I Remember that Night
when I entered a new place in Malate. I was in college then when I found that noisy spot. It was dark yet there were lights hovering in the place, people were jumping and singing, and there was a loud music playing. Out of curiosity, I went in and discovered something new.
No, its was not a bar... it was a church, it was Victory.
I remember Her
I was standing alone in one corner, hoping that people will not notice me, but apparently, someone did. That night, I met Ate Ruth also known as honey Ruth by everyone since she calls everyone honey. She looked like she was in her mid 20s, when we met... she had this energy and bubbliness oozing through her. She introduced herself, we exchanged numbers, and she did not leave me that night, I was supposed to go home but she insisted that I stay and eat with her before going home.
My hand was held by her throughout that night, and oh should she choose to take me to a 5 Star Hotel or a fine dining restaurant, I could have ended up spending and eating there. Thankfully, we ended up eating at Mcdonalds. She offered to treat me and insisted that she pay for me even if its just the first time we met. I stayed for a couple of hours and went home, the church was in Malate... I go home in Laguna.
On my way home, I was reflecting on how my night went and how my eyes was opened to another world. I have known God since I was 7 and was raised in a christian family, but she had something that I wanted. I wanted that... A discipled heart and a heart to disciple.
You see, Ate Ruth is just a simple girl from the province yet she had lots of girls that she discipled and mentored. She did it not by preaching or by being on stage, she did not need that, she did it by sharing her life.
She treated the other girls she just met.
She supported my school activities and my campaigns.
She prayed for me and would call me if needed.
She gave... she gave her time and her resources as well, it did not matter if it was small or big, she just gave.
At present, I am now leading my own group (Victory Group: an avenue where we can learn and apply God's Word in our lives). It started with just one girl, we could have been called a Victory Couple but no, she encouraged me that it was a Victory Group and that I should persevere. I remember her words telling me "Ryzl, sooner or later, you will do greater things than what I am doing now". I look at my "victory group" and sighed, "Okay...". But yeah, it took months before our group multiplied, God is faithful! God showed that He can use me. That there is no big or small work in His Kingdom, everything is important, everything matters, my small effort matters.
God used Ate Ruth to encourage me that I can make disciples, that my life can make a difference in another person's life. It does not need to be a lot, it can be just one. After Ate Ruth, I met a lot of women who influenced different aspects of my life. Indeed, one person who is making a difference is not enough, we need to be the difference in someone else's life too.
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| Ate Ruth and the Gals |
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| Me, Leah, and Ate Ruth's classic "Wednesday" smile |
