the culture of Giving.

after the ipod, then ipod NANO, ipod shuffle, iPAD...

the world never stops producing, as consumers constantly want more and BETTER.

a bigger house, more luxurious car, but the society we live in 

all the wants never equate to the "needs"

when we buy a $200 cellphone because we're tired of our old one,

as we are conscious that there's people in the world that are homeless, hungry, depressed, lost, abandoned.

how is that even possible?

because for me, I just can't live like that...to be CONSUMED.

because every corner as I walk down Florence, there's 50% discount, there's a special offer for these souvenirs, or today's deal is Buy 1 Get 1 free...

and I am left constantly battling the current of the world, what the world tells me to buy this and that without even thinking of someone in need.

because we live in a society that is so much more common to "HAVE" rather to "GIVE."

but Chiara Lubich, the founder of the Focolare Movement on her plane ride approaching the city of San Paolo, Brazil, she was struck by the sight of the vast ring of ”favelas“ or ”shanty-towns“ surrounding one of the greatest concentrations of skyscrapers in the world.

and she did something about it.

She started the "Economy of Communion," a branch of the Focolare Movement in the area of ECONOMYwith the aim of building and showing a human society where, following the example of the first Christian community in Jerusalem, "no one among them was in need".

Around the world almost 1000 businesses are involved in this movement, where each business divides each profits into 3 parts: 

1/3 for the development of the business and its workers

1/3 for the income of the workers

1/3 for the misery ("the poor")

the last portion of the profits goes to projects around the world which the Economy of Communion works closely with another branch movement of the Focolare called "Actions for a United World." Building homes, helping the jobless find work, and building communities where it is a culture of Giving rather than Having.

We had the chance to visit one of the shopping centers near Florence, where all businesses take part in the Economy of Communion...

the shopping center: Polo Lionello Bonfanti

Azur: business that specializes in baby products

Dulcis fondo: a cafe

Risana: a medical clinic with a physiotherapist, cardiologist, neurologist, and etc

which works together to help each person as a whole, not just in one aspect of health,

but in UNITY

But as I wrote in my last blog post about the Inter-religious dialogue in the Focolare Movement, and now the branch of the Economy of Communion, I can't write without having put into practice also the "Culture of Giving" in my life. So when I arrived I met girls from around the world, from Africa, South America, Asia, countries that are less fortunate than where I'm from. Arriving with a camera, computer, clothes, hair straightener, purses, a backpack, pens, and an abundance of things. I realized that all these things are not really "mine" because I want to put it in "communion," where what I have is also at the dispense of others. I started to freely let others use everything that I brought with me. All my things are just things that I USE, but they don't belong to me because I don't want to be attached to material things. 

Also that wasn't enough for me to just share my things, one day I was out in Siena, and I was about to buy a permanent marker, but before paying, I thought to myself if I really needed it as I already had many other coloured pens, I stopped myself from buying it and I thought that instead of using this money to buy this pen, I can put this money into a box, that I can put into communion, towards somebody that is in greater need. After that experience with a simple pen, I remembered that I really wanted to buy a leather jacket, but I realized that I could sacrifice not buying it because I didn't really "need" it, and put that money that I would have used to buy that jacket also in my "Communion" box. From the pen, the jacket, sweater, chocolate or the gelato I really wanted to buy, I started to collect this money which I wanted to give to someone that will be in need. And sure enough, my friend headed to Angola for a volunteer project in March, and before she left, I gave her all the money that I had in my Communion box, which was the money that I sacrificed for the things I really wanted to buy, but I didn't need. So sacrificing my "wants and desires," it changed into somebody else's needs, in this case, orphans in Angola. 

And also that money I also use to save for the two children, a girl from Haiti, and a boy from Philippines I decided to adopt at a distance last year, that in itself was a beautiful experience, because in a way I can help someone else because for me the world is one family. You probably wonder how I would be able to support those two children, but it doesn't take that much. I just sacrifice not buying things I want and living with what I need. Such as not going to the theatre to watch a movie, but watching one on television, or instead of going out clubbing, have a party at home, or instead of going out for dinner, cook up something at home...

Life can be simple, it only takes a little sacrifice, but for me it's worth it because I want to make a CHANGE!

we can change, each person can do their part

the World as ONE Family.

so reading the news everyday, and looking at the world around us...
learning that in Ivory Coast, nearly 800 people will brutally killed, women were raped, the innocent buried...
it really makes you think of the world as a place where there's just endless sufferings, that makes you ask the classic question: WHY? how?
but at the end of every question, at times there isn't really a direct response, or answer.
because in reality, many sufferings such as murders, terrorists, rapes, drugs, broken families, abuse...they lead to the freedom of each and every human being.

I believe each and every person has a natural tendency to good, but many good people just make BAD or WRONG decisions. Since I believe that God created us, why would He create us with the freedom to choose between good or bad. Well the obvious answer is that we would all be robots and not ever know the difference between good and bad. But I searched for this answer...and it is because if we weren't created to be free, then we would not be able to experience what LOVE is, because only with human freedom we can choose LOVE rather than hate. what is LOVE? it is what every human being longs for...the longing to BE LOVED, and to LOVE.

Do you every imagine a world where peace, freedom, and LOVE only exists, where universal brotherhood is the norm, where each and every person despite religion, age, background, culture, race gets along, where there is no war, destruction...that is the world that Chiara Lubich, the foundress of the Focolare Movement, realized when she read in the Gospel with only a lit candle to see these words, "May they all be one." (John 17:11) underneath a bomb shelter with a few friends during WWII. Jesus on the cross, Son of God cried out on the cross these words to the Father. ALL is in humanity, that is every person no matter where they are from, unity among the whole human family. And Chiara Lubich didn't just read those words without LIVING it, without putting the Word into practice. To reach UNITY in the world is to not assimilate humanity, but to concentrate on the similarities rather than differences.

This unity in religion, that each believer respects the other and focuses on what is common among all religion: the Golden Rule- One should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself. As the Focolare Movement has inter-religious dialogue through Muslims, Buddhists, Hebraism (Jewish), Hindus, non-believers, traditional believers. Also intra-religious dialogue with the Catholic Church and Christian denominations. Also of which the Focolare Movement has built relationships with Rissho Kosei-kai and its 6 million adherents in Japan; with an African American Muslim movement in the United States; and with various movements inspired by Ghandi in the south of India. Chiara Lubich became the first Christian and woman to enter into Muslim Mosque in New York where she spoke about this universal brotherhood. Also she was the first woman to speak in a Buddhist temple because of her rapport with Rissho Kosei-kai (founder of a Buddhist Movement).

Here in Loppiano (where I'm living), we had an event with inter-faith dialogue with Muslims.
It was beautiful to see the similarities between my religion and theirs,
which is the Golden Rule, Love your neighbour as yourself.

We listened to one of the responsibles for the Inter-Relgious Dialogue,
where he spoke to us about the Focolare Movement's history of inter-faith dialogue

I don't want to speak just about what the Focolare Movement has started to build in the world we live in, but reflect on myself also rather in this aspect. That at university, also I've been able to see and open my eyes to the beauty of each religion. Also meeting people of different religious background from Hindu, Jewish, and Muslim background, where I never speak about my faith or any differences between us, but to love that person as I would want to be loved. Also last year in one my classes, I met a Muslim girl, which was because I had offered to give her my notes because she had missed a few lessons. From that small act of love, a relationship began. Little by little, she shared with me about her family and her life. We never spoke about our differences, but rather see what we have in common. A few times where she encountered problems, she would come to me, and I would try to love in whichever I could. Even one day I saw her at my church as she attended a catholic mass with her boyfriend. Despite being in Italy, I have still kept in contact with her, and we continue to communicate to each other without ever coming into a disagreement. It made me realize that in every human being, despite religion, just longs to LOVE, and to be LOVED.

and this UNITY is not just in religion, but in all aspects of Society that the Focolare Movement builds: Economy, Law, Politics, Communications, Media, Education, Culture, Arts, Health, Environment...

but I'll write about those topics next time!

UNITED WORLD

March 8- Loppiano: where unity lives, and
United World is not just a dream,
but a reality

March 10- meet the Popi

Mar 13- Festa per Marieta (Burundi)

with Silvia (Brasile)

Mar 25- We went to a highschool, to teach them a little about  "Friendship"..
we sang, taught them songs, shared our experiences...and in the end
I could say we brought them this United World we live in at Loppiano to them..
it was quite amazing to see the smiles on their faces, and the joy they experienced

we asked the some questions on friendship: 5 characteristics of a friend,

how "real friends" do you have?

just to get them thinking

they were some attentive to us it was pretty special to have been able
to touch their hearts

I was sharing to them that we wrote to the youth in Japan,
and to tell them we are united with them even in the difficulty,
in the end they gave us 150 euros for our project for Japan 

Mar 26- with the Canadians! 

lots of LOVE

Mar 30- our project for Japan, we fundraised some money
and also I made a video to inform the youth of the reality in Japan

Mar 30- my UNIT!

UNITED WORLD.

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!

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.

just love

Jan 16-just a day by the lake 

Jan 24- Festa per Tefy, Pame, Vicky
we did a little dance..i dressed up as a man

with MariaChiara, she has a buttchin,
that's why we have our fingers pointing at our chins

we're amazing

Jan 29- Festa per Natalia e Gaby (Brazil)
we were the hosts, and the theme was "One MIC" (our exclusive club)

Feb 3- Chinese New Year...we CELEBRATED!

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

Feb 13- Festa per MariaChiara (Verona), e Silvia (Columbia)
we did a skit as in this picture dressed up as God

Feb 15- Mary Lou made my donuts!!!

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

Feb 8- Birthday of Andre (Ecuador)...every birthday there's a cake,
a party, a dance, and an amazing time

with Santa (Egypt) and Clara (Brazil)

describes life here. AMAZING

Feb 26- Venice!

looks kinda retarded because I got no nose

with Graziella (one of the first companions of Chiara Lubich)

March 4- with Manfred in Florence
it's nothing new to me now...Florence 

enjoyed an awesome pizza with tuna, onions, tomato..:)

March 5- Pancakes with Mary LOU! ..with whipped cream, jam, cinnamon 

with Mary Lou and Michael ...and Elsy (U.S),
she invited us over!
they're from Australia

celebration for the FESTA per ELSY (U.S)

Mar 6-Carnivale of Brazil!
we dressed up, danced all night

March 6- ..life is simple when there's only LOVE

more awesome party pictures!

Manfred! he came to visit because he's studying in IRELAND!

Mar 7- a day in Assisi ...that's the city.
we walked our way up the mountain..
what an adventure

we reached the highest point of the mountain...it was really cold!
it took me a few tries to get this right!

enjoyed GELATO! and had to take a picture

on our way down the mountain, they have a path going straight down
if only we had skateboards!