Renewal of my faith (part 2)

On the first part of my article, I shared a little background on how I was while growing up. I put God's teaching into my mind and heart but sadly I was not able to apply those teachings in our daily lives. I knew about the ten commandments but I broke some of it. I admit that I was really a sinner and still am a sinner. But like I have said in my previous article that I have changed a little bit.

What brought about that change was when I had my first operation. It was when the doctor have said that my gallbladder was so inflamed and the good thing is that my 2 gallstones did not go out of my gallbladder nor did it get stuck in my digestive system. The doctor said that good thing it did not rupture or else I would have had a bigger problem. Because of that, I felt that God had saved me even if I was a problem child. God saved me even if I was a sinner.

After what had happened to me, I prayed and prayed every day and every night. Even prayed the rosary that my friends have teased me that I might end up as a nun. I went to the church every Sunday and when I have heard about PREX and that it was going to be the last PREX that my prefered priest would held in our subdivision, I did not think twice and I have decided to join. I invited one of my best friends to join but sadly during the day of the event, her mom needed to go to the hospital and she has to accompany her. I had the chance to back out but I was really determined to attend the said event.

When I joined PREX, it was already a 2 day event unlike when my mom joined, it was fot 3 days. Yes, my mom also joined PREX but she only attended the first day so she is not completely a member yet.

I really had no idea of what they do during PREX. I did not even know that there would be meals provided. I know I even brought with me some crackers and a packed lunch. When I got there, I saw some familiar faces because most people who were PREX members and organizers were from our subdivision. In PREX, you address people as ate (older sister) or kuya (older brother) whether he/she is older/younger than you.

First day was more about sharing stories. The PREX member or organizers was the one who would share some stories first until they would ask for volunteers from the people who joined if they can relate to the Bible reading that they read. By now you already know that I am not the type of person who likes to talk in front of a lot of people. During those times, I really tried my best to not look at the eyes of the presenter so he/she would not call me. LOL. I would even pray that there would be someone who would volunteer to be the one to share their own story. LOL.

I heard a lot of touching stories and some life changing experiences from other people. I really felt that God was with us during that whole 2 days. Even if the event was from morning up to evening, I did not get bored. During the first day, I was really reserved. I did not talk to my seatmate but I was lucky that she was around the same age as me. But she knew someone from the crowd because her brother and sister-in-law were already the organizers. That time, she was with her parents and other acquaintances. There was also a father-daughter tandem during the event. The daughter was also around the same age as me. After the event, I became friends with these 2 beautiful girls. But during that time, we barely talked with each other. I think I was the only one who did not had anyone with me that I just wished that my mom had joined me so she would have finished her graduation rites.

Yes, we had graduation just before the evening mass started and I had no way out because we were all required to say something about our experience during the 2 day event. My mom even laughed at me because I said that I would sell my experiences to my friends. Our priest asked me how am I going to sell it. I actually used the wrong word. I should have said that I will tell it to my friends rather than I will sell it to my friends. LOL. I really did told my friends about my renewal of faith but I did not want to force them to join just because I needed someone to recruit. I wanted people to join because they are willing to be more closer to God. Just like with my experiences, I joined because I have personally decided that I wanted to change and to start doing good things.

Other than the stories shared by other people during the event, we also did a lot of singing and dancing. It was a weekend of things that I do not normally do. I am a person who does not want to talk in front of people. And I am also not the dancing type of person nor do I sing in public. No, no, no. I cannot. LOL. But I was able to sing my heart out and dance to the music while I was at the event. It was like I did not bother if my singing was not in tune nor is my dancing that good but I did it.

After that experience, I have really felt lighter to the point that I would get teary eyed even while hearing mass. Has it ever happened to you? That when you are inside the church and listening to the church songs made you cry? It did happen to me a lot of times.

You know the recollections and retreat that we had when we were in high school? The experience was something like that. My mom even had a letter for me. I really did not expect that she would have a letter for me. It was easy for the PREX members to gather the letters from our family because most of us were from this subdivision while others were still within the area.

I have already downloaded the Bible app almost a decade ago although I was not able to read it. I always stop in the book of Genesis. I really wanted to read the bible from start to end even before but I never really have gotten to read it. Who kmows maybe one of these days I would be able to read it and reflect on some bible verses.

I am just so grateful for being able to experience this kind of event. I felt that it has made me even closer to God. It was really a fun, enjoyable and fulfilling experience.