Just When We Needed You Most

Ave Maria:-)

Lightning strikes twice! After visiting Tagaytay with cousins few weeks ago.. got to return this time with brothers and sisters from the church group, Living Word.

Something is so special about mountains, elevated places..where nature's beauty abounds... take in the cleaner , cold air, blooming flowers, a volcano set in the middle of a lake..and a really beautiful venue -- be surrounded by company you've known for years (well..almost all..tho' there were a good number of attendees we met for the first time.) I could be in a tiny hut but situated in front of the lake and be blissfully happy, heaven na talaga.. perfect place to find our bearings in the Lord and with each other.

Jesus himself regularly took "time out"  .. whether He'd be preparing for a major outreach: healing, preaching... some major-decision making.. or after He'd be bone-tired from His work... He'd go to the mountain to pray, sometimes inviting His disciples...  So if our Lord did this..there must be something so valuable in it.

Studying at a madre's school gave me and schoolmates many golden opportunities to experience our first spiritual retreats, usually done before schoolyear ends.. something we looked forward to.. hahaha maybe not so much for the spiritual feeding but the teen-agers that we were, it was just so thrilling to be away from home with classmates.. we'd be giddy with happiness, excited ..laughing till we had gas pains... BUT.. when our retreat masters usually Jesuit priests would go for a "kill" ... meaning they'd  work on the theme.. preach the Word of God, help us get to know Jesus more..and help us understand how a relationship with Him ultimately affects  and improves our relationships with others.. oh boy... we had to have those box of tissues ready.. we'd bawl our eyes out.. no not from  grief... it was the sweetest mixture of enlightenment, deep realizations of God's love and experiencing the forgiveness He bestows thru Jesus .. it helped us be prepared for life outside St. Theresa's college... talk about entering the battlefield.

After STC... twas U.P. grounds for me.. and sadly I sort of "lost it" ... what spiritual wealth I accumulated from both school and family upbringing was sort of wasted and thrown away.. foolish as foolish can be... U.P. can be quite a challenge.. it's the place where your ideals and faith are questioned in-your-face talaga... wish I sought refuge at the U.P. Catholic parish chapel.. such a lovely church... but no was too busy  being foolish...tsk ,tsk tsk. Was not able then to find a support group... so this was like swimming shark-infested waters on your own and occasionally being the shark myself ... eiouwww

Fast forward to joining the Catholic charismatic renewal movement and slowly..but surely.. was sucked back into orbit... errr the good one Haven't we experienced times when we can't even help ourself  because we are must too immersed, shackled by whatever evil bondage it is....not even realizing we are enslaved in the firstplace and it is God who comes to our rescue? He can use people, circumstances or talk to us ,make known His will to us and our life's tempo and direction changes, we veer toward Him.Praise the Lord!

It's been years since we had a fellowship outing... outside of Manila..this was rather unique because..in the past it would be outright closed retreats, no children.. no outing mode -- or it could also be the opposite... pure pleasure trip..say swimming ... but this time, as God's grace intervened, we had a bit of both as only the Holy Spirit can make possible.

Original profile of those attending could not attend.. and we found ourselves wondering.. naku.. who will this outing be for? In the end, the Lord formed the group, fixed the elements ... senior youths bringing their children with/without yayas.. all our male musicians... lots of elders.. some new members ( this was great) ... it pays to just trust the Lord...He knows best.And He is the One Who makes it flow.. flow peacefully, joyously! thank You Jesus!

A small group served as advance party... hahaha lame excuse to simply enjoy the beauty of Tagaytay. It's wonderful to not be so used to lamig, air-con ... coz when pure chilly air hits you..it's just exhilarating!   divine even! Josh, Kuya Bong, Ivan who drove for us were the first ones to enjoy the kubo mini-winter temp.

The majority arrived in time for breakfast. Fr. Red was our guest priest.. God bless all priests..and God grant double portion of blessing upon priests who go out of their way to truly preach and share about JESUS... for whether it is priest or layman.. to proclaim Christ will always require sacrifice, never compromising His teachings yet doing this in the same spirit of love and mercy He gave.

Siksik..liglig apawww...God provided for everything.. He touched hearts... there was enough food for all, there was transport... He gave a venue that was just right, where we could listen to His Word , agape with each other, listen to each other..and watch the children roll gleefully on the grounds..He blew clouds away so that the sun would shine and so we could see Taal Volcano, stare, breathe and be quiet.. when hearts are in the right place..we don't even care to complain because we are just too grateful for what is given to us for the moment

After breakfast we started with meditative praying of the rosary.. then  had Sunday mass with Fr. Red.... after mass...Padre began hearing confessions at the kubo, hallelujah..many went to confession, ikaw ba naman ang may da best setting , munting kubo... ganda ng venue to pour our heart to the Lord... while confession was going on... we had first of two theme sharings.. parable of Ten Virgins and how this parable is so 2012... major dilemna -->to be wise or foolish .. you'd be surprised how we often opt for foolish time to wake-up, right?

lunchbreak and rest-time to take in the view, digest food.. patulan ang antok...small talk... ongoing confession pa rin sa kubo... pictorial galore... children staging mini-olympics... food trip.

After lunch, reflections by Jay, Gwen and Greta bout morning's activities , mass and module... then a Bring-Me game with a new twist ( thank you Gwen and Gret)  naku lumabas ang pagka bata ng lahat. and then the final module... defining and differentiating Joy and Happiness.

May  this happen again in God's perfect time ..I must confess I went thru alburoto, tampo, inis, frustrated, helpless , plain sungit mode but with Mama Mary not far behind to keep reminding:"hush.. it will be alright..it will be alright child..." that was an understatement dear Mother .

 Thank you Lord  for being ever patient with us.. always making the hundred steps toward us to make up for the 3 steps we walk toward You...You are an awesome God.. please continue to guide us... and bless  the seed planted during this fellowship  that it may grow as beautifully as the flaming orange tree in Tagaytay...........God is good all the time... te mye

enjoy the vidoes: No Compromises   the Power of Prayer  Pobreng Alindahaw.MP4

pix : Living Word Family goes to Tagaytay (2012). — at Tagaytay.