Youth Planning for 2014

The Jesus the Divine Healer Parish's (JDHP) Youth Commission core together with the next-in-line leaders organized a one-day activity planning for the year 2014. Plenty of ideas were discussed and it's amazing how the youth can think of the freshest ideas to uplift and engage fellow youth in the church.

We've retained some institutional (read: annual) activities such as the Youth Week, Youth Mass, and General Assemblies. The freshest idea so far came from Wilbert Bacudio, entitled: KAPEHAN. Sa totoo lang nalimutan ko na yung meaning ng kapehan. Meron yan e, hindi lang maisip ng utak ko right now, haha! Pero magandang ideya 'to! It aims to gather the youth into small groups and share about their day-to-day activities and realizations  over coffee. But the twist is that there should be a Bible reading/passage every sharing so that everyone will still be rooted in God's Word.

It's actually a "revamped" version of the usual prayer meeting. Kapag prayer meeting kasi yung pangalan nung activity amboring. Seriously diba? Parang eto na naman, prayer meeting na naman, parang ang santo-santo pakinggan sa kabataan. Parang ambaduy, pang tanders. But with Bert's idea of sharing over coffee, nakakaexcite pakinggan yung, "tara, kape muna tayo". Then you proceed to sharing your life stories to one another and sharing God's Word.

Mga kalokohang pinaggagagawa namin during the Youth Planning for 2014: (clockwise from top) that's me lecturing the kids; that's Bert elaborating in his KAPEHAN gig that I forgot what it means; Loreen and Grace laughing kasi na-conscious dahil pinipicturan sila; our brainstorm plans; in Sinangag Express Tahanan branch, photo taken by my one and only!; last two photos are the participants with the core (me excluded) having a funny time with the camera. Si Isabel FTW!

Aside from these gigs, we also put in an activity that is line with the Diocesan thrust for next year which is: Service for the Poor. When we say poor, it's not only the people who are poor. There are also those poor in spirit. Maraming klase ng poor. Meron yung poor in love. Eto yung mga taong hindi binibigyan ng atensyon. Kawawa naman. So we need to define first what "poor" is and from there we will create activities that will address this problem. Yung mga physically poor, nako, mahirap na yan. Baka kailangan kay Belo sila lumapit,hehehe. Free hugzzz lang ang kaya namin ibigay and a good pat on the back.

We've also created outreach programs for this year. Matagal ko nang gusto itong gawin, hindi lang talaga naeexecute kasi ang daming mga activities na bigla na lang papasok out of nowhere and will eventually disrupt our plans. All of our activities aim to engage the youth and make them feel like they "belong" in the crowd. Of course in Christ's Church, there is no one who does not belong. Lahat tayo belong kay Lord, lahat tayo magkakaibigan at walang diskriminasyon. :)

Actually may na-unsyami kaming activity e. We were supposed to hold the elections for the next batch of officers for 2014. Kaso walang dumating from Sampaloc 1. Sayang. The reason the core wanted to push through with the elections is because we already want a new set of officers to replace us. We LOVE serving the church but we've been the core for five years already! It is time that we vacate our posts and elect new officers, new blood, to bring about change to the Commission. Iba naman ang mag-lead, ibang leadership style naman. I hope matuloy ang elections ng November 30.

The core will still be there forever, guiding the new set of officers and also establishing a new sub-organization under the Youth Commission. Perhaps we'll be creating a Young Adult Ministry. Or who knows, Bert may become the next Vicariate Chair *wink wink*. As for me, gusto ko na mag-asawa! Hahahah jooooke! Matagal pa. Gustuhin ko man, kailangan ko muna patandain boyprengs ko, ambata pa e, me gatas pa sa labi. Haha!

But whatever our fate may be in the future, one thing is for certain: that we will NEVER TIRE of serving the Church. We will be serving God until our last breath. Ang drama lang ng peg pero totoo. :)