CHRISTMAS INSTITUTE 2016 EVALUATION

December 26-29, 2016

Bukig United Methodist Church
Bukig, Aparri, Cagayan
Christmas institute is one of the most awaited and obviously the biggest
activity of the UMYF. However, it wasn’t easy to make this activity happen. There
were lot of preparations and circumstances that tested our faith and
perseverance. But through the help of our Almighty God and the people behind
this activity, we surpass all those.

No one can say that the activity is perfect. But all we can say is that it run
well! On the 25th of December 2016, the Executive Committee went to the venue
to prepare and have a final ocular inspection on the venue. Though we are only
four officers in our district, this was never a weakness to us. Otherwise, this
became our strength because four is just a number. We have a big faith and a
big God. We took a rest and recreation in order for us to prepare ourselves for
the upcoming sleepless nights and restless days.

On the afternoon of the 26th of December, the institute formally opened.

We started our CI with the orientation; presentation of the house rules,
presentation of the District Exe-Com, presentation of the Circle of Leaders, bible
study facilitators, committee heads, interest group leaders, Bukig UMC members
and church workers and lastly the presentation of BS Material. As it was stated in
the program that the opening devotion will start right after the orientation,
unluckily our speaker failed to arrive at the exact time because he has a big part
on the other district’s CI. But we made an alternative way to escape the
situation. We swapped the other activities to the allotted time for the opening
devotion and that is to send the delegates in their respective housings. We have
a scheduled God Blaze You (Torch and Lantern Parade) at night. But due to the
heavy rainfall, we cancelled it. Otherwise, after taking our dinner, we proceed
to our activity for the evening. Panagsangbay (Welcome Night), Worker’s
Appreciation Night and Opening Devotion were the activities on the first night.
We have a different approach on the Worker’s Appreciation Night hosted by
Mc. Kinley Tabian and Grace Charlene Magne Pico and we are glad that we
made our church workers feel very happy and extra special. They have their
individual lay with a “God’s faithful servant” printed on it and cakes which they
blew altogether. Messages and presentation were also performed by the church
worker’s respective youths. On the other hand, the Panagsangbay was also
great because different performances were presented by the host church. The
program was like a TV program through the hosts Frances Danao and Jonathan
Onza. Our inspirational speaker was Ptr. Donny Ivan Racho and we are grateful
to choose him because of his talent and ability. After the program, the instituters
finally settled ourselves for a rest but the Exe-Com continued their respective
tasks at their quarters.

We started our second day through roll call followed by praise and worship
and devotion. Our morning devotion speaker was Ptr. Rodmark Abanilla.
Renewed strength by the meditation we’ve heard. After the devotion we’ve
already proceeded to the AMOS Class 1 (A Message Of Salvation) which is
usually called Bible Study. The instituters were divided into different bible study
groups and each group has a worker assigned for better explanation of the
lessons. After the AMOS Class 1 was the big group sharing. The big group sharing
was well managed because of a good moderator. After the big group sharing
was the Interest Groups. We have only four interest groups (Pop Dance,
Interpretative Dance, Creative Combo and Acapella and Tunog Tao) because
there is a main event during the talent’s night and that is the song writing and
exposition contest. In the afternoon was the AMOS Class 2 and after it was a
health forum embodied with the topic “HIV AIDS”. We can say that the instituters
learned a lot because the lecturer was suitable for the forum. Our lecturer was a
registered Medical Technologist, Mrs. Sheryl C. Ralleca. Rev. Rodel M. Acdal,
JWC President was also with us that day and he was priviledged to talk to the
instituters. After the health forum was the interest group again. At night was the
most awaited activity and that is the Evangelistic Night. Our evangelist was our
District Lay Leader, Mr. Victor I. Ilac. We are privileged to have him as our
evangelist because he is a complete package man. Mr. Ilac didn’t just serve as
our evangelist but also our praise and worship leader. Everyone was enthusiastic,
revived, blessed and renewed by his message and by the praise and worship.
We could never ask for more because ‘twas the best.

We again started our day through morning praise with our messenger Ptr.
Adelina Torida. After the morning praise was the AMOS Class 3, big group sharing
and interest group. In the afternoon was the AMOS Class 4, big group sharing
and final practice for the talent’s night. And the awaited event was held in the
evening, the Talent’s night hosted by Loreen Phiema Labbao and Romnick
Bistayan. We were amazed by the talents showcased by the UMYF and indeed,
Talentadong Kabataang Methodista! We were also inspired by the message
given to us by Mr. Clifford Capili Jr. who has been a district president during his
UMYF days and a no doubt talented person.

And finally, our fourth and last day on the 29th of December. All were quiet
lonely because we’re leaving each other. We were also sad because of the
heavy rainfall which caused the amazing race to be postponed. Everybody was
upset about what happened. But nobody wanted it to happen. Everything was
set and prepared but unluckily it wasn’t pursued. We’ve explained to the
instituters but some of them didn’t understand the situation. But we all accepted
those feedbacks because we cannot control each’s opinions. We also
conducted an outreach wherein we showed our love and mercy to the less
fortunate members of Bukig UMC by distributing grocery items to them. After
those struggles we’ve gone through, we ended our CI with the closing moments
and we incorporated the Holy Communion. Our messenger was DS. Rev. Rodel
P. Pico.

Every day, there is an officer of the day who were responsible for the
preparation and cleaning of the venue. And this made each’s tasks easier and
manageable. There are lot of positive feedbacks that were indicated in the
evaluation form but negative feedbacks are inevitable (the food service was not
good and not palatable to the taste of the instituters. Some housing were not
comfortable and convenient to the instituters. Interest groups should be
interesting and unusual. Heavy rainfall should not be the reason for postponed
activities) which we treated as a lesson. We were also enlightened and inspired
by the positive feedbacks (Happy and blessed. Excellent leadership. Good
activities. Best praise and worships. The bible study material was very useful and
helpful and they are willing to use it for future references etc) that motivated us
to work more and better.

At first, there is a fear in our hearts and mind that maybe we cannot suffice
all the obligations. But all our “what ifs” vanished. Just like what DS. Pico said,
“napapagod pero hindi nanghihina”. We thank our Almighty God for granting
our prayers and making our Christmas Institute memorable.