Graceful Mornings & Joyful Little Moments

Hello dearest Hivers!

What a day it has been—I hope you’re all in a good mood and ready to write about today’s journey.

Right now, I want to share an unforgettable experience from last Saturday, marking the final week of our 10-week NSTP-CWTS (Civic Welfare Training Service) tasks. I spent it with the kids I’ve been teaching about the Bible—about God, about Jesus, and most especially about salvation—in a place called Bunhayag.

It was a fine, beautiful, quiet morning. The surroundings were breathtaking—the rice fields, the sunrise—it was a blast of beauty! I even took a photo of the sun rising, surrounded by trees that made nature look even more charming and serene.

That Saturday, I woke up early, prepared my things, and waited for the bus to pass by my house. I decided to ride the bus since it was more affordable than taking a motorcycle (or as they call it, “bao-bao”). After a few minutes.

I arrived at the church and to my surprise, the water in the nearby canal was overflowing and almost entering the church!

Not knowing what to do, I remembered I had to drop something off at the church before proceeding with our task. I quickly reported the situation in our group chat, and thankfully, one of our church members responded right away.

Without hesitation, he cleared out the garbage and overgrown plants that were blocking the canal. The place had become almost like a mini-forest, neglected for so long—which is why the water was overflowing.

After a while of cleaning, the water flowed smoothly again.

Once that issue was resolved, I headed to the supermarket to buy malunggay pandesal for breakfast, paired with hot chocolate coffee—simple yet satisfying!

With my tummy full and my spirit ready, I dove into the day’s mission—our final CWTS cleaning session. I even snapped a selfie with the sunrise, one of my favorite things to witness in the early morning.

By lunchtime, I bought a meal and ate at the church. Then, we moved on to our next task: cleaning the church again. It was quite exhausting, but every bit of it was worth it—it was all for the Lord, our source of strength and everything.

Later in the afternoon, we had Bible study and praise and worship team practice. Only the practice had photo documentation, thanks to Ate Jean’s initiative. I was in charge of song leading, and during practice, a few new youth members joined in, eager to learn how to play instruments on the side.

In Bunhayag, I was once again joined by Ate Jean—her presence is something I’m always grateful for, and this was already the second time she accompanied me while teaching the kids.

Before heading there, we bought juice, ice, and bread for snacks. We arrived a bit late, and in the rush, I forgot to assign the kids’ tasks and memory verse for the day.

These kids are just the cutest! They're sweet, demure, and full of personality. They noticed Ate Jean’s iPhone 13 and asked if it was in the "Starlight" color. When she said yes, they got excited and requested a 0.5 (wide-angle) selfie, saying, “That’s our dream phone!” It was so funny and heartwarming. Of course, we took that selfie!

After our lessons, the kids were super eager to play. They even suggested games themselves! While I was busy managing the group, Ate Jean took some snapshots. It was an exhausting afternoon—but one that left my heart full. Just being with these kids brought me so much joy.

Thanks to Ate Jean’s iPhone 13, we have these beautiful memories captured in photos. She even took an amazing photo of a gumamela flower—so delicate and beautiful.

It was a blast! A busy, quiet Saturday, yet so fulfilling. I was completely exhausted and went to bed early. But even in my tiredness, I felt so blessed. Spending time in service to God—that’s time spent more meaningfully than anything else.

In conclusion, this day reminded me that even in the midst of exhaustion and unexpected challenges, there is joy and purpose in serving others and serving God. Whether it’s teaching kids, cleaning a church, or simply sharing a smile, every little act done with love becomes meaningful. I may have ended the day tired, but my heart was full—full of gratitude, of laughter, of God’s presence. Truly, there’s no better way to spend a day than making it count for something eternal. 💛