Thanks a lot for all your input (and IV CARES help) in this Balikatan. It was a refreshing and blessed time for us. Even Alejandro (Leni’s husband) was very aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit moving us toward a certain direction. So here are some reflections:

During our trip to Mackinaw Island, post Balikatan, Kevin, Bethel’s son asked: “Why was this Balikatan historic?” He wanted to know because he had heard comments to that effect from a number of participants. I agree with this observation, albeit as someone who attends every 10 years or so. One senses a kind of awe inspiring anticipation in the air when something important is about to happen. I began to sense this as I followed the back and forth emails regarding the workshop on “Keeping Faith and Identity in a Multicultural World.” Soul searching questions were being asked. Honest efforts of looking at Scriptural models were put forward. Dialogue was happening, but always with a humble desire to submit to the context of praise and worship.

At the conference business meeting, an innocent question about membership fees gave way to deeper questions of identity: both group and member identity. Then musings on the need to revisit Balikatan’s purpose began to surface, perhaps not for the first time.

The workshop on “Keeping Faith and Identity” happened. Instead of the dreaded difficulties, I sensed an openness in the sharing of immigrants’ experiences. Bonds of connections were strengthened as we identified with each others’ struggles, pains, and triumphs, grateful for God’s faithfulness through it all. It was evident that the question of bringing up our Filipino bicultural children (whether from bicultural marriages or not) was foremost in many hearts. We wanted them to preserve their Filipino heritage in the context of their American realities. We needed help in guiding our children in understanding their identity as Filipino American Christians. We acknowledged our own groping for clarity of definition of our own multi-layered identity as the Filipino American church within the mainstream church of the U.S. society we are now a part of. As Melba gave us the final challenge of the night, we recognized that there were no easy answers, but we knew we could not ignore these questions and Balikatan’s role in searching for answers.

I believe the Holy Spirit continued moving hours after the last session. In an informal gathering around snacks, Filipino style, animated discussions of the mission of the “Filipino diaspora” continued. And then - a hush, as everybody became aware of the gravity of the moment: a vision for a growing role of Balikatan was forming. Members of the board (past and present) started scribbling notes on napkins to capture the beginnings of this vision.

Going back to Kevin’s( Bethel’s son) question: Why is this Balikatan historic? Something happened in this Balikatan. Through the worship, the talks, the business meetings, the missionary reports, the workshop, the formal concert, the informal singing around the piano, the sharing and informal discussions around midnight snacks, He brought us to the threshold of a new vision for Balikatan. That is historic. It behooves us to follow where He leads from here.

I’m sorry that I could not be more detailed, but the above expresses the gist of what most impacted me in this Balikatan. I hope to hear from our “guardians” of the vision (those who wrote notes on napkins that night). Let’s continue discussing in a prayerful stance.

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Thank you to those who shared their experiences. If there are some of you who wish to share how the Lord has blessed you at Balikatan 2009, please send your reflections to Ernie Jimenez (ernievee03@comcast.net) or Lina Padilla (lrp568@yahoo.com)