Gratitude

Written by Sr. Josefa -- Salvador Province

My Dear God,

Thanks for my congregation, family, work, course, and friends. I have many motives to give thanks. I love my life and I like to live and rejoice with the wonders that you have made. Oh God, how good it is to know that you are a passionate father to your children. Your mercy is great and gives us a chance to change. Thanks for my community and the people that I know well here in Itabaiana. Thanks for the opportunity you are giving me. I have much gratitude.

Love

Written by Sr. Leonilda -- Salvador Province

Love is the result of sensibility.
Love is the result of confidence.
Love is the result of donation.
Love is the result of hope.


Love makes me alive.
Love makes me look at nature.
Love makes me sing.
Love makes me see and love Jesus.


Love is generous.
Love is gratitude.
Love is patience.
Love is simplicity.


If you aren't self-confident,
You can't know love.
Jesus' command is:
Love each other.

Encountering Life

Written by Sr. Veritas Yang -- Taiwan Province

From the English intensive course last year, I learned how precious life and time are! At the beginning of the class, I was very nervous. I tried to tell myself, "Please cherish the opportunity that God gave me.” Actually, in the process of the class, I wanted to give up, but I was encouraged by Jennifer, who was very kind and loving in many ways. She gave me the courage to continue my English study.

What I was extreamly inspired by is that Jennifer contributed not only her energy, but also her time for me. She made me very excited to learn English. When I could speak some very easy sentences, I had strong desire to talk with her. Unfortunately, time was flying! And I did not have enough courage to face my English level, so I missed many chances.

When it is too late, you understand to cherish the people who you have encountered in your life, because opportunities are prepared for prepared people.

I should prepare for the present, and let people who appears in my life know how important they are for me! Because we still do not know waht tomorrow may bring.

In the end, this small article is dedicated to my dear teacher Jennifer. Through it, I want to say, “I miss you, Jennifer. I am looking forward to encountering you one day in the Philippines, again.”

Work While you Work. Play While you Play

Written by Sr. Felicitas Wang -- Taiwan Province

The proverb “work while you work, play while you play” is well-known to every person. A proper and normal daily life signifies order, progress and cheerfulness. School life is more or less regular. Students have class hours at certain times of a day, and go to the playground after school. Most of the school children are healthy, cheerful and progressive, because they are trained according to their regulated daily program. Nowadays, businessmen and officials also have office hours and resort to some kinds of recreation after work.

In short, the proverb “work while you work, play while you play” should be strictly observed by anyone who wishes to make one's life pleasant, efficient and successful. When we do something, we should not think or worry about anything else. When our mind is concentrated on one particular thing, it will surely make good results. Through the constant repetition of a daily program, we can go on with our regular work without any difficulties. Moreover, one can’t work all day long. Play is as necessary to everybody as work. Play can make you fresh and cheerful so that you may not be sick of your work.

The proverb “work while you work, play while you play” is a good motto for everybody.

What is Most Important for You?

Written by Zhan Jing Ye - Taiwan Province

Nothing is as important as a willing heart. Thereupon, you can get anything if you hope. Maybe you consume all your life looking after parents. Perhaps you want to get fame or wealth. On the other hand, you also can seek truth where it is. Maybe someone is trying to write a touching poem. Indeed, everyone is unique; you chose from the possibilities you have.

But, if we choose to follow Jesus, does this mean we cannot love others at all? No, I do not think so. In my opinion, we love all, our family, friends and so on, at the same time; we love the Lord, our God. Loving Jesus is ranked first, and most important.

We should give our regards to our family members and friends when we are serving. Aim at telling them about our happiness, peace and so on. When we do this, we become known as a lively devotee, a normal human feeling person. In front of everybody, we are a sign of the reigning God. So loving others does not diminish our love for Jesus. Indeed, “There is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord!”(Rom.8:39)

Who Am I?

Written by Sr. Faustina Tan -- Taiwan Province

I was born on June 20, 1982. It was Autumn when I was born, so my parents gave me the name “Qiu Ying". Qiu Ying means Autumn; it is a nice name, and because of that, I won't forget the day I was born. I also like my name and my birth-date because autumn is my favorite season.

I was born in China and my parents are both Chinese, which of course makes me purely Chinese. My parents are both very kind and tender. They taught me many things about life. I learned and understood a lot from them.

Life is full of difficulties and happiness. I know clearly that I can't tell my future, but I believe that if I treasure each precious moment, happiness will come to me, and difficulties will vanish in my life. Even if the difficulties appear again, I will have enough power to face them because I believe in God. I get the grace and peace from Him.

I don't like to study, so I quit when I was in high school, but God's plan or will are always different from ours. Since I believe that it is His will for me to study, I continued my studies until I finished high school.

I like to play the piano but I can't. I also like to sing, but I don't know how to apply the voice that God gave me. Right now, I have a good opportunity to study English, so I always remind myself to treasure the temporary time, by writing, reading and listening which will help me improve my English skills.

Live

By Sr. Lucimar -- Salvador Province (Living in Namibia)

To live is to need to be on artist.
To live is to need be a juggler.
To live is to create and renew all things to see value.
To live is to remove a magic word from inside your soul every day.
It is to plant in each tree that does not have life, in each branch and each person.
To live is to feel fear, pain, happiness, disappointment and hope, that all passes and to be renewed differently.

To live is to suffer silently, to shout for all, to cry, to be a victim, hero, bandit, but never be destroyed.

To live is to feel your limit, frankness, incapacity and to feel less than an ant, but never compare yourself to her.

To live is to perceive that every day the sun is born differently, there is forever a flower in each daybreak. It is to feel that forever has one life to live.

To live is to feel that a forever friend is at your side, sometimes visible, sometimes invisible, a friend that does all, but that sometimes gives you permission to do all things good and bad. A person who forever respects your decisions and will be with you forever despite the consequence.

To live is to amplify life, like the birds, flowers, like the childrem and like animals. To learn to run, to play. But to learn to defend like a thorn and never leave life.

To LIVE IS TO BE YOU!!!