JESUS’ GESTURES OF TENDERNESS

2009-03-31T21:35:00.000-07:00

You know the way for me, You know the time. Into your hands, I trustingly place mine. Your way is love.
Almost two months now living in Davao! I would like to share my feeling about how lucky I am because on this journey that I'm on, I am not alone. I do not know my final destiny and I do not know where I will have to get off but I feel better by been in touch with Jesus. He is the one who calls me, and He loves me and He accompanies me. I am also well accompanied by people who love me and whom I love, especially my family, brothers and friends. So many people who are thinking of me and praying for me on this adventure in Asia. You are part of my life and my assurance and my comfort are the support and love that each of you put in me. Thanks again for being at my side, for being important to me, even though distance separates us, we build together the dream of our lives, making life a light of God, a huge gift to self and others.
It is in the people where I find the face of Jesus. It is in the brothers who are in Davao where I find the gift of fraternal life. Together, without having chosen each other, we form a family where there is the presence of Jesus, respect and acceptance of others, tolerance, diversity of ideas, open heartedness, dialogue, transparency, mutual support, small daily gestures and good humor. All these values help build a very diverse community, yet one that is rich enough to be a testimony of love and humanity. It is the same Jesus who gathers us and He invites us to discover the richness of love and the cultural diversity of each person. These days we have been experiencing and trying to understand the history and cultures of the four countries that we may be sent to: Thailand, Cambodia and two others. It is fascinating to understand the new realities in these places and to enjoy their history which enriches mine. I very much enjoyed coming to know about their origins, their food, dances, customs and ways of greeting. Opening the heart and mind is a good way to know and love the cultural realities that surround me. It is a good exercise in enriching one another and making us what the other offers. Also in the Philippine people, I find wonderful hosts and an incredible innocence. In every look, every gesture, one can discover a sign of humanity, a life that opens wide to welcome you and which offers you the best of their lives. And of course, that never lacks a smile.

On Saturday and Sunday mornings, I usually go to the prison in Davao. The reality of the jail is very hard because of the poor material situation and because the people live with almost no dignity, spending years and years waiting for a fair trial. From day one, they have been very close and friendly but I am sad about their condition. At the same time, I am full of joy when I am with them. These past days, many of them have approached me and shared their relationship with Jesus. It is really incredible to witness the depth that the living feel loved by Jesus. Really, I can feel in their words and see in their looks, that Jesus is their friend and that He gives strength and understanding to their stay in jail. They trust fully in Him, while accepting their situation with hope and an accompanying authentic smile.

Knowing the possible future mission, I find that I do not feel strong fear. I see in front of me, a procession of challenges that will first question me and then call me to be risk-taking. It is Jesus who first took the risk to be present among them. I think we are called to be people and communities of love, of humanity, of family, of openness to others. Living in a simple home! And living a lifestyle similar to the people around us. We can not afford time to be a scandal to the poor people who expect something more from us. And when we live like this, our presence is actually a testimony about Jesus who is the center of our lives and when we live as spiritual men along the lines Champagnat wanted of us, we see God the Father-Mother of life, of love and of the meeting of people in the daily events of life.

Hopefully, we can together give a helping hand to make our lives a real meeting place of Jesus with others.
Bro Ismael Valls, fms

Cultural Tour in Davao

2009-03-01T23:21:00.001-08:00

Before we started talking about inculturation in our workshop, we did a cultural tour of Davao city, with the Marist Fathers Novices, who joined us for this workshop.The first stop in the tour was to visit the Buddhist Temple at Cabaguio; then the Muslim Community in Piapi with Imam Taha Ainin; the Davao Medical Hospital; the College for Indigenous Youth at Pamulaan and finally, a visit to Kublai, a contemporary Filipino Artist.

Marist Brothers in Davao

2009-03-01T23:18:00.000-08:00

Hallo to all the family!!! Greetings to you all from Davao. We are the community of Marist Brothers who form the sixth Ad Gentes group in Davao.We began the orientation programme on January 12 and we will finish on June 12. After Davao we will go to Thailand, Cambodia, or two other countries.
Members: Pedro (Argentine) Andrew (Malaysia), Cesar (Brazil), Pietro (Italy), Tim (New Zealand), Natalino (Brazil), Alfredo (Mexico), Ramon (Spain), Ismael (Spain), Max (Germany), Roy (Philippines), Edilson (Brazil) and Marcos (Brazil).