mission exchange – salalah oman august 18 – · pdf filemission exchange –...

MISSION EXCHANGE – SALALAH OMAN

AUGUST 18 – 24, 2012

August 18, 2012

We decided to leave Dubai to Salalah Oman by bus on August 17, 2012. But due to unfavorable circumstances (unavailable seat), we left Dubai on August 18, 2012 at 7:30 am going to Muscat with the elder sisters (Sis Che Espinosa, AireenCastronuevo & Ava Ababan). After 6 hours of travel, We reached Muscat and picked up by Tito Jojowhere We met the Muscat Missionary Team. We stayed in Tito’s place for 2 ½ hours (1:30 – 4:00 pm) to freshen up, have sumptuous lunch and headed to the terminal going to Salalah. At 4:30 pm we left Muscat via Al Ghazal Transport. It was approximately 13 hours travel. The whole journey seemed to be uncomfortable for us (crowded bus, most of the people are celebrating Eid, so the whole evening is not ideal time to rest). God keep’s on reminding us that it is not about the situation we are facing. Its about the gift of mission and the service We are about to face in Salalah Oman. We are called to serve not being served.

1st Day Reflection:

(Focus on the Giver and not the Gift.)

Despite of the struggles / circumstances we are facing on the first day, we need to be reminded that we need to focus on the Giver (Our GOD whom we are proclaiming HIS greatness, HIS borderless and awesome love) and not on the gift itself.

Sometimes we are so worried about the unusual things that we are encountering, We are so worried what service we will do when we are going for a mission, how is it like in our host’s abode, how’s the community we will served for a week, are we equipped or ready for the mission? So on and so forth..

Mission is one of God’s gift (We just need to say Yes! And HE will do the rest). And with a grateful heart Salalah Team is embracing, with different personalities and state of the heart, We are united in One Goal, to be a witness and proclaim God’s Greatness in Salalah Oman.


AUGUST 18 – 24, 2012

August 19, 2012

At last We reached Salalah at 5:30 am, Tito Erwin picked us up and went to our host’s Tito Nelson and Tita Jeje’s residence. Had a quick nap and at 10:30 am, We have the privilege to go with Tito’s and Tita’s of CFC Muscat to explore Salalah beautiful places. We went to the Archeological Site of Salalah, Salalah lake and park. Truly GOD is revealing his love for us, HE is showing his wonders, HIS power by all of his creations we have seen in Salalah.

After a wholeday of sightseeing, at 7:30 pm we attended the Tagalog Mass at St. Francis Xavier headed by Father Raul, we also have a quick chat with him, his insights about our community in Salalah. After the church and meeting with the Priest, we also meet the CFC and SFC SalalahOman. Had a kick off meeting for the upcoming Mega CLP on Thursday and Friday. We have accomplished to set all the service teams (assigned the head on each service team). Salalah has only 5 sisters in SFC and few couples headed by Tito Jhunnie. We are praying and by the grace of GOD, Salalah community will grow far from We are praying for, with their willingness and heart of service, We are claiming the victory of the upcoming CLP in Salalah Oman.


AUGUST 18 – 24, 2012

2nd Day Reflection:

(Nothing is impossible with a pure heart of service.)

After meeting our Tito’s and Tita’s of CFC Salalah

Oman, they have informed us that this will be their

first time to come up with the Mega CLP. Most of the leaders have been migrated to Canada and

USA. They were so worried how to managed the

upcoming CLP. After the meeting, We came to

know their concerns and where us missionaries could help them to make their CLP more effective /

organized. We have seen their eagerness and the

fire for service. With Tito Jhunnie as the Salalah

CFC leader, Tito Erwin and Tito Nelson, for us they are the igniter to served and helped them more with

the grace and power of GOD.

“Lord help and guide the community in Salalah, by

your grace, your plans will be fulfilled. Make us a

good listener and follower, so that everything will be according to your will.”


AUGUST 18 – 24, 2012

August 20, 2012

We had a long hour of sleep, did the morning worship with MEx Salalah Team in the room and started with the preparations for CLP. Fe our Assistant Team Head finalized the schedule / list for CLP and 3’O Clock prayer as our way of fasting. While Aicel and Me prepared for the songs and forms. It was a long day and at 6:30 pm, we went to St. Francis Xavier Church to meet the Parish Priest Fr. Ashok. He told us that CFC are welcome in the Church, as long as Christ will be the center of all our activities. He also point out that El Shaddai & CFC should work hand in hand to make the people in Salalah grow and deeply rooted in their faith with Christ. He symbolizes each community as a vehicle towards Christ, everyone has different vehicle but there is only one destination and it should be through Christ. After meeting Fr. Ashok, we went to Catechism Center to clean the rooms that we are going to use for CLP. Father Ashok told us that the building is for the missionaries and catechist. The center is still under construction, but we have managed to clean the rooms with less than an hour. Power of teamwork is at hand! After cleaning the CLP Venue, we headed to Tito Nelson’s residence for dinner and gathering, where we also start to teach songs such as Grateful, Great God, I Give My All. It was a lovely evening with the group.


AUGUST 18 – 24, 2012

3rd Day Reflection:

(Salalah’s Grateful heart, inspires and teaches Us to do more for HIS glory.)

While We are teaching Tito Jhunnie the song Grateful, I just realized that I’m so privileged to witness how their hearts burning for service. Imagine, every meeting they (Tito Jhunnie & Tito Erwin) need to pick up those members who are far from Tito Nelson’s place and drop them in their respective houses, they need to stay late for the meeting until 1 am.

The song Grateful really expresses my gratitude that I have met the Salalah group, whom I got the inspiration. Whatever tasks which has given to me, with the grateful heart, I have managed to accomplished. It is not because of my capabilities but it’s about the people I’m surrounded with.


AUGUST 18 – 24, 2012

August 21, 2012

Tick Tock! It’s 7 am and We are in seaside for clams adventure! Tito Nelson’s and Tito Jhunnie’s family + Tito Erwin = 1 bucket of happiness! We spend 1 ½hours searching for clams and wallah! 1 pail of yummy clams! We had a breakfast after that in the beach and then We headed to the tomb of Job. It is such a wonderful place, with luscious green rainforest, its awesome! After the tomb, we went to the cave, a majestic God’s creation! Thanks to Tito Erwin, who never get tired of being our tour guide. After our tour, We went to Tito Jhunnie’s house for lunch. During nighttime We had music min practice and Speaker’s Training (by Sis Maria Fe) and Baptism Workshop (by Bro. Robert).


AUGUST 18 – 24, 2012

4th Day Reflection:

(Be in the right flock.)

While We are having fun searching for clams, one of the bird suddenly fell from the water and died. I have noticed that it was out of the flock, while the flock is only at the other side. We are reminded that We should be in the flock, right flock to be guarded / supported from all the destructions / harassments which are out of control.

We cannot fight alone, spiritual warfare is so vital, that We need to be united and keep deeply rooted in our faith.


AUGUST 18 – 24, 2012

August 22, 2012

Tito Onyx’s group reached Salalah @ 7am, while MEx ladies are still sleeping =) We had the chance of getting to know the whole Oman group. It was the day of talk preparation as well. Most of us were given a talk, so we need to prepare our slides and study the talk outline. It was a busy day for us. At 6:30 pm, we are asked by Tito Onyx to help them prepare our dinner. It was a seafood (shrimps and fish) and beef night, yumyum! We gathered in the rooftop and have the projector set up for the practice of songs. We are also graced by Fr. Ashok, who joined us for dinner. After dinner, we had a short meeting to finalized the schedule for Mega CLP the next day. We are so ready for the CLP!


AUGUST 18 – 24, 2012

5th Day Reflection:

(Bountiful feast for those faithful follower of Christ.)

While having bountiful dinner.. God is reminding us that HE is preparing bountiful feasts for those who obey and follow HIM.

Never doubt or worry for HE will equipped you with all you need and blessed you abundantly.


AUGUST 18 – 24, 2012

August 23, 2012

It is the Day! The first day of our Mega CLP. We went to the church / catechism center at 4 pm to set up all the visuals for talk 1 – 6. Everyone are so excited till the night comes and orientation started. At first we only have 3 participants and all of our laptops were not functioning well as practiced. One of the extension sparks and broken. There’s a lot of harassments we faced that day. But through the prayers and faith of the whole team, all problems have been solved and the number of participants gets better. We can see from all CFC Salalah Team the eagerness and love for service. After every 2 talks, we had the chance to sit and have the group discussion. It is so obvious from all the participants, the hunger that they are facing, hunger for a friend to confide all their problems and wrong doings, hunger for God’s word and touch. It was a tiring but full of joy night, We finished the CLP talk at 11:30 pm with a delightful and excited heart for the next day of service.


AUGUST 18 – 24, 2012

6h Day Reflection:

(Once we feel were not loved, seek God.)

It was indeed a touching night for me, as I have listened to all their concerns during the group discussion. There are complicated, hard, and simple concerns which can be resolved by one thing, Love.

I have reminisced my first 4 Fridays in CLP, I was like most of them, fragile and very sensitive with regards to my faith. But one thing I have noticed, maybe at first I don’t think it is ideal to be in a community, but I found Love in it. The concerns of the Sisters and Brothers are incomparable, I have learned to love my family, friends and co-workers more and more through the SFC teachings.

I believed that all participants in CLP Salalahwill find happiness and love in the community one day and will be a better God’s son/daughter who will proclaim HIS glory.


AUGUST 18 – 24, 2012

August 24, 2012

2nd Day for the Mega CLP and quite a long one =) We started our whole day CLP with the blessing of Fr. Ashok by attending the morning Eucharist with the whole team - service team and participants, they also made their confession in preparation for the baptism in the afternoon. After the mass we headed to the Catechism Center for a short breakfast and Talk 7 started. Indeed God knows how to call his people; 2 young couples, 2 hand maids, and 10 SFC sisters attended and finished the CLP. Most of the service teams, starting from Prayer Warriors, Registration, Docu, Music Min, Logistics, Food Committee down to Speakers are so energetic and jolly that day. God gave enough energy to sustain the whole day of service. The whole venue is filled with the Holy Spirit, all equipments have been working properly except the videocam which have not recorded the talks. It was feast indeed, with full of food for our soul and stomach. The Mega CLP in Salalah Oman was a victory. God is so happy to see His children united in one cause, to reach within each other and proclaim and glorify God’s love.


AUGUST 18 – 24, 2012

7th Day Reflection:

(Give glory to God, for He is our strength and great provider.)

It is so surprising how God works in us the whole day of Mega CLP. The joy in service, the venue and people who are behind and backbone of the CLP, the participants, the whole service team are awesome! This Mission Exchange Salalah-Oman will be one of the unforgettable events of my life. I have witnessed His glory in a personal and unique way. God touches my heart to cling unto Him and seek Him or know Him more. The desire to serve God deepens and the joy in my heart is unexplainable. I may face trials and stumble in the future, but I know, as I will recall all that happened in Salalah Oman, it will remind me that God is so great and I don’t need to fear/worry with anything because we have a loving father. Mission Exchange is a quite an experience and for sure I will do it next year again =)

mission exchange – salalah oman august 18 – · pdf filemission exchange –...

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