Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Change the world, one small act of kindness at a time.

Dear Friends,

I just came from Singapore after another historic GK Global Summit, and it was truly a privilege to be part of the service team.  Throughout the years, I've had these amazing opportunities to serve in big and small ways, but I just wanted to share with you this amazing letter that came to me last Saturday.

It is from one of the students that we met perhaps about 11 or 12 years ago, when as a Youth for Christ Mission volunteer, we were asked to conduct recollections in various schools in Metro Manila.  This letter is just an amazing affirmation to me that the work that we do for the Lord and for one another is never big or small.  We simply must be faithful in the little and big things, and be confident that the Lord is planting seeds of love and hope among the people that He sends our way.

So let us continue in this journey with faithfulness, knowing that the Lord Himself is watching, and is looking out for people who will simply say Yes to the call, and He begins to create miracles in and through us.

And if, like me and Corrine, you've been touched by someone and your life has changed because of the presence and love of the amazing people God has sent your way, then only one thing is left to do.

Pay it forward.  And change the world, one small act of kindness at a time.  It will make all the difference in someone's life.

Issa


Ate Issa?

Between You and Corrine Elum
Corrine Elum June 26 at 6:39pm
Hi!

I am Corrine Elum, Mim Meloto's friend from high school. I saw you comment on one of her albums before and when I saw your name and picture, I really started to wonder if you were the Issa Cuevas I met many years back not only because of your name but also because you really look like a slimmer version of her.

When I was in grade 5 at Holy Spirit School in Cubao, we had a recollection or something similar to that. It was facilitated by a group of ates and kuyas from YFC. At some point during the activity, I broke down and cried, and one ate came to me, hugged me, talked to and comforted me until I was okay. Her name was Ate Issa Cuevas.

After the recollection, I asked Ate Issa to sign my autograph book. I still have it now. Ate Issa was a third year IS student then in Ateneo. Among her closest pals were Josette (an ate who was also there during the activity and who also left a dedication in my autograph book), Raf, Meg and Wowie.

If you are that Ate Issa, I assume that your friend Wowie is Wowie Meloto-Gonzales, Mim's sister. If you don't remember me, it's okay. After all, it's been over a decade since that happened. I would just like to let you know that you really touched the life of an eleven-year old girl that day and I never forgot about you all these years. If are not her and the connections to Mim (YFC and Wowie) are just mere coincidences, then I would just like to let you know that you have a really kind namesake who did a wonderful job at being my ate for a day.

May God bless you and your family.

Corrine
Issa Cuevas-Santos June 28 at 2:56pm
Dear Corrine,

Thank you so much for your message. Yes, I think I remember you from the YFC recollections, and I really want to thank you for taking the time to write to me. As a young person, it was a blessed time to be able to encounter younger kids and share God's love to them by just being an ate or kuya to you. Most of us never really think much of what we do, but receiving letters like yours continues to affirm me that it is these little loving acts of kindness that always make a difference. For some reason, God chooses us to be an instrument of love to another person, and we become vehicles for life changing moments.

Thank you for allowing me to be an ate to you that day, and I hope that you have just passed on the gift of presence and friendship to everyone that you've met and will meet along the way. Your letter came at such a wonderful time, and is a great affirmation that the work that we do for the Lord is never small in measure -- He will always find a way to create great things from our small acts of faithfulness.

You remain in my prayers, always!

Ate Issa

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