by: Eugene Matthew L. Uy                            

Last Saturday, I participated in the ‘One Million Trees and Beyond’ project of LIFE. Not only because it is a major requirement In the TREDTWO course, but also because I wanted to help save and nourish the environment even in a simple way. 

 The people in the community treated me nicely. I feel safe when I was staying in that place. The people seemed to be very dedicated in planting those mangroves in order to protect the coral reefs from urgent destruction by the waves of water. The people in that area expected that we will help them in planting more trees, and that we also help spread the tree planting in order to save the future generations of man. I am proud that I could bring home my experiences during the said activity and use them to influence and educate the young people to be willing to serve and be involved.  

During the tree planting activity, Christ is telling me to continue this generous and kind act to the environment not only by myself but also to influence others in doing it. I realized that I could share my talents and my own experiences to the bigger community. I could tell them to help save our environment by simply throwing their own trash in the proper place, not just everywhere. I could also tell them to participate in the tree planting activity in order for them to experience the fun and contribute in the salvation of the environment as well. The exposure changed me in the sense that it made me realize that everyone and everything that the Lord created has a purpose that would contribute to the greater good.

While we are performing the activity, it is very visible that teamwork is observed. We helped one another by delegating different tasks to every group of people in order to make the main objective, which is to plant the mangroves in the water, to be achieved. Besides from the intense heat of the sun, sticky and slippery mud, and the long way in which we have to carry 2 plants to the water, there are no more difficulties. Amidst the difficulties that I experienced during the activity, I experienced the presence of our Lord God and he gave me the strength to accomplish my goals without undue fatigue. I humbly accepted the challenge and rose up on my feet to carry on the activity.                

 Being ‘Stewards of God’s Creation’ means that we must facilitate and maintain the environment that God has entrusted upon us. We are the only beings that have the capability to think and to act upon what is necessary to protect and nurture our environment. I have a good feedback regarding the processing and the content of the activity. I saw that the activity really helps the environment, especially in filtering trash/waste materials that people dump in the rivers and in lessening the impact of the giant strong waves in order to prevent damage to the coral reefs.                

 ‘A greater awareness of God’s love leads us; see with the eyes of faith and to do all things in view of God and to attribute all to God’. This means that we are lead by God through his love and it is our faith that motivates us to carry out God’s plans without question and hesitation. This we must do so for the safety of Mother Earth and to ensure the good condition of the next generations of the human race.               

  The tree planting experience is from God above himself. He was the one who planned it even before it was thought of us humans. We are the ones who carried out His great plan. And by doing so, I am very certain that we made him happy.