Gotta Believe in Magic

Andrea, an Italian magician, performed a few days ago for the kids. It was funny since most of the kids have never seen a magic act before. There was this one boy who kept asking me what he was going to do. So I jokingly said: “He’ll turn you into a goat.” And he answered: “Oh I see, but will he turn me back?” And I replied: “Uh, I don’t know. You just better watch and see.” And watch they did. Andrea made things appear, disappear, and re-appear. He pierced a balloon without popping it, did a rope Houdini, and other such illusion stuff. It’s fantastic to see the wonder in the children’s eyes. It seems they did finally begin to believe in magic…

David Pomeranz once popularized a song “Gotta believe in Magic.” This statement is one way of helping children explore their creative juices and their hope for their dreams. Back then this was what I said to myself in front of seemingly impossible tasks and situations. Sometimes when I am able to achieve something I never thought I could, I simply said to myself: “It must have been magic.” But now as I grow older, I begin to question how I’ve gone through those seemingly insurmountable times. Was it the “magic” or the “gotta believe?” Now I’m more inclined to think it was the latter – “faith.”

A visit to the orphanage

The kids didn't have classes on the 8th of March (Women's Day), and so a dozen of them decided to visit their friends who are now in the Mercy Ministry Orphanage. Just a note: a few months back we "gave" (outsourced) our 6 youngest orphans to them. They accept below 10 years of age- while we as a rule accept those above 10 for our literacy center. In short, we're starting to niche our competitive advantage (literacy school for the overaged children and skills training for out-of-school youth).

So I got to hike along with the children. I didn't give permission to use the vehicle, how cruel of me! Along the way, as our leading group waited for the trailing group, I saw some of the kids buying some sweets and other stuff with the little money they have. I got curious. I saw Chan (the boy in the front)buying more than he could actually eat. When we arrived at the orphanage, our six former kids (orphans below 10 yrs) excitedly ran to meet us. Boy! it was as if we hadn't seen each other for a year. They immediately exchanged stories with us, introduced us to their new friends and even to their dogs. I couldn't help laughing. Then I saw Chan pluck out from his pocket his goodies and started sharing it with the orphans, not only to his 6 friends but also the new kids he met. The others then did the same. I was deeply touched. Even the poor can share what they have. Imagine what a better world we would have if the rich can share in the same way?

As I was reflecting on this, I remembered how You multiplied the loaves of bread. Your great work happened only when a little boy shared the little he had (loaves of bread and fish). This little event I experienced gives me hope that greater things can happen because of such generosity from the little ones. It makes me believe more in the saying: "Little means much if you place it in the Master's hand."

ODL Conference

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Just arrived from Manila. I attended the 3rd National Conference on Open and Distance Learning (23-24 February) where I was given the chance to be one of the student speakers to share my experience as a distance learner.

It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me to address some 300 academicians from various universities in a plenary session. Previously I've presented papers at the Royal University of Phnom Penh but I was always at the parallel sessions. The other two student sharers with me were Alvin who happens to be a physically challenged student and Sharon who is a well-known TV-movie personality. We had diverse lifestyles, diverse systems of learning, diverse study modes and times, yet we had a common endeavor for academic excellence and the same dream of academic success for the next generation.