THE AGE OF ACCOUNTABILITY

These kids are my students in CTR 3 in the Primary Class in Church. Selah and James are 5 years old and Amelia and Jorden are 4.

Last Sunday, we talked about The Age of Accountability, of which I taught them that when they have grown enough and learned about right and wrong, they become accountable for what they do. I explained that being accountable means taking responsibility for what they do wrong and be blessed for what they do right. Part of the lesson was for me to bring an item and give them to take good care of. I brought a container of biscuits and placed it in the middle of the table. My instruction was the biscuits were there for us to eat later but they must take good care of it so one will take or open and eat the biscuits. It's quarter past 12noon and I know they're all hungry. I told them that if they were able to take care of it the whole time during the lesson (that ends 1pm), they can have additional cheese sticks for their treat. It was a difficult time for me because they were restless and hungry and wanted to open the tin can biscuit container. 

As we went along with the lesson, Amelia (in pink) grabbed the container and placed it near the edge of the table that it almost fell. I reminded the kids that if that thing fell, Amelia has to answer and take full responsibility of her action and as a consequence, they won't have treat later. She slowly put it back to the center of table where it'll be safer. We did activities and had them write CTR on their notebooks. CTR means Choose The Right. The whole time, they were tempted to open the container. Selah said "can I open it? I just want to see what's inside!" I said, "well, it's all up to you. I already said the instructions and you're free to do what you want" and remind them again of the word ACCOUNTABILITY and being responsible. She didn't insist further. After the lesson, the biscuit abd the cheese sticks were still there unopened. I congratulated the four of them for having been responsible (and patient) enough that it stayed there safe the whole time. As a reward, they got biscuits and cheese sticks for a treat after the class. 

I secretly admired how these kids understood the whole context of the lesson. It maybe simple to us, adults but to them who struggled much to take care of something and achieved the very purpose of the lesson, it was a sweet victory of taking responsibility and accountability and savoring the consequences of having both treats after giving heed to the instructions. 

Sometimes, most adults forget accountability. Some act on the basis that they are free but neglected to take responsibility. Some thought that it's okay to sin and repent later. Little did they know that we maybe free to do things on our own but we will never be free of the consequences of the action we did wrong. The best part to doing right, however is that, there'll be blessings. It may be immediate, it may come late but it surely will come. 

The best part of the lesson was that it's me who learned! I have relearned these principles of the Gospel. And as I go along teaching the primary class, it's me who have been learning, enjoying and getting the love from my students. These kids and the whole class were blessings!

Amelia and I on a Sunday afternoon 

CARRIBEAN FESTIVAL 2015 (The Parade)

It was a day of colorful costumes, loud music, festive spirits, boobs, booties and lollipops at the Carribean Festival Parade today, July 25th.

The parade started at 10am at 12th Street and Lonsdale Avenue, and continues down Lonsdale to Esplanade Avenue, then turns west and ends at Waterfront Park.

Here's Lonsdale Avenue closed as early as 8am in preparation for the parade.

At 10am, Kirby and I were stationed infront of the Thrift Store, phone fully charged to take pictures and videos. After few minutes, we can hear music from Upper Lonsdale and the whole entourage was started with the display of Andrew Saxton's float, with the MP walking and giving away Canadian flags.

When he came to where we were standing, asked him if it's ok to take picture with him. He was friendly and gave in.

The rest were all spectacular costumes from multicultural Carribean nations. 

Kirby, my nephew sure enjoyed the ladies on their headdresses, skimpy clothes and beautiful smiles,

At the last part, he was able to take picture with this lady. 

I sure enjoyed taking pictures, watching, dancing and entirely getting amused.

Lastly, we had fun with the goodies distributed during the parade. 

After an hour and a half, parade was over and everybody walked to Esplade then to Waterfront Park to see the other part of the festival. 

The three hour stay outdoor was worth our time.

 

THE EYES THAT SEE ANGELS

My ward and her youngest son and I traveled for half an hour to Downtown Vancouver yesterday for supposedly a short walk prior to him going to Victoria. We dropped by Starbucks at Denman St. and had their coffee and me, Caramel Frappuccino.  We sat down comfortably on a black couch facing 2 single couches while we chat. Duncan told his mom that I was an English teacher in the Philippines but corrected him by saying I taught in a nursing school department in a University instead. The woman who sat across Duncan must have overheard (or must have been intentionally listening to) our conversations butted in and said something about "angel" and "nannies all over Downtown". I didn't actually understand what she've said but I remembered that I smiled at her with uncertainty. Duncan, however stopped talking. I thought that the lady must have said something nasty that silenced him. All throughout the time we stayed there sitting and sipping our orders, I have frequently glanced at the lady with the thought of her maybe being racist or degrading the work of others. There were even evil thoughts that crossed my mind that if this lady have said something bad or negative about these nannies, I won't hesitate to fire back. When I no longer contain my thoughts, I asked her what was it she said about the Filipino nannies. She said, "these people are angels", with a smile. She continued on to say that she frequently see nannies around the place and how much work they do for the babies or children they take care of. She said that "these people are very willing to work hard, extending hours of work without complain". I nodded to confirm her impression. Suddenly, my feeling of retaliation turned into a feeling of admiration. Not many people would agree on her but it sure is a good feeling to see someone see differently. I added that these nannies work hard not for themselves but for their families in the Philippines as well, and that they're very patient and easy to work with. "That's true, and I believe that majority of them do that", she said then put on her headset.             

I secretly took picture of the lady and as I take a look at the picture, random thoughts flooded my mind. This lady has an eye of compassion and she look beyond what the eye captures. She has respect to people and for the good things they do. She sees beyond physical appearance and appreciates inner beauty. Rarely can we come across this kind of people nowadays. Because these days, many of us judge others based on what we see. We judge people by their appearance or by the work they do. We tend to look down at people who do blue collar job and have a better treatment to people whom we thought have more money and are "successful".

I went home and brought with me the memory of that experience. I have to write it, I said. Because today, I learned that there are eyes that indeed see angels.

The Deportation Threat PART I

A threat is a statement of an intention  to inflict pain, injury, damage, or other hostile action on someone in retribution for something done or not done, with synonyms threatening remark, warning ultimatum.

Not everyday we encounter threats in our lives. The most devastating would have been a death threat but I've never received any of these and hopefully not. Yet today I was threatened for deportation.

I am in Canada under the Live in Caregiver Program, on working visa or with the Temporary Work Permit. Being a live in has repercussions. Although I am bound with the contract I signed with the employer, there might be slight changes in the actual work place.

For four (4) months, I've worked entirely with an 86-year old woman who has dementia and get most of the instructions from her youngest son from Tokyo, Japan. Another person involved in the direct supervision of my job is their caretaker for more than a decade and I guess, we've gotten along very well with the set up. I believe I have executed to the best of my ability my functions as a caregiver, although this is the first time I am doing this kind of job.

Came July 10, the elder son and his family from Singapore came for a 2-week vacation and they stayed with us in the house from the day they arrived until July 17. I personally find it odd to have other persons around since I'm not used to dealing with any of the relatives on personal basis. This would be the first time.

I would say the first personal encounter wasn't very pleasant. When they rang the bell, we, my client and I came to the door to open it but they were on the other door so we didn't see them immediately. Saw their 5 luggages at the door 'tho so we know it's them. I called them from the carport and they came walking towards the entrance door smile-less. When they entered the house, the wife said I go help her husband take the luggages inside which I refused to do because these are heavy luggages. Besides, I know her husband is capable plus the fact that this isn't a part of my job. Me volunteering can be but they can't force me to do it. And so maybe that's how the annoyance started it all.