My time with the ICPE Mission Philippines

In April, Riza Naldo, one of our Balikatan members from Montalban, spent 3 weeks in our mission centre. It was Riza's vacation cum retreat as the pre-school where she works as a teacher closed for the summer break. During her stay with us, Riza had the opportunity to experience life in community. She shares with us her testimony of her time here:-

Riza enjoying some quiet time in our garden

God is so good all the time…I am very blessed because the ICPE Mission has given me an opportunity to spend my vacation in their house. I did not expect that this would be also a magnificent holiday with our almighty God. During this time, I really felt the presence of the Lord, with His eternal, uninfluenced and sovereign love for me.

       

        My Lord has special plans for me and He desires to call me to dwell in this place for three weeks. Throughout these days, He invited me to go to church everyday, receiving the Holy Eucharist as my daily seed of strength and protection. I had times of praying, sharing, fellowship, baking, cooking, etc. Most of all, I had the chance to attend different events about choosing my vocation. Through this, God wants me to ponder my deepest desire in life, to be generous to Him, and discern my lifetime vocation. He is challenging me and inviting me to act upon His will.

Riza, with one of our neighbours at our regular home visit

          I am glad because I also met numerous disciples of God in this place. I have joyful memories with priest and nuns from different congregations. I also visited astonishing churches and chapels.

         Our Father in heaven is really amazing because He drew me to this place where I could face all of my fears in life. He wants me to trust Him and to overcome what I am afraid of. I realized that He is the more powerful than all of these scary stuff and I should renounce all of these evil things in my life.

         “You are most precious to me. I love you very much”,…This is what God is repeatedly saying to me. He never misses the opportunity to make me aware that it is He who is doing all of these marvels to me. Even if I failed him, He still loves me. That’s why He brought me in Tagaytay, for me to feel His presence and His great love. I will cherish this moment for the rest of my life.