I was your typical “happy-go-lucky” guy. I did many things for the sake of having fun. I did what I wanted without thinking about the consequences. I spent my time with my “barkada” and even had vices. I lost focus on my studies and got kicked out. I just wanted to have fun and enjoy life. In 1997, I became a Youth for Christ because I wanted to have something to write on my yearbook. During my youth camp, I was so sure that it was the last time I would join any YFC activity. It was only the teaching of songs, and I already thought that the camp was boring and, too corny.
But after the youth camp, I became part of Xavier University’s Campus Based. There were so many activities, I was sent out to serve. After some time, I became an active member and even joined the conferences. I realized that it was not during my youth camp, but it was in my time in Campus based that I came to recognize the life that God promised me.
Because of the Holy Spirit, I realized that I wanted to serve the Lord full-time. This journey began when I was invited to be a Mission Volunteer for Misamis Oriental, where I served for two years. It took a while before I became a Fulltime Pastoral Worker. At the time, my province didn’t have any plans on hiring an FTPW, so I thought it was the end of my missionary journey. I asked myself “Should I still go through with this?”
I went through a lot to finally become a Fulltime Pastoral Worker. There were moments where I was stretched and my call purified. I believe that being a missionary has pit-stops where we are to ask ourselves, “Should I still go through with this?” discerning the path that the Lord directs. There are moments in my missionary journey that I had my doubts and questions. But the Lord has always led me to Him, calling me to stay and keep going.
Then, I was assigned to serve in SFC Metro Manila. First in a big sector, and after a while, I became the Metro Manila Coordinator. With this, I learned so much from the brothers and sisters that I encountered in SFC. Eventually, I came to face a crossroads in my missionary life. I came to ask myself, “What’s next after SFC?” I thought about going home to my province. But my father told me to stay in the mission, and so I did.
In 2017, I was asked to discern for YFC, and only had a week to decide. After a very fateful day at SM North, where I experienced God’s love and mercy, I said YES to serving as the YFC International Coordinator. Being back in YFC, so much has changed. The realities of the youth and even the Fulltime Pastoral Workers have changed. Even the world we live in now has changed.
My missionary journey was not an easy one. It was very personal and filled with trials. But it is here that I truly experience the life that He promised me. That promise wasn’t just life, but He promised me to experience the fullness of L.I.F.E.
I got to experience the LOVE OF GOD. It was here that I experienced how concrete his love for me is. It was also here where I found the INSPIRATION to live by His purpose; a life that I found in Christ. This is a life so full of Jesus, that I couldn’t help but share it with the world. Through this, I also experienced FORGIVENESS. I came to understand that this is not just a journey, but this is also something that the Lord offers every day. Finally, it was here that the Lord called me to lead. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would become a leader. But the Lord EMPOWERED me to become a missionary cares for His sheep.
I am not great, but the God who works in me and empowers me with His Holy Spirit is great. This is what I hold on to. This is why I truly believe that being a missionary; being a Fulltime Pastoral Worker is the best job in the world.
