To be honest, I didn’t think I would make it to WYC this year. At first, everything seemed impossible. I even said I didn’t want to go but two days before the registration ended, I changed my mind. I don’t know why, but I wanted to be there. I longed to worship again with thousands of other youth.
When I finally arrived at WYC, I couldn’t stop smiling. My heart screamed with joy: “I’m here, Lord!”. This was my second WYC at masayang masaya ang puso ko hindi ko mapaliwanag pero napakasaya ng puso ko, madami akong nakilalang taga ibang lugar, madami ding nalaman tungkol sa Panginoon. Worshipping with thousands of youth, raising my hands without shame, I sang even if my voice cracked. Masasabi kong hindi lang pala ako pumunta para sa isang event, pumunta din ako para mas lalo kong makilala ang Panginoon, para mas lalo kong maramdaman ang presensya Niya at para maraming matutunan. It was an encounter with God, with my purpose, and with who I really am. When I was worshiping the Lord and my tears suddenly poured down my face, I couldn’t control my emotions. Lahat ng aming kinanta ay hindi ko maiwasang hindi umiyak dahil ramdam na ramdam ko ang Kaniyang presensya.
During Session 2, I didn’t participate. Instead of writing or talking to my buddies, I stayed silent. Natatakot akong mag-open up sa aking isusulat, kahit na hindi ko ginawa iyon, kinausap ko naman ang Panginoon at sa pakikipagusap ko sa Kaniya, mas lalo kong naramdaman ang pagmamahal Niya, mas lalo niyang pinatatag ang loob ko at sa bawat pag-iyak ko nararamdaman ko na ako ay Kaniyang niyayakap.
Rev. Fr. Warren Puno: “If you do not see the importance of prayer just like the air you breathe, you will not learn how to pray.”
For me, what this means is prayer happens just like our breathing. If you don’t understand its importance, you won’t learn to pray properly. It’s just like a book, if you don’t try to study it, you won’t really understand it, but if you understand it and study it, you will know how important it is.
When WYC ended, I was so happy. I left the coliseum as if nothing was missing. I was so full of love, and I thought it was over but it wasn’t. Nasa sasakyan na kami, hindi ko alam kung bakit, pero bigla na lang may luhang namumuo sa aking mga mata. Humihingi ako ng sign sa Panginoon kung kaya ko ba talaga, kung kakayanin kong magparticipate, kung kaya kong lumabas sa comfort zone ko, kung kaya kong magsalita nang hindi natatakot at nahihiya sa harapan ng mga tao, kung kaya kong maging active ulit sa community. Pero napakabilis ng Panginoon. Paglingon ko sa bintana ng sasakyan, may nakita akong simbahan. Hindi ko alam na may madadaanan kaming simbahan. Maybe that was the sign He gave me. PANGINOON, ANG BILIS MO! Narealize ko na napakabilis Mo talaga, Panginoon. All the topics taught, and even the simple sharing, everything resonated with me. When the days feel heavy again, I now know I’m not alone. God truly arranged everything for a purpose.
PRAISE THE LORD! 🤍
