"BEYOND THE DAZZLING LIGHTS"

(a Christmas Party Outreach Activity organized by the Youth With A Mission YWAM for the kids of Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City)

"Christmas, my child, is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give, it's Christmas." -Dale Evans

As soon as I received the invitation from my dear friend Rache, I knew right there and then that I wanted to join their event. It was a Christmas party for the impoverished kids of Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City, whom they’re teaching values and sharing God's message. She and her group called Youth With A Mission (YWAM) have been doing outreach activities with these kids for quite some time now, and they have grown to be like a family. Ever since I got to know their team and their mission, all I've felt was admiration and just want to give them my sincerest appreciation for their dedication to this cause. So, assisting them in this event is an easy yes for me.

On the day of the party, my simple prayer as I arrived at the venue was for this to be a success. Just letting the kids be happy with what Rache and her team have planned for them, and may the program run as smoothly as possible. Besides the kids that will be attending, they are also allowed to bring their guardian/parent, so you'll expect that there will be a lot of people who will coming in. I have already prepared my mind and body on this one the night before for I know that it will be a major day ahead of us. I brought my tumbler, an extra shirt, a towel, and an umbrella, and I’m all set, ready to serve these wonderful kids.

It may have been difficult to travel back and forth to carry those items, but it was a blessing to see that all of us truly helped each other, and it was nice to see that some kids were helping us too!

When I arrived at their base, I immediately noticed the amount of gifts stacked on one another. You immediately noticed the huge boxes containing their equipment, tables, supplies, large sacks of rice, and food packs, which indicates the amount of effort they had put into preparing for this day. Not wasting any seconds, I asked if we could bring those items outside to be ready to load into the van going to the place of the event. We started to load them as soon as the vehicle arrived, and once everything was complete, we’re off to go.

The covered court where the Christmas Party was supposed to be held was surprisingly far from what I expected. It is located at the back end of an alley, and the path going there was a little bit narrow. Knowing that we had a lot of heavy items to bring, I just took a deep breath, rolled up my sleeves, and said to myself, “Ok, let’s do this!" It may have been difficult to travel back and forth to carry those items, but it was a blessing to see that all of us truly helped each other, and it was nice to see that some kids were helping us too! This goes to show that no burden is heavy as long as everyone is there to support one another.

After placing everything inside, the next thing that we did was to finish the decorations. It was really simple: stapling the letters of ‘Merry Christmas,’ tie them to the grills, then stick the balloons on the cloth with duct tape, and we’re done. The program can finally start.

They began the program with a prayer and singing the National Anthem. Then, we introduced ourselves to the kids (something that I wasn't prepared for!). There were dancing, singing, and a skit prepared by the YWAM team, which was really impressive. There was also a part where the team taught the kids some Bible lessons, but what stood out the most was when Mark (a member of their team) shared his testimony. I was moved to be honest; despite everything that he has gone through, here he is serving God through His people full of passion.

Throughout the whole event, I observed how happy they were with what the team had prepared for them. I saw how they dressed up for the party, how excited they are with the gifts, and how grateful they were for the food that we provided.

Then there were some performances, followed by the party games. I was specifically assigned to supervise the kids at this point since we anticipate that this will be chaotic. We had a hundred kids or more, and since the team and I were only a handful, this is quite a task. So I did what I had to do and assist in any way that I could, and while there were times when you just needed to remind the kids to behave and listen attentively, most of the kids were obedient and were listening. I was amazed that, despite the fact that they just barely knew me, they still followed. Overall, everyone loved the games, including the parents who also participated.

Throughout the whole event, I observed how happy they were with what the team had prepared for them. I saw how they dressed up for the party, how excited they are with the gifts, and how grateful they were for the food that we provided. One kid approached me and proudly showed me his new toy car. Another got a basketball and began shooting hoops. Mind you, the toys were not expensive. You could easily be able to buy a lot of those, but for them, it was the most valuable thing that they would ever receive this Christmas.

We are frequently overwhelmed by the pressure of giving the most awesome gifts to our loved ones while becoming lost in the hustle and bustle of the season. But being part of their event brings me back to the fact that Christmas is really simple.

After the party was over, it was customary for the team to share their experiences and realizations from the entire event. When it was my turn, I shared the following thoughts:

1. Whenever I participate in an outreach activity, it allows me to look at life from a larger perspective. It was an opportunity to “widen my lens” and be conscious of other people's situations. Just to share a little bit of where I'm coming from; as of right now, I'm currently unemployed and I was starting to get depressed. In addition to that, the fact that it is the holiday season really magnifies it even more. This feeling will eventually wrap you in a bubble, and you'll tend to be fixated on yourself. But seeing those children who obviously don’t have that much made me step out of that bubble and realize that there are those who are in worse circumstances than I.

2. In relation to that, this activity humbles me. I realize that while I worry too much about not having a job, compared to them, their problem is whether they'll be able to eat tomorrow or if their house can still shelter them when rain comes. The reality is, despite what I’m lacking right now, I’m still fortunate enough to be able to sleep comfortably, have a roof over my head, and have nice clothes to wear. Considering all of this, how foolish am I to complain and worry too much?

For this last one, I wasn't able to mention this to the group but would like to add them too:

3. The value of simplicity: during Christmas, we are always blinded by the dazzling lights of this occasion. We are frequently overwhelmed by the pressure of giving the most awesome gifts to our loved ones while becoming lost in the hustle and bustle of the season. But being part of their event made me realize that the essence of Christmas is really simple. Jesus was born not in a palace but in a manger. He was not surrounded by maids or soldiers but by Mary and Joseph. He came into this world without lavish decorations or loud announcements. Instead, He came here silently, with no extravagance whatsoever.

More than any material things that you want to receive, what’s more important is how you'll be able to show kindness to others and making them feel loved and happy.

My day ends feeling tired, and my arm got a little numbed from all that lifting (haha!). But it was all worth it! As I wonder if we made them happy with what we did, seeing the smiles on those kids faces and hearing the “Thank you's” and “Merry Christmas po” from the parents, I can say that we did a fantastic job. With that, I would like to thank my friend Rache and her YWAM team for inviting me once again to be part of their event. (this would be my second time, first one was last June). Looking forward for more activities like this!.

This Christmas may not be the same as before, but through this activity, it really gave me a whole different perspective. More than any material things that you want to receive, what’s more important is how you'll be able to show kindness to others and making them feel loved and happy. 🎄

MERRY CHRISTMAS! ❤️

YWAM Christmas Party - December 20, 2024