Firebrandz Worship Night - God's Will

January 29, 2014

Speaker: John Duiker

The first Firebrandz Set Free Worship Night for 2014 was filled with singing to Akekho Ofana Nojesu and receiving our spiritual cookie from our speaker, John Duiker.

John spoke of the importance of conforming to the will of God and living in His will. In giving our lives to Jesus, we have to keep surrendering to Him, keep walking in the light, and not hold back. We cannot profess God with our lips and deny Him in our lives, said John, and that God is with us wherever we are, we just have to turn to Him.

This Month's Special:

For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, 

plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with HOPE. 

- Jeremiah 29:11 

On Sunday Luxuries and Moving Days

By Pat Pagulayan

Being able to come to the Moving Day last Sunday, January 19, has been a humbling experience and a huge blessing for me. Doing shift-work usually means having to work on weekends, and having a Sunday off is considered a luxury. Might I say, last Sunday was definitely a luxury well-spent.

I have heard quite a lot about what occurs during Moving Day, but none of what I’ve heard reflects the magnitude of the time, effort, and dedication that is being put into making these Moving Days even possible. From renting a van, picking up items from houses, organising the cars, gathering people and directing them, to the non-stop ringing of phones, flipping through different addresses, determining the routes to be taken, deciding which items go to which family, and a whole lot more going on in the background that I’m not even aware of. The list goes on and on; and regardless of how thorough I describe the events that occurred prior to us even leaving the church, it doesn’t do justice to the extent of what needed to be done on that day. It was even more difficult last Sunday as we had to do it without the help of Man with a Van, a removalist company that volunteers their time and resources in helping deliver these goods to the refugees’ homes.

As I stand there in the middle of the chaos, I got reminded of how amazing God has provided for this cause. He not only gathered strangers (well, majority of us only met that day), but He has also found a way to appeal to people’s hearts to donate their mattresses, couches, and other household items. I honestly never thought they’d be able to fill up a van and a trailer to the brim! Although we “first-timers” were like headless chickens running around, not knowing what to do, we were able to effectively work together, under the guidance of the people who know what they were doing. All of these material and human resources combined, we were able to successfully deliver mattresses, couches, clothing, kitchen items, etc. to 12 families!

And oh my, are these families grateful! They would let us in their humble abodes, offering us whatever food or drink they have (one family even gave us cordial to drink from wine glasses!). They’re very welcoming and hospitable. They delight on whatever we had to give them, even if at times, it may not be enough. Their gratefulness humbled me. There they were, thankful with what they could receive, while I whinge about mundane things. There they were, grateful that 6 of them would no longer be sharing a single electric fan on these 40°C hot summer days because we’ve given them more fans, while I complain that the air conditioner in my unit is not cool enough. This Sunday, God taught me to be mindful of the many blessings that He has showered upon me, and that maybe, it’s time to give back.

Indeed, a Sunday day-off is a luxury to me, but it is not a luxury for me to have, but a luxury for me to give. And by the looks of it, that Sunday is the first of many more Sundays to come.

Ambitious

By Jack Chui

Last Tuesday at our first STAY cell group for the year I asked the few members that were able to come (young adults seem to take long holidays over Christmas/NY...) what they would like to do for our ministries in 2014. It was an opportunity to hear and take on board a new way of doing things that would be better than my own way - because it can seem that I have asserted my own way of doing things as the seemingly sole leader of STAY. Now that we have an army of willing members, we can do so much more than just me leading everything. So below, I'll summarise our ministries and our aims for 2014 - and includes some other items which I had not brought up on Tuesday.

STAY Cell Group (Fellowship, Discipleship)
*IMPORTANT* - we are trying a new start time of 6:30pm - 8:30pm to better fit the working schedule.

The format for cell groups will remain before but with a few additions:

• 6:30pm - 7:00pm -- Open sharing / Check in + a song or 2 in praise & worship leading into Opening prayer
• 7:00pm - 8:00pm -- Alternating weeks of bible sharing and topic. The topic can be a video teaching with sharing afterwards
• 8:00pm - 8:30pm -- Closing prayer with more intercessory prayers, annoucements and pack up

I'll need to encourage the members to take turns to lead/facilitate especially when the group needs to be split up for the middle sharing section. Nothing discussed about period dinners or about male/female split of sharing now and then.

Friends of Refugees Outreach (Service/Ministry)

Normal schedule of activities to remain over a 5 week Sunday afternoon cycle:

• 1st Sunday -- Detention Centre Visit
• 2nd Sunday -- Rest
• 3rd Sunday -- Refugee House Visits
• 4th Sunday -- Moving Day
• 5th Sunday -- Rest

Moving Day will continue as long as there is a need for large material items to be given to the new settlers but his may with the reduction of refugees entering Australia wind down such that the larger charities can meet the needs.

In addition or replacement if needs be to the above, we wish to start English tuition/classes for the refugees nearer to their homes. We tried this once including employment services at St. Augustine's but it did not get off the ground after a reasonable first week. This will require learning materials development but also more consistent support that is weekly rather than monthly for the English learning to be of best use. To meet this I am thinking of garnering the support of the local parishes in the areas where the refugees live to find more laborers for the vineyard.

Firebrandz Worship (Worship, Evangelisation, Discipleship)

Monthly Wednesday evening Worship nights will remain as is with the format to be led by the Spirit. This has in the past included P&W followed by a talk or testimony. To enhance the worship the following 2 ministries will be set up:

• Choir - Firebrandz/STAY will start a choir to ultimately play for Firebrandz worship nights and also at Sunday masses at St. Augustine's. This has kicked off before even writing this with the debut to be on Sunday 12th January to fill in for the regular musicians taking a break after Advent.
• Dance - A new initiative to bring a little known ministry of liturgical dance back into action. Starting practice after Choir practice becomes less regular, this ministry will help lift the Firebrandz worship nights.

Communications / Marketing (Evangelisation)

We have started several channels of communication over the last 6 months so here is a list with their initial strategies:

• Email - the formal channel for annoucement of events/ministry
• Website/Blog - the official website to store information which can be shared to the public. I wish to promote more sharing of reflections/events to be written by different people
• Facebook Group - secondary to the website but allows members to share online material
• Whatsapp - for quick more personal-wide messaging

Did not talk about adverstising or maintaining existing notices in bulletins or on the AOY website.

Pray for STAY (Corporate Intercessory Prayer)

This was not discussed on Tuesday but was a monthly gathering over Skype for the leaders to intercede for STAY and its members along with other personal intentions. After a prayer session on Wednesday night, it was decided to make this a more regular opportunity because the spiritual growth and fruits of STAY and its related ministries all stem from prayer.

PRAY for STAY will now be open to anyone who wishes to dial in and pray, every Monday evening over Skype with the possibility of improvement such as meeting in person and praying in the park.

STAY & Firebrandz Retreats (Fellowship, Discipleship)

Father Victor the parish priest of St. Augustine's has offered to lead a retreat for STAY and we are looking to take this opportunity with a retreat over the weekend during Lent or Easter season. My tentative date for this is late May as there is also plans for a Firebrandz retreat around November 2014 and so space the retreats apart. A team will need to be formed organise such one off events.

Helping in Mass / Church BBQs (Service)

To give back to the wider community, it is desired to have more young people participate and help in mass. The Firebrandz choir is the start of this and there are some helping out as readers and Eucharistic ministers. The aim is that one and no more than 2 Sunday's a month, the STAY group will bless with Sunday mass with its aid by serving in the mass.

Another service to the church which STAY used to support was BBQ lunches after morning mass. We did not host any BBQ's last year but it is something the group can do to build the parish community by gathering people after mass over food. My plans for this would be to host 2 and no more than 3 such BBQ's. The dates we have used in the past is Pentecost Sunday (early June) and St. Augustine's Feast Day (nearest Sunday in late August). A BBQ early on in the year to welcome people to STAY/St. Augustine's or a BBQ during Advent to celebrate the year could be options for the 3rd BBQ.

-- END LIST --

That is a lot to do... and at times it seems daunting to me when I see everything that we do and are going to do all laid out like this. I also forgot to ask whether there was anything else we can do...

But lets remember Matthew 9:37-38

"Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

Gift Boxes!

By Aaron D'Souza

This is a reflection I had after listening to the homily by Fr. Vella. 
Fr. Vella told us a parable of the man who died and met St. Peter in heaven. I have typed a shorter version of the parable and a reflection .

Parable:
St. Peter showed him around and the man noticed a store house. In the store house he saw a number of boxes stacked up which had his names on them.  Out of curiosity, he asked St. Peter why were there boxes with his name on it. Peter replied ' These boxes contain the gifts which our Father wanted to give you during life on earth. But whenever he came to meet you. You were never there to receive it. So He came back to heaven and stored these gifts in the warehouse. These boxes symbolise all the gifts you did not receive ur entire life'

Reflection:
What I like about this parable is that God never threw the boxes away even after the man died.

I am sure there are boxes with our names written on them. The exciting part is , it's not thrown away.. Which means they ready for delivery even now when we turn to The Lord.

In the past one year how many boxes has he stacked ?.. I wonder?. Can we get our hands on those boxes?Of course we can!! That's the best part... When we turn to Him .. He will be the most excited to give away all those boxes. But, in his time!

Each one of us are special and our gifts from him are unique to us.. He will never share or divide the boxes with others.. So you can be rest assured whatever God has kept for you.. Is meant only for you because you are unique and special to Him.

Therefore wait on The Lord. His timing is perfect. :) ' Patience with God is Faith' . 

Receive those boxes . That will make you and I the 'BEST VERSION OF OURSELVES ' in the likeness and image of God.


Don't you wanna know whats in those boxes? Turn to the Lord! :)

Christmas and New Year Wishes - A Reflection of the Year That Was

By Jack Chui

Each year I receive a Christmas card from a former cell group friend where her tradition is to write a reflection of the year that was on Christmas day and send it to all her friends. I have been a privileged recipient of her cards for several years now and she has inspired me to do something similar - hence this post. I have given few if any gifts to people this Christmas and I hope the following will be gift enough to everyone who has been a part of year/life. It is the gift of Jesus that I really want to give to all and maybe while I'm writing this, it will come through although I won't be writing about it explicitly.

The year of 2013 for me could be summed up as one of amazement and great blessing. If you look back at all my previous posts in the year its not too hard to see the highs and the lows of my journey as a leader in ministry this year. Through it all, God has provided me with enough just when it was required.

We tried new doing new things for the Friends of Refugees outreach. Early in the year we piloted English classes and employment searching services but after one week the refugees didn't come back. We also invited them to a BBQ at the Church and while we prepared a lot of food, they didn't turn up. Such is the nature of the ministry some times. However, where we might have failed in understanding them or where God did not give us a way through there were other things where God gave us a way.

We continued with our monthly visits to the Detention Centre and the released refugees in their homes, but undoubtedly the most wonder came from the Moving Days. All we had done before were simple tasks which involved volunteers, cars and communication, but Moving Day was a big logistics operation the like I had ever been involved in let alone organised. We started with nothing and just came away amazed at how the Holy Spirit drew volunteers, donations, trucks (Man With A Van) and just a way to bring furniture from those who didn't need it, to those with none.

Emmaus Cell Group was my support through the first half of 2013 and the group was growing slowly from strength to strength. Sadly, from such a high, I decided to leave Emmaus halfway through the year so that I could concentrate more on STAY the young adults ministry. From what I've heard, Emmaus Cell Group (which is a parish cell group) have adapted well to their new leaders and I pray that Emmaus Cell group will only become stronger.

Halfway through 2013 I was facing an ultimatum of whether to continue leading STAY or just giving it up with the other leader Jean heading to Singapore. STAY had few if any consistent people coming for cell group on Sundays after morning mass and it was lonely leading a group that mainly consistent of just me... But at the last moment just when we needed it, God came through and brought a few people along with more fire than me. If you read the last few posts, you can read how STAY has amazingly turned around from next to nothing and become a wonderful group/community which has also driven the growth of Friends of Refugees and Firebrandz (STAY's P&W partner).

A lot of STAY's growth has come through a new ministry called Firebrandz. Firebrandz is an overseas group which brings God to young people through music. Aaron had come from India to start up this branch in Melbourne and was a keen but unknown supporter of STAY. With a little help from STAY, Firebrandz has hosted 4 Worship nights, a healing mass and a retreat with great turn outs. the people attending these were also encouraged to come to STAY cell groups on Tuesday evenings. While the ministry is run predominantly by Aaron, I believe God through the people being formed in STAY will lift Firebrandz so that it will experience the amazement that I was able to see in STAY and in Friends of Refugees.

Writing about how great this year and ministry has been might be repetitive after a while but I do this to bring out God's glory. All I had to do was say yes and be there, and God drew the people and made a way for all these wonderful things to work. In all my years in Melbourne participating in Church and then leading I have not experienced so much amazement. It was not my own skills and ability for which brought all this about because it was never this good before.

I think God was preparing me through the many trials and opportunities of the past so that I could experience and witness the joy of such fruitful ministry. I have a learned a lot in my years leading Emmaus, STAY and Friends of Refugees and I know that I'm a little more wiser now having learned from others and being taught by others. All this has been leading me to a mission - and that is to bring God to people - in particular young people. I have been so privileged to see God draw people closer to him through cell groups, Firebrandz worship/retreat/mass and the refugees outreach. Some people have even been drawn through this humble website.

I feel like I'm Joshua in the battle against Amalek. I'm the one out the front of the battle doing the work and receiving all the glory, but the battle was really won by God and the intercessions of Moses on the top of the hill (Exodus 17). There is no way all of this could be done by my hand below, but through the prayers of the few or many that are praying for me and the ministries. I wish to thank everyone for their prayers and I hope that if you are not able to witness some of the great things that have happened because of them that you might get a glimpse of them through the writing in this blog. If that was 2013, then I'm a bit scared of what 2014 will bring in terms of the new challenges that might be set (2013 challenges were a stretch and beyond for me) but I say bring it on! because then God's work will have be to even more powerful through us.

It has also been a very blessed year for me not just because of the wonder and amazing things which have happened in ministry, but I've also been able to sustain a relationship with my girlfriend. Prioritising can be hard with so many things on and so I'm very blessed to have the time for ministry and importantly her support to be able work for God's Kingdom here on earth. I think the arrangement now permits me to be able to lead and be very involved and so I will continue fighting the good fight while I can because one day, things will change and I may not be able to any more.

So this Christmas/New Year message is one of thanks - for your prayers, participation, support and contribution to all the ministries I've been involved in, that you will be blessed with His love, joy and peace more than I have been so blessed to have witness this year. That 2014 will be one of greater glory for God and that the gift of Christ which is the intention of all ministry is spread deeper in your hearts and in more people. That those who are struggling like the refugees and their own problems will find solace in an unconditionally loving God. Wishing you a most blessed Christmas and a joyful New Year.

What To Do?

By Jack Chui

I can look back at some of my earlier posts in the year and reflect fondly on how STAY has just transformed in just six months. People from church and sometimes outside of church have been coming up to me to tell me what an amazing group STAY is and then congratulate me on building such a wonderful community of young Catholic adults (no mean feat by the track record of other groups out there). I might receive all this glory as the leader, but all this credit really goes to God because I did very little in making STAY what it is today.

A friend from STAY recently told me about the patron saint for Priests - St. John Vianney. He was apparently not a very smart guy, barely making it through the seminary out of sheer persistence. His superiors took the safe option and sent the newly ordained and incompetent young priest to a remote parish (today known as Lourdes). When St. John Vianney reached there, he just prayed and prayed for many years - there were only a few people attending mass at the church. He also heard confessions for 16 hours a day and somehow, many were drawn to the parish and the whole town was converted to the amazement of other priests and his superiors.

I feel like I am like St. John Vianney, except much worse - I haven't been praying and I'm not 100% devoted to STAY or God. Yet the people just came, but not like before ... they actually "STAYed"... My aim and mission for the whole year was quite simple - just keep the ship from sinking... One of my gifts apparently is persistence - stubborn persistence sometimes and so I'm quite good at just keeping things going. That's all I really did for STAY...

Through little if any work of my own, the Holy Spirit brought new people to STAY, such that few if anyone in STAY from a year ago is still here today. They love STAY more than me and are so hungry for more of God that as the leader, I don't know what to do to meet their thirst or our simple goal of bringing God to young people. Because all I know how to do well is to keep the ship from sinking.

STAY is not in survival mode any more, and I've never been a part of a group as energetic and lively as this one. We have almost 20 people attending cell group each week (diligently for most) and at this run rate, STAY could have 40 people in mid 2014 and 60 people by the end...  I never imagined STAY would be more than 12 people at best given how few in number young adults are attending mass, and let alone having the time and will to attend a cell group. Its scary to imagine how much more of a powerhouse STAY can become (thankfully I don't have much imagination) because while its a nice problem to have - lots of people, it will come with more work and complexity of more relationships.

While keeping the ship afloat, I have been directed by the newcomers in STAY and they have been taking a lot of the initiative to run worship nights (Firebrandz), outreach for the refugees (Friends of Refugees), prayers and outings for the cell group. They have much more ideas and fire than me and I wonder whether it is time for them to take more control of the rudder to steer STAY towards to the will of God. I think I've not said no to any of their ideas. I have done my role faithfully, and while I have been advised not to stop until God waves the big red stop sign, I wonder if I should take more of a back seat so that the newcomers are not held back to take STAY forward. I have also thought about whether I should lead both STAY and Friend so Refugees or only one...

It might also be a good time for God to push me outside my comfort zone to try new things for His Kingdom so there might still be purpose for me to continue being a leader of STAY. My mission might also be to encourage people to become leaders and take on some of the cell group leading which I currently do. What to do ...? Already on the cards is a worship/music group for STAY/Firebrandz to play for Sunday mass and perhaps Firebrandz - to start in January 2014 while the regular worship bands at church take some time off after serving during Advent. Another initiative STAY had run in the past is a retreat in the 2nd half of the year.

I'm looking to study a professional course for my work early in 2014 of which I attempted last year and didn't pass. It would require a lot more study than trying to fit study around my many commitments and so my other worry is whether there are people willing and with the time to do more for STAY ... I think and hope that I underestimate the group and their abilities - it is time for God to shine more through the members of STAY. I pray that I can be not so proud to ask for their help.

Hampers for Refugees - Beyond my Expectations

By Jack Chui

Last Sunday which is my last Sunday in Melbourne for the year we went to for our last refugee visits for the year. As part of Friends of Refugees, throughout the year, I have been scheduling visits to the refugees staying outside detention about one Sunday a month. Its not a difficult event to organise as all it requires is volunteers with cars if possible and a list of addresses/families to visit. Previously it was hard to find new families to visit but with our links the Detention Centre and a relationship with Red Cross we had heaps of addresses (some which were too far to reach...) and then it was a case of not having so many volunteers to help with the visits.. Still - God provided 'enough' to see us through.

A month before, Andrea from STAY who had come with us a few times for Moving Day raised a brilliant suggestion to make some hampers to give to the refugee families. I had not thought of what to do leading up to Christmas for the refugee home visits so it came as a welcome suggestion. Last year, Father Peter had bought $1000 worth of Christmas cakes whom a refugee family made to sell and we gave those to many families.

I had no idea how to put hampers together, but if Andrea could lead the charge then who was I to stop her? I think I am a bit tired of doing most of the work in preparing and this idea looked too much for me so it was nice to let Andrea take the lead with this one. My expectations of it was similar to last year - to visit about 20 house with a few cars to wish each family well and Merry Christmas but boy was I in for a shock...

Andrea through STAY managed to bring the rest of STAY along the mission to raise funds, design and purchase the hampers and plan the delivery of the hampers. The big group went ballistic in asking friends and the church for donations so much so that I was a bit worried about what to do with the excess funds (I don't like to hold donated money because it should be used). They raised more than enough for 40 hampers and 20 presents for the children at which I told them that it was probably enough and that it would be too much to do any more!

One worry for limiting them was the number of families we knew we could reach and distribute them. Each time I was notified of how much we received and how many hampers we could create meant that the distribution list and paths would need to increase. I left poor Nicole to deal with most of the changes and I probably caused her more grief with my additional requirements and unresponsiveness to her questions. Nicole went the extra step to contact the families to let them know we were coming on Sunday to visit them - a step I had not put into my process myself as I was used to visiting unannounced.

I'm glad that I let the group rather than myself lead this project because I realise that my ambitions were limited and would have limited the potential of the Secret Santa. With the greater number of people (that I was too proud to ask for help) they could do so much more and their aims were sky high. They went to shopping centres all around Melbourne just to find the right items within budget to fit into the stockings and boxes. There was more than enough donations to give each family a $30 food voucher which would be flexible for the family's needs. They also gathered 9 cars to be able to make the deliveries in one afternoon and enough volunteers for at least 2 in each car - I have never had so many volunteers help out for such one of our events!

What resulted was what I and probably many who were able to help deliver the hampers could describe as a wonderful day. Each car had 'only' 5 addresses to visit all around the same location which meant we could spend some time with each family rather than stay at the door to give them the present and then run off again.  Most of the time I would be managing the timings or the moving of items such that I would not do much if any of the talking to the families, so it was nice this time to be able make myself uncomfortable and engage with the family to just be their friend.

I expected about 25% of the addresses to have no one home and therefore some of the hampers would not be given away, but in the end only few hampers were left because just about every family we had planned to visit welcomed us in. I had plans to give the rest to Father Peter so in his other visits, he could give them to those families but this wasn't needed. The experiences I was privileged to hear about were all very positive and it was a joy to hear from them and how some were touched the experiences. I hope to share some of these in the next post.

Through it all, I kept in mind that the hampers were not the focus of visit. This is not to downplay the good work that was put to getting them together. The main gift I wanted to give was that of Jesus because at Christmas, I'm reminded, more than the presents that I don't need or want to receive, is that I need the gift of Jesus to be renewed in my heart and also to share it with the refugees who need hope more than material needs. I wanted to also give them my time and company which I think is my most scare resource in my busy life. While it might be a precious gift for me to give and some of the refugee families may not appreciate it as so, I think it gives Jesus a chance to reach them through me and the volunteers.

The hampers were of great aid in breaking the ice to visit some of the families and it they were received warmly. I wish to say a big thanks to the production team for bringing it together and preparing the way for such a wonderful and smooth day for all the drivers and volunteers. I know I've named Andrea and Nicole in this but my thanks includes everyone who helped out big or small. Thanks also for putting up with me and my tense moments. I am so glad that there are people much better than me at doing all these things and that they are so generous in helping in this last visit. Thanks also to the fundraisers and the people who donated - I hope you can see through this blog the good and amazing things which come from your generosity.

God has worked his wonders through us once more through STAY and Friends of Refugees. Thanks be to God and thanks also for the prayers which made this day most wonderful and beyond my expectations.

Some photos of the of the team creating the hampers -

Greetings from Singapore:)

By Jean Cheng

It's been awhile since I've wrote on this blog and I thought of updating a recent grace that God has poured into my heart. He remains actively close to me in my journey, since leaving Melbourne. :) Before that, however, I just wanted to say that I have been so happy and awed at what God is doing in STAY, and how a community has formed here. It is truly amazing to see how God has called the hearts of individuals together to share, empower each other other, and encourage each other in the hope and joy of God, that will never disappoint. May all of you continue to see and taste the truth that God-is-with-us as you look at each other journeying with you. =)

Yesterday, we celebrated the feast of Christ the King. Pondering on the passage last week, an image came to mind. It was based on the verse, "Today you will be with me in Paradise." (Luke 23: 43). When I saw Jesus say these words to me, I saw him gently taking my hand as he said it, and leading me somewhere. Then the image stopped. I did not know where He was leading me, but I knew that He was leading me and I was not afraid. Instead, there was hope, anticipation, and excitement.

Before that, I was struggling with the possibility of my fiancé entering into the leadership team for his church young adult community. A part of me wanted him to because I believed that he has many gifts and the right heart to be in a position of servant-leadership. But a part of me did not want him to because I was afraid of what this would mean about our time together, especially as we prepared for marriage and a life together. These fears were compounded by the fact that I still am in the process of finding my place in his community, hence I worried I would be unable to support him by feeling with him the same ways that he felt about his community.

But last week, when I went for mass, I found myself unexpectedly praying to surrender all my expectations of what kind of husband he 'should' be, what kind of wife I 'should' be, what kind of married/family life we 'should' have, etc. In that prayer, there was pain and tears but there was also a deep peace, hope, and excitement. It was as if in that moment, I was dying to how I felt my future should be, and therefore allowing God to finally be in control, and surprise me with a better plan He has for us.

After surrendering and blessing Marcus to go wherever God calls Him, I was surprised that I was actually excited that he was nominated and elected as a leader. It's as if I finally died to my fears and surrendered my life into God's hands.

I do not know what this will mean for us and our married life. In fact, when I think of my future, I do not know how that will pan out. But somehow I feel as if because I do not know, I am free. Free from trying to make my life fit into one mould. Free to be surprised. The imagery was an affirmation from Jesus that my future is in His hands. He is the one leading me, and He is holding me. I do not see the path ahead of me, but there is excitement because I know who is leading me and with me through it all. Praise God. =)

Friends of Refugees - Moving Day 5

By Claire Dcunha

Humbling is probably the best word I could use to describe my experience on Moving Day. This was the first time I had ever participated in something like this so I didn’t know what to expect but I knew this is something I very much wanted to be involved in.  This desire to assist came about when Jack mentioned participating in Moving Day during one of the STAY meetings -  I'm glad I was able to make it to help out - what a rewarding experience it was!

I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by people who had previously participated and knew exactly what they were doing. My understanding was that this was the fifth time this was being carried out and what a massive effort it was from collecting donations, sorting them out and transporting them to refugee houses that really needed them. It was wonderful to see how people as a community freely volunteered their time to help people in need who they had never met. I was reminded of James 2:14-17 "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, Go in peace, be warmed and filled, without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." How true this is!

The Company ‘Man with a Van’ donated a truck. We were also joined by Matt and Liam - 2 volunteers from the same company who did such great work helping out as there were quite a few locations to go to. Their patience and efficiency was nothing short of amazing!

We were able to go out to all the 8 houses on the list in a timely manner as Andrea and Nicole had worked on our route map – Regardless, it was still not an easy task as there were quite a few houses to visit in different suburbs. We were however, able to give a few items to each house which was really appreciated by the families. Among the donations were clothes, toys, cutlery and crockery, couches, beds, fridges, microwaves etc.  It was wonderful to see the smiles on people’s faces when they were given the donations. Finding the simple joys in the little things in life not taking anything that was offered to them for granted, I felt that some of the families were really appreciative of just us coming out to meet them and say hello as a few of them had come here by themselves and had left their families and all that they knew behind.

Among the houses we visited were three families, two of which were expecting their first child and one that had a baby aged 1 year and 20 days. We were able to give them some toys, clothes, cutlery and one of the families received a fridge. 

There were 2 other houses we visited and the people there really needed our help. In one of the houses lived 3 young men from Iran. When we met them we were greeted with smiles but we were surprised that they had absolutely no furniture, there were just empty rooms. It was like as if they moved in just a few days ago but they had been living there for 3 months.  It was really wonderful to be able to give them some jackets, shirts, pants, beds, couches, a microwave and a few other items. 

The last house we visited housed about 5 families but only had one bed room and bathroom and a lounge area. We were only able to meet 5 of the tenants who lived there. The only things I could see were a table to eat and shelves with a bit of cutlery. We were able to give them clothes, cutlery, couches among a few other items. I really wish we had more to give them as they really needed it but, as it was the last house there was not much we could do. One of the men at this property highlighted to me that this was the first sort of aid they had received since coming to Australia and all of them were really appreciative of the effort and hoped we could help them more.

I guess the part I found hard was when we had to say no to giving away some of the items to some refugees as we knew that there were other houses that needed it more and also not having enough to give. Donations clearly play a very large part in the whole process so it wouldn’t be right to close off without acknowledging all the donations that made it possible to give all these refugees a chance at having the basic life necessities that I know I take for granted like a bed, fridge and clothes.

A Test on Forgiveness

By Pat Pagulayan

Whoever said following God is a piece of cake must be hallucinating.

So far, my faith journey towards Him has been a rollercoaster ride. Probably the most exhilarating, nerve-wrecking, mind-blowing ride I have ever taken in my life, hands down! This journey has broken me and mended me over and over again. It has made me question myself, my family, and even God Himself. It has made me feel a myriad of things that I don’t even know that I am capable of feeling. It has brought me so much sadness and sorrow, as well as joy and peace, and I am loving every minute of it.

The last 24 hours has unexpectedly been a difficult one, for reasons that I am still trying to comprehend.

The day started beautifully with a confession wherein the priest prayed for three things for me: patience, humility, and charity. I guess I have underestimated how powerful prayers are. Little did I know that these three values are going to be put to test so soon, and I guess I was unprepared for it. But actually, I find that sometimes, it’s good to be unprepared, because the lessons learned penetrate deeper in an unprotected heart.

That test came with a grand entrance that I was so appalled that even now, I still find the turn of events unbelievable. I guess I have never been hurt by someone I consider a friend in such a short amount of time. I was so hurt that this same friend has put me in a situation wherein I have to make a very logical and drastic decision.

So I prayed and asked God for counsel to do what is right. And the answer I got is probably one of the hardest thing I had to do as of yet (well, I guess aside from overcoming my fear of confession).

“Forgive and give another chance.”

And so there I was just sitting, still in disbelief, and being my stubborn self, trying to argue.

I guess my “yes Lord” was actually we a “yes Lord, but…”

Ah, faith. To trust fully in God and His plans, ideally without question. But well, I’m still working on the questioning part. You see, God has given me an inquisitive mind that sometimes brings me more stress and hinders my trust in Him.

Eventually, a heartfelt “yes” finally came out of my mouth.

After that, I was expecting to sleep well and be in peace knowing that it is the right decision. But when I found myself awake, uneasy, and disturbed at 3am, I began questioning if it was really Him who’s telling me that, because since I’ve started going back to Him, one of the main issues I’ve had is not being able to discern His voice: is it really Him, or is it just my own head telling me those things? Or worse, is it coming from the devil? It has been a struggle for me and one of the most common thing I ask other people. I remember being told that when it comes from Him, you will feel at peace. I was like, where is the peace right now as I roll around the bed feeling so bothered and uneasy? As I discovered later on, it is different for everyone - a custom-made, personally modified, faith journey.

And so I woke up feeling very drained and decided to stick to my “logical” decision. I just felt so stressed, so tired, and emotionally drained, so I went to church early to pray.

And once again, that voice rung inside me head,

“Forgive and give another chance.”

Deep inside I know what I should do, but my mind finds it very difficult to do God’s will.

“How many times have I provided people to be there for you, even during the times when you didn’t think you needed a friend?”

I felt humbled. So humbled that I just started crying, thanking God for humbling me. If other people saw me, they would have thought I’ve lost my mind.

For He is right. During the times I was at my lowest, during those times when I felt alone, there were always people who were there for me. Some of them kept me sane, some of them listened, and there were the blessed few who brought me closer to Him. God has always provided me with a friend.

And how many times has God given me another chance when I have failed to do the right thing, when I have made a fool of myself, when I have hurt other people? Countless.

Forgiveness is not an easy thing to do, but with God’s grace, it is possible.

There is a thing called justice as well.

Even if wrongdoings have been forgiven and forgotten, does not mean there are no repercussions to those actions. Growth entails change, and change may require discipline. Tolerance of wrongdoings won’t help anyone grow to become better versions of ourselves. In saying so, I guess justice has to be delivered with compassion as well.

So I did what He told me: to forgive and give my friend another chance.

And then the most amazing thing happened. After doing what He asked me to, that was when I felt peace.

I felt happy. I felt light. At peace.

I guess sometimes you just have to jump without holding back to find what you were looking for. I guess that in my case, it’s not just saying “yes” to God that you experience peace, but rather, it is in doing His will that you get to experience peace after.

This has been a test of trust, doing His will, even when everything else seems to be pointing the other direction.

Ah, the beauty of faith. Trust Him and He’ll show you.