"HIGH BLOOD"

Des, Sabine, Yaya Jocelyn and I went to Balanga last weekend to attend the JOYRIDE (CFC YFL World Youth Congress). It was such an amazing weekend! It has been a while since I actually sat down, listened, enjoyed, worshipped at a Youth Conference. Ever since I went full time, I have always been organizing, giving talks, workshops at these Youth Conferences, that this weekend was truly refreshing and energizing.

It was a weekend full of fun with other families as well (the Oconers and Tesoros), and Sabine got to spend time with her Best Friends - Reese and Gabie. It is funny how when you go to all these conferences, you see a pack of baby girls crying and crawling all over the place! But that is part of being one big family for Christ. Everyone is involved!

One of the many highlights (aside from Bishop Soc's SPORTS homily, his sponsored Torch Parade and Buffet dinner, the Mayor sponsored fireworks, great talks by humble and inspiring people, fun workshops) was Saturday night when we were able to pray with a relic from the home of Jesus from Nazareth (which Bishop Soc will be giving to us to use every WYC!). Being able to kiss and pray with it was a sublime experience which just strengthened my faith and conviction in this community, in my faith and in God and His wonderful plan for all of us.

All these more than made up for my high blood pressure over the weekend. I still can't get over the fact that I was 140/90 on Saturday. But God is amazing, and surprising and speaks to us through different ways. This was just one of them.

Contributed by:

Xavy Padilla
Missionary