Hi!
Praise the Lord!
Its nice to be back and give my heart felt experience to you all. Its not too late than never.
First - I had never planned to attend NCM '09, because of my new job. I never knew when my shifts would start to make it for the program. So that we could adjust and make ourselves free for 5 days. Let's see it as God's hand, *******I could make it*******. Cheers to Jerryl who appeared one fine morning, just 4- 5 days earlier to NCM '09 and made me realise that I can actually make it. Still had some issues of adjusting shifts. But everything was perfectly fitting in.
Second - Before starting the journey, I had just one prayer in my heart, to my Jesus, "My Future". "How to grow in my Lord". I know I am not doing very good spiritually, Passive in most of the areas, after a sore experience from my earlier parish. I had actually gone to the dumps. I never realized, that all was a plan, a beautiful plan, to make me better. Its only when, I opened this sore experience, to Shaji, when I realized, it as a blessing in disguise. Shaji made me realize, that the experience I am carrying around is nothing but a blessing, which I did not recognize. Well, my turn-around had already started. Happy and joyful in this revelation, my heart was already dancing around.
It was really a new experience to me, moving to hyderabad. I had never moved out of Mumbai, except for Pune and Kerala. The doubts of strike and rumours of bandh was a matter of concern. But I knew my God will take care of it. I didnt knew how, but He will. In the bus we were travelling, many faces were new to me. I think I know a few of them personally now. I apologise for being so slow.
Well, my journey had started to find the dream of my life. First day at Hyderabad, was very good. The music ministry was also one part, I wanted to learn from. So, I had a close watch on them. Russell, from the music ministry, was an impact to me, when I learnt from one of my JY partner, that he can play 7 instruments. Well I am not taking that as a challenge to me, but yes for my lord I will try and learn something more than the usual. I am also happy to have bought a guitar now. Hope I will excel in this instrument as well.
The adoration on the first day revealed my bonds. People I could not forgive. Things I did not let go. Accumulation of unnecessary things are so easy. But letting it go is so tough. But Halleluiah! His grace is sufficient for me.
I really do not know how the three days flew off.
I had actually wanted to be the participant for the whole time, but I think God had some other plans. Being the group leader, I am sure I was the only person who was so shy in meeting up people, in and around. It was then I realised that I can also speak up and help others in the event. The small things I learnt, can also be a light for others path.
In NCM, I was searching for answers to keep my faith going and work on it. The Six pillars are really made for the job. Jesus Youth members, who actually practice it made a real impact. Thank God, now I have started reading the Word of God daily. A practice, which I had lost long ago, in this busy world. I'm sure there's lot more to do.
The FIRE had just begun. Moving out of hyderabad in bus, I thought it was over. But the excitement had just begun. Thats when Hilda came to me as the completion of my prayer, "My Future - how to grow in you my Lord?" She started sowing the seeds of how to take my life through this world in Jesus. She told me her job of being a mission nurse. I thought it to be a nurse who is working in mission hospitals without pay for one year. I guess I do not know a lot of terms in JY and their work or may be I was not that interested earlier to know about it. Its only after reaching back home from NCM '09, that I understood what exactly is the work of a mission nurse ---->> The day we reached back home, I had to join my night shift at work. The next morning, I did my level best to sleep after a night shift. I slept for an hour or two and I got up. Thats when I saw two missed calls from Hilda. I called her back, and she was so joyous of getting a nurse for prayer meeting in one of the hospitals in Grant Road. I was a bit confused and asked her, why had she actually gone there, "Was it for picking up people for prayer meeting or was that for some hospital job". Thats when she explained me, the actual work of a Mission Nurse. Nothing less than the work assigned to all Ambassadors of Christ by Christ. Take His Gospel to "ALL". Her experience shook me off my cozy and comfortable life. I took the Bible and read the chapter of Exodus, "Moses being given the job to rescue Israel". After this I could not sleep nor stand still. I do not know what happened, but something in me was speaking to me, that I have to move out of my comfortable life. After this I myself visited a hospital in Mahim with Hilda and met some nurses. I was passive and just wanted to go through the experience and learn. The experience was good and am looking to go forward, may be with campuses. So, this is also an open letter to all of you to keep me engaged. I think its when we delay, we keep saying No to Jesus. I am saying a big "yyyYYYYAAA" to HIM, my creator.
Lets in one sync say a big YES ..... yyyYYYYAAAA!!!
In Christ!
Joseph Thanickal
Praise the Lord!
Its nice to be back and give my heart felt experience to you all. Its not too late than never.
First - I had never planned to attend NCM '09, because of my new job. I never knew when my shifts would start to make it for the program. So that we could adjust and make ourselves free for 5 days. Let's see it as God's hand, *******I could make it*******. Cheers to Jerryl who appeared one fine morning, just 4- 5 days earlier to NCM '09 and made me realise that I can actually make it. Still had some issues of adjusting shifts. But everything was perfectly fitting in.
Second - Before starting the journey, I had just one prayer in my heart, to my Jesus, "My Future". "How to grow in my Lord". I know I am not doing very good spiritually, Passive in most of the areas, after a sore experience from my earlier parish. I had actually gone to the dumps. I never realized, that all was a plan, a beautiful plan, to make me better. Its only when, I opened this sore experience, to Shaji, when I realized, it as a blessing in disguise. Shaji made me realize, that the experience I am carrying around is nothing but a blessing, which I did not recognize. Well, my turn-around had already started. Happy and joyful in this revelation, my heart was already dancing around.
It was really a new experience to me, moving to hyderabad. I had never moved out of Mumbai, except for Pune and Kerala. The doubts of strike and rumours of bandh was a matter of concern. But I knew my God will take care of it. I didnt knew how, but He will. In the bus we were travelling, many faces were new to me. I think I know a few of them personally now. I apologise for being so slow.
Well, my journey had started to find the dream of my life. First day at Hyderabad, was very good. The music ministry was also one part, I wanted to learn from. So, I had a close watch on them. Russell, from the music ministry, was an impact to me, when I learnt from one of my JY partner, that he can play 7 instruments. Well I am not taking that as a challenge to me, but yes for my lord I will try and learn something more than the usual. I am also happy to have bought a guitar now. Hope I will excel in this instrument as well.
The adoration on the first day revealed my bonds. People I could not forgive. Things I did not let go. Accumulation of unnecessary things are so easy. But letting it go is so tough. But Halleluiah! His grace is sufficient for me.
I really do not know how the three days flew off.
I had actually wanted to be the participant for the whole time, but I think God had some other plans. Being the group leader, I am sure I was the only person who was so shy in meeting up people, in and around. It was then I realised that I can also speak up and help others in the event. The small things I learnt, can also be a light for others path.
In NCM, I was searching for answers to keep my faith going and work on it. The Six pillars are really made for the job. Jesus Youth members, who actually practice it made a real impact. Thank God, now I have started reading the Word of God daily. A practice, which I had lost long ago, in this busy world. I'm sure there's lot more to do.
The FIRE had just begun. Moving out of hyderabad in bus, I thought it was over. But the excitement had just begun. Thats when Hilda came to me as the completion of my prayer, "My Future - how to grow in you my Lord?" She started sowing the seeds of how to take my life through this world in Jesus. She told me her job of being a mission nurse. I thought it to be a nurse who is working in mission hospitals without pay for one year. I guess I do not know a lot of terms in JY and their work or may be I was not that interested earlier to know about it. Its only after reaching back home from NCM '09, that I understood what exactly is the work of a mission nurse ---->> The day we reached back home, I had to join my night shift at work. The next morning, I did my level best to sleep after a night shift. I slept for an hour or two and I got up. Thats when I saw two missed calls from Hilda. I called her back, and she was so joyous of getting a nurse for prayer meeting in one of the hospitals in Grant Road. I was a bit confused and asked her, why had she actually gone there, "Was it for picking up people for prayer meeting or was that for some hospital job". Thats when she explained me, the actual work of a Mission Nurse. Nothing less than the work assigned to all Ambassadors of Christ by Christ. Take His Gospel to "ALL". Her experience shook me off my cozy and comfortable life. I took the Bible and read the chapter of Exodus, "Moses being given the job to rescue Israel". After this I could not sleep nor stand still. I do not know what happened, but something in me was speaking to me, that I have to move out of my comfortable life. After this I myself visited a hospital in Mahim with Hilda and met some nurses. I was passive and just wanted to go through the experience and learn. The experience was good and am looking to go forward, may be with campuses. So, this is also an open letter to all of you to keep me engaged. I think its when we delay, we keep saying No to Jesus. I am saying a big "yyyYYYYAAA" to HIM, my creator.
Lets in one sync say a big YES ..... yyyYYYYAAAA!!!
In Christ!
Joseph Thanickal
