JUST simply this scenario happened to me and everything changed! my whole life indeed! my dreams, my vision, and my plans in life changed JUST because of this event last year that is now my vocation story. As the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of Christ the King today, I celebrate the first year that passed also that I met Sister Rebecca and knew ODN (Ordinis Dominae Nostrae); a year with a mixture of happiness, surprises, decision making, keeping the FLAME burning, desire, discernment, struggles, challenges, difficulties, hopes, trust, courage, perseverance, strength, faith, love, peace, generosity and etc.! A year that is like a reagent bottle that must be taken care not to explode... :-D For the greater glory of God, yes! I will do my best to follow Him even if to follow Him is like being nailed on the cross at the same time... It was November 24, 2012 in an event hall in Xavier University when I was invited to join a storytelling workshop (but I am not really fond of joining such that kind of activity and very rare that I pay attention into it because storytelling workshop is very far from my field of interest cause I admire science only) by CFJ (ChildFund Japan), a sponsorship program where I am one of their scholars. But I never thought that, that workshop will change my vision in life and so to say, my WHOLE LIFE. During the break [ of the workshop ], I saw this woman (whom I knew later as Sister Rebecca) sitting and talking with one of the staff (kuya Jason) of the CFJ. When I happened to glance at her and unconsciously stared at her, I was astonished because she looked at me and smiled. My mind murmured and said, “insane! Smiling at me even we do not know each other! Why is she smiling at me like that? ”. In spite of that crazy thought I had in mind, I just smiled back at her; “TO SHOW RESPECT”. Another break came and it was lunch break. I sat together with Ate Genevieve (my group mate and happened to be a MUSTean). We talked and exchanged stories then the time came when our topic was about scholarships. I shared to her to what scholarship I belonged to and she shared hers. Awesome! She knew the woman that I referred to be as “INSANE” [for smiling at me]. What a shock when I knew that the woman is a “Sister”! I never thought of it because as far as I know, nuns have uniform. Out of my mind, I asked Ate Gen if she could ask the contact number of that (Sister Rebecca) Sister for me after the workshop BUT! BUT, “STRICTLY” not to introduce me to Sister Rebecca because I am not ready yet; I don’t even know if I will communicate with her seriously. After the workshop, I was so SHOCKED when Ate Gen called me. I felt VERY NERVOUS because I saw Sister Rebecca standing right behind her. My feet could hardly take a single step because of the NERVOUSNESS I felt and my knees were shivering. But since Ate Gen was waiting for me; so with Sister Rebecca to come to them, I fought with my tense feeling and started to take steps. But my mind protested and saying, “ GRRRRRRR!!! I told you [Ate Gen], I do not want to be introduced; I just wanted to get her contact number and THAT IS THE END!”. However, I managed to talk with Sister Rebecca and tried to pretend that I am not feeling nervous! I made the conversation very short by just getting her [Sister Rebecca] contact number, saving it right away. Sister Rebecca told me of some things like, I can visit their community for some time to see but I my answer was that I will try but I am not really sure ( my mentality that time was that, when I say I am not really sure, it does not really mean that I am not sure but I REALLY DO NOT HAVE an INTEREST TO DO IT). She also told me other things aside from inviting me but it seemed like my mind did not absorbed anything. Lastly, she invited me to attend the mass (since the mass is about to start that time that we talked) with her but before she could say more words, I told her, “NO”! To be honest, I was so uncomfortable because I never expected that Ate Gen will introduce me to Sister Rebecca. After our conversation, I excused myself, together with my bestfriend. I and my bestfriend went to the office of our scholarship which is located inside the Xavier University; in KKP Office and Sister Rebecca went to the XU Chapel to attend the mass. When we (with my bestfriend) reached the office, I noticed that I lost or misplaced my cellphone where I saved Sister Rebecca’s number. I tried to remember where I probably lost it. I was worried because losing my cellphone means losing Sister Rebecca’s number (and I do not know why I was so worried when I do not even know if I will be serious in communicating a Sister). Since I was worried about Sister Rebecca’s number, I thought of going to the Chapel (since she told me that she will attend Mass) and to ask her also if she noticed where I placed my phone after I asked her number. So I did, together with my bestfriend again, we went to the Chapel and sat together with Sister Rebecca. I asked her contact number again and it was very funny, I could not believe that before Sister Rebecca mentioned a single digit, I was able to write first before her words came out. It simply means that out of consciousness, I was able to memorize her number and I felt so shy. So I told myself, “ahak, na memorize man di-ay nako, anhi anhi pako! Amaw!”. But I laughed so hard with amazement! How was it possible that I was able to memorize her number when I am so forgetful! After writing down Sister Rebecca’s number, she invited me again to attend the Mass and that moment, I accepted her invitation. After the Mass, she invited me again to visit their community in Nazareth. The first time she invited me, before I lost my phone, I refused but the second time, I accepted again her invitation, FINALLY! Just as we arrived in their community, they had a prayer and that was my first time to join. After the prayer, she introduced me to the other Sisters and with the postulants. They invited me to have supper with them but I refused because I FELT SO SHY. So Sister Rebecca just talked with me inside the Chapel of the community. I was so amazed with myself because I was becoming so talkative which is not really my natural behavior especially with a Sister! The I shared to Sister Rebecca my immature thoughts in religious life. I left their community very late at night that day with the feeling of being attracted to the Sisters that made me feel also not to leave (which is impossible). Then I realized that my desire to join their community started that evening. Going home, while reminiscing what had happened, I could not stop heart feeling joyful; realizing that I wanted to become one of “them”, recognizing that GOD WAS CALLING ME TO ENTER RELIGIOUS LIFE. I did not exactly know that day what does it mean to become a Sister but I gave my sweetest “yes” to God. I felt happy that I won something ( a story book) in the storytelling workshop which means I participated well in the activities but I never thought that I will receive a PRIZE more than that story book and that was the FLAME BURNING IN MY HEART. I never thought that the idea that the speaker of the storytelling workshop had spoken, that struck me most, which says like this, “Jesus, is the best storyteller and He uses parables to teach people” will have a very big impact in my life. I never thought that, that day I will be starting to imitate and follow Jesus footsteps.
Posted on: Sun, 24 Nov 2013 10:41:58 +0000