Interview

 Name of Parish Organization: Youth Ministry and YFC

Name of the Interviewee and age: Mark Jason Rosal   19 Years Old

Number of Years in the Org: 4 Years

            I interviewed Mark Jason Rosal in a Saturday morning. I was to have a talk that day so while we are waiting for our fellow brothers and sisters, I asked him some questions. A brief background about him. Mark Jason Rosal had an older sister that led the youth ministry once. That responsibility was passed down to him because his ate is already working. At first, he didn’t want that responsibility because it is too demanding and has a lot of things to do. While he was in high school, he said that he had a dual personality. He was a bully in school and he was as good as a saint in YFC meetings. He couldn’t show what he is learning in YFC that time to his school because he has a reputation to save. He had an experience that his life becomes so miserable that he didn’t know what to do. His grades were low, he can be kicked out from his school, his parents is mad at him. His ate said to him to pray and that changed his personality from then on. YFC is a group of youth that specifically teach the ways of our Lord and shows how to serve with joy.

He is a college student from UST and his schedule is so hectic. I asked him the first question out of curiosity when he is saying his background. “Kuya bat sa sobrang busy mo, nagagawa mo pa itong mga bagay na toh?”. He laughed and answered “kasi masaya ako”. A follow-up question “Bat ka masaya?”. He answered “kasi masaya ako na tumutulong sa Diyos at kapag tumutulong ka sa Diyos, walang tama o mali, kung ano pwede mong maitulong iyon ang tatanggapin ng Diyos”. He serves the Lord with joy. He also answered that it is a stress reliever whenever he does something for the Lord. He is happy with the sense of family in his community in the church. The youth ministry is bonded like a family. He enjoys the presence of fellow youth that has a common goal and that is to serve the Lord. Next Question “Mahirap ba pagsabayin ang buhay parokyano ska buhay sa labas?”. He answered “sa simula talagang mahirap, hindi mo alam kung ano ang pipiliin mo, kung ang Diyos ba o ang sarili mo. Pero naging desidido ako nung pinasa sa akin ni ate ang responsibilidad na ako ay may tawag para makapaglingkod sa panginoon”.  Next Question “bat mo pinili itong org na ito?” (Specifically Youth Ministry and YFC). He answered “ Pinili ko ito dahil sa hindi ako napilitan kundi nalaman ko na ang lahat ay hindi kayang gawin ng tao. “God moves in mysterious ways ika nga nila”. “Ang ating parish community ay di pa gaanong malaki at puro matatanda ang mga tao sa ating simbahan kaya gusto naming maging involved ang mga kabataaan tulad mo”. He said that he wanted to join this organization because he wanted to bring back the youth since our parish is composed of old man and woman. To encourage the youth is a way to help the community grow and make a big family that include a large number of youth.

To sum things up, Kuya Mark is happy of what he does. He is pleased in serving the Lord and I said to him that even though my parish involvement is done, I would still give my time and effort in helping you and our parish to grow together.

Reflection:

          We make our own choices whether it is good or bad. It is not the quantity that counts but the quality. After interviewing Kuya Mark, I realized that we have a choice. We make our own fate and we choose to accept and to decline some responsibilities in life. That experience was something to cherish. To have a heart to heart talk is a start of something good in the near future. My life as a Christian is not yet that nurtured compared to Kuya Mark’s life. He dedicated himself although he was so busy in his personal life, he still finds time to visit the church. I realized that I lacked that urged and initiative to give my time and effort to the Lord. Serving the Lord is not by force but with joy.

 God moves in mysterious ways and sometimes the small things in life that comes to us are blessings in disguise so we must be thankful to God for everything that he gives to us. WE have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to be used as witnesses not only where we are now, but also where we will be in the future. Like Kuya mark, he doesn’t mind whether he doesn’t finish his studies or homework which I admire just to give something for the youth and give example to them. I promised Kuya mark because I realized that his duty is so hard because he is already a college student like me. I promised him that I would continue my service not just for the grades but with the joy that brings to me whenever I think that what I am doing is good and it is for the Lord. God’s calling somehow touched me.