Christmas in a Manger

December 25, 2016.
Written on Christmas
I always tell myself not to be emotional. To be strong. Before, I used to tell myself to look strong. To suck it all up, because feelings will never change a situation. I think the most painful thing right now is having to scroll down so many Christmas posts and feel a certain tug inside because it's officially been 2 Christmas' since my family was complete. But you know what? I praise God anyway. I praise Him in all situations because He has always been so good to me. Even if my feelings fail, His love never fails. Even if I am weak, I find Him strong in me. I find Him comforting and smiling, and telling me it will all be okay. Because He promises me tomorrow. Because He promises me a bright future, in a land flowing with milk and honey. (Exodus 3:17). He promises me a good land. (Deuteronomy 8:7). He promises me peace. I hold onto those promises as I face everyday.

Christmas Eve 
How my Christmas eve turned out was pretty unexpected. Everyone always asked me what my plans were. Honestly, I would tell them that I didn't have any. They just turn silent and wouldn't know what to say. Then I ask them what their plans were and they would say, "I'll be with my family."
End of conversation.
But it's in small things like those that make me think. What does God have for me this Christmas?
The answer came the day before Christmas eve when my sister and I were invited to this Christmas Christian service called Life and Light Christian Fellowship. There the pastor talked about dreams and desires and how so often they would lead to a manger. Just like how the 3 wise men of the east followed the star to a manger, I found myself there as well.
But I think finding that manger was the best thing that ever happened to me.
I think the best part of that night was when at the end of the service the pastor asked us to make a circle with our families. In this case, my sister and I were with my friend and her parents so we formed one circle. The pastor asked the dad of the family to pray for each of the members. It was in this moment that I was deeply moved to write this blog post. My family was far from complete. Their family was lacking a member for the christmas eve. And there we are joined as one. Complete in the Lord. With the father of that family praying for each of the member of the body. This touched me greatly.
That night I felt how our Father in heaven was just orchestrating everything. He knew every need. He answered that need. That night I felt full.
My Christmas eve was amazing. Because God made it amazing.
Even in the most unlikely circumstances.
I'm writing this because I don't want this moment to pass by without being remembered as deeply special. Someday in the future when I have my fill of family and I will always feel secure and satisfied every Christmas eve, I will look to this night and remember how my God was always beside me. He didn't leave me and my sister as orphans. He Fathers us like no father can perfectly do. I feel His presence with me and that is more than enough to feel full and satisfied in whatever season.

I praise God for leading me to this manger, because it was in this manger that I found Christ.
I'm welcoming 2017 with an open heart. It was a Merry Christmas!

We love you, Cadorna family.

(Photos from Life and Light Christian Fellowship)

"When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told." Luke 2:15-16.

Best Christmas Eve Dinner

Chigi Medical Mission

CHIGI Medical Mission

December 27, 2016.

What makes every event special is the many different people who put their resources together for a certain cause. May it be time, energy, money, or any form of support that would impact the mission a thousand fold. We sent out newsletters from our previous medical mission last September, and as the public may know, we are a non-profit organization depending on one driven soul for our finances. Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Paul Spaller, has dedicated his life to this calling of compassion. This is a perfect example of how one man can make a difference. But also as the saying goes: "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."

Mr. Spaller's vision of building homes for the homeless Filipinos still stands together with the devoted support and benevolence of his loving wife, CEO, Tootsie Spaller, who also works tirelessly, even to the point of sacrificing her own personal resources just to obey the call from God that was bestowed upon her and her husband--To provide help to our destitute brothers and sisters who need it the most. Together they hold the vision of CHANGE. But to go far, we all have to play a part in doing this TOGETHER.

The Preparation

Last December 17, Saturday, CHIGI had its 2nd medical mission themed "Touching Lives Through Health and Wellness." CHIGI (Compassion for Humanity Int'l. Group Inc.) just had its anniversary last September 5, 2016, and our fist medical mission in the same month, on the 25th! It's been 3 months since then. How time flies.

This second time around, we decided to extend our hands of compassion towards our fellow Cebuanos of Liloan, Cebu. The expected number of beneficiaries were 500 and the number of volunteers, 150. This includes the core team of CHIGI, the medical doctors of Total Outreach for Community Health (TORCH), the ministry team, medical student volunteers from TORCH and Asian Medical Students Association – Service Oriented Medical Advocates (AMSA-SOMA), and massage therapists from Quota International of Southwest Cebu. 

This being the first time for me as one of the organizers for a medical mission is an experience I will never forget. It is very challenging serving with an NGO and very humbling asking for donations. May it be in the form of grants, food, medicine, and gift certificates. 

Food were needed for the 150 volunteers as lunch. Snacks were needed for the 500 beneficiaries. Of course, medicine plays a big part of the medical mission. Gift certificates were needed to be given to our team of medical doctors as a token of our appreciation for their medical service, and grants were most definitely needed to cover up expenses such as gasoline for the transportation, lacking medicine, or any other emergency needs.

The CHIGI team spent almost 2 months preparing for this mission and as the day was drawing close, we really experienced the blessings and divine hands of God at work in this organization. Everything was provided for but it took a lot of waiting, patience, and most importantly, prayers for everything to fall into place. It was all very humbling to see how it's always the Lord's will that prevails. And with everything that we have been through we have learned to expect the unexpected because this is also what makes things interesting.

Here is the medical mission newsletter:

If you enjoyed reading about our medical mission and want to know more about CHIGI and how you can help out I'll leave the links out here for you. Blessings and happy holidays! <3 

CHIGI Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/compassion4humanity.net/

CHIGI Website: http://www.compassion4humanity.net/