Asia...most of the students are full of energy and some brought together with them their wildest and craziest dream to IFFAsia...to mold that motives..to polish it...just not easy task...but your dare, dare to be with the young and be part of their growth is an effort must be given standing ovation

Your coming to Keningau, once again convince me that you still the right place for young leader to be form...and Christ is really working in you...just like what Majar has shared.." I see Jesus in each one of them" I believe many of our young people in Keningau were touched by your presence. For this..I personally would like to thank IFFAsia for taking the initiative to come to Keningau and give life to our young people in Keningau.

Read the rest of James' story.


Related stories:
(Update 4) Mission Journey in Keningau
(Update 3) Mission Journey in Kota Kinabalu
(Update 2) A "One-Stop Youth Centre" Hopes to Assist Homeless Youth in the City
(Update 1) Empowering Asian Youth Leaders Through Dialogue
Foster Family for students, interns and staff of IFFAsia

IFFAsia Mission Project 2011 (Update 4)

(Full video of IFFAsia Journey in Keningau, Sabah)

http://www.facebook.com/#!/video/video.php?v=10150096453923701&comments

My Faith

How well do you know your faith?

A question that made me reflect

I am in a Formation for Discipleship

But as the session continues

I realised that I only know less

I studied basic theology But when someone asked

Have you been saved? I cannot answer immediately
Do I really know my faith? I am ashamed to God and myself

How can I evangelise? I cannot give what I don’t have

It was a great awakening To know where am I standing?

Could I’ll be one of the people Who will be easily converted?

I am afraid I am not I still have time to know more my faith

And continue doing it to my Lord

You! How big is your faith? Can you defend well your faith?

Can you stand for your faith? Yes, I can! I my little ways

At least I am trying to make a difference

By Aleona Natalio

This is the Inspiration of Aleona, IFFAsia Student from Philippines after the presentation of Mr. Martin Jalleh on the issue of how Media is influencing the young people through out the world and how's the Good Values of life and family being challenged by the modernisation today. Can young people still stand strong on their faith today?

Kindly follow the link above for a 13 minutes video, The journey of IFFAsia team in the Diocese of Keningau, and somehow you may find the answer. We hope to share the blessings, faith, hope and Love with you all. Thank you for journeying with us in your way.

We continue this mission journey to the Diocese of Sandakan on 1st February 2011.

Related stories:
(Update 3) Mission Journey in Kota Kinabalu
(Update 2) A "One-Stop Youth Centre" Hopes to Assist Homeless Youth in the City
(Update 1) Empowering Asian Youth Leaders Through Dialogue
Foster Family for students, interns and staff of IFFAsia

IFFAsia Mission Project 2011 (Update 3)

(Kindly drop in message if you are not able to view the video. Or you may follow the link below in facebook. Thanks. http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150095292658701)


Related stories:
(Update 2) A "One-Stop Youth Centre" Hopes to Assist Homeless Youth in the City
(Update 1) Empowering Asian Youth Leaders Through Dialogue
Foster Family for students, interns and staff of IFFAsia

IFFAsia Mission Project 2011 (Update 2)

A “one-stop youth centre” hopes to assist homeless youth in the city

Kota Kinabalu – The Church in Sabah has conceptualised the latest “one-stop youth centre” to assist the numerous youth who leave home for the first time and eventually become homeless in big cities like Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

Dominic Lim, executive secretary of the Archdiocesan Secretariat of Kota Kinabalu shared, it was reported in local newspaper that around thousands of Sabah youth, who went to West Malaysia and Singapore for living and studies, ended up homeless and sleeping on the streets.

He said that Malaysian government statistics show that Sabah is the poorest state in the whole country. Thus, many people, especially the youth from the rural areas are migrating to the city without proper preparation, and most of them are shocked by the cultural differences, and their competency is challenged by the city people.

He added that due to the lack of faith conviction, Catholic youth are easily converted to other religions, usually Islam, and the number of conversion is rapidly increasing today.

Lim shared this information with the students of Institute of Formation, Fondacio Asia (IFFAsia) during the first leg of their mission project in Sabah.

In order to prevent the above situation from becoming worse, the Church is trying many ways, such as organising camps and seminars to create awareness among the young people. The latest development is partnering with some NGOs to set up one-stop youth centres.

Mary Ann Baltazar is a volunteer of Youth-Prep Centre (YPC). She shared with IFFAsia that YPC is a centre that is not bounded by religion, aiming to provide a “point of reference” to the youth, particularly those who are deciding to leave home for the first time.

She said, “All the services that we provide here, including computer and internet service, legal advice, counseling, etc., are all free of charge for them. All we hope for is their best because our vision is ‘One person is of more value than the whole world”.

YPC is managed by the Youth Services of Pusat Kebajikan Good Shepherd (PKGS) in Kota Kinabalu. PKGS has been actively involved with rural and suburban youth since 2005 through its YouthPREPLink programme. The establishment of the centre is a corporate social responsibility project of the Sabah Credit Corporation in partnership with PKGS.

The centre started its services in March 2010. It is a youth drop-in centre which provides a safe place for the youth to seek professional assistance and support on issues which matter most to them - education, relationships, work, family, financial stability, and ultimately, a better future.

Rodrigo B. Babiera Jr., 22, a Filipino intern of IFFAsia, shared that his community in the Philippines set up a Youth Development Centre in Payatas five years ago. Upon his return, he hopes to help his community upgrade the centre according to this new one-stop centre concept.

He believes that young people today will appreciate this kind of professional services more and this new concept will be able to help the youth to upgrade and better prepare themselves before they go into the working world.

Nina Chan


Related stories:
(Update 1) Empowering Asian Youth Leaders Through Dialogue
Foster Family for students, interns and staff of IFFAsia

IFFAsia Mission Project 2011 (Update 1)

Empowering Asian Youth Leaders Through Dialogue

At its first plenary assembly in 1974, the Asian bishops gathered at the newly-organised Federation of Asian Bishops' Conference (FABC) declared that “The primary focus of our task of evangelization then, at this time in our history, is the building up of a truly local church”. Asked what is the local church, they responded “The local church is the realization and enfleshment of the Body of Christ in a given people, a given place and time”. On how to do this they spoke of the “triple dialogue with peoples particularly the poor, cultures, and religions”. Through this triple dialogue the Church in Asia hopes to be a “new way of being Church in Asia”.

The local churches in East Malaysia have a vision of becoming a communion of communities witnessing to the love of God, with basic Christian communities as building blocks of this vision. Like many parts of Asia, with globalization the influence of media is strongly felt by youth & families, affecting values, lifestyle and cultures. National policies, such as Islamisation, have affected young people and families on the ground. The history of peoples in the region, favorable economic situation, and other policies may have contributed to attract high number of internal migration from rural areas to cities and from neighboring countries. While it is obvious that migrants have contributed to the development of the country and economy, their presence also affects the local community and its dynamics.

Against this background, the IFFAsia Mission Project 2011 in Sabah seeks to learn how the local Churches are living out its mission of communion and dialogue. What is the inter-connection, if any, among all the realities and influencing factors? How can the local Church be more effective in its evangelizing mission? The month-long program will include dialogues with religious & civil society leaders, families, and young people. This year's project will be from January 17 to February 15, 2011. IFFAsia is collaborating with the local Dioceses for the activities. Some young leaders, elders and resource persons from the local communities will join students and staff in the program as part of a mutual learning process.

As in the previous year, the students are currently engaged in fund-raising and sponsorship as part of their mission training. They need to raise USD23,000 or about US1,000 per person to cover travel, board and lodging, and other incidental expenses for the project. Any help you can give will be appreciated.

As the project is well under way, we continue to raise the needed funds for the expenses of the members of the project team. Please email us at ifa.fondacio@gmail.com if you are interested to help.