Duathlon: Stories Behind the Race
This entry was posted on Sunday, July 22nd, 2007
There have been quite a number of things going on in Bread Of Life Makati. We have seen several special movie screenings. We’ve even watched a stage play with no less than our very own dedicated artists producing and performing. We have sold and bought breads, fruits, polvoron, and shirts. We did all these for Project Mosaic, the ministry center of Bread of Life – Makati.
Recently, we ran and swam like there was no tomorrow. We even cheered to everyone’s delight BUT ours. This happened on July 23 at the Amoranto Stadium in Roces Avenue, Quezon City during our first Duathlon (also intended to raise funds for Project Mosaic). We gathered very early that Saturday morning (some, even with children in tow) to run, swim and cheer for God’s work.
We are used to seeing our youth, young people and adult members participating in church activities. But this one was quite different – there were kids as young as five years old! They did not come to watch but they seemed to be there for serious business. There was something about their faces that told us they were prepared to do just as what was required from everyone. Save for the swimming part, the kids did their share of running and cheering, displaying the same level of (if not more) energy, excitement and intensity that the young people and the adults showed. It was a beautiful sight to behold – seeing kids running and cheering intensely for God! Even our youth, young people and adult members ran and swam with all their might.
The picture reminded me of similar activities I joined in the past when our company held sportsfests and the likes among employees. I have experienced how such activities have a way of strengthening ties and building friendships. And I am certain the Duathlon forged that too. But the sight I saw that Saturday morning was more impactful, more infectious, and its beauty lingers quite longer in the mind, and in the heart and in the soul. I know why its effect was such – unlike our corporate sportsfests where we had no choice but to participate, this one had willing participants. And unlike our company-hosted sportsfests, the Duathlon had a lot of inspiring stories behind THIS big story.
Most, if not all of those who joined the swimming leg swam a straight, honest-to-goodness lap for the first time. The thought even frightened some of them. “What if I can’t endure it?” For others, doing it for one or a couple more laps was fun. But flipping those arms and flapping those feet for over five straight laps were really something else! One swimmer was on the verge of giving up. “Ayoko na. Hindi ko na kaya!” she exclaimed. But a fellow Small Group member was quick to cheer her on – “Malapit ka na, konting tiis na lang. Kaya mo ‘yan!” And swim a little more she did, and even endured alternating with a couple more swimmers in the team to finish 15 laps! Oh, that we may not fail “to spur up one another in love and good deeds,” and encouraging words, even!
Closing in on the runners, we saw 5- to 10-year old kids running with all their might. Upon talking to the mom of four siblings from this bunch, we learned that the kids woke up at 4:00 that morning, and to that moment none of them showed any trace of sleepiness. They even had the experience of having to push their car that morning on the way to the stadium. But such experience only fired up the kids for the day; they looked forward to this, nothing could disappoint them.
There was a sister who went to the Duathlon with a heart inquiring from God what she could give for His work. She does not swim. Running would have been a good option but she just underwent an operation a couple of months ago. She had been doing some walking a few months post surgery, but running? Was she up to it? Just the same, this sister trusted the Lord for two laps; and the Lord honored her faith. And she also cheered with all her strength. “It is for God, why shouldn’t I?,” she declared.
If you were in the field that Saturday morning, you wouldn’t miss this six-year old girl securing the baton from a teammate and sprinting as fast as she could. Her mom later on related that she actually thought she would get a few bucks for every lap she made. The mom lovingly explained that it was for Project Mosaic. Her bright face dropped as it dawned on her, but only for a while. Soon after, she had come to terms with it and was back to her usual cheerful spirit. It was, after all, for God’s work. It is true, kids’ capacity to let go and snap out of their sadness is often a challenge for us adults!
These stories of the children in our midst make us appreciate all the more the wisdom in the words of Jesus – “to be like little children …” It reminds me of another five-year old girl who keeps her eyes and her ears open to the things that happen around her. She has been going with her grandmother when the latter would go to the Mosaic Lounge to intercede for the Wednesday worship service [Resoul]. This girl admitted not knowing much about Project Mosaic. “Ang alam ko po, lagi pong pinapag-pray. Kaya pinapag-pray ko din po,” she candidly said. Later, she came to know that Project Mosaic will be built and that the church is raising funds for the work. Her grandmother encouraged her to save and she obediently followed. One day, the grandmother came home from the thanksgiving fellowship held for Project Mosaic and related to her grandchild that the Project Mosaic is already done. This instantly set the young girl to panic – “Pano na yung savings ko, nasa akin pa?” she quickly blurted out. Her grandmother calmed her down and explained it was not what she thought. Just the same, the young girl insisted that they turnover the savings the following Sunday. She can’t hold on to the savings, they are not hers to keep.
The Duathlon generated more than its actual value in pesos. Because of what it represents – the faith walk of many lives that are given to God – it yields a far better value than its actual worth in monetary terms.
It is amazing to see how God is weaving story upon story of how lives are being touched, changed and impacted for His work through Project Mosaic. Because of the tide of sacrificial offering for God’s work continually cascading upon us, we see glimpses of God’s work in the lives and faith walk of those who take His call for this project.
We are blessed and built up as we hear about the stories. But if we think about it, better by far are the blessings that we get when we, in steady obedience and sensitivity to God, allow Him to weave beautiful stories out of our lives.
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We would love to hear your lifewalk with God through Project Mosaic. Share your story in document format through our email HisMosaicStories@projectmosaic.info. Feel free to include your photos too. :)