1 Corinthians 13:8
February was a month where “love” seemed to be in the air. 
People make extra efforts to show love to those close to their heart. We focused our teaching this month on “Faith expressing itself through love.” Love is not only for those dear to us or for those who we feel are worthy of our love.
Scripture is full of exhortations, challenges and rebukes when referring to God’s ultimate mandate to love Him and others. It was our goal for these young people to grasp just how much God really loves them and provide opportunities for them to reveal God’s love to others.
Love was never meant to be interpreted as a feeling. Love is a choice! Love always requires action! The feelings we long for will naturally follow as we obey God’s greatest command and pursue loving Him and others as our highest goal. Not only will the feeling come, but also the breakthrough desired in our walk with God and relationships under strain. Sometimes we get so saturated by merely hearing God’s word and filling up on truth, but not acting on it. James calls us deceived when we don’t receive the Word and act on it.
The kids and youth we are privileged to disciple were stirred to step out in love and serve others in their community this month. The children contributed by offering suggestions how they can serve families in need. The kids were well received to help clean homes and the yards of the elderly and widows.
Kids were excited to share testimonies of how God restored broken relationships by simple acts of love. Never underestimate the power of God’s love in and through us!
Be blessed as you read some testimonies written in their own words as the month ended.
The translation for Ate refers to any girl who is older than a child or youth. Nanay is the mother and Tatay is the Father.
“Ate, I am so happy to serve. I now know that I cannot experience blessing if I do not bless others.”
“Even the work is so big and dirty we are all happy to help Tatay and enjoy because many hands to finish.”
“It’s really amazing the feeling that comes when we care for others and serve them. I will never forget it and excited for our next community service.”
“I am so happy I am able to honor God like this and serve Tatay and Nanay. I don’t even know them but I can see in their faces they are just so touched that we love them. Our work really shows to them that we love God because we freely give and serve with our whole heart.”
“When it started raining we decided to continue even though we are so wet. We hear people around saying that we are a good example of a Christian. All glory to God!”
“Rain or shine let’s do it again as soon as possible. Imagine three houses we clean and family so grateful.”
“As a youth mostly this family see us passing by and always joking 
but now they shocked because we take our day off to serve them. At first they are shy because their house is very poor and not kept well. They are elderly so I feel compassion to them. It’s not the same when I do my chores because I have to. This my first time to do it willingly and my heart is so touched especially I see the joy to their eyes.”
“God led me to take part of our time to just talk to Tatay. He is so alone and he thanked me because no one do this for him before.”
“Helping others in need helped take our sadness away for all the damage we had from Typhoon Basyang. We almost died when flood waters crashed through our house. Everything was lost. I really liked to help my friends families because I see how happy they are and that also makes me happy.”
“Before leaving Tatay thanked us. Instead I thanked him for allowing us opportunity to obey God to act in love and clean his surroundings.”
“I hope God continues to change my heart so I can be a blessing to those around me especially to my family because mostly I don’t do my chores with good attitude”
