My last message

[A.J.]

Hey everyone,

I wanted to send this to you all b/c of all of us (including the cast)
has touch someone's heart. Also, we did awesome and thank you
everyone.

Love,

A.J.




Hey AJ,

Again amazing job tonight, and though I know that it couldn't have
been done without the help of those around you, especially your co-
director, who I will say is amazingly talented since you both worked
together to bring something amazing into production. It truly was a
blessing to experience such a moving story with all of you tonight, it
was worth every second. So I leave you with these thoughts and I pray
that they make you smile as tonight as made me smile. I will have alot
to think about and remember for a long time... and I wouldn't have it
any other way...

"Here I sit, it’s already 1:10am and yet I’m wide awake. It’s ironic
because I walked into St. Catherine’s tonight tired and was afraid
that I would fall asleep because of exhaustion. What a way to wake up
that was, for me at least. It’s been a while since I’ve seen passion,
talent and reaching for God as powerfully as I’ve seen those of the
CYM tonight, and it started the moment the music played. Yet, that was
the only message that was being handed to everyone sitting in the pews
tonight. It’s something I’ve come to remember, and what an amazing way
to remember it, that without sacrifice, there is no life. Not once
throughout this whole production did performers, actors, singers or
technicians put themselves before God, but sacrificed themselves to be
the message and word of God. Not once did any of these talented and
blessed people forget who they put this effort out for and always
remembered it was for him, who sacrificed all he could for us. It
broke my heart to see what happened on that altar, but honestly, who
wouldn’t have been heartbroken? The story was well thought, with
interesting and thoughtful transitions that continued to build
velocity all the way till the last embrace. The actors all fit their
parts perfectly, playing their roles well and making us believe they
were who they said they were. Music was chosen well to fit the modern
and traditional styles of the play and still reach out to all ages.
The costumes, the technical background, the use of staging… there are
many things I could cover, and still I could say that everything
worked well, and it wasn’t just due to the amazing talent displayed,
but the fact that God worked through every single person tonight. If
one thing I wish to share, it is this:

'Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his
friends.'
- John 15:13

I believe this message rang true tonight in everything that was
portrayed, that we sacrifice in love and kindness for those around us.
Jesus laid his life down for us so that we may be forgiven, so that
our sins would wipe away. Tonight, I believe that you sacrificed your
time, your resources, and yourselves as people to bring us closer to
Jesus, closer to God, in more ways than one. That is great love. This
was only possible by God’s grace and touch, that opened up your hands
to reach, opened our lips to cry his name, opened our ears to hear
him, and opened our eyes to follow him.
Thank you all for your hard work, directors, musicians, performers,
technicians, supporters, and the list goes on. As I am sure it meant
many things for those out there that came out tonight to see you
shine, it meant the world for me to remember something so important
and something we forget from time to time. Honestly, who am I to be
speaking such things, I’m just a spectator who most of you probably
don’t know. I just wanted to say, if anything, you reached this heart
tonight. I will continue to pray for your success and growth as you
walk with God through this wonderful journey, no matter how far down
the path you may be or how close you are to have just started, it was
a wonderful experience to share with all of you tonight. I pray God
continues to bless your creative talents and outlets, and once more,
thank you for reminding me of such an important message, and above all
things, thank you for reminding me to remember Him."

Your Brother in God and the Spectator,
Erik Gerolaga

[miguel zulueta]

i would love to post this on the passion play tumblr. with the name removed from the end of the email.

--
- miguel zulueta

[Arman Nati]

Please do post this on the tumblr! I think this will be a great testimony!

-A.J.

[Myra]

Do we have Erik's permission to do so? Do we need it if it's anonymous?

[Arman Nati]

I've talked with Eric. We can post this but let's keep it anonymous though.

-A.J.