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 THE
ART
OF LOVING IS THE
JOY
OF GIVING
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By Ramon Martillano
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The above title
is actually the lifetime motto of Art and Joy Enerio (who by now
have left Surabaya for good.) Mang Art worked as a senior
executive for Nestlé’s factory in Kejayan (2 hours from Surabaya)
while Joy worked as a teacher at the Surabaya International
School. Prior to their trip to Indonesia, this couple was also
active in the Couples for Christ community in the Philippines.
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Coming to
Indonesia, they brought with them their wealth of professional
experience and more importantly, experiences from their spiritual
journey that they generously shared with us. The present
president of Filcomin Surabaya, Lito Fagela said of Mang
Art (who was a former president himself), “He brought a new, high
standard of leadership into the Filcomin.” Mang Art
emphasized that he would consider himself as a successful leader
only if his subordinates (and community members) are likewise
successful. This couple is also known for their generosity. Once
Mang Art said, “Money in the bank is useless if you do not
share it.”
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- In GENESIS Surabaya, both were
active in the music and teaching ministries. Their commitment to
serve the Lord is so contagious and something that we should
emulate. In one of his talks, Mang Art emphasized that
we should not be satisfied with being just “plain
Christians” but we should be “vibrant Christians.” Do something
good for your neighbor each day! Joy, for her part, among
others, helped us a lot in giving short seminars on how to better
serve the Lord as lectors and commentators in Church. Thank you
Mang Art and Joy! Truly, you are both “vibrant Christians!”
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Mang
Art and Joy left a legacy, a pamana (inheritance) for those
of us left behind. For indeed their motto “The ART of Loving is
the JOY of Giving” is truly in their hearts. They
give and give without ceasing. The fruits of their labor for the
Lord will be forever etched in our hearts. May the seeds that
they have planted in us grow in abundance and the fruits
overflow as well to our neighbors.
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As I reflected
on the achievements of this couple, I also thought about ourselves
when we leave Surabaya or eventually, this world. Will the
Community also remember us as “vibrant Christians?” By then,
would we be able to claim that we have sown the seeds that would
grow and bear fruit and overflow to other people?
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Brothers and
sisters, how would you like to be remembered? Have you started
sowing the seeds of the Gospel? It’s never too late if you
start, NOW.
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- Let us pray. Holy Spirit,
inspire me with zeal to preach the Good News to others. Help me
to reflect upon my life and so be able to identify the significant
movements of Your grace as You have worked to bring me to a deeper
conversion to the love of God. Amen. (Sabbath, June 16,
2005)
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