GKYB 2007 - a life-changing experience

What else can be said other than the fact that the past 2 weeks were such an enjoyable experience for all!

It can be truly said that lives have changed, not just for the villagers and beneficiaries of the houses we built, but also for us- the participants. We found new friends, met old ones, built houses and relationships, and bridged the gap between social classes and nationalities.

We all look forward to the last 2 days, but for now, let the above slide show and the other two (see below) suffice. Our stories are all made offline as we didnt have the luxury of internet access for the past 12 days. Thank you for all your prayers!

Here are some short words from the participants:


From Aldrich: Last day!!!!! i can't believe this, its kinda mixed feeling of happiness and sadness, we will definitely miss everything and everyone, this build is an experience i will never forget every single day of it...........




From Christine: My last days with the GKYB were amazing. I really enjoyed having a group of friends from Toronto that was able to travel to the Philippines. I really enjoyed meeting new friends from the Middle East. Hanging out with them was a great experience because I was able to open my mind to them. My experience in Marinduque was memorable. When i was at the GK site, the kids were able to help me gain self confidence. This experience with the Gawad Kalinga was a blessing for me and I hope that I will never forget it.



From Therese: The past few weeks have been phenomenal. It was the first time I felt this mix of emotions all at once. I feel fulfilled, blessed, overwhelmed, and some more...This two-week 'stint' isn't just something that happened coincidentally- it was all part of God's plan for me. It was definitely a life-changing experience, simply because I have grown so much as a person by being part of it. Like Christine and Aldrich, I will not forget every single part of it. And I will see you soon...

Becoming GREEN-minded

"Ang kabataan ang susi sa kinabukasan"

Just like the seedlings we planted in the first urban farm in Metro Manila, GK Selecta Village Farm, the youth was the best natural choice to plant a different set of seeds for the future.

The seeds of compassion, love for country, and love for neighbor isn't always automatic for today's youth who are either slumped into one corner playing their PS3s and WIIs, Ipods or PSPs.

The organic traits of youth for philantrophy and giving back needs nourishment and continued cultivation, watering and ensuring that weeds of bad habits don't creep in to destroy the crops of youthful nation-building.

*******

GK Youth Build was able to provide the same seeds to both the first and only urban farm in Metro Manila, but also to the Youth participants of the program.

We committed ourselves as early as 7:30 am to travel from Cubao to Cainta to be immersed in a day of urban farming. The produce, of course, is a source of livelihood for the nearby GK Village. The discipline of watering before 9am and another time before 4PM, can be likened to providing nourishment and consistent disciplining of our youth. Watering too much, or too late can be damaging, as in providing love too much spoils the child.

Moderation is always key.

Can We Offer Pictures For Now?

Our First 48 Hours

Re: Don is writing

(From left to right: Therese, Christine, Don (me), Junnie,
(GK Mabuhay Head) Laksmi, Bailinda, Aldrich and Norson)

MABUHAY!!!!

hi! my name is don and I am part of the welcoming party of the GK Mabuhay Tour. We would like to thank those people who made this GK Youth Build possible. I am basically their "YAYO" (male version of nanny (Just kidding)).

It is really inspiring to see people coming all over the world, helping out in Gawad Kalinga, not just to build houses for them, but also giving back and restoring their dignity.

You people are giving the families (the beneficiaries), especially the children, what was once lost to them, and that is to HOPE for a brighter tomorrow.

Again, thank you all for helping us out back here in the Philippines!!!

May God bless you all!!!

Today is the official start of the GK tour and the start of the life changing experiences for them... pray for them...

big day friday

Philippines here we are even with the slight delay we are up and excited for the trip cant wait till the build......

(That's Aldrich while writing this blog entry and Christine, thinking that the next plane is going to be ours..."That's not our plane is it?" she'd ask several times...." She wants to be first in line...:)

on becoming stronger...

I've been waiting for this weekend to come and finally, it did. GKYB 2007 is indeed here. I bought my raincoat and boots today in 168 in Divisoria, and I'm really eager to use them. I can't wait to see Kuya Junnie, Aldrich, Christine, and our friend from the USA..(sorry I forgot your name...)

Please pray for the victims of the ferry that sunk in Quezon just yesterday morning ( July 12). I saw the headline this morning and was really taken aback by it. (Read more on: http://www.philstar.com/) So far there are 15 people who have died and 100 people missing. I also heard one of the dead is from Marinduque. One of my family friends even commented on the situation, since there is a typhoon over the Philippines, and Marinduque is on the typhoon belt. I don't mean to scare you on this. Then again, beyond these doubts and fears, I know that we can do it. The LORD will help us get through this.


I guess we are really here for a mission- a mission to change what to many, seems quite impossible. But it is happening. Thank you to everyone who made this trip/experience possible.


Till the next one,
therese

A Summer To Remember

"If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it"

Back when I was about Aldrich's and Christine's age (which wasn't long ago), you can never let me miss my summer. Summer meant being with friends, frolicking under the sun and being able to stay in bed until the creases of the blanket are pressed to my cheeks.

Everyone knows that the decision to spend summer in a far away land, just like some of Therese's friends chiding her in her Facebook wall, to enjoy "her summer building houses,", wasn't an easy one. From close to 10, we are down to 4, including Norson. But, it's not really about the numbers. Lori said, "it's a personal experience". I believe it really is.

We are actually more than 4, not counting the 20 or so youth from the Middle East who we will be merging with, but more like the rest of the GKYB family back here in Canada. We will be there not just for ourselves but for everyone. We will be there to hammer down nails the way Kyle would hammer, paint the houses in Jonah's favorite colors. We will be there to dance with the kids as graceful as Nika and Kristine. When we are around the GK villagers, we will be full of energy like Ricky, and sweet at the same time, like Angelique. We are representing GKYB, right?

We will be you when we are there.

(Blogger's Note: * - Jose paved the way, and was in Marinduque too, a couple of weeks ago and was able to share his wonderful experience via email. Have you read his experience?)

Heroes of GK Youth Build

Dear All,

Bless your missionary hearts - the hearts that will carry the love of Jesus to the poor!

As Michele quoted from the bible - "the harvest is abundant but the laborers are few"... I'd like to follow up on that train of thought...

Jesus sent 72 disciples to proclaim the good news to the poor. You are now the disciples that Jesus is sending. Whenever you visit a house you will say "Peace to this household". You will say to them "The kingdom of God is at hand for you." You will bring the the love of Jesus in your heart - this is by far the most effective way of evangelization. They will see that people in Canada care for them - it is the love of Jesus that made you want go and be with them.

Don't forget to mention that your trip is made possible by the many, many, many workers who are left here in Canada. Pray also for us that we will make it to the next batch if not this year - the next.

We, whom Jesus chose to work "locally" and got left behind are still part very much part of the "72" that Jesus is sending. We will continue the work of GK Youth Build here in Canada. We will build up the Canadian youth that comes our way and help them become heroes like you.

We will continue with our main task -

BUILDING COMMUNITIES. BUILDING THE YOUTH.

We will continue to build the communities of love - for the poor (materially and spiritually) in Canada. There are many youths who are lost and live a life with no purpose. We will build the youth and give them hope - hope for themselves, hope for the future, hope for a better world. WE WILL MAKE HEROES OF THEM! Winning heroes in the war against poverty of spirit and not the gang war.

The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few. Indeed the harvest is abundant - there are many youth who are searching for a better world. We are few - but take heart - Jesus is our main energy source - He will be our General Commander. He will connect us with other youth groups who are as passionate like us - who will help us along the way.

We will rejoice because Jesus will make us effective workers. We will rejoice because we will conquer the negativity that surrounds the youth.

However, Jesus will say

- rejoice more because your names are written in heaven."

God bless us all (those who are traveling as well as those who chose to work here locally)

--The Heroes of GK Youth Build--

Tita Elvie

The Band of Bloggers

Why Blog?

Why not? This will be our way to encapsulate the experience of a lifetime. In the next 8 days, (did I just say 8 days?), we'll be in the Philippines. "We" in the last sentence is composed of 3 from Canada : Aldrich (front), Christine (3rd from left, back row), and me (leftmost, 2nd row). We will be joined by Norson and Therese who are both happily soaking the sun in the Philippines.

We'll be using this to connect to the rest of the GKYB family and friends and try to capture our day-to-day existence - our thoughts, musings, reflections and prayers. We may even have pictures and videos, who knows?

For now, this is a fresh start. Thanks to Kyle Unas who started this blog close to 60 moons ago. Our only hope is that you our readers will continue to pray for us. As you read our blogs, you can comment, send us a short message and vicariously live the experience. From here onwards, call us the BAND of BLOGGERS!

Read the previous entry from Christine on how she celebrated a special birthday.