Journal #1 (Sandiwa): “Lord, You Have

Given Me the Responsibility to Liberate.”

As a student in the engineering field, you are aware of the conditions of many poor people in
the community and of your God-given responsibility to liberate.  Being “Sandiwa” (one in
mind), there are ways and means by which you can respond to liberate those in dire need of
help. Proceed in writing your journal and be compelled to act with charity.
1. How do you use your God-given talents in different circumstances in life?

I start from joining organizations that reaches out to people in need because I
believe working with more people can maximize my potential and effort to help others.
Since an organization is not a one-man structure, it’s impact to society can be realized
with teamwork and partnership.

2. When confronted with choices between a friend in need and someone less fortunate, do
you exercise wise judgment? How?

Yes. I exercise wise judgment with reason and sensitivity. It can take the
crooked, confusing, and overwhelming nature of external events and make them
orderly. This way, I can identify the urgency of which concern has to be addressed. I
keep a steady watch on both, not only for wise judgments and actions, but also for
gentleness with those who would obstruct my path or create other difficulties. Others
may not like the choices I made. I will not abandon anyone. I will not get mad or fight
with them. After all, they’re at the same place I was.

3. Do you willingly share and fully use your God-given talents to alleviate difficult
situations in your chosen field? How?

Yes. For example, I can use my experiences from leadership positions I

handled in my organization in college for decision-making, which is one of the grand
challenges in earthquake engineering research since then. Current research findings
related to community resilience do not adequately influence decisions and actions on the
part of key decision makers, such as private-sector facility owners and public-sector
institutions. Communities typically build based on traditional standards, and when
affected by major earthquakes, they respond and recover based on intuition,
improvisation, and adaptive behaviors that are drawn from the individuals available to
participate. Consequently, the lessons learned in one community and event rarely
translate to the next community affected. In such a case, I can fix this with proper
management of people and being data-driven so that current responses regarding
earthquake onslaught will be updated and revised into a better plan of action.
 However, I should not only rely on my abilities. God should be in it as well.
Through diligence in the kingdom of God, I will see with increasing clarity the goals
that God has designed for me. As they become vivid, I must continue to seek God, and
to live by His standard, in order to bring those goals into reality. But without faith it is
impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he
is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him (Hebrews 11:6).