All things work for the good By JOY LOPEZ
Last January 3-18, 2005, the 2nd GKY GAT took place. The first one was held last January 2004 consisting of 9 people from Cronulla Parish led by Nathan Mari. At first, there were no concrete plans to run GKY GAT for 2005 however, the need for it is out there. At first, I only wanted to help improve the GKY GAT program and really contribute lasting commitment and conviction to love the poor.
Though I can give to charity and to the poor, I really didn't know yet how to love the poor. From this realisation , my prayer was for me to learn to love the poor and for more to share this love for them. I learnt that loving the poor is more than just being generous, loving the poor is more than just buying them food, loving the poor also means to know who they are as a person, their names, their birthday, their family and even their dreams.
This realisation and my experience in GK and the families that live in these GK sites has reminded me once again the value of life, family, true joy and more. The work of GK is truly God's masterpiece for all to experience.
As a Christian, as a Singles For Christ member, it is also part of my mission to bring glad tidings to the poor, leading GKY GAT is a mission to bring glad tidings to the poor. In this, the poor speaks both those who are spiritually poor in rich countires and those materially poor in depressed areas.
GKY GAT is a tour targeting young people that are not necessarily YFC or SFC. It is a Great Adventure Tour targeting youth in the secular world. Through this, more and more people experience God through the poor and simultaneously, more less fortunate brothers and sisters experience the love of God through others taking time to know them, help them and most importantly, love them.
Last January 3-18, 19 young professionals (including 2 high school students) travelled to the Philippines to be part of GK (Gawad Kalinga). One of the main attractions for them to come was to build a house for the poor and to help the poor. However, this great adventure was more than just building houses; rather it is a life changing experience of building relationships with the less fortunate families, including communities and bringing dignity back to another human life. The adventure involved an immersion to all the programs of Gawad Kalinga. To allow them to experience the work of GK in rebuilding not only houses but lives and dignity of the poor people. They were immersed in different programs of GK - Shelter, Education, Livelihood, Health and Community Empowerment, thus allowing them to experience the holistic concept of GK. On the first day, GKY GAT had come up with their personal goals and the common goals for their adventure.
Our first visit was at GK Arkong Bato. GK Director, Tony Meloto welcomed us and gave us an orientation of GK. What it was all about, how it came about and the miracle that is taking place. As we walked through a narrow pathway, we were welcomed by families in their homes and learn about their life before GK and their life now. It is such an overwhelming experience to have families happily welcome us into their home and feel their hospitality and generosity as they offered us drinks and snacks.
Later in the week, we spent 3 days and 2 nights in the Australian village - Brookside. We slept in classrooms, woke up early and spent the daytime building 2 houses from excavation of land, to mixing cement, passing hollow blocks and laying hollow blocks for the walls of the houses.
During morning tea and afternoon tea they would ring the bell and tell us all to have a break. They would bring in snacks and drinks and we would share this meal together. In the afternoon, after building, we would then spend the rest of the afternoon until there is no more light, playing volleyball with the SIGA youth and playing various fun and games with the SAGIP kids (youth programs of GK). In the evening, for us to have a bath, different families have opened their homes for us to use their bathroom facilities. I can truly say that I have not only experienced life with the poor but shared my life with them. True heroism takes place in GK. Men, women, children helping one another build their neighbours house.
During GKY GAT, we had a great time playing sports and other games with the children and the youth in GK sites. There were also some evenings that we enjoyed the nightlife of Manila. During the tour, we also spent 3 days in Palawan for some rest and recreation in particular, the highlights were the Amazing Race that were organised by the CFC community of Palawan and also a whole day of island hopping and snorkelling.
So much of God's love was experienced and shared through our experience with the families in the GK sites and also through looking after one another. Though some of the families we met were poor and spoke a different language, through action we had one thing in common - God's love.
In this GKY GAT experience, I was with 18 other young people for 2 weeks. In these 2 weeks, there were moments that became frustrating and people complained and moments that were not comfortable. But through these circumstances I learnt to be more patient, more loving, and more positive, be humble and understanding. We finished (together with beneficiaries and other families) building 2 homes.
Before GKY GAT, there is still a difference between the rich and the poor. I didn't know how exactly to love the poor. Through GK, I learnt how to love the poor. I learnt that we can share common dreams and that we share a common faith. It is through this faith and love that can bridge the rich and the poor. In this 2 weeks, we experienced a life together. During our build, the Australian ambassador also visited during our build and paint, "Continue doing great work".
Our experience in GKY GAT taught us how to live a simple life. That living a simple life you can still experience true joy, true happiness. You actually don't need much to be happy because true joy and happiness comes out giving. This goal we realised was not our goal throughout the 2 weeks but a goal for us to achieve when we come back home in our ordinary way of life in a rich country.
Last January 3-18, 19 young professionals (including 2 high school students) travelled to the Philippines to be part of GK (Gawad Kalinga). One of the main attractions for them to come was to build a house for the poor and to help the poor. However, this great adventure was more than just building houses; rather it is a life changing experience of building relationships with the less fortunate families, including communities and bringing dignity back to another human life. The adventure involved an immersion to all the programs of Gawad Kalinga. To allow them to experience the work of GK in rebuilding not only houses but lives and dignity of the poor people. They were immersed in different programs of GK - Shelter, Education, Livelihood, Health and Community Empowerment, thus allowing them to experience the holistic concept of GK. On the first day, GKY GAT had come up with their personal goals and the common goals for their adventure.
