Friends, I've been burdened to share with you about this since 2 years ago. So here you go.
Roughly two years ago, Marcel and I were approached to facilitate a Couples Small Group. However, it wasn't till 2 weeks ago that we started the Small Group. So what took us so long? Simply put it that Marcel and I were enjoying our comfort zones. Too much that it became a stumbling block for our growth. His Men Small Group was bonding and growing. My Women Small Group has been my support since I moved to the Bay Area. These ladies are the pioneers who embrace me as "Yanny" instead of "Marcel's wife." I think I was accustomed to the Long Distance Relationship; thus, I really valued a personal identity. It's a non issue anymore for me now.
Anyway, back to the Small Group. In the past 2 years, I prayed and talked to some Ladies I look up to (like Ci Kiki, Elisse, Karen, Ci Joan, Silvi, Sharon, my mother in law, etc) about their experience in a Couples Small Group. Slowly and steadily, I had a growing desire to be in one. Marcel, on the other hand, had the opposite stand about a Couples Small Group after talking to some men.
We had to put the idea down so many times in the past 2 years until earlier this year that we learned there's a growing interest in our church for a Couples Small Group. Fast forward 9 months later, God put us in contact with several couples. Marcel was still skeptical about it. I, on the other hand, didn't want to push him. Because of God's work, Marcel's heart was softened. One day he said that he "would give it a try for us and for the Church."
Oh boy, I was excited but more nervous. Silly me, I had been focusing too much on being "a good Small Group facilitator" that I forgot God just wanted me to be me; and Marcel to be Marcel. We just need to come as who we are, learn together to be a growing spouse God intends us to be, and hold each other accountable. Ci Kiki, Ko Chris, and my Small Group Ladies all joined hearts to be praying with us for our struggles in getting "the vessel going."
Where we are right now? Well well, we've been meeting twice for our Couples Small Group. There's only us and the other couple (our neighbor JQ/Sharon). Yes, it's a smaller group than we thought we would start with. But these past 2 meetings have been such a blessing and rejuvenating for me and Marcel.
Marcel even took the initiative to lead/facilitate the discussion. The night before the meeting, Marcel was reviewing the material. The logical engineer that he is, he started planning the schedule in a very structured way. "If by 8 o'clock we can't finish dinner, then bla bla bla." "If we're done with discussion by 9:15, then bla bla bla." "If not, then bla bla ..." It's funny in a very cute way I feel. When I asked him how he felt after the Small Group, he said, "Whoa, Yanny. That was good, wasn't it!!" I really am pleased and humbled by how much God has stretched Marcel. I know it wasn't easy for him. So I appreciate that so much.
We're praising God for the opportunity to get to know our neighbor in a more intimate way. Learning together on the "Love and Respect." Praying with them and praising God together. And one other thing, I really admire JQ/Sharon for being so patient with us. They were actually the first couple who brought up the interest on Couples Small Group 2.5 years ago. And today when we're finally ready, they still follow through their desire and put that into an action. I know God will surely be proud of them for being responsible with their marriage and putting the investment of time and effort for this great blessing called marriage.
I look forward to what God will unveil through this Couples Small Group.
May this be a blessing!
Roughly two years ago, Marcel and I were approached to facilitate a Couples Small Group. However, it wasn't till 2 weeks ago that we started the Small Group. So what took us so long? Simply put it that Marcel and I were enjoying our comfort zones. Too much that it became a stumbling block for our growth. His Men Small Group was bonding and growing. My Women Small Group has been my support since I moved to the Bay Area. These ladies are the pioneers who embrace me as "Yanny" instead of "Marcel's wife." I think I was accustomed to the Long Distance Relationship; thus, I really valued a personal identity. It's a non issue anymore for me now.
Anyway, back to the Small Group. In the past 2 years, I prayed and talked to some Ladies I look up to (like Ci Kiki, Elisse, Karen, Ci Joan, Silvi, Sharon, my mother in law, etc) about their experience in a Couples Small Group. Slowly and steadily, I had a growing desire to be in one. Marcel, on the other hand, had the opposite stand about a Couples Small Group after talking to some men.
We had to put the idea down so many times in the past 2 years until earlier this year that we learned there's a growing interest in our church for a Couples Small Group. Fast forward 9 months later, God put us in contact with several couples. Marcel was still skeptical about it. I, on the other hand, didn't want to push him. Because of God's work, Marcel's heart was softened. One day he said that he "would give it a try for us and for the Church."
Oh boy, I was excited but more nervous. Silly me, I had been focusing too much on being "a good Small Group facilitator" that I forgot God just wanted me to be me; and Marcel to be Marcel. We just need to come as who we are, learn together to be a growing spouse God intends us to be, and hold each other accountable. Ci Kiki, Ko Chris, and my Small Group Ladies all joined hearts to be praying with us for our struggles in getting "the vessel going."
Where we are right now? Well well, we've been meeting twice for our Couples Small Group. There's only us and the other couple (our neighbor JQ/Sharon). Yes, it's a smaller group than we thought we would start with. But these past 2 meetings have been such a blessing and rejuvenating for me and Marcel.
Marcel even took the initiative to lead/facilitate the discussion. The night before the meeting, Marcel was reviewing the material. The logical engineer that he is, he started planning the schedule in a very structured way. "If by 8 o'clock we can't finish dinner, then bla bla bla." "If we're done with discussion by 9:15, then bla bla bla." "If not, then bla bla ..." It's funny in a very cute way I feel. When I asked him how he felt after the Small Group, he said, "Whoa, Yanny. That was good, wasn't it!!" I really am pleased and humbled by how much God has stretched Marcel. I know it wasn't easy for him. So I appreciate that so much.
We're praising God for the opportunity to get to know our neighbor in a more intimate way. Learning together on the "Love and Respect." Praying with them and praising God together. And one other thing, I really admire JQ/Sharon for being so patient with us. They were actually the first couple who brought up the interest on Couples Small Group 2.5 years ago. And today when we're finally ready, they still follow through their desire and put that into an action. I know God will surely be proud of them for being responsible with their marriage and putting the investment of time and effort for this great blessing called marriage.
I look forward to what God will unveil through this Couples Small Group.
May this be a blessing!
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