"When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving much advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a gentle and tender hand. ” --Henri Nouwen

CHRISTMAS AT SAMARITANA

(Krystel Mar Crisostomo)

Samaritana, World Vision & Local Churches Share the Christmas Spirit

On December 19, 2010, in partnership with the staff of World Vision, together with friends from churches in the area such as CCAC, Faith Baptist Church and NUCC, Samaritana’s Outreach Team had the opportunity to host a Christmas party for the women working in the bars and streets of Quezon Avenue this Christmas. This collaborative event was the fruit of much intercession and prayer walks around Quezon Avenue, an area where Samaritana has been ministering and seeking partnerships with other organizations for a long time. As Ate Billie, a World Vision branch officer put it, symbolically, the walls of Jericho finally fell. At the party, everyone shared games, Christmas carols and gift packages, and we did a prayer dance as a gesture of blessing and celebration. The group watched a video clip entitled “A Love Letter from God”, narrated by World Vision volunteer Pastor John.Tears fell as God moved through an overwhelmingly touching night. Eyes were opened, hearts were awakened and burdens stirred. Right before the end of the program, some of the women were amazed and said “ No one has ever given each of us this much importance and no one has ever valued us this way. This is the very first time someone organized a Christmas party for women like us. We didn’t know that God would still love us, despite our being.” A woman said afterward, “Ang saya naman” (It's so fun!). Samaritana, World Vision and other churches are looking forward to unite and pursue this great commission of reaching out to our modern day Samaritan women. God is awesome!

Songs and Games with Samaritana Scholars Moms and kids under the scholarship program of Samaritana had a day filled with lots of fun, gifts and prizes on December 11, 2011, at Quezon City Memorial Circle. Games were enjoyed both by the women and their children. A special song number was given by one of the trainees’ children. It was a happy, wholesome event ending in one big family picnic! Wonderful presents were given to the scholars and no one went home empty-handed.

Celebrating with Trainees and Friends Samaritana trainees together with friends from Batasan, Payatas and Tandang Sora outreach, gathered to enjoy an afternoon of festivities for the Christmas season on the 17^th of December. A lively prayer dance started the program allowing everyone to get acquainted with each other.Next we sang the Doxology, and also interpreted it through a dance. Then the group shared special games to bring out the true meaning of Christmas among the women, and some of the trainees presented a modern dance. Raffle draws, delicious snacks, prizes and gifts were flowing. Gift packages filled with groceries were given to the women, as they left Samaritana with a load of gifts and smiles on their faces befitting the joy of the season.

Staff and Volunteers’ Retreat at ATS The staff and volunteers of Samaritana Transformational Ministries, Inc. went on a half day retreat, at the Asian Theological Seminary (ATS) on December 20, 2010, with guest speaker and Board member Pastor Herman Moldez. We had a time of silence, meditating on the extraordinary goodness of God as seen and experienced out of ordinary day-to-day happenings. Pastor Moldez reflected on God’s Revelation to Elijah in 1 Kings 19:11-18, emphasizing on our need to pause and be silent before God. Everyone shared his or her own story of how 2010 impacted their life, and what God has revealed. And as one, we enjoyed times of singing and prayer dances, and lunch afterward. It was a relaxing, refreshing and encouraging moment with fellow workers in the Lord’s vineyard.

Samaritana at Omakase After a relaxing retreat, Samaritana Staff and Volunteers enjoyed Japanese cuisine served in a lovely buffet at Omakase, a Japanese restaurant in Quezon City. Everyone had a wonderful lunch. Heartfelt thanks to the couple, Mr. and Mrs. Gideon and Leonida Bendicion, for organizing and helping sponsor the lunch! We had our Kris Kringle with everyone bringing a variety of presents for the gift exchange, and two baskets of small Noche Buena packages were raffled as well.Board Members Ruby Lavarias and Pastor Herman Moldez celebrated with us, which reminds us to give our deepest gratitude to each member of the Board for their overwhelming support to the ministry of Samaritana. We also missed the Nambus, Jonathan, Ate Thelma and Katrinka on this occasion as they were still in the USA for their sabbatical leave.It was a time of Thanksgiving for the blessings and mercies that the Lord has bestowed upon the ministry, to everyone and for a great year in 2010. In the spirit of Christmas, joyfully and wholeheartedly, everyone sang “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” Brother Paddy closed the event and sent us home with an inspiring prayer of blessing.