Positive Confessions

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

It started like any other mentoring Sunday.  The parish scholars, public elementary and high school students, were starting to come into the chapel to once more meet up with their assigned mentors.  The program that morning was to center around the scholars’ need to set goals on how to better their lives.  In a prior meeting, it was agreed that it would be good to have an older scholar share with the rest of the kids her story of what and how she was doing to achieve her dreams. 

So why were tears slowly streaming down my face as I listened to Z, a shy parish college scholar tell her story? 

Working the Faith

“So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” James 2:17

During the last two months that I have been away from home, I have been steadfast in my habits to say my prayers at certain times of the day:  when I wake up, before meals, and in the early evenings. Religiously, I kept my promise to say the rosary at least once a day.  Attending Sunday masses was top priority.  I have also kept strong my devotion to our Mother of Perpetual Help.

 With so much prayers said, why did I feel as if I was missing out on something?

On my time away from home, I had spent a lot of time with my mother, siblings and friends.  No doubt about it I was happy in their company and in turn delighted that my company, my cooking, my help was very much welcomed.

So what could be missing? I continued to ask myself this question.

When I returned home, I immediately got back to my usual routine: 3 Cs. Cleaning. Cooking. Caring for the needs of my husband and daughter.  Being back home also meant getting back into the swing of things at my parish. Specifically, there was need for time to spend on the monthly mentoring program.  There was much catching up to do.  Because of my recent travels, I have taken a leave from actively participating in the  mentoring program for underprivileged children. In my absence,  I had endorsed the five grade 3 scholars assigned to me to a friend who was also a member of the program.

Finally I am active again. And on the designated 2^nd Sunday of the month, it was time to meet my scholars.  At first, only two of the five were present.  Did my absence cause the other three to drift away from the program? But this thought was quickly replaced with much joy when one by one they joined my little group. My scholars were all present. 

I was excited to give them my pasalubong (gift).  I hoped that it would compensate for my absence.  I got them t-shirts with the Superman logo.  I explained that the t-shirts are to remind them that there was nothing they could not do if they put their mind to it.  

The scholars then got busy with the morning’s program.  In between their coloring activities, I asked them about how they were doing at school and if things were alright with their families.   

My heart was bursting with joy as I renewed connections with each of them. 

As I collected the colored works of the scholars, I understood.  What was missing was putting my faith into practice.  I had to work my faith. 

x o x o x o x o x o x o x

 

Being with my mother, siblings, husband and children do give me great joy.  For I know I have a place in their hearts.   But being with these children, knowing that they have nothing to give back in return, is a joy of a different level.     

x o x o x o x o x o x o x

The mentoring component of my parish’s scholarship program require that members of the committee or mentors to meet with the children on the 2^nd Sunday of each month. This is appropriately called Mentoring Sunday.  For an hour and a half on Mentoring Sunday, working on an agreed agenda, the mentors meet up with their assigned scholars. Four to five scholars are assigned a mentor.  In the course of the school year,  the mentors hope to guide and motivate their scholars to do well in school as well as cultivate Christian values in them.  By doing so, a better future may open up to these children.

A few days prior to Mentoring Sunday, the mentors  meet up to finalize the agenda.  Possible topics for discussion are brought up.  Will there be singing or dancing? Will there be a special project to do? There is no lack of enthusiasm as each mentor bring up one idea after another.  
 

More often than not, there is food to be shared.  In the last meeting, I brought some banana-walnut cupcakes.  Sharing these tiny treats made for a productive ending.  

Banana- Walnut Cupcakes

 

3 very ripe bananas, mashed  (about 1 cup)

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature

1/2 T vinegar plus milk to make ½ c sour cream or you can use ½ c yoghurt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Grated zest of 1 orange

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Place cupcake paper liners on 2 cupcake pans (12 to a pan).

In the bowl , mix the mashed bananas

 and granulated sugar, and brown sugar until combined. 

Add the oil, eggs, sour cream, vanilla, and orange zest. 

Mix until smooth.

In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt. With care, add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix just until combined.  Ladle the batter into the prepared cupcake pan. At this point, you can sprinkle the chopped nuts on each of the cupcakes.

Bake for 15-20  minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes, remove to a cooling rack, and cool completely. 

Good Intentions

It all started as a tiny seed of an idea. Why not give 72 young scholars from the poor sector of my parish a Christmas party. At first, concerns were raised: this action would set a precedent that the volunteer mentors may not be able to sustain; this action could be expensive; and, because of the busy season, many of the volunteers would not be available to help out on the date set for the event.

But each opposition seemed too flimsy when held up against the good effect the action would generate. And so, the seed took root. Garage sales were conducted to generate funds to add to the limited budget allocated by the parish; kind parishioners and supportive friends, upon hearing about the event came forward with the exact items needed. There was even a donation of lechon to add to the pack lunch to be distributed. Things were turning up roses.

And as fate would have it, the date of the event was changed. This proved to be significant as all the mentors found themselves available to help out.

While pondering how to come up with funds to buy drinks, a text message is soon received about a donation of 8o packs of juice; and, while another mentor, on her morning walk, mull over how to come up with a simple breakfast snack, her attention was called by a vendor selling P1 pandesal. If each scholar got 2 pieces, the cost would be under P200. What a deal!

Then there was the challenge to come up with gift bags that the mentors could distribute to the scholars. The budget set was P30 per bag. Plus the bag should be environmentally acceptable—no plastics. The mentor assigned this task soon found out that it was close to impossible to come up with something worthwhile at P30. The bag alone cost more than the budget! As a last resort, this mentor decided to check out whether her favorite seamstress could help. Lo and behold, after some talk, the seamstress goes to her stockroom and comes out with a huge bag containing cloth bags at exactly the shape and size needed.



These bags were ordered last year but the client never came back to get them. With some bargaining, a sale was made with the seamstress agreeing to donate part of the cost. How cool is that?

Through solicitations, the much needed contents to fill up the gift bags poured in.



So much so that the bags were close to overflowing with goodies: chips, nuts, crayons, an orange, candies, hankie and even a tiny bar of soap!



Yesterday, everything finally came together. With the further blessing of a sunny weather, the party was underway. Not even the initial problem with the sound system could dampen the mood of the children. The nativity scene was recreated complete with angels and a stuffed lamb donated as a garage sale item. The scholars offered their Advent intentions all rolled up and secured with a pretty red ribbon.



Games were played and some scholars showcased their talents. Everything went like clockwork and in an orderly manner, each scholar got their lunch pack and gift bag.

The last words that stuck to my mind as I and the mentors packed up and headed for home were the words uttered in unison by the children, “We love you mentors.”

How good is that?

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Nothing stands in the way of good intentions. And that’s exactly what happened yesterday. A tiny seed of an idea, helped along the way with good intentions, grew into a beautiful tree.

And so it is with the following recipe. Just a tiny bit of yeast when added to flour can be the start of a delicious treat.



Cinnamon Rolls
(adaptation from “The Bread Machine Cookbook” by Donna Rathmell German)

Bread:
1 cup milk
2 Tbs butter
1 egg
2 Tbs Sugar
½ tsp Salt
3 – 3 ½ cups flour
1 ½ tsp yeast

Filling:
¼ cup brown sugar
1 ½ tsp cinnamon powder
½ cup raisins
½ cup chopped walnuts



For brushing:
2 Tbs melted butter

Glaze:
½ c powdered sugar
2 Tbs milk

Add all the bread ingredients into the bread machine. Set the machine on the “dough cycle setting”. Once completed, remove the dough from the machine.

Roll dough into a rectangle,



brush with melted butter



and spread the cinnamon mixture over butter. Roll dough as a jelly roll



and cut into slices of about 1 ½ inches wide. Place each slice in a muffin cup, cover and let rise for 35 to 40 minutes.



Brush tops lightly with melted butter if desired.



Bake in preheated 400 degree oven for 20 to 25 minutes.

When bread has somewhat cooled down, drizzle each roll with the powdered sugar-milk mixture.