Sumilip ako mula sa pintuan ng faculty room, naniniguradong meron si Ma'am Johanna bago pumasok. I spotted her on her table, gazing down on some papers with a pen in her hand.

I cleared my throat and stepped up, "Good afternoon, teachers," I greeted, smiling towards the teachers on their tables, "May I come in, po?"

The teacher on the front table gave a nod of approval. Nagpasalamat ako at agad tinungo ang table ni Ma'am Johanna.

"Hi, Ma'am," I spoke with a smile.

"Yes, anak, what brings you here?" She motioned towards the chair on the side of her table, and with this, I took a seat.

"May tatanungin sana ako, Ma'am," Panimula ko, "Kasi kahapon, nagsharing sila Gabriel dito sa school about po sa nangyari sa kapatid niya. Eh may nag-ask po kung pwede daw pong magschedule ng formal activity dito sa school dedicated sa mga ganon, parang sharing po or Bible Study. Paano po kaya 'yon, Ma'am?"

"Oh." I saw her gaze narrow as she nodded, "Wow, for your fellow classmates to ask for something like that, I think God really has a wonderful plan for this school." Ibinaba niya ang tingin ng ilang sandali, thinking for a while before she spoke again. "I think I know how to make this work. Kailangan nating i-register sa school ang activity na 'to para maging recognized. I can stand as the Club Adviser. Sa tingin ko the Principal will approve of this activity, knowing na believer din siya."

A sigh of gladness escaped my lips, "Talaga, Ma'am?" I bit my lip in excitement, "Thank you po!"

"No problem, dear," She replied with a smile, "-and Grace?"

"Po?"

"You might want to start preparing you heart now," tumingin siya sa malayo, "I sense in my spirit a revival in this school."

Halos tumakbo kami ni Rhoe pababa sa hagdan ng matapos ang cleaning assignment sa classroom, 'di alintana ang malakas na pagbagsak ng ulan habang tinutunton ang main building. Tama si Ma'am Johanna. The Principal did approve of the activity and have even encouraged it. Ilang araw lang ay na-process at nai-announce na ang activity sa buong school. I don't know how, but somehow the name for the activity just came to my mind, at laking gulat ko naman ng i-carry nga ni Ma'am ang na-isip kong 'yon. I gazed down at the Activity Permit in my folder;

Cry for Revival - Campus Bible Study and Discipleship

A smile crept up my face, glad as I read the letters printed in bold. Incitement surged my veins, motivation engulfing my very being as we walked. Sa anthorium hall ang venue ng activity, and after a few more steps, nakarating na 'rin kami dito.

Sumilip ako mula sa bintana, ando'n na sila Gabriel at Vince along with seven other students. He held a guitar in his hand and was currently plucking it as the others conversed. Isinara ko ang payong na ginamit namin ni Rhoe at inilagay ito sa umbrella bin bago pumasok sa sa hall.

"Hello!" Bati ni Rhoe, smiling widely as we sat.

"Hi!"

"'Nya ngay?"

Sunod-sunod na sumagot ang mga naka-upo. I smiled and began to speak.

"Hindi pa natin kilala ang isa't-isa, why don't we introduce ourselves first?" I probed each one of them with my gaze, "Ako nga pala si Grace, from HUMSS 12-B," Pakilala ko.

"Ako naman si Rhoe, from the same class. Nice to meet you all!"

"Gabriel, from HUMSS 12-B," He spoke with a nod, smiling as he did so.

"Ako po si Janice," Sambit ng kapatid ni Gabriel, "Grade Nine student po, 9-D. Kuya ko po siya," Dagdag niya sabay turo kay Gabriel.

"Ako naman si Dana, HUMSS 11-C," Pakilala ng dalaga na katabi ni Janice. She had her hair in a ponytail and was olive in complexion. I smiled in glee as I recognized her face; Siya yung nag-suggest nitong activity.

Akmang magpapakilala na sana ang katabi niya nang makita naming pumasok si Ma'am Johanna mula sa pintuan. She smiled brightly and walked towards us.

"Hello!" She spoke as she sat down among us, "Sige, go on with what you were doing,"

Tumango ako sa dalaga kanina at ngumiti naman ito.

"I'm from the same class as Dana, ako nga pala si Veron," Pakilala nito, we all nodded in acknowledgement. Nagsunond-sunod na nagpakilala ang mga kasama namin at pagkatapos nito, nagsalita naman si Ma'am Johanna.

"It's nice to meet you all," She eyed us one by one, "Sa mga 'di ako kilala, ako nga pala si Johanna Eyasan. I teach values sa Junior high, at Philosophy naman sa mga grade 12. I'm very happy na nakarating kayo!"

At her word, two more students came through the door, head lowered as they walked in. The two ladies also introduced themselves and Ma'am Johanna formally opened the activity.

"Grace?" Inangat ko ang paningin patungo sakaniya, "Can you lead us into worship before we get to the word?"

For a moment I remained silent, lowering my head and though of a song. Isinenyas ko ang Key of E gamit ang kamay at nagsimula na ring tumugtog si Gabriel. I tried not to notice, but he played the guitar really well. I clasped my eyes shut and began to sing.

"When the music fades,

All is stripped away,

And I simply come..."

Voices immediately joined with me as I sang the first lines, and with this, we continued to worship. After one repetition of the song, I ended the worship in prayer and Ma'am Johanna began to speak once more.

"Once again, I'm very happy na nadito kayo." She began, "Alam kong hindi aksidente na tayo ang nandito ngayon. I believe in my heart that God has planned for all of us to be here this afternoon."

She lifted the Bible in hand and gazed down at it, "Before we get into the word, hayaan niyo muna akong i-explain kung ano nga ba ang purpose ng gawain na ito. Just this Monday, one of you had requested to have an activity like this for the sake of clearing up some questions that you had. I am very thankful for that one person, and I would just want to assure you guys na masasagot ang mga katanungan niyo dito."

The teacher paused and opened her Bible, "But more than that, this activity will not only give you the opportunity to get the answers to your questions, but will also show you of the things that take place when a person is in God. Alam kong narinig niyo ang nangyari sa kapatid ni Gabriel, and let me tell you this, these are normal scenarios for those that are endowed with the power of God, those who have paid the price for the anointing."

Her voice echoed in the room as she spoke, and all the more it drew us to listen, "This activity is entitled; Cry for Revival, and just like that, we will train you by the Grace of God, to be agents of Revival in this present generation. Surely, nakikita niyo naman ang estado ng mundo ngayon, and you would have to be a liar to say that the world is not chaotic at all. Sa katunayan, this world is on its way to destruction. Mga bata, let me say this to you just in case 'di niyo pa naririnig; We are living in the last days. We are living in a time of great wickedness and evil."

She lowered her gaze and began to read from the book of Matthew, reading the entire 24th chapter out loud. Totoo nga, anyone who would read this portion of the Bible would immediately realize that we are indeed living in the last days. The accuracy of that chapter when compared to our present generation is indeffectible!

"Walang duda! The world is plunged into darkness. But listen here, kahit na ganito ang nangyayari ngayon, kumikilos parin ang Diyos! God does not conquer in spite the dark mystery of evil, He conquers through it! It is in darkness that we come to realize our need of His light. It is in suffering and pain, that we come to acknowledge our need of His healing. It is in failure, that we get to experience His restoration."

The words slit through my being like a sharp sword, a reality so profound it had the power to stir my spirit.

"Young people, I want you to realize this. If He could heal yesterday, He could heal today. If He could calm the raging seas for His disciples before, so can He today, and if He can save a wretched soul like Mary Magdalene who committed unfathomable sins, so can He in your life today,"

The atmosphere felt as though it was electrified with power with each word she spoke, and I couldn't help but feel amazed.

"I'm here to tell you today that if God can work and do something as amazing sa buhay ni Janice, kaya Niya rin itong gawin sa buhay mo. He can heal every wound, He can restore every broken heart. There is no one too lost for God's love."

Nagpatuloy si Ma'am sa pagsasalita at sa bawat minutong lumipas, the Presence of God became more evident in the place.

"Let me tell you something about myself. Hindi niyo siguro aakalain, but when I was young, I was a very rebellious child. Namatay ang ama ko noong limang taong gulang palang ako at ang ina ko naman, hanggang ngayon hindi ko parin alam kung nasa'n," She took in a breath and spoke again, "I was a miserable child, and I carried that till I grew up. I was suicidal and often slit my wrists just for the fun of it,"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang ipakita niya ang mga braso niya. Oo nga! May mga marka siya ng laslas. I gazed up to her in wonder. Grabe Lord! For You to have turned her into a woman she is now is just truly fascinating!

"But when God came into my life, all of it changed. I discovered a hope that I had not even imagined was possible. I felt a love that had the ability to cleanse me from my sin. Kung kayang baguhin ng Diyos ang isang katulad ko, sigurado akong kaya niya rin sa inyo. Like I said kanina, kumikilos parin ang Diyos, ang tanong lang na kailangan nating sagutin ay... magrerespond ba tayo sa pagkilos Niya?"

The question seemed to ring repeatedly in the air as she paused. "If your answer is yes, then I invite you today, before we get into deeper things of the Spirit, gusto ko munang anyayahan kung sino man dito ang hindi pa tumanggap kay Hesus bilang Diyos at tagapag-ligtas na samahan ako sa panalanging ito. Pagkatapos ay ipag-pepray ko kayo,"

She stood up and instructed the ones who want to accept Jesus to repeat the prayer after her, and with this, voices echoed after her every word. Kasabay ng pagtugtog ng gitara, nagsimula na rin akong kumanta.

"Oh Lord You search me,

You know my ways

Even when I fail You

I know You love me,"

With each word I sang, whimpers and cries began to echo in the room, and as soon as the group said amen, nagsimula nang mag-lay hands si Ma'am Johanna.

"At the Cross I bow my knees

Where Your blood was shed for me

What can separate me now?"

I loud thud was heard in the room, and with this I opened my eyes again. Immediately, my gaze was filled by the students slain on the floor, crying out to God as they we're prayed for. My heart began to race as I watched, thrilled as I saw their response to the Presence of God.

Napangiti nalang ako sa nakita. Mukang tama yata si Ma'am Johanna, Revival may just be on the door waiting to flood this school.