MY JOY TO THE WORLD (The LAGES 5th Children of God’s Christmas Party)

“I find joy when I see children enjoying the foods and prizes I prepared . . .  this is my joy to the world . . .  this is my advocacy, o Lord”

                                                                                                            Ma’am Ching

            Our school has been truly blessed with an adaptor like Ma’am Ching. Today, December 13, 2011 at 10:30 in the morning, she held her 5^th Children of God’s Christmas Party.   

          This has been a tradition for us here in school but this party today is quite different.  She told us last week that this might be her last Christmas party with our pupils, of course, due to financial constraints. She has no teaching loads anymore.

            So, this party might be our “despedida” for our kind benefactor.

            There was a short program. When the doxology song (Who Am I?) played, she reflected and asked God “Who Am I to continue your mission, O God? I’m poor and broken but I’m a dedicated servant of yours.” 

She relayed this during her speech time. It was difficult for her to stop feeding these children, so by God’s grace she would try her best to continue, she swears.

Indeed, the children burst with joy and laughter during the party. They loved Ma’am Ching’s spag very much; they opened wide their mouths eagerly to bite Ching’s chix joy;  and they exchanged food satisfaction chats with others.

During the gift-giving time, they would try to reach the gifts. Excited. They would even say “kami ma’am, wala pa.” They always expect this part: to go home with a box full of freebies from Ma’am Ching’s party.

Ma’am Ching’s students from class 2002 graced the party. They came because they were the donors of the rice and ice cream which the children enjoyed. Somehow, they alleviate Ma’am Ching’s finances with their supports.

The teachers even wondered what their jobs .Ma’am Ching could not give an exact answer but “generous lang jud sila” (they are generous).

The party ended at around one o’clock. I never saw Ma’am Ching’s frown, I never saw an exhausted Ma’am Ching; what I saw was a Ma’am Ching full of joy, full of happiness, full of enthusiasm, full of hope that next year she would still be around with us ,and again hold party like this. . .  the 6^th Children of God Christmas party.