The Central Luzon Adventist Youth (AY) Department held a two-week Youth Impact project in Dilasag, Aurora from Apr. 18 - May 2, 2009 with the conference's Youth director, Pastor Jesse Acosta as lead organizer.
Dilasag Mayor Victorio Briones appreciated Adventists particularly Acosta for their efforts for the mayor's constituency during a courtesy call to his office. He even mentioned that the Adventist workers in the municipality are truly kind and industrious.
"Talagang napakapalad ng aming bayan dahil maraming tao nakagaya niya nakatuwang sa aming pag-unlad (Our municipality is truly blessed for having people like him [Acosta] who is a partner for our progress)," said Briones."Higit sa lahat,upang ang aking nasasakupan ay magkaroon ng takot sa Diyos (More than anything else, for my area of jurisdiction to have fear of God)."
During the two-week program, the activities included free massage, clean-up drive, municipal's fence painting, livelihood seminar, health lecture, medical rally, alis kuto at galis, serenading, Bible study, visitation, sports fest, counseling, shower bathing for old folks and Bible seminar every night where Pastor Geronimo M. Viernes, Jr. was speaker.
Maria Robles, a one-hundred-year-old woman residing in Dilasag, expressed that she is old and will soon die with the knowledge that she is well-loved.
"... lalo kong nararamdaman na merong grupo ng mga tao na nagmamalasakit at nagmamahal sa akin, at kayo ‘yun mga"Sabadista" (...the more that I feel that there is a group of people that cares for me and love me, and they are you Adventists)", said teary-eyed Robles. "Hindi kayo nahiya na linisan at paliguan ako (You don't feel ashamed cleansing and bathing me)"
At the end of the Youth Impact, 17 new members were added to the Adventist denomination. This made both the volunteers and the newly baptized happy.
"Ang sarap ng pakiramdam na maglingkod sa Diyos (It feels good to serve God),"said participant Mae Ann Nicolas.
"Akala ko dati samatatanda lang pwede, pero kahit pala mga bata ay pwedeng pwede (I thought before that only adults can, but I found out that the youth can, too)."
"Sa wakas na binyagan na po ako (Finally,I got baptized),"said Erica Trono."Matagal ko na po ito ng pangarap; masayang masaya talaga ako(This is my dream for long; I am really happy)."
Behind the organization of this program were: Dilasag Seventh-day Adventist Church, Dilasag Adventist Elementary School, Barry Liwanag, and Annabelle Acosta, CLC Women Ministries directress for the medical team.
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