Let Someone Be Christ to You Today | My Journey to YYLC 2016

As I was sitting down in 7th Street Public Market, two young ladies sat on the table across from me. 

They had ordered pizza for lunch, and just before eating their food, they put their heads down and hands together and prayed over their food. 

I thought it was a beautiful thing to see. It's rare you see people pray over their food anymore in gratitude to God for providing. 

I wanted to go up to them and let them know that what they did was admirable, and to encourage them to continue to do what they did. 

I got distracted after that thought by a message from the AirBnB website from a BnB I was interested in staying at. 

So, I was trying to figure out taking a bus to my AirBnB, and then, the girls came back with dessert. I decided to ask them if they could help me. 

We then started to get to know each other, and just like that- we hit it off. 

I mentioned these two girls in my first post. Their names are Michelle and Christian. 

As we were discussing how to get to my BnB, Michelle and Christian both looked at each other, and Michelle said, "We'll take you." 

My heart dropped. I couldn't believe it. They were willing to give me, a stranger all the way from an island they've practically never heard of, a ride.

To this day, I owe them my life.

It was an amazing time getting to know both of them. 

As well as being invited to Michelle's house and getting to know her sister Catherine. 

And this was only the beginning of my journey, and I felt like I had been vacationing for a month already. Time did not exist! 

We had to drop Christian off earlier in the day :( so we didn't get to talk as much.
But just from the short time I spent with her, I must say that I loved being around her. She was full of joy and laughter. She was sweet, and caring. And I honestly am so glad to have met her.
In my time with Michelle,
we realised how similar we are to each other and how much we love God! 

I felt like God sent them to me to let me know that He will always keep me safe,
and that I was right to trust in Him. 

Initially, I didn't want to let Michelle take me around and practically be my chauffeur.
But one thing she said struck me- "Sirena, let me be Jesus to you." 

Wow! What a lesson I learned. Many times, people want to do good things, but we are so guarded and suspicious of people, that we end up pushing those opportunities for them to do good deeds for others. 

So, today, if someone offers to do something for you, says something nice about your hair or outfit, or even smiles at you, respond back with a smile, a gesture of love and compassion, words of gratitude, and assurance that what they're doing is appreciated and received. 

Michelle is a photographer, and a very awesome one for that matter. 

Michelle

And Christian is a very talented singer and actress! 

Christian

TO BE CONTINUED :D
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Like my page for daily inspiration, fitness, music and more 🌸 from all the way here in Guam 🌴! 

Snappy Chatty 👻 crownsirena | IG @sirenaofguam  

With Love, 

Sirena Elizabeth 

Sirena of Guam in Charlotte! | Journey to YYLC 2016

July 11, 2016
For those who don't live in Guam, ya gotta know that travelling from Guam to the East Coast is truly an adventure in and of itself.

I've been travelling literally for a whole day just to get here- Charlotte, North Carolina. 

You're probably wondering what a little Guam mermaid such as myself is doing all the way out in the East Coast. 

Well, I am travelling all the way out here to attend the Yager Youth Leadership Conference!

YYLC is a weeklong event where young adults go to learn from leaders in the industry that I am in. 

I am so stoked for it!

So far, I've already made amazing friends here:
Wonderful, talented women, Michelle and Christian!
Michelle is a photographer here in Charlotte, and Christian is a singer and actress!
I am so blessed to have met them here!
God has really shown me that if I trust in Him, things will come together!
(more to come on Michelle and Christian in next post!)

Update as of July 19, 2016 
I wasn't able to complete this post when I was writing it! But that's okay!
Here is the rest of my journey in a nutshell.
I got to eat drink my favourite kind of drink- Match Green Tea Latte at a fantastic place called
Not Just Coffee which is located in the 7th Street Public Market the uptown part of Charlotte.

I found it amazing that not only was there a fantastic coffee shop, there were also several food shops/restaurants within this studio area (I suppose you could call it that- a wide room space).

There was a pizza and sandwich booth which had a vegan sandwich that was to die for (picture below), an acai bowl booth, a crepe stand, and even a little farmer's market.
I was fascinated by this one small space within Charlotte!

Lastly, there was a booth called  VIVA RAW- a local juice brand.
I think there was lot of "law of attraction" things going on.
Not that I believe in that kind of stuff in a way that subtracts God from the equation, but simply, God telling me "Hey- remember this idea you had? Yeah- it's being done here. And I believe you can actually do it for yourself."
I got to speak to the actual founder and owner of the brand. He was manning the counter that particular day I was there, which was awesome. Scott is a great fellow, and simply wants to spread the goodness of drinking juiced fruits and vegetables.
Read his story here.

Loved this one. : ) 

The man himself with his back facing the camera.

Bought a lovely tote and a shirt. <3 

TO BE CONTINUED :D
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Like my page for daily inspiration, fitness, music and more 🌸 from all the way here in Guam 🌴! 

Snappy Chatty 👻 crownsirena | IG @sirenaofguam  

With Love, 

Sirena Elizabeth 

Don't Let It Affect You the Wrong Way... | Your Quote of the Day

I'm not going to make this post without acknowledging the current events of our country. 

Mainly the Dallas police shooting. 

Even though in my #qotd Dexter is speaking specifically about the economy, we should apply this to everything in life.
The quote I am sharing with you today is one of strength, and is a reminder that though we live in times where bad news is concentrated all over the internet, the news outlets, the world, etc, we mustn't let it affect HOW WE AFFECT the world. 

Whatever happens out there is a result of how people are currently letting events affect them. Therefore they affect the world negatively by causing evil upon others. 

Don't be like them. 

Don't spread the same evils because of your fear. 

Don't talk about it only for the sake of having to talk about it. Most especially don't let that fear turn into violence. 

If you're going to talk about it, then also have a plan of action to better the situation to bring hope and light to others. 

Whether it's your personal life, your financial situation, the economy, or in society, don't let whatever bad things that happen in the world affect you. 

You affect the world by doing good things because that will wash out the bad. The bad will always be there, but you don't have to drown in it. 

The secret is in always wanting to give good by showing love to all those you encounter every day. 

So today- even though we will be seeing bad news online and on TV, go help someone who needs helps. Go tell the person you are holding unforgiveness toward that you forgive them. Go start that business you've always wanted to start that will help others. Go inspire a homeless person to get a job and provide for themselves. 

Go do something with love that combats the evil we are seeing today. 

Dedicate your life to this mission. 

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Like my page for daily inspiration, fitness, music and more 🌸 from all the way here in Guam 🌴! 

Snappy Chatty 👻 crownsirena | IG @sirenaofguam  

With Love, 

Sirena Elizabeth 

Where Evil Draws Its Power | Your Quote of the Day + Reflection

Today's quote of the day is taken from the Catholic Apolos apologetics group. 

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI hit the nail right on the head with this point. 

It's such a simple, practical lesson and that is what really boggles me about the spiritual life.  

Maybe most of us haven't yet realised it yet, or maybe we knew about this but have forgotten. 

Either way, mustn't take this lightly. 

Have you ever read C.S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters?  

If you haven't, you should. You MUST. 

Here is a quote:

It does not matter how small the sins are provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing. Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick. Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one--the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts. 

― C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

As you can see, it's in the little things like indecision and concern for what others think that evil has the most power. 

Don't forget this. 

Apply this to every moment of your life.

Everyday is a spiritual battle from the moment we awaken. 

Fight the good fight with holy decisions and concern for what our Lord will think. 

 

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Like my page for daily inspiration, fitness, music and more  from all the way here in Guam ! 

Snappy Chatty  crownsirena | IG @sirenaofguam  

With Love, 

Sirena Elizabeth 

True Greatness | Your Quote of the Day + Reflection

I always struggle with myself about what it takes to reach the same level of sanctity as the saints we read about. 

For as long as I've known this after hearing talk many talks from Catholic speakers and from priests sermons, I constantly have to remind myself that there is no secret at all in being holy. 

There isn't any magical fairy dust that changes you in an instant. 

If there was a secret- 

the only secret about it is that their greatness is in simplicity- 

and it is in the quote you see above. 

"True greatness of the soul is in loving God and in humility." 

Who said this? Jesus. 

Actually, it was the baby Jesus who said this to St. Faustina. 

Faustina asked the baby Jesus how He could know this since He was not yet old enough to read. 

He replied, "I know; I know all things." 

Then, he disappeared. 

I was reading this in the pews of the St. Fidelis Friary chapel after the 12:10 PM Mass, and it gave me chills. I get chills everytime I think about it. 

The things is, Jesus didn't even give Faustina a road map with check points and this and that, etc. 

Our Lord just says 

"True great of the soul is in loving God loving God and in humility."

#divinemercy #God #JesustoFaustina #DivineMercyinMySoul 

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Like my page for daily inspiration, fitness, music and more  from all the way here in Guam ! 

Snappy Chatty  crownsirena | IG @sirenaofguam  

With Love, 

Sirena Elizabeth