~~grace~~
~ ~ g r a c e ~ ~
Sunday, April 30, 2006
hope family
let me think how to journal this down. i feel so joyfully tired, well one thing for sure is that i feel so much blessed within these few days. first of all the thai trip...
a hope-filled church
fri 21st
met yingfang n went to airport together, it was raining. the new budget terminal was empty, nothing much to see but anyway we didn't really care. met some other hope ppl there as well, everyone looked excited, i was actually feeling tired (and we haven't even started) lolx. i slept all the way on plane..
we reached bangkok quite late and i had an interesting talk with claudia as she asked if it was my first time coming to thai camp. she mentioned this: all hope members should attend thai camp at least once in their lifetime; the first time will be an eye opener but after that you'll start to make lots of international friends from hope. hehe think it's interesting logic.
reached rompo mansion and i saw the youth n tertiary ppl there, apparently they came much earlier to shop first. we boarded the coach to khon kaen (where the camp was held) almost midnight and it was 8 hrs ride, the bus was freezing haha but quite comfy, we all had quite a good sleep.
sat 22nd
reached hotel early in the morning and had a short sleep before we went to the convention hall. the sun was unbelievably hot. we were welcomed by the cheerful ushers as we entered, not sure how many hope ppl gathered there, a few thousands definitely ^^
anyway soon after, the whole camp started with some nice impact tv (their media team) and pnw.. the opening ceremony is in the evening.. haha.. an eye-opener indeed. there were many pnw that i've never heard before and they sang in thai mind you.. but it really didn't matter to all of us, that's the amazing thing! ppl were excited, joy was everywhere... the thai youth were definitely on fire, they loved to do this tu-tu train thingy lolx. the worship leader, the band, the dancers, everyone on stage were greaat. the best part would be the worship.. it was just so spirit-filled.. i had an amazing time of worshipping God. perhaps as i was away from home and daily duties, the feeling of being free and at peace were overwhelming. what an amazing sight in the hall, we were from so many different countries, but united in one heart and worship.. only God could do this.
they had quite an impressive opening as well, these ppl could really sing, dance and act.. not to mention the props. what a group of talented ppl. we all agreed that their spirit of excellence was commendable.
sun 23rd
our hope family in thai hosted spore delegates to a nice lunch at hotel. it was really very nice of them. we had some testimonies exchange as well, so great that we could encourage one another through the short session.
there was mission nite in the evening, once again they gave a very interesting performance.. lots of dancers. but the main would be the powerful testimony given on mission in africa. i was certainly feeling dead tired considering that we haven't really had a good rest since we reached and the camp was really packed with teachings, kinda glad when the night ended and suddenly yf said that pastor david chen invited a few of us to his room for supper.. waaa... hahaa... so we went.
i didn't regret a single bit, who would? he shared to us his experience in africa, how a few countries were 'conquered' only within few days, with not much plan, by faith and God's miracles. it was very powerful, i could feel all my tiredness gone as i listened to his story. we are touching the world.. it was very inspiring.. church planting.. i feel that God was reminding me something. i would love to go, yeah.. send me to africa if i can do something there. but i know for now that my faith is not that strong yet haha.. one day!
ps david said that tips for church planting is we shouldn't think too much, just think enough, take the first step, go and God will open up the way. interesting.he shared for almost 2 hrs and we returned to our room very very late, but anyway as what he said, we can always sleep when we're back in spore. must make full use of every second in thai =p
mon 24th
hope games.
hahaa this one is errm something that you don't see everyday. international delegates (including us) started practising our aerobics presentation and cheering a few hrs before the event, amazing =p
we went to this big field somewhere around, the place was quite deserted and dirty but seriously who cares? due to my height (sigh) i had to stand on the first row for the aerobics, but i got to know 3 hope JB sisters there haha.. friendly ppl as well. anyway we did a messy job on the aerobics haha... but it was really fun, with all the kickboxing and stuff.. and yes we did perspire!
the event was done quite well, there's opening ceremony with the torch and performances, interesting games in between, a good soccer match where ps PN did a good job in goalkeeping lolx. each team really impressed me, they prepared their props for cheering very very well, i found my mouth opened wide for a few times hahaa.. last but not least they had fireworks for the opening n closing.. beautiful.
a few things came to my mind. there were lots of ppl (outsiders) saw us from the road etc, they must be wondering who we were and why was it so happening there. it's amazing how we could make an impact from this hope games. once again, thousands of ppl are united through games but the difference is all of us have the same vision and love for God.. and that sight is priceless.
the day didn't end there, we went to a night market (boundless energy haha) anyway we did a short shopping cos the stuff were just sooo cheap.
tue 25th
that's the end of the camp. they showed us a media clip on the camp before the closing ceremony, it was really well done. i found myself almost tearing when i saw it, this family of God is just wonderful. God is.
as we took the coach back to bangkok (another 8 hrs ride) i did a lot of reflection. it was great, really great. i felt truly blessed with this trip, God spoke to me on a few areas specifically, i was definitely strengthened inside out and i made a few promises with Him as well. i did not come home empty.
we reached bangkok quite late but as usual we had supper again (all of us had 4 meals a day there by the way) but it's ok! the food is nice! haha we ate tom yum..
wed 26th
that was the only day that we could wake up late.. a good nite sleep indeed. i was telling yf that i never had such a tiring camp before. as we extended our stay in bangkok for a day, we went for shopping. it was tough looking for gifts, the place was big and there were so many things, anyway i managed to fulfil my 'obligations' and bought myself a pair of shoes as well lolx..
think the best part is when i met a guy who wore the same 'hope family' t-shirt that i bought from the camp, we were just walking at the mall and we were like.. hey! hope family!.. so we smiled and bowed to one another, he's a stranger and i have no idea which hope he came from.. but it's good that we can meet family member everywhere we go =)
took an evening flight back to spore. unlike the previous flight, i felt so alive on the way back, was reading book, doing some reflections and stuff. was praying that the checkpoint would be smooth (i had many problems before) but i had this peace and assurance, in fact was quite joyful haha.. and yah it was really smooth! praise God =)
it's finally time for me, yf, ys, elaine n sarah to part ways, it's great knowing them and deeper thru this trip.
to be continued.
*livi* 9:28 PM• • • • •
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we went to this big field somewhere around, the place was quite deserted and dirty but seriously who cares? due to my height (sigh) i had to stand on the first row for the aerobics, but i got to know 3 hope JB sisters there haha.. friendly ppl as well. anyway we did a messy job on the aerobics haha... but it was really fun, with all the kickboxing and stuff.. and yes we did perspire!
