DVBS and me
It is the first summer without papa.
After a grueling last month of school, the temptation to stay home and enjoy my family was so great. But the national election fever had started and the desire to campaign Christ was far greater.
The first week of the summer was spent with VOICE Philippines as I helped tita Ruth Haynes and tita Laura Bonney with the Values curriculum designs. I went home to Bayombong and was just in time for the 3rd batch of the DVBS waves! A week after, I rode the jeepney with the 4th batch team off to the mountains.
AURORA, ISABELA
Aurora Elementary School (Central)
Being a leader of one of the four teams, a lot was on my back. Being in Manila, I wasn't able to attend the teachers' training for this year's theme. But having taught DVBS every year since highschool was a good thing for me. I easily caught up with the lessons and my team members, as young as they were, were brilliant teachers.
It was my first time to teach in the lowlands since we had always been teaching in the Balangao areas for the past summers. The first day was both scary and exciting. Less than 20 students came and DVBS was new for most of the kids. After a day of visitation around the barangay, a lot of kids came pouring in even until the last day. The training center was full-packed during the graduation day and our 60+ students did a wonderful presentations of memory verses, songs, dances and speech. A lot of parents came to me with tear-filled eyes and thanked us for teaching their children. Many also requested that DVBS be extended to 2 weeks or one month.
My best experience of all in this batch is seeing my "children" (the intermediate class) understand the story of salvation. After that special moment when they prayed to accept Christ in their hearts a long moment of silence came. We just sat there and amazingly my rowdy class was solemnly quiet. I watched them as they wiped their tears away and sat in deep thought. It touched my heart that these young kids understood how great the decision they had made that day. Half an hour later 22 beautiful faces looked back at me with red eyes, running noses and big wide smiles in their lips. The joy of salvation is nothing compared to days of restless nights praying and preparing lessons.
Aurora Elementary School (Central)
Being a leader of one of the four teams, a lot was on my back. Being in Manila, I wasn't able to attend the teachers' training for this year's theme. But having taught DVBS every year since highschool was a good thing for me. I easily caught up with the lessons and my team members, as young as they were, were brilliant teachers.
It was my first time to teach in the lowlands since we had always been teaching in the Balangao areas for the past summers. The first day was both scary and exciting. Less than 20 students came and DVBS was new for most of the kids. After a day of visitation around the barangay, a lot of kids came pouring in even until the last day. The training center was full-packed during the graduation day and our 60+ students did a wonderful presentations of memory verses, songs, dances and speech. A lot of parents came to me with tear-filled eyes and thanked us for teaching their children. Many also requested that DVBS be extended to 2 weeks or one month.
My best experience of all in this batch is seeing my "children" (the intermediate class) understand the story of salvation. After that special moment when they prayed to accept Christ in their hearts a long moment of silence came. We just sat there and amazingly my rowdy class was solemnly quiet. I watched them as they wiped their tears away and sat in deep thought. It touched my heart that these young kids understood how great the decision they had made that day. Half an hour later 22 beautiful faces looked back at me with red eyes, running noses and big wide smiles in their lips. The joy of salvation is nothing compared to days of restless nights praying and preparing lessons.
The Aurora Central Team - Mirasol, Airyl, Joni, Shiandy (Our host's baby), me and Kc. The 3 teachers on the right are my cousins.
Enjoying a breakfast of fried eggplants!
The preschool class with faithful mothers who brought their kids everyday.
The happy primary class who played basketball with us after classes.
The noisy intermediate class who clung to me when we were about to leave for home.
After the special moment were everybody became amazingly quiet.
Our host family helping with checking crafts and activity sheets.
BUTIGUE, PARACELIS, MT. PROVINCE
St. William's Episcopal Church
Working with the Anglican Church for the second time around (the last time was 2 summers ago in the neighboring barangay) was a blessing for me. It showed how the DVBS ministry can break denominational barriers and how the love of Jesus can surpass differences. We had 4 teams covering the Paracelis Area. My team was assigned in Butigue were Father Frenzel Piluden's family hosted us. We were housed in their newly built concrete house and were spoiled with foods donated by various families.
Of the four Barangays (Butigue, Marat, Banilag and Tapaw) we had the least number of students. But we thank God for these 40+ kids whom we taught, bonded, played and laughed together with for one whole week. Even amidst the pouring rain and muddy road, these kids came with broken umbrellas, sloppy slippers and carrying baby sisters on their backs. Their anticipation for DVBS showed in how early they would crowd in our windows in the morning and shout for us to come to the church to start. Even if we dismissed them late in the morning classes they would sill come early in the afternoon and wake us from our naps with their jumps and knocks. I often wonder how they eat lunch that fast.
I praise God for the 6 youths He sent to my class. As years passed, the number of youths attending DVBS had declined because of the misconception that DVBS is only for little kids. Plus, a lot of entertainments were introduced since electricty came in. Having 6 enthusiastic youth for a whole week was refreshing. We were even able to have a night of fellowship in one of the youth's house. At the end of the week, 5 of these 6 accepted Christ as their Lord and personal Savior. I believe, that day, a lot of rejoicing was heard in the presence of the Angels of God.
cramming up for the jeepney ride to the mountains.
Preparing lessons.
My energetic team - Shan, Lucille, me, Russel and Jacky
The preschool class
The primary class
St. William's Episcopal Church
Working with the Anglican Church for the second time around (the last time was 2 summers ago in the neighboring barangay) was a blessing for me. It showed how the DVBS ministry can break denominational barriers and how the love of Jesus can surpass differences. We had 4 teams covering the Paracelis Area. My team was assigned in Butigue were Father Frenzel Piluden's family hosted us. We were housed in their newly built concrete house and were spoiled with foods donated by various families.
Of the four Barangays (Butigue, Marat, Banilag and Tapaw) we had the least number of students. But we thank God for these 40+ kids whom we taught, bonded, played and laughed together with for one whole week. Even amidst the pouring rain and muddy road, these kids came with broken umbrellas, sloppy slippers and carrying baby sisters on their backs. Their anticipation for DVBS showed in how early they would crowd in our windows in the morning and shout for us to come to the church to start. Even if we dismissed them late in the morning classes they would sill come early in the afternoon and wake us from our naps with their jumps and knocks. I often wonder how they eat lunch that fast.
I praise God for the 6 youths He sent to my class. As years passed, the number of youths attending DVBS had declined because of the misconception that DVBS is only for little kids. Plus, a lot of entertainments were introduced since electricty came in. Having 6 enthusiastic youth for a whole week was refreshing. We were even able to have a night of fellowship in one of the youth's house. At the end of the week, 5 of these 6 accepted Christ as their Lord and personal Savior. I believe, that day, a lot of rejoicing was heard in the presence of the Angels of God.
cramming up for the jeepney ride to the mountains.
Preparing lessons.
My energetic team - Shan, Lucille, me, Russel and Jacky
The preschool class
The primary class
The youth class
Basketball with the youths
DVBS Fiesta
Longest line
tug-of-war
Water is a problem. Taking advantage of the rain for our baths and laundry.
DVBS Butigue 2007
Graduation Day!
"I will be still, know you are God"
with the proud parents
awarding the youth with their parents
The teachers
I praise God for these very fulfilling DVBS experiences. This is my story. All my fellow-teachers' stories still remain unwritten. Serving the Lord will always be a privilege for us. Nothing is better than waving goodbye to the little faces knowing that the seed of Christ had been planted in their hearts. As I reach home, papa's grassy grave came into view. Gone is the man who would be waiting for us to come home. Gone is the man who would silently listen to the pouring stories I have. Gone is the moment where I would see the pride in his eyes. Gone is the time when he would hug me with a smile of approval in his face. I opened the door and mama was there.
It is the first summer without papa but the ministry continues.
Violet
Next step: THREADS evangelistic crusades.
posted by Doming and Loree Lucasi @ 6:46 PM
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