Jan 2004

"He loves me." - He took the leap and asked to court me right before i was about to leave for 3-month training in the Philippines to become a Fulltime Missionary...I said no...

Jan-July 2004

"God's hand." - Ray goes to mission in Europe and into the Go4Gold year for CFCYouth in the US. I went to training in the Philippines and into my first year as a missionary in Latin America. We both grew into two totally different people, fell in love with God individually like never before, and that whole time, didn't speak to each other once...(because he told me not to haha).

Aug 2004

"i love him." - Post Reunion Conference, Socal, CA. Saw him for the first time after our 7 month silent period, served alongside him as he directed the entire conference. he inspired me and surprised me. he was different. i was different. and...eventually i started to have feelings for him that i didn't expect. the kinda feelings you don't know what to do with. yep, there were butterflies...(sorry don't mean to make anyone throw up here)
Anyway, the courtship began. :)

Nov 2004

"Will you be my girlfriend?" - CLF Chicago, IL. After writing letters for a Session about our future, God spoke loudly...and we both knew our future both held each other in it, as we each fulfilled our calling. That night, on the 8th floor of Crown Plaza (next to the ice machine haha), we shared our letters to each other, did some crying, a lot of praying, and he asked me to be his girlfriend...
i said yes...

Nov 2006

"The time has come."

We're engaged! :)

That was the really short version of the story haha. just a glimpse... i left out a lot of big parts...but i'll save that for another time. hehehe Thank you God! Please pray for us as we get now our wedding story underway :).

Thursday, November 9, 2006 10:14AM

this is bigger than all of us.

Alright. so let's stop for a second. let's step back and look at the bigger picture. all it takes is your willingness and a decision. A decision to rub your eyes, clear that gunk out of there and

Blink*

That's how fast it takes to take yourself out of the eyes of this world and into the eyes of Christ.

Let's look at this community of Couples for Christ. Look at it in all that it is, all it has been, and all it could be. Here's a community that has changed lives, that has reached the ends of the earth, has broken barriers, has united families, healed brokenness, brought dignity to the poor and hope for the unloved and brokenhearted, revealed truths and proclaimed God's word for the world to hear.

Wow. and i mean Wow!! In all that beauty, why would we ever stop fighting for anything less? But...would you believe me when i say...sometimes we forget those things happen, and we instead want to focus on the little, never victorious, negative aspects that Satan brings into our community?

We do.

We taint the beautiful gifts God gives us. We look away from the service, what is good, and spend our time complaining on things that aren't even important. It is we who mess things up. And that's completely understandable...because we are all sinners. Imperfect people will make up an imperfect community. That isn't anything new. It does not justify it, but we have to understand that with wisdom. Yes, Couples for Christ is imperfect. I've seen incompetent leaders, unjust minds and hearts within the hierarchy who treat this community as a business rather than a family. i've seen the worst in more ways than anyone should. CFC is full of sinners. But what community isn't?

The point i'm trying to make you see, is that there is a great God who is controlling everything and still chooses to use us though we like to mess things up a lot, though we are imperfect, though we are truly nothing without Him. It is He who is changing the world through this community. He is using CFC for His purpose, for His will to be revealed here on earth. Isn't that an beautiful thing?

Blink*

Yes, i love CFC. I love it and i'm thankful for it with all my heart because it is God's gift. i love it despite its members' imperfections. Because look at CFC for what it is. For it's mission & vision that is only good, holy and pure. Families in the Holy Spirit Renewing the Face of the Earth, Bringing glad tidings to the poor.

CFC is merely the vehicle and tool by which we bring God's kingdom here on earth. It has all the resources for us to change this world. It is good in all that it is. But the moment we look to our leaders and the people of the community instead of the God who is directing it, that is when we find ourselves in trouble. This isn't for you to follow me, nor for me to follow you. This isn't for us. We depend first on God, not on people.

Do you not realize that this is all bigger than us? bigger than the ugliness that is going on around us. bigger than our own opinion, our own view. His plan is far more profound, far more intricate. turn your eyes back to what is important. what is good, holy and pure...be a part of what is good, holy and pure in this community. don't focus on what is negative, because that will come...guaranteed. DO NOT BE FOOLED. the evil one will always work to try to stop us, especially because we are now more than ever coming full force in destroying his hold on God's people. He's mad, he's jealous and he'll try to stop us by getting at us emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and even physically. He will break families up, he will distort the names of our leaders, fill our hearts with lies, mistrust, unrest, anger and hate. he will put brother against brother, sister against sister. suffering will happen and it's hard to believe but lives will be, and have already been lost. NO ONE IS EXEMPT. it does not matter how holy you are, you will be a victim. be wise against his tricks.

Rub your eyes...and blink. pull yourself out of the situation, let your soul rise up to heaven and look down upon this world, and see the bigger picture.

YOU are the light of this community. You make it better or worse. He is calling us to love, to be a source of peace to the unrest in this community; to love your brother and sister, to have love in your heart. Forgiveness, understanding, charity and peace. Not to judge and condemn or talk bad about your brother. To lift people up and seek to be last instead of first. to sacrifice and surrender all to the will of the Father. To have humility to the point that it hurts. He is calling us to be a holy people in EVERY (not just some) aspect of our lives.

The light will ALWAYS overcome the dark. the miracles and renewal of hearts that are happening in this community are far more than any of the tragedies. And sometimes we blow up the small things making them worse than they really should. Let us always remember at this very moment, the bounty of God's outpouring of grace is touching the hearts of the most broken, the most abandoned, the most alone. I have seen it with my very eyes so i know it to be real. I have been blessed to meet and work alongside such inspiring brothers and sisters, humble, self-giving, loving and wise. People in this community who are being used by God to change this world! there is no comparison, the amount of good vs. the amount of bad in this community. let us focus and continue to work for only that which is good, holy, and pure. it is only then that we can rise above the eyes of this world and into the eyes of Christ.

Blink* and see this community anew. see your brothers and sisters anew. see yourself anew.

and i pray that we never close our eyes again.

Monday, November 6, 2006 4:58PM

i'm back & i never left.

just got back from mexico for the MPC Latin American Conference. i've been itching to write for the past month...a lot has happened. this was the first mission back outside the US since last year. the missions just keep getting bigger and better. and it doesn't stop. God is building His kingdom here on earth. are you going to be a part of it?

NW7 is real. as real as monster lemons, steak tacos, and unidentified bugs. Look at the pictures if you don't believe me. :)

Our theme was Agentes del Cambio which means Agents of Change. That was the theme used in the Philippines, Canada, and Austrailia. We didn't use STAND because the translation doesn't mean the same haha. it just means..."Be on your feet"...so ya Agents of Change it was hahaha. Here was the opening video of the conference, check it out...it shows all the areas of JPC Latin Am. We can change this world and we are by God's grace. I also translated the Saints video to spanish. Pretty awesome...i'll post that another time. Hollers to the SFC/YFC from the US that came: Lenes, Julie, Randy, Iraise, Sheri, Janelle and Aaron. You guys are amazing. Gino, Giana, Paul, and Angel we're praying for you. Til we serve together again...NW7 continues. Andale Carnal!

PS. A big THANK YOU and PRAISE GOD to all those who donated for this conference to happen. May God bless you a hundred fold!

• CFC Los Angeles, California with the biggest donation of $1,000!
• Tita Chit de la Rama from Handmaids NJ
• Ada from SFC Florida :)
• Monica from SFC Cali :)
• The Abalos' from CFC Dallas, TX
• The Pana's from CFC New Jersey
• My mommy & daddy hehe

it's never too late to donate: cfcnda.com

Saturday, October 14, 2006 4:44PM

por favor.

hola! just wanted throw out there...if any of your areas would like to donate for the CFC Mexico Latin Am Conf which will be this OCt 27-30..for more youth to attend...many just are not coming simply because of money. this would be a chance in their life to experience something like this. a lot of them have never ever traveled out of their own country, many of them are very humble people with humble lives...we just pray for God's will to be done. in many ways i feel the same way donating to them, as when i donate to gk. As it is for the same miracle, i see hearts being touched by God's Spirit right before my very eyes because of whatever money that was given to get them there.

Our newest FTW from Latin America, Giana Chacon, who shared at the recent conferences in the States, decided to become a missionary after attending the conference last year. Who knows what plans God has for the youth who are able to come this year in Mexico! We just pray for God's will to be done.

any little bit would do...pls just mention maybe to cfc or sfc at their next meeting/assembly? thank you all. and pls continue to pray for us. God bless!

love,
Mary Grace
email me at mghermano@gmail.com on where to send **

Mary Grace Hermano
CFC Youth for Christ Fulltime Pastoral Mission Worker [Hispanic Missions]
http://jmotive.com

“Many people mistake our work for our vocation. Our vocation is the love of Jesus.” - Mother Teresa

Friday, October 4, 2006 2:16PM

Thank you, St. Francis...

Today in mass, in praying this prayer, it meant so much more to me in the present moment than it ever has before.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy;
Grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand,
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

PS. Happy Feast day, Kuya Francis :)

Tuesday, September 19, 2006 3:14PM

Bon Voyage, Junie-butt.

Here's a girl who gave up her teaching career to volunteer for a year as a teacher to GK kids in the Philippines. If only more people had a heart as big as hers to understand the need others have, and more importantly, the guts to actually make the decision to do something about it. God bless you and may He show you the time of your life. Oh and try not break too many guy's hearts while you're there. i'll miss you Junie!

Wednesday, September 13, 2006 3:48PM

Happy Birthday to my big sister.

She taught me to love New Kids on the Block and Waffle Crisp cereal. she thinks of me when she has clothes to give away (i love that). she does not seek to be in the lime light, in fact she stays away from it. she listens to me. and understands what i mean. she's generous and thoughtful. and always gives people the benefit of the doubt, even if they don't deserve it. she's one of the only girls i know who understands the art of bargain shopping, knows how to drive stick shift, bakes the yummiest peanut butter cookies, probably THE ONLY person i will admit can maybe beat me in Tetris, tends lovingly to her husband and son hehehe, and still stays gorgeous throughout it all. i love you don. so much. and i pray God blesses you today abundantly and keeps you intimately close to Him all the days of your life...as well as all the Funtera/Flowers family. Amen.

Monday, September 11, 2006 1:03PM

No better Recap than a Recap with Pix.

This summer has been a time of growth, experience, and revelation. I've felt things i've never felt before. And experienced situations i've never expected to. It has been full of pleasant suprises to say the least. The moments when God "makes my heart happy" the way He could only know how, reminds me of just what a personal God He is. it's amazing to know He really loves & knows us all that much, individually!

Some 'Makes My Heart Happy' Items of the Summer:

* 7/8/06 Fran & Dave's Wedding
I had the time of my life. these are my two favorite vids that make me smile/laugh from that beautiful day.

* 7/25/06 Hillsong United Concert!
I always dreamed of going to a Hillsong concert and never thought I would unless I went to Austrailia or something. They ended up being in Houston at the same time we were there, and it was a free concert! Unbelievable. They rocked out and i loved every minute. (By the way, the concert was a packed 15,000. That's how we're gonna be in 3 years)

* I cut my hair.
Ok i know...no big deal. but for a girl who has never done anything to her hair except trim it for the past decade or so, this was a fond memory. especially cuz it was while laughing with steph and yvette at the salon. Spontaneous times = Good times. thanks lisa, gee, steph, melis, etc, who peer pressured me into side swept bangs hahaha. i like the change.

* I met Chloe from Project Runway!
k this is a random one. yay!!! hahaha i loved this show. and i was rooting for Chloe the whole season. i never thought i'd actually get to meet her! but i did at her store Lot 8 in Houston. Was a fun adventure and made me all giggly. hahaha was surprised she's shorter than me but i still think she's really pretty. i'm inviting her and her boyfriend to sfc.

* We were on Radio Maria!
We got to present JPC Houston on the Hispanic Catholic Radio Station. My first time being on a radio station, and it just had to be in spanish :P.

* The A.S. Club was formed.
Yeah...I dunno.

* SFC Conference.
absolutely beautiful. God truly anointed gino for this worship.

* Ray "surprised" me.
Ray ended up coming to the SFC Conf! too bad i always know when he's fibbing...(but i guess that's a good thing.) hehe :)

I could go on, but i'll just stop there. Thank you Lord for your special blessings! May I never take them for granted! Amen.