Protected: YMT Christmas 2009

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A childhood dream comes true

When I was a young lad, I loved watching the movie “The Polar Bear King” and the main reason was the snow. It was also the snow which enticed me to watch the movie Narnia.

Growing in a tropical country, I thought snow was just a dream. However, with mere innocence of a child, I actually prayed to God pleading to snow in the Philippines, which is absolutely impossible. I could vividly remember that it would take me ages to leaf through the succeeding pages of a book or a magazine every time I would see quaint pictures of snow. I would imagine a young lad making a snowman, playing snowball fight with his mates, or a little boy waiting for Santa’s sleigh. As a child, being in a place covered with snow was a paradise.

When I went to Australia in 2008 for the World Youth Day, it was winter. I couldn’t hide my excitement for my childhood dream, seeing the snow, which I all thought was impossible, would be a reality. The temperature has gone down to freezing -4˚C. But sometimes God is a bit tricky. It didn’t snow. I went back to the Philippines without seeing the snow. Not maybe that time but in God’s perfect time.

Howard September 7, 2009, life brought me to England. The long wait was over. The dream would be a reality. In the 30^th of November at exactly 6:45 in the morning on our way to our mission at St. Anthony’s School, in my whole existence here on Earth, I have seen the snow. My face was frozen with a massive smile on our way to the mission. That moment I was neither the richest nor the most famous but I was the happiest man alive.

Every time I introduce myself in missions and in retreats, I would always mention that I have never seen snow in my entire life and I would always ask everyone to pray for me for a white Christmas because I heard it may not snow in England during the Yuletide season. I think for every kid in this world, so as for someone like me who hasn’t seen snow ever, a white Christmas is a joy of the heart. A couple of days ago, Anna, a co-YMT member, knocked on my door early in the morning and asked me to go to our lounge. I felt something strange. I was a bit worrisome thinking that something wrong might have happened. I just followed and walk through the lounge half asleep. To my surprise as I reached the lounge, it was so magical looking out the window seeing snow flurries gently falling down the white snowy ground. It was the first time I have seen it snowed that much and the whole village nearly covered with snow. I ran outside under the falling snow only with my pyjamas and shirt and thought to myself “It’s a white Christmas!” I just realized there might be a lot of people who prayed for me. Thanks for the prayers. It only proves prayers could really move mountains.

I danced under the snow with Joy and Morena feeling like the prince in The Polar Bear King and Edmund in Narnia. I took pictures with Fr. Paul. I had my first snowman with Hannah and Fran. I am enjoying my latest sports, snowball fighting with Matt. I am always excited to share my first snow experience with Michael. I went sledging with Sasha and Anna. Yes, I am living the dream.

Paulo Coelho is correct. The universe will truly conspire for the purest desires of our hearts because the God of the universe is always listening.

I rang my family in the Philippines and I told my nephews and my nieces about the snow. They told me that they also want to see some snow. I told them that they could also see snow just like when I whispered to the universe by praying to God when I was as small as them. Then I asked each of them what do they like as a Christmas present from me. One of them said in a cute tiny voice “Could you please send me a bagful of snow?”

Merry Christmas to everyone!

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Howard 20 December 2009 Team Blogs 1 Comment

Winter Wonderland at the Youth Village!

Snow at the Youth Village (18) Words are not enough to explain the joy and excitement for all of us as the Youth Village turned white right before our eyes. For many of us in the team it was there first time to see snow in the their life and for the rest of us at this time of the year. We are all privilaged to be part of everyone’s experience. We’ll let the images below tell their own stories. You may want to read Howard’s personal exprerience of his first snow in his page [click MEET THE TEAM/HOWARD].