The Good Shepherd

'I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me.' (John 10:14)

This week due to a series of unfortunate events, Cecilia and I did not make it to Kinilian Class. Our sick little boy decided to take a very late nap (he usually skips his afternoon nap already) so Cecilia got stuck at home. On the other side of the world, I was stuck in clinic (which has never happened before on a Wednesday!). All this after we had already mapped our day very carefully. We had our songs and special activity ready and a nice big picture book with the Parable of the Lost Sheep and all the Zesto juice and Styrofoam cups packed away ready for the night. God obviously had other plans.

As Cecilia and I were exchanging texts mulling over what seemed to be a dire situation, I believe we both had a very peaceful feeling that all things would be alright. A peace that kept mounting despite my natural compulsion to worry over details. A peace that kept telling me over and over not to be troubled and everything was in the hands of Our Great God. I really have to honour Mel who for the past weeks has been using his supernatural marketing pizzazz to get more people to come for the class. And when he found out about our situation, I felt there was no hesitation to take the lead for the class and organize the whole thing. Just a clear and cheerful "Will do!" What a great example of 1 Peter 5:2 -- Shepherd the flock which God has entrusted to you, guarding it not out of obligation but willingly for God's sake; not as one looking for a reward but with a generous heart. Praise God indeed.

More about the Good Shepherd after the jump...

Cecilia was telling me that God was saying it's not about us anymore. And I think she is right. The Kinilian Project is not about us and it was never really about us. It's about our God reaching out and gathering his sheep to his fold and using whoever He wants in whatever way He wants. These kids need more shepherds, more young and vibrant people to look up to and emulate. And I feel so blessed and at awe in how God works, with the record number of volunteers who came for the class this week, and with how Kinilian truly has taken on a life of its own. Another praise God indeed!

So until May 19 we'll be hoping and praying for more Good Shepherds. May God give you peace, he who brought back from among the dead Jesus our Lord, the Great Shepherd of the sheep, whose blood seals the eternal covenant. He will train you in every good work that you may do his will, for it is he who works in us what pleases him, through Jesus Christ, to whom all glory be for ever and ever. Amen! (Hebrews 13:20-21)

Mel Vergel de Dios III wrote...

Praise God! The Kinilian Class last night was truly inspiring. Thanks to:

Lynette - for quickly preparing the chocolate drink and buying the bowls and cups despite her long and eventful day
Joey - for sending the food even if she was sick.
Ciel - for singing and playing the guitar during worship and spending time with the kids. Naging live ang worship!
Alvin - for leading the worship, praying in Filipino (salamat sa iyo!) and for managing two tables of kids
JL - for drawing while the story was being told and for leading a group of kids using Filipino to communicate ;-) "Mga kids, alem nyow ba ang story ng lost sheep at Mabuting Pastor" (Haha! Just kidding JL!)
Robbie - for making the kids assigned to him stand-up in front and follow his instructions like the Good Shepherd while Lynette and I distracted the kids by giving other instructions.
Janice - for being there, constantly smiling and being pleasant with the kids despite of her demanding day in the office.
Jench - for helping manage a group of kids at the back (they are usually more rowdy... row 4 e) and for making the Kinilian class more fun... "Bakit si JL ang pinag-drawing mo at hindi ako" (Competitive! Hehe!)
Angela - for having energy and patience with the kids despite being tired as a result of the Rustan's Shangri-la Sale. :-)
Lia - for staying with one table of kids and for interchanging the genders of Resti and Cecilia... "Mga bata hindi makakapunta sila Ate Resti at Kuya Cecilia...." (Panalo! Haha!)

We had a small sharing afterwards and the LH members mentioned that they were touched with the experience (Not verbatim, ha? Mahina na memory ko... maputi na ang buhok e. I just got the context):

... parang prayer meeting. I got filled with the experience. - Alvin
... Thank you very much for inviting us. Kinilian was a good reminder of how blessed we are. - Rob & Angela
... Ang galing pala ni JL magdrawing... Overall, it was a good experience... - Jench
... The children that were assigned to me were very behaved. It was an inspiring experience - JL

Lynette will not be Lynette without her enlightening sharing...
... The Kinilian Classes allow me to see Jesus through the eyes of the less fortunate children. When serving the less fortunate I am able to serve God...

Please block off May 19 for the next Kinilian Class. Having more people last night made the effort more fruitful since we were able to assign an Ate/Kuya per group of kids and at the same time we were able to share the experience with more members of the community.

Thanks,
Mel

Janice Villafuerte also wrote...
Last night was really a blessing and went home inspired & surprisingly not tired
Kakatuwa ang kinilian kids! No regrets of being there

And Lia Pastrana has a final word...
It was indeed a blessing! Kudos to Mel too for stepping up!