I spent my weekend at Cagayan de Oro City with the delegates of the Adventist Health Professionals’ Retreat at SPUC compound from Friday evening until the lunch time of Sunday.  It was a great experience for me.  The messages and lectures were so inspiring that I can really say I am converted and hopefully could change my lifestyle to achieve optimum health and to be able to share the health gospel effectively.  I know it is not yet too late.

The theme of the event is “Reaching Out Through Health Professionals” and the messages made me realized how much responsibility was placed by God to every Christian to spread the health message to everyone.  The lectures also made me understand that health ministry and evangelistic ministry must go hand in hand.

I was surprise to know that it is not lack of knowledge that encourages people to change their bad lifestyle into a good one, but SICK THREAT makes them do it.   I can agree 1000% as am one of those people who does not lack encouragement and knowledge.  It is just due to my laziness that I failed to make exercise as part of my daily living.  Should have I started a healthy lifestyle when I was young, then I would not have this excess pounds in me now.

One of the things I noted was the KEYS FOR EFFECTIVE CHANGE:

• Be a good example as example has power.
• Be opportune (never condemn people)
• Be a powerful person for a change
• Pro-active presentation of the Adventist health message
• Less knowledge, more tools/skills
• One or two behaviors at once
• Small victories first then the bigger one
• Reinforce good practices.

I have more in my notes, but I can include them in my posts later here and there.

My ID. we were issued IDs but not worn all the time. hehehe

Thanks to the Health Department of South Philippine Union Conference for having such a program.  I guess the first time ever for a SPUC wide coverage.