By N.Elaine Valenzuela
Every country, culture or people appreciate gratitude for good deeds. That is why we, in Bridge Builders for Australasia, Inc. (BBFAI) decided to have our thanksgiving picnic last 20 November 2011 at the Albert Park, South Melbourne. It had been raining everyday during the week before we had our picnic, but Sunday came with sunshine over our shoulders. What a lovely day it was – a day of sharing love, exchanging news, getting updates, meeting old and new friends, having a reunion with parents, Fil-Oz Idol contestants and their families … old and new … dancing to the undying tune of “Pearly Shells”. We are so thankful for these people who helped us raise funds to help the needy ones, to share to less fortunate people everywhere.
This year’s raised funds were given to Destiny Centre’s One Heart (Kenya) mission, Instal-Life Christian TV (Australia), Mouth & Foot Disabled Artists (Australia), Radio Bible Class-Our Daily Bread (USA), Jewish Voice Ministries International (USA), Westcity Church for the operations of other kids with cleft palate and the continuing assistance to Jayro who is still undergoing operations, scavengers in the Philippines and kids in Legaspi in need of education scholarship, the flood victims in Pampanga, feeding programme at a kindergarten school in Nagcarlan, Laguna, feeding programme in barangay squatters at Ma. Fe, Orani, Bataan and a feeding programme in Muntinlupa High School, Seagull Flight Foundation and in the squatters area in Valenzuela, Philippines to name a few.
What are we thankful for if not – being here, living on this land, surviving and prospering?
All it takes to give this kind of thanks is an awareness of how wonderful life is – especially when one’s world views and understands such simple goodness as the blessing of our Heavenly Father!
