The HEART is a Muscle Too

In the far away land of Tingloy
In the island of Maricaban
Of the province of Batangas
Off the coast of the peninsula of Calumpan

More than twenty men
Filipino and foreign
Sailed off with a priest
Named Fr. Eric Nielsen.

The Holy Week is a time of prayer and silence
A time of reflection and meditations
A time to ponder to know yourself,
to know God and His creations.

It can also be a time
Of missionary efforts
Catechizing people,
Teaching them Catholic truths.

The limited accessibility of the island
And the seemingly endless roads
Did not seem to bother
The missionaries' zeal and hopes

The heart of a missionary
Is inflamed with ardent love
Expressed through words
Manifested in good works

"Walking kilometers for Mass,"
as Martin Vidanes puts it,
"is a cardiovascular exercise
for both the body and the soul."1

I went to the Missions
And I worked out
And my 'heart' is healthier
'Coz it's a muscle too!

[1]   http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3650839395178&set=a.1092122668859.2015994.1400282315&type=1&theater [retrieved April 9, 2012)