A Banquet at He Cares

After many weeks of hard work and long hours and spiritual battles, we celebrated He Cares' 9th anniversary by throwing an honest-to-goodness banquet and mini-concert for our VIPs (when we were meeting with the caterer who was kind enough to plan our menu and lend us her equipment, she wanted to create a separate menu for the "VIPs," probably meaning our non-indigent guests...but we were quick to remind her that the poor people we serve are our VIPs). Although there were irritating glitches with the sound system and LCD presentations, not to mention the surreptitious theft of a few raffle prizes (good grief) during the joyful commotion onstage, the celebration was a huge success, over-all. Among my many favorite moments were arriving at the venue after a quick transformation from my usual jeans and pawis combination to a more dressy outfit and heels, and getting compliments from the teens and kids (some of whom actually think my name really is "Ate Ganda"); hearing "Gagawa Ang Diyos" being sung by 600 people; watching the kids go wild over Alvin Barcelona's performance; dancing the swing with Oman - who first came with me to He Cares more than a year ago; and just reveling in the cheerful chaos of it all with my mission co-workers AG, Kuya Mike, Norman, Joy, Judith and everyone else. It was nice to see the kids and their parents dressed up in their best outfits, having the time of their lives.

But probably my favorite moment of the day was the long one-to-one senti conversation I had with Kuya Joe Dean, much later that evening when everything was all over, while waiting for AG to get back with the rest of the guys who were carting back all the equipment and stuff. He talked about mission, and sacrifice, and the God we serve; he asked me about how my service translates to my spiritual life, and about what I've gained from my new ministry in Montalban. We talked at length about how the things we do seem insignificant at first - like showing a little love to a child or giving him the dignity of our attention - but in fact have a tremendous impact on their future, because they spark the gift of HOPE, which, "hope"fully, is fanned into the fire of LOVE. And, as I've learned in my one short year at He Cares, a little love goes a long, long way. For some of these kids, the love of the He Cares workers is probably the only love they've ever experienced...and because we were first loved and cared for by the One who is Love, I pray that we be able to continue to love all these little children and their families as He does. I thank God for loving Kuya Joe Dean and Ate Ardis and for enabling them to be channels of this love to those who most need it...including those of us who need to be taught how to love as the Master did.

Happy Anniversary, He Cares. My life would not be the same - and thank God it's not - without you.