Good news

Here is good news about our country. We bagged two exhibition awards in the Korean tourism fair, besting 50 countries represented by some 500 organizations. We captured the overall championship in the Most Prominent Exhibitor competition and the Best Folklore Performance contest. The competition was held in the recently-concluded KOTFA 2002 travel and tourism fair in Seoul, South Korea.

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Another piece of good news is that the Philippines bagged seven gold, three silver and three bronze medals in the recently concluded "11th Paralympiad Malaysia & Asian Capital Cities Invitation" held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Arnold Balais, who lost his right leg during his teens, won seven gold, two silver and two bronze medals. Arnold, for many years, was a beneficiary of the Good Samaritan Foundation. One silver and one bronze were won by Ma. Africa Salazar of Manila in track and field.

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Here is good news for the countless friends and admirers of Fr. James B. Reuter, S.J., who was in ICU at the Mother Seton Hospital in Naga City recently. He is well on the way to recovery. He now swims every day as part of his therapy, and he feels he is good for another ten years. "The ICU gave me a new start," Fr. Jim said.

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Fr. Reuter also said that the "beautiful hospital for the destitute poor" on the Coastal Road has been built. "It is a dream!  Please come to see it! You will never believe that it is a hospital for the poor, with no paying patients," he said. During its blessing, Bishop Ted Bacani said:  "Usually we give the poor the crumbs that fall from the table. But, in this hospital, we are giving them the best"

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The first big event will be the first operation, by Sister Eva. The second will be the first birth. The AY Foundation is a major donor in the building of the hospital.

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In the meantime, Fr. Reuter and his staff are gathering at least 40 Diocesan Directors of Mass Media, from all over the Philippines, for a two-day seminar on how to handle media, for the Church, and for the good of all the children of God. Monday. And he is inviting me to appear and be at Xavier House, 2307 Pedro Gil, Santa Ana, Manila during the seminar to share my experience, in media. Many of the participants come from the provinces and rural areas, from Laoag to Tawi-Tawi.

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Thanks a million and God bless Ms. Cynthia A. Camacho and her sister Theresita A. Uy who lent a helping hand to the charitable projects of the Good Samaritan Foundation. "We are among the many who admire your dedication to the  service of humanity, be it in their financial and spiritual needs, and to your crusade to what is true and just, they said. Their donation of the amount of Twenty Eight Thousand Seven Hundred Pesos (28,700.00) came from relatives and friends who, in lieu of gifts, attended the 65th Wedding Anniversary of their parents Dr. and Mrs. Damaso A. Acosta.

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I hope you will enjoy reading this very touching true story of a little girl who made good things happen in her community. It was passed on to me by Manuel "Noli" Agcaoili, my very good friend of many decades:

A sobbing little girl stood near a small church from which she had been turned away because it was too crowded. "I can’t go to Sunday School?," she sobbed to the pastor as he walked by.

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Seeing her shabby, unkempt appearance, the pastor guessed the reason and, taking her by the hand, took her inside and found a place for her in the Sunday school class. The child was so touched that she went to bed that night thinking of the children who have no place to worship Jesus.

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Some two years later, this child lay dead in one of the poor tenement buildings and the parents called for the kind hearted pastor, who had befriended their daughter, to handle the final arrangements. As her poor little body was being moved, a worn and crumpled purse was found which seemed to have been rummaged from some trash dump. Inside was found 57 cents and a note scribbled in childish handwriting which read, "This is to help build the little church bigger so more children can go to Sunday school."

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For two years she had saved for this offering of love. When the pastor tearfully read that note, he knew instantly what he would do. Carrying this note and the cracked, red pocketbook to the pulpit, he told the story of her unselfish love and devotion. He challenged his deacons to get busy and raise enough money for the larger building.

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But the story does not end there! A newspaper learned of the story and published it. It was read by a realtor who offered them a parcel of land worth many thousands. When told that the church could not pay so much, he offered it for 57 cents.

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Church members made large donations. Checks came from far and wide. Within five years the little girl’s gift had increased to $250,000.00–a huge sum for that time (near the turn of the century).

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Her unselfish love had paid large dividend. When you are in the city of Philadelphia, look up Temple Baptist Church, with a seating capacity of 3,300 and Temple University, where hundreds of students are trained. Have a look, too, at the Good Samaritan Hospital and at a Sunday School building which houses hundreds of Sunday Schoolers, so that no child in the area will ever need to be left outside during Sunday school time.

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In one of the rooms of this building may be seen the picture of the sweet face of the little girl whose 57 cents, so sacrificially saved, made such remarkable history. Alongside of it is a portrait of her kind pastor, Dr. Russel H. Conwell, author of the book, Acres of Diamonds.

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Thoughts For Today:

In school, we study to learn of lessons and then take the test.
But in life, we first take the test, then learn the lesson.
That is the beauty of living.
Enjoy your life.

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God will never leave you empty.
He will replace everything you lost.
If He asks you to put something down,
it’s because He wants you to pick up something greater.

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My e-mail addresses: [email protected] and [email protected]