Also known as: Seriously, I don’t need to put this line, really.
I have several posts lined up for posting/writing in this blog, but all of them would have to wait because this is more important! :)
This day one year ago, I went to Europe to join World Youth Day in Madrid.
Sometimes I still can’t believe that I can actually say/write that. Sometimes, it still feels like a dream.
But the rest of the time, whenever I remember the 16 days I spent traipsing around Europe, seeing the Pope, participating in World Youth Day events, meeting new friends and people I will keep for life, I smile and remember this line I wrote in my blog post that summed up my Europe series:
I am loved by a God who delights in making dreams come true.
How awesomely amazing is that?
Last year, I didn’t know how much this trip would change me, how much it would teach me of the grandness of God’s love. Interestingly, remembering all of it now is helping me face the things that I am facing right now. It’s funny how the answers to some of the questions you ask are the things you’ve already known for a long time. Let me repeat it once again (more for me, really):
I am loved by a God who
delights in making dreams come true.
If you’re my Twitter friend or my Facebook friend, please excuse me if I tweet/post about Europe memories because…well, it’s fun. And I really, really do miss Europe, and everyone I met there. And if you want to go down memory lane with me, here are the posts!
- Jornada Mundial de la Juventud (WYD Chronicles, Part 1 of 4)
- Stand Firm! (WYD Chronicles, Part 2 of 4)
- ¡Esta es la juventud del papa! (WYD Chronicles, Part 3 of 4)
- Firmes en la fe (WYD Chronicles, Part 4 of 4)
- Gracias, Madrid!
- Bonjour, Geneva!
- Merci, Paris!
- Danke, Vienna!
- Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
I think I understand now how some people keep on joining WYD every time it happens: it’s expensive and tiring and crazy but being there changes you. There’s really just something about it that makes it such an exciting event to save for, sacrifice for and experience. So you bet that I am starting to pray and save for WYD 2013. :) By God’s grace, see you next year Rio de Janeiro!
If you were also in Madrid for last year’s World Youth Day, then let me extend my greeting to you: ¡Feliz aniversario! :)
praise and thank God always for His blessings or even in times of trials anak,remember your first attempt to attend the WYD in Australia…God did not allow you to go ‘coz you’re new in your work at IBM…and one more thing you did not have enough fund for it…’coz God wants you to go to Madrid so you can also visit and serve SFC/YFC in some places in Europe…now coming Brazil…hoping and praying that God will allow you all again to attend the WYD…God bless!!!