THROUGH THE JUVENILE FAITH

(NDTC - JHS)

One moment as she knelt and began to pray, she gazed at the blessed sculpture of Christ
in clay. She looked up in awe, hoping that she could eventually grasp the healing she was
longing for. Her eyes were so teary, skin was sweaty, and her body was weary. She couldn’t
feel even just a bit of the happiness which was supposedly shared with the world but rather,
she felt like her life was the most dreary.

She was a juvenile dreamer, and though she was unfortunate, she still holds on to the
merciful and compassionate God and she still aims for the largest goals ever possible. At the
young age of 6, she already lost company of her parents since her parents were both
diagnosed with the lethal Ebola virus. She had no choice but to accept the incisive truth, to
sharpen herself, and to stand her ground. She was sent to her uncle for guidance at the age
of 8 but again, she was left alone with no one to hold on to, because her uncle had to attend
the long-term military training. By that time, she felt worthless and feeble but she knew that it
wasn’t the end of everything. She kept moving and held more tightly to her faith. She
continued to fight through the endless, tiring days that passed and she continued to push
through her limits and she managed to learn everything necessary - by herself.

Years came and went by, and she still continues to live her dream which is to be a tough
survivor of life and a wholeheartedly dedicated servant of God. But despite every optimism
and every count of toughness she embodies, there is still something which she is longing for.
She had another dream, and she was yearning to be happy and contented with life, and to
live one perfect day. She desired these things so much that she wanted all of it to be a
picture-perfect reality on her 18th birthday.

It was the last day for her as a 17 year-old. She had the same routine which she has been
doing for the past years: wake up, pray, beg for food and money, pray, and sleep. She lied
down with a brilliant smile on her face, knowing that she included her best wish on her prayers,
and that God won’t let her down. It wasn’t long when she fell asleep at the cold, dusty,
concrete sidewalk of Dumaguete.

The vibrant, morning sun rose at around 5:34 A.M. and woke her up from her sound sleep.
She knew that she was going to have a great day, since she begged for an enough amount
of money to spare and spend for herself on her 18th birthday. As she woke up, she prepared
herself; she changed her clothes, and finger-combed her hair. The first thing she wanted to
do was to go to church, to thank God, and she did. After praying, she headed to the streets
and walked her way to the nearest garage sale. In the garage sale, she spotted a cute, pink
colored shirts which she thinks would perfectly fit her, and the shirt was only for P35.00. When
she got near the stack of clothes where the shirt was, the vendor said: “I’m sorry, we do not
allow beggars here.” She was dismayed, and instead of continually being happy, she felt
down. She tried to shake it off as she left the place and continued to walk forward without
looking back.

After walking for long, she felt tired and saw an empty seat at a bus stop. She went to sit
there, and didn’t mind the people in the bus stop. Later on, a group of students surrounded
her and sat beside her. They were so noisy and disturbing, that they never stopped making
fun of whoever passes by. In an instant, the students stood in front of her. She was wondering
why, but she got anxious. She was astonished and got horrendous when one of the students
suddenly sat beside her while holding something in his left hand. Without doubting, she stood
quickly and tried to run away but she was too late. By the time she stood, one of the students
grabbed her arm and forcefully pulled her back. Before she could ever say a word, they
covered her mouth with a small but thick piece of cloth, and tied her pallid arms jointly. She
knew that no one else but she and the students were in the bus stop, and it’s an enclosed
area. She never stopped moving, she endlessly shook her arms, and continuously moved her
feet. The students continued with what they were doing; they tied her up, and did everything
they could to stop her from moving. Then, the students brought her behind the bus stop
where nobody dares to enter. She knew she was powerless and she can’t stand a fight
against the students, so she just closed her eyes more tensely and prayed to God. She was still
being ill-treated while she prayed in her mind the Lord’s Prayer. She had nothing else to do
but to resist and endure all the pain.

“...deliver us from evil. Amen.” She uttered the last words of the Lord’s Prayer and for not
so long, a rusty, sharp knife pierced and penetrated through her skin. She was stabbed in the
hip, stabbed again in the stomach, and lastly in the elbow. Fear crept inside her as her blood
flows like faucet water out from her helpless body. After the long torture, she was dropped
down like a boulder crashing downhill. She swallowed every pain that was dealt, and out of
the blue, she shouted roughly: “O God, why have you forsaken me?” She felt betrayed,
frightened, and felt like the Lord Himself has turned His back on her. She was helpless, and just
closed her pale eyes as her tears keep falling, sweat keeps rolling, and blood keeps flowing.
She thought that people must live within a world where everyone matters, and where people
don’t want to see anyone’s son or daughter crying because they don’t fit in with what society
has taught them. But no, she trashed the thought, and replaced it with anger and hostility.
After everything that happened, she intentionally forgot everything she positively believes in -
including her own faith.

The next day, she woke up with the fresh bruises and hurt from what happened. But by the
time she woke, she knew that no one would be there for her so she forced herself to stand up,
and continue with her life. She noticed that her blood was already in most parts of her clothes
and it has already dried. She walks weakly, as she snugs her hands inside her shirt. While she
was walking, she passed by a group of students which reminded her of what happened
yesterday. Abruptly, she moved away from them for safety. As she was walking, an ancient,
abandoned, and small building caught her attention. The building reminded her of
something she once loved. She fearlessly went inside the building, and there she found a
small altar with a crucifix at the center and a broken, stained glass beside it. Promptly, every
memory flashed back to her wandering thoughts. Everything she recalled was vivid yet so
surreal. She could remember herself kneeling down and worshipping the holy Lord. One
moment, she knelt and began to pray and she gazed at the blessed sculpture of Christ in
clay. She looked up emotionally, hoping that she could finally have the comfort she was
hungry for. Her eyes were so tearful, skin was sweating, and her body was tired. Tears
gradually rolled from her hazel eyes. She was shaking, and she slowly found herself kneeling
down again to the Lord, and once again welcoming Him back to her life.

She kept weeping, and at one point of time she realized that she would never be
complete without the Lord, and that if she wouldn’t have the Lord, she would be nothing. She
smirked, knowing that she can’t imagine herself and where she would be without God. Her
faith was strong but it needed something to make it stronger. She also realized that the Lord
would never give an encounter that a man can’t withstand. With a smile, she stood up as if
she didn’t go through recklessness, and she said: “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and
to the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
Submitted by: Arch Sealtiel F. Ventura
Kiel John C. Guerrero
Zennia Nithaiah S. Andrade