united world sounds utopia doesn't it, it sounds kinda strange in the world we live in.
At the moment with the disaster of Japan, or the happenings in Libia or Egypt.
how can that ever be reached, this unity in the world in the midst of disaster and suffering.
Since I have arrived here, I have begun to believe in this UNITED WORLD, why?
because at the moment and for these 7 months I've been here,
I live in a united world, with people from all walks of life, from all parts of the world.
and we live for this UNITY, we live in UNITY because?
we have LOVE as the only principle: to treat others as ourselves.
I could say before coming to Loppiano (the community I live in),
I would tell you, you're crazy to believe in this united world,
but this experience has changed my mentality.
It has made me see not the little things in life with that one friend or my immediate family,
but to see the world as ONE FAMILY!
and here, us 45 girls, since the happenings in Japan, we wrote to the youth of the Youth for United World in Japan (a branch of the Focolare Movement which I'm part of) , to tell them we are with them in this tragedy, that the world (as we come from 23 countries) are with them and they are not alone. In a week, we received a response back to tell us, that everything is in control and they are safe, but there has been a lot of need, with children without families. They went to the train station to collect money for the disaster, and witnessed the generosity of the Japanese people. And here this weekend, there will be over 450 youths coming to Loppiano, and we will be sharing with them the reality we live in: a UNITED WORLD!
and yesterday some of us were asked to go to a highschool to meet with 68 italian students (16-17 years old) to have an english lesson with them on the theme of Friendship/Freedom. From the beginning we entered, I was reminded of my highschool, people smoking, girls with lots of makeup, young couples, and all that we know in the world. There was a moment of fear as I first took a glance at the eyes of these teenagers. But immediately after, there was no more fear because come on...I want to build this United World, how can I be scared of these 68 highschool students. I immediately sat next to them, introduced myself. we shared with them our experiences of why we are here in Italy, sang with them, taught them songs, talked a little about the letter from the youth in Japan, shared about Chiara Luce. Each moment, I tried to love each one of them. Such as, I saw a girl videotaping when we were performing, so I offered to help her videotape it. Offering to help them with any questions they had, or playing the game amongst them. They joined us upfront infront of their friends to play the guitar, or sang the song we were teaching them. At the end they even contributed 150 euros to us for the people in Japan even us even asking. In one phrase, I could say and feel from the joy, and smiles on their faces that we brought this United World we live in here in Loppiano, to them, 68 teenagers, who are searching for more than just something ordinary, but to make a change in this world.
and it only takes each person to do their part, to not just live this ordinary life, but we were BORN for something GREATER!
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
born for something GREATER
You and I, every person is born for something greater,
something that isn't temporary, that lasts for an eternity.
Everyone of the world search and long for happiness, but happiness is an emotion that is based on events, and "happenings" of everyday life. However, it is really "Love" that people search for, to give love and to be loved.
a modern day example of an ordinary girl who loved others even in her tremendous suffering, when she battled bone cancer for 2 years. This ordinary girl is now on her way to Sainthood, to something that doesn't last for only a lifetime, but lasts for decades, centuries, for ETERNITY.
Her name is Chiara Luce
and this Sat March 19th @ 1pm
(St.Joseph's College Downtown)
the Youth for United World (branch of the Focolare Movement)
will be holding an event to celebrate her life, to spread the same Love she has given.
and if you didn't know the Focolare Movement is the reason I'm in Italy and what I strive to bring to the World.
something that isn't temporary, that lasts for an eternity.
Everyone of the world search and long for happiness, but happiness is an emotion that is based on events, and "happenings" of everyday life. However, it is really "Love" that people search for, to give love and to be loved.
a modern day example of an ordinary girl who loved others even in her tremendous suffering, when she battled bone cancer for 2 years. This ordinary girl is now on her way to Sainthood, to something that doesn't last for only a lifetime, but lasts for decades, centuries, for ETERNITY.
Her name is Chiara Luce
and this Sat March 19th @ 1pm
(St.Joseph's College Downtown)
the Youth for United World (branch of the Focolare Movement)
will be holding an event to celebrate her life, to spread the same Love she has given.
and if you didn't know the Focolare Movement is the reason I'm in Italy and what I strive to bring to the World.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
just love
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| Jan 16-just a day by the lake |
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| Jan 24- Festa per Tefy, Pame, Vicky we did a little dance..i dressed up as a man |
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| with MariaChiara, she has a buttchin, that's why we have our fingers pointing at our chins |
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| we're amazing |
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| Jan 29- Festa per Natalia e Gaby (Brazil) we were the hosts, and the theme was "One MIC" (our exclusive club) |
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| Feb 3- Chinese New Year...we CELEBRATED! |
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| Feb 5- Siena our beautiful trip ...did a jumping picture in the famous Piazza del Campo (it's surrounded by shops) and is curved like a theater |
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| Feb 13- Festa per MariaChiara (Verona), e Silvia (Columbia) we did a skit as in this picture dressed up as God |
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| Feb 15- Mary Lou made my donuts!!! |
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| Feb 21- Festa per Aninha (Brazil) theme: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory I was the host again... been a host for like 3 festas so far |
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| Feb 8- Birthday of Andre (Ecuador)...every birthday there's a cake, a party, a dance, and an amazing time |
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| with Santa (Egypt) and Clara (Brazil) |
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| describes life here. AMAZING |
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| Feb 26- Venice! |
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| looks kinda retarded because I got no nose |
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| with Graziella (one of the first companions of Chiara Lubich) |
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| March 4- with Manfred in Florence it's nothing new to me now...Florence |
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| enjoyed an awesome pizza with tuna, onions, tomato..:) |
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| March 5- Pancakes with Mary LOU! ..with whipped cream, jam, cinnamon |
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| with Mary Lou and Michael ...and Elsy (U.S), she invited us over! they're from Australia |
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| celebration for the FESTA per ELSY (U.S) |
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| Mar 6-Carnivale of Brazil! we dressed up, danced all night |
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| March 6- ..life is simple when there's only LOVE |
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| more awesome party pictures! |
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| Manfred! he came to visit because he's studying in IRELAND! |
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| Mar 7- a day in Assisi ...that's the city. we walked our way up the mountain.. what an adventure |
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| we reached the highest point of the mountain...it was really cold! it took me a few tries to get this right! |
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| enjoyed GELATO! and had to take a picture |
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| on our way down the mountain, they have a path going straight down if only we had skateboards! |
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Heroes of Today.
when I was younger, I remember a teacher once told me...
what imprint will you leave on earth when your earthly life passes away?
IMPRINT, mark, something eternal and not just temporary...
In the end would it be important what job you have, how many awards you received, how much money you earned, whether you were an amazing student...all these things are temporary.
I long for something ETERNAL.
and now I know what I want to leave...
SANCTITY just like Chiara Luce...an ordinary girl who lived an extraordinary life.
and on Sat March 19th there will be an event to celebrate the legacy of Beatified Chiara Luce has IMPRINTED in the hearts of thousands.
Personally, I won't be there since it's in Toronto and I'm in Italy; but it would be something I wouldn't miss!
what imprint will you leave on earth when your earthly life passes away?
IMPRINT, mark, something eternal and not just temporary...
In the end would it be important what job you have, how many awards you received, how much money you earned, whether you were an amazing student...all these things are temporary.
I long for something ETERNAL.
and now I know what I want to leave...
SANCTITY just like Chiara Luce...an ordinary girl who lived an extraordinary life.
and on Sat March 19th there will be an event to celebrate the legacy of Beatified Chiara Luce has IMPRINTED in the hearts of thousands.
Personally, I won't be there since it's in Toronto and I'm in Italy; but it would be something I wouldn't miss!
Sunday, March 6, 2011
living to the FULLEST.
when I was younger and even now I always have and had this desire to live life to the fullest.
To live each moment as it were my last, and to treasure each and every present moment.
without worrying about a thing in the future and regretting the past.
How many times do we get lost in our thoughts worrying about something, that we even forget what is around us.
because the past is in the past, and the future isn't yet reality until it becomes the PRESENT MOMENT.
this leads into my next experience, this morning I called my grandma like I usually do every week and it was one of the very few times that she said she wasn't feeling well in a weak tone of voice. She was telling me that she is having problems with her health and as she spoke it felt like she was really down. I tried to remind her to try to not think too much and just treasure each moment by loving the people that are around you. At a certain point, I began to cry and my eyes were filled with tears because she was really down. I tried to comfort her with my words, telling her that we can really live each moment to its fullest even when it's difficult. At the end of the conversation, I could hear in her voice her strength as she was telling me that she will be fine. But right away after being soaked in tears, I said I gotta embrace this suffering, to say my YES in this moment to choose to continue to not worry about anything because "God loves us immensely." Leave it in his hands. To live each present moment to the fullest by LOVING whoever is infront of me. So afterwards I shared my experience with one of the girls who shared with me yesterday that her mom's health isn't good. After living this experience with my grandma, I could share in her shoes the situation she is living. She was very thankful after I shared with her the experience. Each and every suffering, embrace it SEMPRE, SUBITO, CON GIOIA (always, right away, and with joy)
To live each moment as it were my last, and to treasure each and every present moment.
without worrying about a thing in the future and regretting the past.
How many times do we get lost in our thoughts worrying about something, that we even forget what is around us.
because the past is in the past, and the future isn't yet reality until it becomes the PRESENT MOMENT.
this leads into my next experience, this morning I called my grandma like I usually do every week and it was one of the very few times that she said she wasn't feeling well in a weak tone of voice. She was telling me that she is having problems with her health and as she spoke it felt like she was really down. I tried to remind her to try to not think too much and just treasure each moment by loving the people that are around you. At a certain point, I began to cry and my eyes were filled with tears because she was really down. I tried to comfort her with my words, telling her that we can really live each moment to its fullest even when it's difficult. At the end of the conversation, I could hear in her voice her strength as she was telling me that she will be fine. But right away after being soaked in tears, I said I gotta embrace this suffering, to say my YES in this moment to choose to continue to not worry about anything because "God loves us immensely." Leave it in his hands. To live each present moment to the fullest by LOVING whoever is infront of me. So afterwards I shared my experience with one of the girls who shared with me yesterday that her mom's health isn't good. After living this experience with my grandma, I could share in her shoes the situation she is living. She was very thankful after I shared with her the experience. Each and every suffering, embrace it SEMPRE, SUBITO, CON GIOIA (always, right away, and with joy)
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