Camp 2011

So, it was cold. So, it was like totally drama. So, it was torturous and tiring. So?

I learnt something new each day. Being camp papa was no piece of cake, but it wasn’t that hard---we had pastor, and the older ones to help. Without them, camp would be a nightmare. Really.

But yeah, I shall try my best to put down a chronicle of events, according to my P.O.V. la.

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Day One

I wasn’t early to get to church; I wasn’t late either. So by the time I got to church, there weren’t anything to do! Everything was already loaded up on the bus, everyone was already lined up according to their buses. Good start, good start. Heh heh heh

Anyway, we prayed and left Ipoh. The journey was uneventful. Got to know some people, or rather, I just got to know their names. Saw Nicholas’ cousin and saw that he really was very leng zhai. Hohohohohoho. But anyway!

The bus left us somewhere far from Chefoo itself, so we had to walk up, with the heavy luggages and stuff. And then it started drizzling. Not so good start. But anyway, we managed to unload the drum set, and props, and stuff. Uncle Xiu Ming sent the people to their dorms.

Orientation! Sent them to sit with their games groups. Had them play charades to get their team colour. They had to act out stuff like maggie mee, strawberry, frying rice. I was in the eating mood. Hahahaha. They got to decorate their umbrellas! And then they advertised them. All sorts of lame stuff came out. But at least most of them realize an umbrella is used to protect you from the elements… Don’t know where all the genie-genie stuff came out all. Then it was free time. And there was much rejoicing! For dear campers. Committee had to prepare stuff for the games that will be on the next two days.

Dinner. Session. Oh guess what, I didn’t bathe! :D. We learnt about remaining on the altar, not just jumping off it when it gets hot, too intense for comfort.

Games committee had a meeting that went on til 11+.

‘Hey hey, it’s light’s out now, go back to your dorms and sleep!’

‘Is everyone in here?’

‘Remember, morning devotions tomorrow morning at 7:45! Meet at the hall!’

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Day Two

Having to wake up early is sad. Having to wake up early when it’s cold is just mean D;. Having to wake up early in the cold, and have no hot water to shower in… D’;. So yeah, I didn’t shower.

The cold was still tolerable. Energy levels still moderately high for me. We had our devotions. I honestly can’t remember completely what it was about. See, I’m so not a morning person.

Session. When we remain on the altar, we've to continually remove the ashes so the fire can burn brightly, unhindered. What are the ashes in our lives? Sin. Baggages. Then Ps. Steven hit us with the hardball: List out 10 major sins/baggages in your life that are affecting you now. After that, share about them with your discussion group. Hard stuff to do. I’m amazed how some people can put out their vulnerable side and be honest. But of course, there are also some that are still cautious, not wanting to open up.

Lunch! Mad dash to finish the food and then rush out to prepare stuff for station games later. Fun.

I get to press the button to sound the siren! ;D. There was once I pressed it like 5 minutes too early. Whoops. People got all muddy. And then they stepped onto the clean, white-tiled floor in the hall. Horror. Grab ALL the mops! Mop ALL the stains! Many people got cuts and bruises here and there. Nothing life-threatening. Yet. Then Timothy got bitten by a spider on the toe and it swelled up a little. Still he went on playing. Kenneth got hit on one eye by a very straight-flying slipper, and he chickened out on all the other dirty games. But anyway, the caretaker freaked out when she saw all the muddy mess. Field is now forbidden area. –dum dum dummmmmm-

Really. I forgot how many times I wrung the mop dry.

After games and all, we sent the dirty, muddy people to go wash up. Committee stayed behind to pack up stuff and clean up, and then get ready for Fun Night. Sweep sweep sweep, mop mop mop. I seriously hope we don’t get blacklisted at Chefoo! D;

Dinner. Found out I didn’t really have urgent stuff to attend to. So I took a shower! Aaaaaaah :D. For my life I can’t remember if I had hot water. I think I did. hehehehehehe. Then mad dash to dress and run to the chalet to get ready for Fun Night. I get to wear my crazy hat and be very campy. Ho ho hooooo

It was indeed a carnival. What with tigers and gypsies all. And then some palm reader got murdered. Then I had to trip over a dog (or so they say, I couldn’t see, it was dark, okay!) while running to close the door. Epic. The dog ran away from me after that every time I went near it.

Then, stuff happened. It was all right for the first thirty minutes. I saw someone on the floor, Henry, surrounded by one huge crowd. My heart stopped. I ran to get the first aid kit. But it couldn’t help him. I called pastor. ‘Keep calm, everyone, go on, go on, don’t dally here!’. I didn't have a clue what happened. Just bits and pieces from people. It might be a fracture. It might be dislocated…… The ambulance came about 30 minutes after.

I pronounced the mime dead. Apparently half the groups didn’t know who the mime was. –sigh-. And it all went downhill after that. People were getting all restless. People were getting frustrated. Reports of the poor station masters getting yelled at, or cursed at got to me. Someone wanted to punch me. I didn’t know what to do. I pronounced the gypsy dead.

I ended the night with proclaiming the acrobat dead. The murderer was the tight-rope walker because she became a little wonky after being shunned by everyone else. 3 groups got it. The whole committee was discouraged. The clowns felt so guilty and sad. Irony. We prayed as a group, for Henry, for everything else to go smooth, for protection, for strength to go on. No time for wallowing---we went on to pack up and clean up.

Everyone in the committee was feeling a little numb already.

Little comforts like milo with whipped cream and chocolate syrup.

Room keys getting missing. Spending time looking around for them. Giving up, assigning people to sleep somewhere else. Henry had to go down to Ipoh for an operation when the x-ray showed that he had a fracture.

Sleep.

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Day 3

His mercies are new each morning. His love endures forever. He is good, and faithful. I find out that, miraculously, when the team at Ipoh did another x-ray on Henry, the fracture lines weren’t there anymore. Henry didn’t need to be hospitalized for Christmas anymore. No major operation. Just some pain til he recovers. Thank God.

Woke up super late, but in time to brush the teeth. So, yeah, no shower. I remember about the wise mum who puts the vitamins in the cookies for her picky son. Not day 3’s devotion? Whoops, okay.

Session was about adding, I think. Are you adding to your spiritual life so you can grow and be mature? Are you stuck at conversion and never moving forward? Why not surrender it all to God? Why do you sing this and that and never even do this?

For the first time, I was put in charge of a station, together with Nicole, for Amazing Race! I was super lenient with all of the people who came to my station. They were all done in less than 5 minutes. Hahahaha. Oh, and it was raining.

The first team arrived at the finishing line in less than an hour. More like, 40 minutes! I was like, huh? –Calls Ken Xin- -Call didn’t get through- -Calls Li Xin- ' “Eh! One group finish already worrrrr!!” “Yeah, I know ah, Timothy’s group, right?” “Oh, okay, you all are team number one”. Super blur. You know you are super charismatic when people use your name to refer to the group when you’re not even the team leader. First group to come in was Joanna Ooi’s group. Last, was Wai Khay’s. Sad, considering his team was the best for both fun night and station games.

Mop mop mop, sweep sweep sweep. AAAAH CRICKET WORMMMSSSSLSARHAOSHRSROASORSAJORJ. Seriously, Ken Xin.

Practice for Christmas Celebration. Joyous affair, really. I get to eat marshmallows with chocolate syrup. Then I went all hyper on the sugar, or something. I loved dinner. Oooooooh Hooooooly Niiiiiiighttttttt.

Then someone had to suggest Majesty. Oh darnnnnn. Never mind. I’m doing this for God. Whack all I can. It is after all, a very boring, fun song to do. Then the drama came up. Bryan and Beverly did a superb job. The mood was set. Then Uncle Xiu Ming came out……

Games. Then prize giving time! Orange^2, Allegro, Strawberry Spiders. In that order. But, because of all the numerous complaints that I received about Orange^2, we put them to second place instead. In retrospect, we should’ve just taken them out of the placing, another team deserved the spot more. Oh well, it’s over. Everyone was happy, anyway, so it didn’t really matter.

Pack up. Clean up. Sleep. Dorm Wars didn't happen. Sorta. It happened for 10 minutes la, then pastor Elaine showed up. I was sound asleep. Hahaha. I know, sound asleep for the last night in camp. Bummer!

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Day 4

Almost everyone was late for devotions. Tired and zombie-like.

Session today was about rearranging priorities, like how you rearrange the meat on the barbecue so it cooks better. Heh. I was trying hard not to fall asleep throughout the session. So not a morning person D:.

At least there're no games today, rest for the committee! Sent campers to pack up their stuff and bring luggages to the hall. Then it was wild camera snapping time. >.>

Anyway, I managed to steal shortbread from people. Mwahahahha. Such kind souls. The bus came late. Nobody wanted to claim this pair of zebra shoe-slipper-footwear-thing, so it's with me now.

The bus ride back, I just felt so happy. It's over. For the first time, ever. Since when do you feel happy because camp is over? My business relationship with Natasha thus ended. Heheheh! I wasn't happy just because of that though! No more speaking into the megaphone. Ah, sound of my own voice, shooo! :D.

Okay, weird moment. But it was sad to see everyone leaving like that. Were their needs met? Did they get to have a touch from God this camp? Did they leave with their lives changed, however small a change? How long will that change last?

Henry was there when we arrived back at church! He's alive! and walking! and well! Seriously, thank God.

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So yeah, that's camp. Ups and downs. Totally drama. Totally tiring. Totally awesome.

God, God, what have you in store for me?

Exams…!

Exams in 5 more days! So not prepared. The more exercises I do, the more I find out how much I don’t know. What have I been doing this whole year?! Not panicking yet, though. I’m not exactly the panicky kind, or so I think. So help me God, help me remember stuffs and understand concepts foreign!

Deciding whether to take on more tuitions next year. I’ll self-study first through the holidays and see what comes. Hopefully I study. Haha

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Games planning for camp is better than I can ever hope for. Nothing energizes me more than a group of creative bunch that don’t just agree with every suggestion I make, but actually fight and contribute, making the initial plan much better than I had ever imagined . I can honestly say I’m waiting for exams to be over in a hurry so we can get started on the work.

Excite excite!

2 weeks + a few days

Yea, I started studying. A small miracle by itself already! The difference now is I actually have a goal in mind now---straight A’s for SPM! Why? Cause I want it. Cause I want to actually make an effort to do something beneficial to my future. I figured out spending so much time socializing isn’t worth the excess time, and effort. People really are fleeting.

Not to say that I’d be a complete nerd starting now; Saturdays and Sundays are my ‘off’ days. No tuitions allowed, if any at all, on those days. And minimal studying, if any. Heh.

After one week (okay, fine, four days. happy?) of sticking to the schedule, I find that I don’t waste as much time. Yea, I still take overly long naps sometimes, I still go on the internet and do stuff, but I’m doing more things in a day than before, now.

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October is already upon us. And I wonder, is there enough time for all that is to be done? How do you mobilize a team that isn’t really that eager to start? Where do you find the energy to go on after doing so much? And ultimately, will the much that you did amount to anything, at all?

Still learning, learning. I like the way that things get difficult cause if it stays easy…. it’s not a challenge for long. Forward, forward, forward!

I’m running around cause that’s how jumbled my thoughts are.

Bovvered Enough to Come BACK!

Can’t stand seeing something I sort of “built up” be left unmanaged. This page is like a testament to my failure of doing something consistently, of keeping something alive! Not like it really matters to anyone else; it only matters to me.

So here I am again, writing on.
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It’s already almost the end of September. Daily schedule of studying at least 3 hours never consistently followed; finals in less than a month, SPM, just about a year. Projects, too numerous to count, left undone. Relationships left uncultivated. Thank God for the precious few…! I should really stop sleeping so much.

It’s a marvel, actually, how I stayed on with God, seeing how I fall out of doing things rather quickly---study schedule, calligraphy practice, rudiment practice, quiet time, exercise…… Yeah, I actually exercise! Starting up, fervently. Then it just… dies, just like everything else. Less than midway, I question, ‘Is doing this worth the trouble?’, ‘What is it that I’m really trying to get to?’. Answered with, ‘Probably not’, and ‘I don’t know’.  Doing it for the sake of it, or for fun, just wouldn’t really make it stick, if you get what I mean, for me, that is. I always needed a reason to do something. A good enough one. And even then……

Here’s to building up discipline.

And a video. Catherine Tate, from whom I got the title!

David Tennant was the Tenth Doctor, of the series Doctor Who; Catherine Tate played his companion. So yeah, get the joke…? >.>

Just so you know

NOT DEAD YET!

You know something is going wrong when every other post is to remind people that this blog isn’t dead, just yet.

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Homework’s piling up. But I’m coping, oh yeahh, I’m coping! No tuitions for me, yet. So I actually have lots (well, compared to others) more spare time to do them. But then again, I’m lazy, and a procrastinator. NOT a good combination.

I made a daily schedule, with 2 hours of study, and another 2 for homework after school. Might as well throw it down the drain.

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You MUST read this! http://www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/

Stuff Christians Like, or SCL for short, is about… well… stuff Christians like. Read it lah! It’s hilarious! Yet, insightful. And the serious Wednesday posts are so ;’((((( yet ;’))))). I know, I’m not making sense. SO JUST GO READ IT.

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Gong xi gong xi gong xi ni yaaa~

Incoherent

• So many people lugging around DSLRs around! Even my school started a photography club, the prerequisite? A DSLR. They don’t even know how to use them properly!
• Whose Line is it Anyway?
• Tomorrow’s Saturday. Qi Vin’s back! :O
• Tuitions---bane of students’ existence!
• x = negative-a-plus-minus-squarerootof-b-tothepoweroftwo-negative-4ac over 2a
• Everyone’s busy busy busy ;(

Living With Confidence In A Chaotic World – What on Earth Should We Do Now?

By Dr. David Jeremiah.

When I first received this book, I thought it would be one of those feel-good theology books. You know, those “God will prosper you no matter what, don’t worry”. But no, this book soberly faces reality, and counsels you on the best course of action---setting your mind on God---without going into virtual reality.

I’m not that impressed with the cover art. It’s like they just saw the word “earth” and “world” and decided to do just that. But then again, the cover’s not that important as the content. I like the typography---it manages to make large blocks of text readable, and actually made me want to read it.

What do you do when the world’s abuzz? So much activity going on. What do you choose to do, among hundreds of things that other people are doing to cope? This book tries to answer all that, and does it quite well, too!

My family read this book after me, and they were impressed and genuinely inspired by it. I would recommend this, really, to people that need it :).

Four stars.

 

See what I mean?

-Standard disclaimer:- BookSneeze provided me this free copy to review, which I took quite a long time to do so, blah blah blah, my own free will and choice and opinions and thoughts. Don’t shoot me.-

YouthQuake 2010 – Shockwave

Super long post ahead!

I’ll do a chronicle of this :).

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Day 1 - Sunday

Meet-up at church at 11a.m. before boarding the bus and leaving for Peace Haven, Genting. Was almost late! Whew.

Experimented something on the bus. Ahem:-

Experiment 1 – The effects of isolation

Aim: To find out the effects of isolation on a person.

Method:-

Subject keeps to himself and limits contact with others. Subject does not encourage, but rather discourage, conversation and whatnot with closed body and facial language, and vocal tones.

Chronicle of events by subject:-

Boarding the bus. Sits at random seat somewhere in the middle, alone. People pass by, uncaring, until the back gets filled. Reluctant person sits next to subject---he will disappear to back of bus for the duration of the ride.

Plays the sign-board game. Starting from A to Z. Done before bus leaves Ipoh.

Walkman proves to be a solid companion.

Back of bus getting rowdy.

Some people decide to play cards beside subject.

Toilet stop! People inquire of subject’s aloofness; people already came up with excuse for subject: sickness.

Bus ride continues.

Bus reaches Peace Haven at about 3:30, thus ending the experiment.

Findings:-

Subject felt an abject sense of loneliness and being left out throughout the duration of the ride. This is amplified with the subject being enclosed in a bus, forced to listen to the noisiness; remedied with the walkman at high volumes. Slight depression.

Subject doesn’t need an excuse for aloofness; people already came up with one---sickness---to avoid un-pleasantries of dealing with emotions, and get on with fun.

Social awkwardness still continued after experiment, took some time to recover.

Conclusion:-

Isolation causes depression, loneliness, and sense of low-self worth.

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So, please don’t isolate yourself, whatever you’re feeling will just get worse.

After the bus ride, we went straight up to the main hall---Rhema hall---for registration. Got our name-tags, folder for morning devotion material and other things, and T-shirt. I didn’t get a T-shirt.

We were divided into 20 groups for team-building and into 50-something devotion groups.

Peace Haven is super strict, with lots of rules. We were briefed on them after registration. All lights off at 11p.m. Hot water for bathing available only at specific times. This and that.

Dinner after going to our dorms/rooms and fitting in our beds.

Worship for all four days was great :). Plenary (that means everyone has to attend) session after worship.

Plenary Session Night 1

Acts 16:26. Paul and Silas, and the earthquake that freed them, and the lives of the jailer’s family.

This session talks about the shockwave that God causes, why it happens, how it happens, and what it does.

It happens to shake you up, make you think, see clearly the things God want you to see, and whatever that isn’t from God will crumble and fall.

It wakes you up; sets you free. Makes you realize that everything else that you hold on to will not hold, only God is stable and unshakable, your one true hope.

What if we rise up, receive God’s power, and activate it?

Have faith, He will do great things in you, and through you.

Buzz-session after that, which means a meet-up with your devotion group, and then supper and lights out :).

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Day 2 - Monday

Woke up at 6a.m.! Super-cold. NOT used to it yet :(. Prayer at 7.

Devotion today talks about friends. Are the friends you surround yourself with true friends? Friends that will stick with you through thick and thin?

Breakfast. Worship. Workshop.

“In His Image”

We’re all created in His image, we’re his “eikons”, or icons, his “little images”.

We started off with an exercise---imagining yourself:-

How do you see yourself?

How do others see you?

How does God see you?

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Then we looked at the apostle Paul. Before and after his encounter with Jesus.

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We were designed for one-ness. But Adam and Eve disobeyed God, and that created a rift between us all, this otherness. And this otherness expands throughout history. This otherness  happens between us and God, us and other people, us and the natural order of the world, us and ourselves.

Then Jesus came and showed us the way, so that we may be one in Christ.

Now, we await the second coming of Jesus, that this oneness in Him may be consummated forever :).

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Then the speaker taught us an old old song:-

Had lunch after that. Bad thing about lunch was this: CGMC group just sat together. I regret joining them.

Registering for creative ministries. Got into drama! Whoop :). They had Vocals, Photography, Sign Language, Self-Defense, Drama, and Dance.

Team Building up next! Super-super tiring, but fun la. We had 5 stations, scattered all around Peace Haven.

Station 1 is called “Passion”, and we had to do a dance routine to Black Eyed Peas’ “I’ve got a Feeling”, edited worship version. I enjoyed this one the most :).

Station 2 is the Intellect station. We had to shut up for the whole duration of that game, while spelling out words in Acts 16:26 with our bodies. Uhhhhhhh. I won’t go into what happened :P, ask Alisson.

Station 3! Prayer. Knee-ball! Which is just captain-ball, down on your knees, with 4 teams at once. Super hectic. Screaming and shouting and clawing around. Scary la!

Station 4 is Power. We had to do 1000 push-ups, 1000 sit-ups, 500 star-jumps and don’tknowhowmany squats. Can die.

Station 5 is Love. We had to transfer people, along with 10 items (one person, one item) to the other side and back. Mat and hula-hoops provide the road.

Dinner. Worship :). Plenary Session.

Plenary Session Night 2

Main point is “Will you keep trusting and worshipping God even when the going gets tough?”

I was super emo before worship. Why? Because. Well, I shared this during buzz-time. I observed the people in YouthQuake, and although it’s a camp, everyone’s supposed to have fun, enjoy, meet God, they are so busy, going around. People they don’t know they just pass by with barely a glance. Busy busy busy, for what? I am guilty of this, too. Passing by so many people, not even with a hi, just to find my “gang”. How will there be unity if we don’t even take the time to know other people?

Thank God, he lifted me up during worship. I just didn’t feel like it when worship started. But I told myself, this isn’t about you, Jon. Worship is for God. So stop being such a selfish brat and give it all up to Him, for isn’t it  called a “sacrifice of praise”?

Today is the day, you have made; I’ll rejoice and be glad in it. I won’t worry about tomorrow, I’m trusting in what you said. Today is the day!

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Day 3 - Tuesday

Brrr. Colder. STILL not used to it.

Devotion today talks about ungodly friends, bad company……. About how they can corrupt your character. So choose wisely. And also, how good a friend are you to others?

Breakfast. Worship :D. Workshop. I went for “Inner Healing”.

Inner Healing

This workshop teaches you how to start the process of inner-healing, focusing more on the familial aspect.

It starts with us being divided into groups. Then, we had to share a secret with each other. Anything. After that, a little more intimate secret, the speaker picked the helpers in the groups to share. The participants were told to not pay attention to them. Funny things happened :D.

Ahem. Anyway. This workshop teaches us about wounds and emotions and arises when something happens, and how those wounds and emotions can be repressed underneath, which allows them to fester and boil, and cause personal development to go stunted. And these wounds must be acknowledged, or they won’t ever heal.

Three types of wounds:- Developmental, Emotional, and Memories. Developmental being those wounds that develop over time, something that happens again and again, like being disappointed by someone again and again. Emotional wounds may be caused by a tragic event, which may cause shock and trauma, and lead to repressed emotions. Memories, events that happened, and when something---a sight, smell, or touch---triggers it, the same emotions and thoughts come running back.

The speaker then proceeds to tell us that emotions have two layers, like an ice-berg, the top---which everyone can see---and the bottom---which only you yourself can feel, and that bottom emotion is the one that has to be acknowledged.

How to start the healing process? Be honest to yourself and a confidant. Pray. Forgive, let go. Got steps wan, but I didn’t write them down ;(. But that’s the overall gist la :).

Lunch. Siesta (which means “nap”), I didn’t take any nap at all throughout the camp. Creative Ministries! :D:D:D

DRAMA!

Why Drama?

It can be a better way to address certain issues that your pastor may not want to address due to any reason.

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What is drama meant to do?

Glorify God! and edifiy the Church.

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What is drama NOT meant to do?

Detract from the sermon---rather, it should complement it.

Being the center of attention of the service---people should remember the main message, not the drama.

Go against Scripture.

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What do you need to be able to do to be an actor?

1. See pictures in your head, a.k.a. having an imagination!
2. Translate pictures in head to words, movement---being able to express it.
3. Get in character---not jumping to stereotypes, but rather dimensioning, giving depth and life to, your character.
4. Able to read. Really.
5. Be directed by others.
6. Kill pride.
7. Empathize with the character you’re playing and the characters your character interact with.
8. Be observant.

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Character Development

1. History
2. Background/Culture
3. Motive
4. “How do you get into it?”

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Drama Concepts/Techniques

• Improvisation/Ad Lib

Which means, on the spot thinking, going with the flow. Requires a leader or initiator and a follower.

• Body & Facial Language

Be self-aware!

• Vocal Expression/Control

Being able to convey expression and moods through your voice.

• Interspatial Dynamics

Where you are in relation to where other people are on stage; the stage is not a real environment!

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Then we had to do a drama on friendship and what we learnt at YQ. Rarwarawr.

It was fun :D.

Dinner. Worship :)! FUN NIGHT!

“I say stand, you say up!” “Stand!” “Up!” “Stand!” “Up!”.

“If this is a fish, –hand motion-, what is this –another hand motion-?"”

“A FISHBALL!!!”

“Cause I want it that way ~~”

“Mmchichi, mmchi, tokitoki tokitoki, tongchaktongchak”

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Day four – Wednesday

Wasn’t that cold today. Or maybe I’ve gotten used to it. Or maybe it was just a particularly warm day.

Devotion today talks about betrayal, betrayal by a friend; how it can deeply affect and destroy your trust and faith in people, and how can you deal with it. Forgive!

Breakfast. Worship. Workshop!

Peer Counselling :D

Peer: an equal, either in abilities, qualifications, age, background, or social status.

Counselling: to advise.

The focus here is age. People who are within 5 years of age between each other can be considered as peers, usually. But this is not true most of a time---consider a 18 year old with his/her boyfriend/girlfriend problem, sharing it with a 13 year old. Of course, maturity can’t really be calculated, so this is just a general statement.

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Pros and Cons:-

Adult Counselling:-

• Pros:
• Experienced
• More mature……? [Some adults may be less mature than youths, but generally speaking…..]
• Better judgement (Adults have a developed frontal lobe, which recognizes future consequences)
• Better idea on consequences [see above]
• Emotional Stability [more so than youths, generally, if an adult isn’t emotionally stable, they can’t be counselling]
• Cons:
• Gap between adults & youth---age, culture…..
• Misunderstandings
• More judgemental---jumps to conclusions….
• No good rapport
• Forceful
• Neglecting emotions [that is, belittling or not considering emotions experienced]

Peer Counselling

• Pros:
• Easier to trust
• Better rapport
• Same “language” [yo, dude!]
• Easier to relate to the emotions
• Easier to bond with
• Non-threatening
• Cons:
• Less experience
• Maturity…….?
• Harder to make good judgement
• Not that good on looking at consequences
• May not know how to offer help / Can’t offer help---cannot drive, this that.
• Emotional instability

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Before you counsel someone, check yourself for limitations---what you know and do not know, whether your emotions are stable, what can you do or not……

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Things we base on to counsel people:

1. Moral Values
2. Social Norms
3. Societal Standards
4. Teachings
5. Rules/Laws
6. Religion

Out of that 6, 5 are man-made. Which means they change regularly. While religion, if it comes from God, is constant, and never changes.

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What you must have to be a good counselor:-

• Be able to take good advice from others
• Believe in something, firmly.
• Love.

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Characteristics of a good counselor:-

• Understanding
• Good listener
• Respects privacy of others
• Know when to refer to a professional/other people
• Ready to take on responsibilities
• Cut emotional ties [that is, if someone comes to you with a problem with a guy you hate, you still have to listen and give good counsel, not gossip and backstab that person]
• LOVE!
• Patience

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When to refer to a professional:-

• Dramatic behavior changes
• Lots of pressure on the person
• Isolation
• Depression
• Death Wish
• Anger
• Deep guilt
• Substance Abuse
• Skipping school
• Acting out sexually

Do not ignore them when they say they want to suicide, no matter how casually they say it---it’s a cry for help; giving us one last chance before they do it.

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Counselling techniques

• Listen well!
• Ask open-ended questions
• Look at person with respect and approval
• Show interest
• Gentle tone of voice
• Do not interrupt with story of your own
• Encourage expression of emotions!

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Then I got chipsmores cause my group won. Mwhahahahaha

The end

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Lunch. Siesta. Team building part 2!! :D

Team Building #2

Again, 5 stations! Passion, Energy, Mind, Prayer, and Love :)

Passion:- Part two of the dance routine! Ripple, bounce bounce bounce bounce x4, jump jump jump jump x2, bow arrow bow arrow, roll~~~head hold! Monkey bar, step and open, monkey bar step and open, boogie down, boogie clap, boogie up, boogie clap, lean lean lean lean, aeroplaneeeee, up down up down!

Energy:- Carrying people on mats---not fun!

Mind:- Moving chairs while chattering all the while---not fun!

Prayer:- Squeezing and contorting ourselves into positions to get 10 feet 10 hands and 1 butt on the mat---not fun!

Love:- Lowering a stick with the lame sign---not fun!

Okaylah, fine. Quite fun la. Hahahahahaha

Dinner. Worship :D.

Plenary Session Night 4

Dare to be different in a culture/society that tries to be someone else. You are different; you don’t need a tattoo to be different.

We are supposed to change the world; not vice versa, as it is now.

Our example is Jesus. We imitate him; not the world.

Don’t go down the path of least resistance---conformity.

Then an extended time of prayer for everyone who wanted to be prayed for. Super-super happifying sight, to me. Everyone else was crying or emoing while I was smiling and grinning like some crazy person. What to do? God answered my prayers! :D

It was straight on to supper cause prayer ate all the time :).

Oooooh. And I sat with different people during lunch and dinner today!

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Day 5 – Thursday – Last day! :OOOO

I’ve somewhat gotten used to the cold weather already. My lips were all cracked, though, and drinking lots of water doesn’t really help---more toilet trips only. Thank God the toilets are easily accessible at Peace Haven. Haha!

Devotion Day 5

Being a Friend of God

Today’s devotion talks about us being friends of God, like Abraham was. Is God just a mere acquaintance, or a close friend? How do we build a deep deep friendship with God?

:)

Breakfast. Worship :D.

Challenge: Will you let God continue to rock your world, and make a change through you in your church, community, school…..?

Prayer for those who wants to be prayed for again. Another crying fest. Yup, I was smiling and grinning and being super happy, again. What to do. God answered my prayers :D.

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Then we packed up and say goodbye to everyone and get email addresses and phone numbers and hug hug hug hug hug hug and go back home ;(.

:)

The End.