Iffasia - Asian Hearts Speak - Sept 2009

A SIA N

HEA R T S

SP EA K

Becoming agents of change in Asian Society SEPTEMBER

2009

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1

INTERCULTURAL SENSITIVITY

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Lina Han, China INTERCULTURAL SENSITIVITY

1

EDITORIAL: YOUNG 2 DISCIPLES FOR MISSION MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

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MY DECISION TO ENTER IFFA

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ENCOUNTERING MY FATHER

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CAN YOU DO THIS FOR ME?

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AN ENDLESS OVERFLOW OF GOD’S LOVE AND BLESSINGS

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If I want to live well with others, I must know and learn to appreciate, accept and understand other people’s cultures and way of life. This means that I myself must understand my own culture. I must know what are life-giving and death-dealing elements/aspects of my own culture. Only then can I learn from others and help others learn from me. Therefore, the art of understanding others becomes very important in any situation because everyone wants to be understood and it is extremely important for us to know others’ culture. It is necessary and a must! Some points to reflect on:

AM I BECOMING MORE MATURE?

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CREATIVE WORKSHOP

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LIKE A BOY

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SUPPORT THE TRAINING OF YOUNG WORKERS FOR THE MISSION

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VISION OF IFFA

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Firstly, if I can understand more about other people, I can avoid and lessen some misunderstandings among us. Sometimes, we judge people using our perception because of our cultural biases. This is a very big source of misunderstanding and conflict. Unless we open ourselves to their perspective, we will continue to have endless problems and unnecessary conflicts. Sometimes, gestures have different meanings in different countries. Secondly, every country has its distinct aspects. We can try to learn from other people’s cultures by affirming the best of their culture and focusing less on their death-dealing aspects. Our goal is to embrace the goodness in each culture so that the light of life (Christ) can come out and shine for all. This is the same with individuals. We can learn to appreciate more the giftedness of others and set aside their shortcomings. The more we learn, the better we become.

Thirdly, when we learn and know more about different cultures, it can cultivate and enhance our international heart. If we just adhere to our own culture, our horizons become so limited and narrow that we can no longer see beyond our own. We become so ethnocentric with the sole focus on our own culture and not the other’s. We must see the whole world and open our heart to everyone and everywhere. Unfortunately, every country also can not avoid bad practices like corruption. We can correct ourselves from this shortcoming. These negative elements can improve our own culture. You can help by avoiding falling in the same situation. If you feel something is not right about what is being done or asked of you, you can stand by your principles by doing what is right. Even though different cultures or countries have different ways of life, they all have common ground – Love. Love Love is for the whole world. Nobody can understand this world without it. Love can deal with anything. To love and to be loved is what matters. That’s what we stand for as Christians, and humanity, for the world!

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YOUNG DISCIPLES FOR MISSION Abraham S. Chongo, IFFA Formation Team

To train and form young people for mission is one endeavor that cannot go without the support of a larger community involving the students themselves, formators, collaborators and partners in mission. This community also includes the Sending Organizations and Dioceses who make it possible for these young people to respond to the call of God. Response to God’s call requires an added commitment and sacrifice to go beyond one’s familiar surroundings, comforts and way of doing and being as one continues to relate with others. In this first issue of our newsletter: “Asian Hearts Speak” you will read the testimonies of both students and staff on how they continue to respond to God’s invitation of love and service. They all speak of the common call that binds together people coming from different backgrounds. We all have one thing in common regardless of our differences. It is this love that lies deep within our hearts that makes us ONE. We Asian Hearts Speak! We invite you to journey with us throughout this year. We are very grateful for the assistance of the following people; without their time and contribution, this issue of our publication won’t be possible. For Amelia, our volunteer from Malaysia, who has been helping our students in their English and initial work on this newsletter. For Mary Thao, who did the final layout of this newsletter and spent quite sometime on this work. For Mary Ann, one of our student interns, who helped in collecting some of the articles from the students and encoding them. Last but not the least, we thank you all for the contributions of your articles and reflections. To one and all, thank you so much and God bless you!

Becoming agents of change in Asian Society

“Response to God’s call requires an added commitment and sacrifice to go beyond one’s familiar surroundings...”

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MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR Charles Bertille, IFFA

This year 2009-2010 we are called to strengthen community among us as we place greater emphasis on mission. This means change for persons, the program and as Institution. For each of us, we have to discern the little voice of God and the conversions He invites us to. For the program, after listening to our former students and young workers at the Penang Gathering in May 2009, and evaluations from Sending Organizations over these past three years, we are affirmed in our program and the fruits they are bearing in the local churches. 100% of our students are involved and are serving full-time even when they are not obliged to. They have established structures, programs and offices for youth, campus ministry and laity where none existed before. Others are involved in social development, pastoral work, evangelization and Catechism. They are a blessing for the Church in Asia. We will deepen mission formation to continue to respond effectively to local challenges. There is a greater emphasis on understanding the Asian realities of mission, with a Spirit of stewardship, witnessing and prayer. We will dismantle some structures and rebuild a new way of being institute, with a community always at the heart of it. The year began with students and staff living in households and cooking meals together. The students have taken on fundraising for their mission training projects this year and helping find the shortfall of fellow students’ pocket allowances. There are also three student interns who have returned to serve the institute and further their own formation/studies. This is a healthy sign and they bring richness to the students and institute. We will continue to build networks and partnerships inside and outside the Church as we need the others. God is pruning us gently. He wants to consolidate our efforts.

In jubilation and high spirits, for the joy of creative workshop through the use of theater for mission and service. God becomes fully present in each one’s heart and in the life of the IFFA Community.

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“We will deepen mission formation to continue to respond effectively to local challenges.”

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MY DECISION TO ENTER IFFA Mary Thanh Thao, Vietnam

My choice My one-month stay at IFFA and in the Philippines has been a great time of confronting myself in the deepest core of my being. I have always asked God why I have to stay here. Was my decision to come here right or wrong? In front of all these questions, God spoke to me, and I too spoke to my inner being; I need to decide to be here and not anywhere else. If I am here, then there must be a reason. Since then, I have tried my best to integrate myself in the processes of IFFA and that of my friends. Now I feel very much satisfied with my decision. I feel happy living in IFFA. I have many new friends, who come from different cultural backgrounds in Asia. Despite our differences, I can dare say that we have a lot in common, the Asian-ness of our culture and way of life. Day by day, we continue to appreciate and understand each other more than before in the sessions and the activities we do at IFFA and at SVST. In each session, I learn many meaningful things. These help me to adjust and transform myself in many different ways, and always for the better. Growing in confidence I did not have self-confidence before. I did not believe in myself and my giftedness But, now I know and can affirm my uniqueness that I am a beautiful creation of God and that I receive from Him many blessings which I should share with others willingly. “II am special because

Before I joined this formation program at IFFA, I was a closed person. I didn’t want anybody to know my true feelings. Sometimes, I didn’t know how to talk with others, so I often kept quiet. This way of carrying myself made it difficult for others to talk with me freely. I was afraid I would hurt others and lose my friends if I showed my feelings, especially the negative ones. The sessions on “Intercultural Sensitivity” and “Growth as a Relational Being” changed my attitude and thinking about everything else. If I kept my feelings to myself, this can help me to live in peace with others. But I realized that I’m hurting myself more because of the things I dare not say. Today, I am invited to share and open myself more to understand others and others to understand me. “Looking at each other with LOVE”. Sometimes I feel uncomfortable when someone makes a mistake or someone does something I am not satisfied with. The sessions have helped me to make connection with my daily life situations here at IFFA. I am invited to look into myself first before looking at, or putting blame on, others. Before, for whatever good or bad that happened, I would not accept that I had a part to play in it. Since then, I told myself that I would try to develop a deeper awareness of “self and others”, to love others and myself. To do this, I need everybody to help me open up my heart to them. Today, step by step, I am able to share with others my hidden self. My covenant group is a place where I can learn to be myself, trusting that they will take care of me by understanding and just being there to listen. They are like my brothers and sisters. I can share with them everything and they help me to bring out all that I am. I think this is what it means to be a Christian community, living and sharing in the life of Christ. Exposure to social realities

God made me.” me. This is meaningful for me after the session on “Self-Discovery and Affirming my Uniqueness” and I have indeed discovered who I am in God. God

The activities at IFFA have also helped me to share in the real-life situations of the people in different areas of Metro Manila. Once, I visited a poor community in Paco, where the people experience constant flooding each time there is a heavy rainfall. They helped me to understand the difficult lessons of life. I learned many things especially when I saw their smile; I asked myself why they are still happy even though they are in a desperate situation. Even

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as I consider myself to be so lucky with all the little necessities and comforts that I have, I can not help but ask: “What about these people? Is any one concerned and doing something to make their lives a little bearable? How can I thank God for my life with this in front of me?” Another time, I visited an elderly community in Marikina. When I heard the elder people share their stories of life, about who they are, how they can be that way and how they found themselves where they are right now, I felt sad and angry. I did not understand how someone can leave behind his or her mother or father. Even as I talked, sang and danced with them, feeling happy, I could feel myself being confronted with my own reality, of what it would mean for me to grow old. Despite their different situations, these people feel they’re one big happy family together. I remember one elder person telling us in her sharing: “Love Love parents and study hard”. hard When I heard that, I said to myself that I will try not to make my parents heavyhearted. First and foremost, I will say to them “I love you so much”.

ENCOUNTERING MY FATHER Theresa Hoang Anh, Vietnam

My prayer life begins to consume every part of my life with God. I always ask Him for his guidance before I speak or in any decision that I want to make. I give Him full control of my life. He is ever present in my mind and heart. For me, the reality of prayer is really the fruit of faith. As I look back, there are moments when I pray and ask God for a lot of things, but when I receive them I am dissatisfied. Sometimes, I receive a sweet gift, but sometimes it turns out to be bitter. I get disappointed, and I tend to think that maybe God doesn’t know what I want. As time passes by, I come to realise that God, indeed, knows my needs. He may not give me there and then when I ask, but He surely does know what is best and when is the best time for it.

Now at IFFA, I think that I can do everything because I have a lot of friends who are ready to support and help me grow. At the same time, I know and believe that God is always with me and gives me more than I need or can ask for. Thank God I came here! I can discover and change myself. I can learn many new things to help the young people in my country, especially in my diocese. “Don’t be afraid; I am with you…” Prayer is really my energy source in all that I do. Sometimes, my human weakness gets hold of the best of me, and I feel lazy and tired, and I seem not able to concentrate during prayer. Yet my only consolation is my trust that God understands. I feel that in order to have a good relationship with God I need to learn to let go of my worries and just simply trust. I have a wonderful experience each time I meet God in prayer. I speak to Him first and He listens. Next, He speaks and I listen as his daughter. And the last step is where we both wrap ourselves in the silence of each other. I look forward to encountering my Father everyday in all that I do. Elderly community in Marikina

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REFLECTIONS: CAN YOU DO THIS FOR ME? Lattana (Noi), Laos Whatever circumstance I find myself in (with all the concerns, issues, problems and struggles of my life), I find God asking me: “Can you do this for me?” This is what I feel continuously and I keep asking myself, “Can I trust in Him and in His divine promise for me? Am I willing to give my life to Him and for Him? If yes, then why do I find myself resisting? Why do I feel that I cannot really give in to Him?” It’s through asking myself these questions, meditatively pondering upon what it means for me to respond to His call, that I realize how He is drawing me to grow and develop a close relationship with Him. It makes me understand why He seems to disturb me and make me experience all kinds of conflicting situations and struggles. It is for this reason that I dare to say, “Lord, disturb me even more”, because then, I get to know what it is I have to offer and sacrifice

my life for! What this means for me is that my prayer life is, indeed, a way of communicating with God. And each and every time I start to pray and ask God’s intervention in the day-to-day events and happenings of my life, I ask for His constant faithfulness so that I can remain in Him as He remains in me all the time. I do not have to question anymore what happens to/in my life, and why it is happening. God has His own reason which is beyond my human comprehension; He is the one who gives meaning to everything. This becomes my guiding principle about God’s assuring presence and intervention in my life and the whole of life. He Himself has spoken to us through His Son Jesus Christ: “I have come that you may have life, and have it abundantly” (Jn. 10:10). If I have this assuring presence of God in Jesus Christ, what then is preventing me to go deep in prayer and build a close relationship with Him? I have come to realize that, many times, my attitude, limitations, weaknesses, and of course, my laziness lead me into darkness, thus I become unfaithful in the little steps I know I am supposed to take and do for the good of all.

AN ENDLESS OVERFLOW OF GOD’S LOVE AND BLESSINGS Pale Phyu, Myanmar Three months is just enough time to initially settle down and enter into a way of life which I call spiritual journey. This is an experience I carry in my heart as I look at another phase of formation this year at IFFA.

discovery that I am blessed and that I am God’s gift to others is one of the most significant realizations for me. I am indeed a blessing from God. This has never dawned on me before, and I thank God for IFFA and the yes to the process.

When I reflect on each of the various sessions, I realize that each has been designed in such a way that it makes me sigh and say to myself: how meaningful and useful this is for me and for my life! It is very important to know the beauty that it brings to my life and to the life of the others.

Sometimes when I face difficulties I can not stand up by myself. I even forget to pray to Him, the author of my life. Yet, His blessing is never-ending; it continuously overflows, flowing like a river. I know, and I can feel that this is not of human making, but a divine blessing and sanctification. It is the same thing with his love. It is when I believe that God’s love is endless in my life and I can not even afford to pay with the efforts that I am making. And I start growing in his likeness, appreciating his embrace for me and the rest of humanity. Such is the wonder of God, our Father!

“The discovery that I am blessed and that I am God’s gift to others is one of the most significant realizations for me.”

I can say that this journey of discovery through sessions and daily encounters with people and realities is valuable for me and for my mission. I am not only acquiring knowledge and skills, but it also helps me to change my attitude towards life and to have a greater appreciation of the wider needs of society. The

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AM I BECOMING MORE MATURE? Rodrigo B. Babiera Jr., Philippines

As I grow older day by day, I become more mature physically and mentally. My body changes in structure, my muscles begin to form, and my mind continues to acquire and accumulate more knowledge. I begin to see with a wider perspective. However, there is one area of my being human that I somehow have forgotten to pay attention to – my emotions. I cannot really understand and explain why oftentimes I have a hard time articulating exactly what I feel. If someone asks me: “what do you feel right now?” I wouldn’t know what to say. At some instances, I am forced to say something about how I really feel. I have been endowed by God with a heart that feels. But, my safest way to escape this inability to express my feelings is simply to say that I am happy or sad, even though I know deep within me that I feel something different. With the in-house formation sessions “Growth as a Relational Being” and “My Affective Life”, I was made aware that it is very important to look into, and pay attention to, our emotions and the dynamics involved. The two sessions have helped me to look back in my past and re-live my feelings during my significant experiences, including the good and not-so-good ones. In all these, I have come to realize that I am still very much attached and rooted to my past negative experiences. As a result of this, a lot of times today, I have been reacting to certain things based on these past experiences and not on the actual present situation itself. Until now, I find it difficult to show that I am angry or to even give a feedback (fraternal correction) to my classmate or friend. I tend to keep all these to myself even

if I know inside me that the feeling is burning like fire. This suppression of my feeling has always been my coping mechanism. In my childhood days, I would always tend to be quiet about things within and around me. One thing which was very clear even until now is that I really do not want to hurt the feelings of others. But, I realize that by avoiding this, the more I hurt myself, and in turn, hurt others. The two sessions have brought redemption and relief to my life and taught me how I should carry myself. These have helped me to develop a better attitude on how to deal with my own and others’ emotions, so that in my way of relating with others, I won’t make them uncomfortable by my not being able to express freely what may be disturbing or going on within me. To develop good relationships with others is, first, to take care of our own emotions, to be responsible for our own actions in total freedom and choice. There is no need to be afraid or shy about how we feel. But, we have to make sure that we express it in the right place and time, and with the right person involved. Second, it is good for us not to allow ourselves to be affected by the feelings of others and our own past, especially negative experiences. They say “Experience is the best teacher”; we can all learn from our own experiences and those of others. We can also remember that “Pain is the teacher from whom we can learn much”. These are hard lessons in life, and our negative experiences are meant to help us develop a more positive outlook in life. We can learn from them so that we do not commit the same mistakes in life again and again.

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CREATIVE WORKSHOP Maribel Castillo, IFFA Formation Team “Live life, love God!” This is the motto of the students of the Institute of Formation, Fondacio Asia (IFFA) in their creativity workshop with their very humble, yet so creative, instructor, Mr. Bryan Villas Maliglig, every Wednesday and some Sundays from July to September.

methods used in the workshop such as Symbolic Prayer, Tadashi Suzuki Actors Training Method, Texts, Group Activities and Stanislavski Method of Acting. Since the students started their training, very visible signs of changes happen in them through the workshop. They

Mr. Maliglig is using the module entitled “THE STAIRS”, the vision of which is to establish a nation of well-driven youth leaders and missionaries with greater spiritual, social and environmental awareness. The Creativity Workshop increases the students’ passion for learning and discovery. It helps them realize their capabilities and talents through performing arts workshops and utilize their potentials as tools for their future mission. The core values being developed are as follows: creativity, integrity, independence and objectivity, leadership, innovation, God-driven, mutual respect, trust, openness and teamwork. These core values are being developed through the different

The man behind the students’ creative performances

became more confident and more in touch with their feelings. They are inspired to learn more because they know that through this workshop they can witness the love of God for others through their Theatre Project. Let us support them as they have their first Theater Presentation on September 27 and October 3.

LIKE A BOY Johya Paul Kijima, Japan After participating in some of the sessions offered here at IFFA, I have come to realize that, really, the Holy Spirit is inside me, working within me. I had my encounter with the Holy Spirit in February. This was indeed very personal. When I was praying during the retreat, someone approached me and told me: “Don’t use ‘I’; don’t use ‘you’!” After some time, I realized that it was the Holy Spirit talking to me. The Holy Spirit spoke to me like a child. He never used difficult words. And I felt HE looked like a boy.

Through that encounter and some other sessions I have attended, I now start thinking and making a decision to be HONEST to myself like a boy. I want to depend on the Father like Jesus. My poem expresses this better: There is a small boy in a small village, He wants to grow like a little flower He uses blue water, The water is lighter than air His dress shines brighter than sunshine, His name is SHIRO Now he is dancing to grow like a little flower.

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SUPPORT THE TRAINING OF YOUNG WORKERS FOR THE MISSION The Institute of Formation, Fondacio Asia (IFFA), is a school of discipleship that proposes to potential young leaders and professionals in their early 20’s to 30’s a tenmonth formation program.

• Asian Youth Day 2009, 2009 to participate and be enriched by the experiences of other young people from all over Asia.

Our vision is to be a hub of formation for young adults and laity for a renewed church in Asia and Society.

witness about Christ’s love and service, and raise funds for mission projects.

This school year, 2009-2010, there are 15 students from 7 countries - China, Malaysia, Japan, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos and the Philippines. They are being trained and formed as young Christian disciples for the Church in Asia and Society. They are from the emerging Churches in Asia, mostly from countries that are experiencing hard times in terms of socio-economic situation and political stability.

• Pastoral internship, internship to learn how organizations or

IFFA’s community of staff and students is trying to raise funds to cover the shortfall in the students’ pocket money and visa needs. In addition, they have to find resources for their mission training projects, as shown below. This is part of their training to trust in God’s providence and learning to be good stew For this reason, we have come up with eight major mission projects for this year of formation. These are: • Pocket money and visa fees • Student newsletter, which will enable you, our partners and sponsors, to be updated with what is going on here at IFFA in the life of students and staff, and as an institute. • Weekly visits to communities and exposure to realities, to enable students to get in touch with, and understand, the actual situation and concerns people are grappling with in their efforts to make ends meet.

• Christmas fundraising through theatre presentations, to

dioceses are initiating change in the life of the people in society. While students and staff are taking their steps to find sponsors, we appeal to you reading this newsletter to help us sponsor these projects. They need to raise US$ 20,000. You can send your donations and contributions to: Institute of Formation, Fondacio Asia (IFFA) #12 Martina cor. Reynaldo Sts. Reymar Subdivision, Tandang Sora 1116 Quezon Cit y, Philippines You can also make deposits or fund transfers to our account at: Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. (Met ro Bank) Acct. Name: Fondacio Asia, Inc. Acct. No. (Peso): 7 - 326 - 50450 - 1 Acct. No. (US Dollar): 326 - 2 - 32600602 - 0 Routing Code (SWIFT): MBTC PHMM Tandang Sora Avenue Branch, 185 Tandang Sora Ave., Quezon City, Philippines

• Coffee talks or encounters with witnesses, dialogue with persons who can conscientize us about social realities in the church and society, thus inspiring us with their life to act. • Three weeks of social immersion, stay in a local diocese or area to experience life from the point of view of the poor by living with them in families and communities. Becoming agents of change in Asian Society

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VISION OF IFFA

We, at IFFA, are committed to proclaiming the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ by opting to be an active presence in the Church and Society, especially in the life of the people we encounter each and every day. Since the beginning of this formation year, our life could not have been so colorful as you see it in these pictures, had it not been for the solidarity among us and the constant support from each one of you! We will continue to be much more present to each other, especially to those who most need our presence. We want to invite you, young people of Asia, who want to make a difference in your life and in those of others, to come and spend a year at the Institute of Formation, Fondacio Asia (IFFA), and discover more about your mission and purpose in life. We are Christians for the World and in the world! For Inquiries, please write to: Institute of Formation, Fondacio Asia (IFFA), #12 Martina cor. Reynaldo Sts., Reymar Subdivision, Tandang Sora, Quezon City 1116, Philippines. Tel: +63-2-456-2066, Website: www.fondacio-asia.org