It is so worthwhile to recall that on November 2007 Pak Boyet Macorol invited me for the third time, to join his team in the EU-Assisted Build for Peace in Mindanao Project. This project is one of the contributions of the Habitat for Humanity Philippines in the peace build efforts in Mindanao. Considering that I cannot get away from my previous commitments, I assured him that I will join his team by December 2007. During that time, I was on the peak of our preparation for the Mindanaowide Social Workers' Convention slated last week of November where I volunteered myself to be the Convention Director (of course, I got no objection from my colleague social workers in PASWI-GENSARSWAI). I realized it was not an easy task, but I thank God; it was facilitated, not so well but accordingly, that was a great job for the first timers. Thanks God, I have with me the supports of co-officers and members of the organization. That was a great relief when we finished the convention hosting.
December 1, 2007 I reported to Habitat for Humanity Philippines-HBRC Mindanao to fulfill my commitment. I told Boyet that I cannot spare my 8 hours a day, 5 days a week to the project since I was holding several tasks even after the convention. To mention few are as follows: I was a part time social work professor in two big colleges; the Ramon Magsaysay Memorial College and the Notre Dame of Dadiangas University; I am the President and Chief Executive Officer of the GENSARSWAI Foundation, Inc. The Foundation at that time was preparing for the Caregiver training and had just started to reactivate its program and services with a very minimum operational fund; I was a newly elected Board of trustee of the Gensan Habitat for Humanity, Inc. I cannot also get out from my consultancy works that made me received my resources in order to live. Saturdays and Sundays I divided my time for my family and my church obligations as the Sunday School Principal and a Preacher in our church evening service dubbed "Gospel Hour". It was so great that God shared me His mercy, wisdom, strength and protection to enable me to handle all those responsibilities. Boyet agreed that I can't spare my full time and we started working together. On the second week of December, I started to realize that the commitment I entered into with Habitat cannot be facilitated with part time efforts. The job requires more that 8 hour a day and 6 days a week work. Deliverables are too huge given the remaining project time line of 14 months. Something should be done but since I was caught unaware, I failed to manage my stress and fall down in bed, spent my Christmas and New Year terribly sick. Again I realized that what had happened is an opportune time to spend more quality time to the source of everything, to my Creator and God.
The year 2008 was a good year of new revelations, to start every day communing with Him and talking to Him anytime of the day. Acknowledging my nothingness without Him and putting every molecule of trust in Him. Then… more blessings followed. In Habitat, more competent staffs were added and a new manager was in placed. The work became so light and well focused. In the family, communication gaps are slowly healed and physical health conditions are improving. Consultancy opportunities are growing. On May 2008, I received a full time appointment in my teaching career in the Social Work Program of Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Colleges. In the Foundation, we started to launch three major programs and two Convention projects. Again, the more opportunities, the more pressures. However, to effectively manage our stress in this reality, we need to go back to our knees and seek His guidance and wisdom. We cannot get out of opportunities because these are blessings that we can use to also bless others. An opportunity is always an opportunity to serve Him and touch the lives of others. Col 3:23 says, "Whatsoever you do, do it as unto the Lord and not for men." An opportunity is always a benefit. God says in Isaiah 1:19, "If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land…" Opportunities therefore are products of obedience, and if these are products of obedience, then He is always there to enable us manage our stresses.
It’s a great experience, realizing that even in stress, His enabling power is with us. Let us be His real children and inheritors.
SHALOM
