Letting it become personal, was the greatest thing to ever happen to me. Because it gave me perspective on what is truly important to me. What matters to me. And what I would live my life for. Not for myself. Or my empty desires. But for what really gives me joy. Only love for them and their love for me.

I was at Greenhills and I met one little boy who was asking for money. And I bought him lunch instead. And was able to sit down with him and spend that time with him. And in that short time, I grew to love him. In that short time, I saw him as my little brother. And I asked myself, if he really was…I would be holding him so close to me. He would not be wearing chanelas or a torn shirt. I would think, "He might get cold. He might get sick." Where does he sleep? Alone in a playground nearby. My baby brother would have his own bed. I would play games with him. I would give him the world.

And then this boy, his name was JR, had a little spaceship game he kept under his shirt. He showed me how to play it. And then he had a small bag of pastries that are like 5 for 10 pesos that he probably got begging for it from the vendor. And he opened up his bag and tried to give it to me. When he did that, my heart just sank. I said no thanks, I'm already full, that's for u. He ate each piece of his food so carefully. And did this cute sway when he ate. He was just a little boy. Just a little boy. Just a little boy who now had my heart. I gave him my rosary scapular. And we prayed angel of God my gaurdian dear together. He put it around his neck. I asked him where his parents are, if he had any brothers or sisters. He said he didn't have any..he was alone. I told him he's not alone cuz Jesus is always with him. And told him to pray with the rosary always and he smiled and nodded.

And when I left him, I felt so bad that I couldn't take him with me. I felt like I was leaving my brother alone. I mean he was alone. He didn't have a house to go back to after that or a mother or a father or anyone. I should be there for him. But I couldn't.

The reason why I tell the story is because when I first met him just asking for money…he was just a face. Everyone to me in this world is "just a face"…until I give part of my heart to them, until i make it personal. Once I made it personal, he wasn't just a kid asking for money, he was my little brother. When I was laying in bed that night, I really cried myself to sleep. Just thinking about where he was, alone, maybe scared, maybe wishing he was with someone. Why does my little brother have to beg for coins just to eat?! It makes me angry. And it hurts my heart deeply to think that there are so many more like him. It's unfair. And this is what now gives my life a passionate purpose. This is now what is driving me. And this is why I want nothing else but to be a fulltime missionary worker for YFC.

I will be assigned to South America where I will be serving the youth with gino. And in the exact same way, with these spanish kids, I feel like they too are just faces until I open my heart and desire the best for them too cuz I love them. And that is how I wanna be with every single person I come in contact with until the day I die.