YM Camp 2008: King of Glory! #1
I'd originally wanted to blog about camp after I had finished doing reflection and documentation of the whole of camp by the end of today, but it's 7.10pm as I am writing this (check the time of this post and now you know why I don't blog all so often and why when I do blog, my posts are usually quite long..) and I am not even close to finishing yet. Documenting every thing that has happened is extremely important to me. But, so is blogging because I want to share my blessings with others. I need to do this before I leave for Japan, before I forget all that has happened during camp.
First up, shoutouts - to people for camp and for the past year as well.
Marcus: Hello my dearest group leader. Thanks for everything, really. Although you were away for the first two days most of the time, you're still a great group leader. After all, you gave your best on the third and fourth day so it makes up for your absence previously :) Continue serving with vigor and selflessness, for you know God doesn't even need you for Him to do His will but you do it because you simply want to serve Him with your five loaves and two fish(es). Remember to also call me Cel or Celine and not C (because I find it a bit weird..)! Haha. And.. well, everything else is on the card I gave you. God bless and let go, let God! :D
El-Elyon: You all were a really wonderful bunch. Thanks for simply being yourselves - your different personalities really contributed to the dynamics of this group. It's really pleasant for me to have you all as the second group I'm leading as an assistant group leader. Well, I guess most of what I wanted to tell you all on a personal basis I'd written on the cards. And I just want to apologise again for not being the AGL I really really wanted to be to all of you. I'm sorry for not being there with you all on the third day and for all the times I had to rush off for leaders' meetings (and YSG and mentor meetings). I sincerely hope that I had blessed you all for the times I was there as I want to bless you all just like you all have blessed me. Let's keep in touch alright, and hope you all will have fun at Desmond's house when you next meet! I REALLY REALLY REALLY regret not being able to go (family (and hence family holiday) comes first!). I want to spend time with you all and play World Tour too! (Yeah shit my World Tour desperation is getting from bad to worse..) Hahaha. See you all around in YM anyway alright, and we must have another gathering in January (AND PLAY GH WORLD TOUR)! :P
Stacy: I didn't spend as much time with you as I wanted, too. I hope God spoke to you like He did to me (well not directly, but oh well I will talk about that later). Despite everything, all the emotions, all the disappointments, all the loneliness, all the fear, I pray you'll keep close to God. And I know that though I'm not your mentee anymore, I still love you as a dear sister and a friend. Take care my lovely!
(Wow you seriously have changed. For the prettier :) So that's good! I hardly recognise you in this photo actually..)
Samantha: Hello my dear, I hope my prayer over you helped :) Thanks for coming to me, anyway. God has blessed me with you indeed, and I'm very grateful. You have been a huge source of encouragement and comfort to me this whole year, and I still remember how God worked between the two of us (remember Passion and Purity?? :D). Thanks for the SMSes while I was having prelims and Os. I can't tell you more about how much I truly cherish our friendship and I pray that in our friendship, we will continue pointing each other towards God, towards our common goal :)
Elliot: Thank you for being there for me when I needed it. Thank you for redirecting me back to the right course on which I should have been walking on when I had strayed. I thank God for you in my life and it's so amazing to see how you're growing into a man after God's heart. I treasure our friendship a lot too and I just want you to know that you've truly touched my life. Remember to always humble yourself and align your will with God's yeah, take care dear!
(Seth, aren't you glad I don't have any unglam photos of you :D)
Seth: I hope my christmas card had touched you. Well, most of what I wanted to say I had already written on it. But yes, I just want to reiterate that although I had known you for only a little more than a month, you've been a great friend nevertheless. I've actually learned a lot from you after all the meeting-ups and talks that we had - I learnt that I need to be more tolerant of others, more understanding, and less judgmental about people. I believe that God has placed you in my life for a purpose and I'm extremely grateful for it. Stay humble alright, be sweetly broken and continue to love and serve God with all your heart, soul, and mind!
Shiny: My dear friend/EXCO-mate/confidante/sister in Christ, I want you to know that I love you. God has truly, truly, truly blessed me so much with you. Thank you for everything this year, for the good times and bad, for being there when I was down, for listening when I needed to talk to someone, for being a true woman after God's heart. Seeing you so on fire for God all the time really helps me to keep on track as well. As we always say to each other, let's always guide each other in our walk with God! I love you dear, let's continue to strive towards our common goal, which is loving God and loving people :D
Joanna (my YSGL, and now my mentor too): I constantly thank God for you as well. You've really blessed me so much, with your wisdom and maturity and life experiences. Thanks for all the sharing and encouraging me with it. It's really heartening to know there are others who don't experience God all that dramatically too. I don't really know how to express my gratitude in words, actually.. well just know that I love you and God loves you :) Oh one thing, I do wish people will stop asking me if you're my mom already. Hahaha. I think it is quite funny that we do kind of look alike but it gets irritating after a while, heh.. Anyway, thank you for listening and being there for me whenever I need to talk to you. Thank you for being open and honest with me. I really appreciate it all :) I'm sorry for always talking about myself though.. next time you must share more about yourself too okay?
God's Dunamis: I've really grown to love all of you this year. It's my hope that we will stand strong as a YSG despite the going overseas to study for some next year, and that we will have the heart to serve one another selflessly, to continuously cover one another in prayer and love. Acting as an almost-AYSGL this year was rather difficult for me and I'm just want to apologise for anything that may have saddened or offended any one of you. Have a great Christmas alright, and let's continue to strive together towards a deeper relationship with God next year!
YM camp this year was truly amazing. 300 youths, kneeling at the foot of the cross. Can you imagine it? Well, you don't have to imagine it anymore.
Because it happened.
God really worked through this camp, I saw it before my very eyes on both a whole camp basis and a personal basis as well. One was about the weather during and after the Monopoly game on Day 2. It was drizzling for a while during the game, but we could still walk around. It was only after everyone was safely back in the main area of Prince George's Park Residences (PGP) that it started POURING. Awesomeness.
During the leaders' meeting in the evening of Day 2, the leaders were praying for each other. I prayed with Elliot. I remember him saying something along the lines of, "not letting her faith rely on reason alone". It was so.. shocking because I didn't talk to Elliot or anyone, for that matter, before that prayer about that issue. Basically, I've been struggling with the reason aspect of my faith. I hadn't talked to anyone about it until I did with Joanna on the third day. She reminded me about the mystery of faith, and that was another way how God blessed me through her.. but that aside. That was "coincidence" #1.
On the morning of Day 3, I set my phone alarm to go off at 5.55am. However, I didn't wake up at that time.. I remember I was having a dream. Somehow halfway during the dream I SUDDENLY woke up for no apparent reason! It was 6.55am then, and leaders' meeting was at 7am. Thank God! I quickly brushed my teeth and changed my clothes then hurried down to the ops room with Janice. And, I wasn't late! That was "coincidence" #2.
Here's the last one (which I'm talking about in this post anyway): after the night rally of Day 3, when all the YMers were facing the Cross and God was touching hearts and lives, I didn't feel God touch me or anything. I didn't cry. I suddenly felt like I needed to read the Bible, so I flipped mine and it turned to Psalms 27. I'd shared about this with my own camp group and during testimony/sharing in front of the whole Youth Ministry at camp, but I'll share it again.
Psalm 27:1-6
The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident. (And now this was last year's camp theme verse, Psalm 27:4) One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.
Next year is a year of uncertainties, especially for me. With my O level results, new school, new CCA, being AYSGL, Philotheos. I will talk about Philotheos and being a leader in YM in my next entry, in which I will post everything about camp. Anyway, well basically I'm extremely fearful about the coming year, and in camp, I was afraid of going back to reality. So this chapter in Psalms really spoke to me, and I really thank God for revealing this very apt passage to me. :)
More coming up in tomorrow's post.. so look out for it!
Until next time,
Celine
First up, shoutouts - to people for camp and for the past year as well.
Marcus: Hello my dearest group leader. Thanks for everything, really. Although you were away for the first two days most of the time, you're still a great group leader. After all, you gave your best on the third and fourth day so it makes up for your absence previously :) Continue serving with vigor and selflessness, for you know God doesn't even need you for Him to do His will but you do it because you simply want to serve Him with your five loaves and two fish(es). Remember to also call me Cel or Celine and not C (because I find it a bit weird..)! Haha. And.. well, everything else is on the card I gave you. God bless and let go, let God! :D
El-Elyon: You all were a really wonderful bunch. Thanks for simply being yourselves - your different personalities really contributed to the dynamics of this group. It's really pleasant for me to have you all as the second group I'm leading as an assistant group leader. Well, I guess most of what I wanted to tell you all on a personal basis I'd written on the cards. And I just want to apologise again for not being the AGL I really really wanted to be to all of you. I'm sorry for not being there with you all on the third day and for all the times I had to rush off for leaders' meetings (and YSG and mentor meetings). I sincerely hope that I had blessed you all for the times I was there as I want to bless you all just like you all have blessed me. Let's keep in touch alright, and hope you all will have fun at Desmond's house when you next meet! I REALLY REALLY REALLY regret not being able to go (family (and hence family holiday) comes first!). I want to spend time with you all and play World Tour too! (Yeah shit my World Tour desperation is getting from bad to worse..) Hahaha. See you all around in YM anyway alright, and we must have another gathering in January (AND PLAY GH WORLD TOUR)! :P
Stacy: I didn't spend as much time with you as I wanted, too. I hope God spoke to you like He did to me (well not directly, but oh well I will talk about that later). Despite everything, all the emotions, all the disappointments, all the loneliness, all the fear, I pray you'll keep close to God. And I know that though I'm not your mentee anymore, I still love you as a dear sister and a friend. Take care my lovely!
(Wow you seriously have changed. For the prettier :) So that's good! I hardly recognise you in this photo actually..)
Samantha: Hello my dear, I hope my prayer over you helped :) Thanks for coming to me, anyway. God has blessed me with you indeed, and I'm very grateful. You have been a huge source of encouragement and comfort to me this whole year, and I still remember how God worked between the two of us (remember Passion and Purity?? :D). Thanks for the SMSes while I was having prelims and Os. I can't tell you more about how much I truly cherish our friendship and I pray that in our friendship, we will continue pointing each other towards God, towards our common goal :)
Elliot: Thank you for being there for me when I needed it. Thank you for redirecting me back to the right course on which I should have been walking on when I had strayed. I thank God for you in my life and it's so amazing to see how you're growing into a man after God's heart. I treasure our friendship a lot too and I just want you to know that you've truly touched my life. Remember to always humble yourself and align your will with God's yeah, take care dear!
(Seth, aren't you glad I don't have any unglam photos of you :D)
Seth: I hope my christmas card had touched you. Well, most of what I wanted to say I had already written on it. But yes, I just want to reiterate that although I had known you for only a little more than a month, you've been a great friend nevertheless. I've actually learned a lot from you after all the meeting-ups and talks that we had - I learnt that I need to be more tolerant of others, more understanding, and less judgmental about people. I believe that God has placed you in my life for a purpose and I'm extremely grateful for it. Stay humble alright, be sweetly broken and continue to love and serve God with all your heart, soul, and mind!
Shiny: My dear friend/EXCO-mate/confidante/sister in Christ, I want you to know that I love you. God has truly, truly, truly blessed me so much with you. Thank you for everything this year, for the good times and bad, for being there when I was down, for listening when I needed to talk to someone, for being a true woman after God's heart. Seeing you so on fire for God all the time really helps me to keep on track as well. As we always say to each other, let's always guide each other in our walk with God! I love you dear, let's continue to strive towards our common goal, which is loving God and loving people :D
Joanna (my YSGL, and now my mentor too): I constantly thank God for you as well. You've really blessed me so much, with your wisdom and maturity and life experiences. Thanks for all the sharing and encouraging me with it. It's really heartening to know there are others who don't experience God all that dramatically too. I don't really know how to express my gratitude in words, actually.. well just know that I love you and God loves you :) Oh one thing, I do wish people will stop asking me if you're my mom already. Hahaha. I think it is quite funny that we do kind of look alike but it gets irritating after a while, heh.. Anyway, thank you for listening and being there for me whenever I need to talk to you. Thank you for being open and honest with me. I really appreciate it all :) I'm sorry for always talking about myself though.. next time you must share more about yourself too okay?
God's Dunamis: I've really grown to love all of you this year. It's my hope that we will stand strong as a YSG despite the going overseas to study for some next year, and that we will have the heart to serve one another selflessly, to continuously cover one another in prayer and love. Acting as an almost-AYSGL this year was rather difficult for me and I'm just want to apologise for anything that may have saddened or offended any one of you. Have a great Christmas alright, and let's continue to strive together towards a deeper relationship with God next year!
YM camp this year was truly amazing. 300 youths, kneeling at the foot of the cross. Can you imagine it? Well, you don't have to imagine it anymore.
Because it happened.
God really worked through this camp, I saw it before my very eyes on both a whole camp basis and a personal basis as well. One was about the weather during and after the Monopoly game on Day 2. It was drizzling for a while during the game, but we could still walk around. It was only after everyone was safely back in the main area of Prince George's Park Residences (PGP) that it started POURING. Awesomeness.
During the leaders' meeting in the evening of Day 2, the leaders were praying for each other. I prayed with Elliot. I remember him saying something along the lines of, "not letting her faith rely on reason alone". It was so.. shocking because I didn't talk to Elliot or anyone, for that matter, before that prayer about that issue. Basically, I've been struggling with the reason aspect of my faith. I hadn't talked to anyone about it until I did with Joanna on the third day. She reminded me about the mystery of faith, and that was another way how God blessed me through her.. but that aside. That was "coincidence" #1.
On the morning of Day 3, I set my phone alarm to go off at 5.55am. However, I didn't wake up at that time.. I remember I was having a dream. Somehow halfway during the dream I SUDDENLY woke up for no apparent reason! It was 6.55am then, and leaders' meeting was at 7am. Thank God! I quickly brushed my teeth and changed my clothes then hurried down to the ops room with Janice. And, I wasn't late! That was "coincidence" #2.
Here's the last one (which I'm talking about in this post anyway): after the night rally of Day 3, when all the YMers were facing the Cross and God was touching hearts and lives, I didn't feel God touch me or anything. I didn't cry. I suddenly felt like I needed to read the Bible, so I flipped mine and it turned to Psalms 27. I'd shared about this with my own camp group and during testimony/sharing in front of the whole Youth Ministry at camp, but I'll share it again.
Psalm 27:1-6
The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident. (And now this was last year's camp theme verse, Psalm 27:4) One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.
Next year is a year of uncertainties, especially for me. With my O level results, new school, new CCA, being AYSGL, Philotheos. I will talk about Philotheos and being a leader in YM in my next entry, in which I will post everything about camp. Anyway, well basically I'm extremely fearful about the coming year, and in camp, I was afraid of going back to reality. So this chapter in Psalms really spoke to me, and I really thank God for revealing this very apt passage to me. :)
More coming up in tomorrow's post.. so look out for it!
Until next time,
Celine