Thanksgiving from Luzon…

“I find myself very well here. Now I speak enough of their language to communicate with them. I live calmer, though there is more work.”

“But we hold this treasure* in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us.” (2 Corinthians 4, 7)

I thank you
God of life
For sending me to this island,
For the beauty of its flowers
And the diversity of its forests and
Mountains.
For the hands that cultivate rice
For the proximity and hospitality.
From the humble people,
For the fertile land
Of their hearts.
Those I wish to convert.
Give me an attentive ear
For listening to them,
Learn from them,
Pronounce their words,
Speak their language,
And get their friendship.
Thank you for those fifteen kids
We have in the school,
They will be transformation
Seed.
There are many customs
From Calingas
That I neither understand nor
I can accept.
Give me light
To speak to the heart
So they abandon violence.
I offer you this mission,
Only you give it fertility.
Neither typhoid fever,
Nor contradiction and persecution,
Could discourage my wish to
Announce you, build new towns
And good people.

Amen.