Wednesday, June 07, 2006
We woke up at about 8 a.m, and went for a "breakfast on the mount", a.k.a Mt. Faber. We ran all the way up, except for a few slackers, *cough*me*cough*. haha. so then we went up, and in the end Counsel( my group) ended up doing grace, which was like some weird exotic dance. hehe. I was like.. what the..... then I just ended up doing with the rest of my group, (led by Jon)it was kinda like a song.. haha. Breakfast was small, but filling, and I was like just talking to Edmund.. I was like. just nodding away.hahaha. cos I was SOO Tired.. hmm after that most people wakled down the slope. haha. except Pamela Amanda and I, who were like in a way racing down the hill.
Then I finally showered, and so did most people there. Then we had these sessions which were two part. we were doing (still) the holy spirit as a topic, and we were doing basically Saul and pentecostal experiences. I think. haha. we basically had a session with group discussion, I was pretty much asleep(with my eyes open) during the sessions. But we were also given a little bit of time which we could go do our affirmation letters during.
However, at about 12, we started the highlight of the 2nd day of confirmation camp, the scavenger hunt, amazing race style, across Singapore. It was to start off at St. Theresa's, and end at St. Theresa's.
---- this section now portrays counsel's amazing race segment---
We, Counsel, were the first to chiong to the bus stop. I think it was bus 961 or something. however, we had stalkers. can't remember which group but they stalked us lah. Then we got off at Harbourfront, and decided to eat there, after debating for like 10 minutes. but before that, on the bus, David decided to make us pray, in usual church-activityesque style.
Then, in the end, we ended up eating at mac's at Harbourfront, amazing we actually managed to find space, I'm sure everyone was staring at us, as we were like shouting about our clue. so then, we checked the net on the computer there, about our 1st clue, something about some grimsas and something like that. So then David threw us something about Swedish meatballs. and seeing as no one in our group HAD EVER EATEN Swedish meat balls in their life or could remember doing it, we were STUCK. then finally, after about 1 1/2 hours in mac's David finally cracked, and just told us it was at IKEA. so we hurried there on a bus. and of course, I was sneaky, so I opened the 2nd clue on the bus, it was something about what you would feel after a feast, full. then it was a verbal fumble, er. then it was the measuring of an elephant, TON. so we knew it was the fullerton.
But then, when we got into IKEA, we had a problem. The dept. store was SOOO HUGE, we had no idea where to find 3 oddly named items. So then we had another hint. It was in the living room section. So then we decided to go ask the staff. They didn't help much, except tell us what the names were, and even that they could screw up. so then, somehow, Joel and David managed to get seperated from us. So I just told them to meet us at the living room section. Then lo and behold, David gave us the location, after we were just slacking on a sofa. haha. so that's how we didn't end up last. Then we quickly took a group photo, and hurried off to the Fullerton, but because Joel, Sarah and David wanted water, Catherine, Felicia and I took 1 taxi first, and they were to follow us in another taxi.
The Fullerton clue was pretty straightforward, so we decided to open up the next clue in the taxi. The third one was of some weird durian. THE ESPLANADE. so since we figured that out, we went to go and open the fourth one. Here was the tough one. We were like totally lost lah. it was something about a ministry, and a college of higher learning, and a house of God. So then we talked to the taxi driver, or actually he helped us. hahaha. so then he was talking about ministry of arts, and SMU and Cathedral of the Good Shepherd. haha. I think it didn't occur to David that there was such a place, cos he completely denied it when we pitched the idea to him at the Fullerton.
At Fullerton, we arrived several minutes ahead, so we got out, and walked around, looking for the flags. (turned out they were right above our heads). then we went to meet them when they arrived( Joel, David,Darren and Sarah). and we pointed it out and then just took the picture and headed to the Esplanade.
At the Esplanade we met a stalker group while taking a photo. hahaha. so they followed us lah. and once again we had help with the clue. I called my cousin. haha. so we walked to the library, and coincidence coincidence, the group followed us too. haha. then we spread out, and finally found our missing facil Jon camped in the library with David's laptop. hmph. the clue was totally ego lah. when describing him. so then he made us go to the rooftop garden and take a picture, which we did, brought to him then went. but we lost Joel AGAIN. haha. so then we waited downstairs, as we debated what the 4th clue was. So David told us our thing was like, completely wrong, and then we were STUMPED. (cos none of us have ever seen ACJC before, or even plan to go there...) so I mean it was a pretty UNFAIR clue..
So after like 15 minutes of arguing and resting, (Sarah had a blister? and Joel hurt his back or something). David FINALLY just told us it was near North Buona Vista Road. and I mean most of us had no idea where it was. So he cracked again, and just told us that it was at ACJC. We still had no idea what he was talking about but heck, we still went there.
So we took the MRT, and I think we met a group when we arrived at Buona Vista Station. Needless to say, on the way there everyone was already really tired, so we were like sleeping on the MRT. I think we met Marian's group, which incidentally was the group that came in last, but still managed to win the prize(cos they had the most fun). so we got to ACJC, took some photos on the smiley face, and David(using his "pro" SLR camera) managed to get the quote from the bible. We originally planned to go get ice cream at Holland V, but in the end we just took 2 taxis back to St. Theresa's. haha. but then.. before we were in the taxis, we saw like.. 15 Ferraris of red, yellow, gray.. David got all excited. Well everyone actually did. I think it was because of some test drive that was in the papers.
In the taxi, we "suay-suay" managed to pass all of them again, and once again, guess who was excited and took out his camera. I'm not much of a car fan so i was just looking in mild amusement..
We got back to the Retreat Centre, turns out we were third, behind 2 other groups(DUH). So we had free time, I think I made mocha then went to go play Boggle with Catherine and Lianne and 1 other girl? Then I joined the people playing at the court to play Rugby and watched them play soccer.
Soon I just went back up, so sian downstairs doing nothing, so I just hung around the teachers. Then after a while it was dinner. Today during dinner, it was more fun:D. Arm wrestling. hahahaha. Daniel managed to lose to Catherine, Benita and the lot. lol. and Uncle Paul. and MYGOODNESS. You should have seen his brother lah!! He just anyhow sit down and just left is hand there, and Daniel couldn't push it down, not that any of us (except Benita) could have probably beaten him. I was just spectating cos I figured you don't lose you can't be teased ( which Daniel is). hahaha. So dinner was okay and stuff, just slacking. Then we just went back up at about 8. Usual stuff.
But then.. of course.. Just to shock us, we were to be outside and stay out. hahaha. then it got around that we were going to have CONFESSION!! hahah. we were all like totally SHOCKED; seeing as most of us hardly ever even have gone for confession since our first confession. haha. so we were in a dark room, and we were supposed to reflect in front of candle light. hahha. so funny. then the candles kept going out so we ended up relighting them over and over again. hahaha. I can't remember who I was sitting with. Then they let us see this thing "love letter from God":
You may not know me, but I know everything about you. Psalm 139:1
I know when you sit down and when you rise up. Psalm 139:2
I am familiar with all your ways. Psalm 139:3
Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. Matthew 10:29-31
For you were made in my image. Genesis 1:27
In me you live and move and have your being. Acts 17:28
For you are my offspring. Acts 17:28
I knew you even before you were conceived. Jeremiah 1:4-5
I chose you when I planned creation. Ephesians 1:11-12
You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book. Psalm 139:15-16
I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live. Acts 17:26
You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14
I knit you together in your mother's womb. Psalm 139:13
And brought you forth on the day you were born. Psalm 71:6
I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me. John 8:41-44
I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love. 1 John 4:16
And it is my desire to lavish my love on you. 1 John 3:1
Simply because you are my child and I am your Father. 1 John 3:1
I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. Matthew 7:11
For I am the perfect father. Matthew 5:48
Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand. James 1:17
For I am your provider and I meet all your needs. Matthew 6:31-33
My plan for your future has always been filled with hope. Jeremiah 29:11
Because I love you with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3
My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore. Psalms 139:17-18
And I rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17
I will never stop doing good to you. Jeremiah 32:40
For you are my treasured possession. Exodus 19:5
I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul. Jeremiah 32:41
And I want to show you great and marvelous things. Jeremiah 33:3
If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me. Deuteronomy 4:29
Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
For it is I who gave you those desires. Philippians 2:13
I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. Ephesians 3:20
For I am your greatest encourager. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you. Psalm 34:18
As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart. Isaiah 40:11
One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes. Revelation 21:3-4
And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth. Revelation 21:3-4
I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus. John 17:23
For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed. John 17:26
He is the exact representation of my being. Hebrews 1:3
He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you. Romans 8:31
And to tell you that I am not counting your sins. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you. 1 John 4:10
I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love. Romans 8:31-32
If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me. 1 John 2:23
And nothing will ever separate you from my love again. Romans 8:38-39
Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen. Luke 15:7
I have always been Father, and will always be Father. Ephesians 3:14-15
My question is…Will you be my child? John 1:12-13
I am waiting for you. Luke 15:11-32
Love, Your Dad.
Personally, I was really touched by it, and somemore the whole thing was made by just quoting bible verses. sigh. lol. then we were called out for confession. so I was like behing Pamela, and she was totally hyper like.. Oh no! I don't know what to say!! I knew next to nothing too. so I just told her the front part. which was all I knew. hahaha. So then i was so scared. especially when I got called, it was to Fr. Les' room!! ahhh. I was wishing it was the STC's parish priest, or even Fr. Ponadurai. but then I got Fr. Les'. so I just sat there and thought of what I was gonna say. Then suay, Pamela just came next to me. so she was STILL nervous, so I told her to calm down and just say what ever she really thought she had to say. so yeah. Then Gillian (I think) came out, and I went in. SO TENSE!! So then I just said the usual stuff. but really, what I felt in there was something I had never really felt before, I felt touched(compelled) to actually share stuff I had kept silent for a long time. so I mean I just let everything out for once.
I just walked out, rather stiffly, and I just whispered good luck to Pamela. I went back in, and we were supposed to write these letters. I really felt something in me, like the Holy Spirit had touched me, so I ended up writing a rather long ( covered every surface) letter. After I handed in the letter I took a verse, and I got the one :"I chose you when I planned creation. Ephesians 1:11-12" and it really.. touched me somemore, because EVERYONE got a verse that answered their letter. sigh.
When we were all done, there was a delay, in which everyone was walking around, doing nothing. Then we did Praise and Worship led by Marian. So there were like about 7 of us standing up and "leading" the P&W. we didn't do a very good idea, but at least we got everyone to stand and sing. The praise and worship was rather dead. hahaha. but better than at the recent youth assembly, at least everyone had shoulders joined, and were swaying, and were at least singing loudly. So we did a few songs, I can remember Shout to the Lord, Spirit Wings, and I could sing of your love forever. I was in between James and Cat for P&W. Then half way Cat ran across the room to her IJ friends. mumbling some pooky or something. hahaha.
So after that, we went down for barbecue. I barely ate, but drank a lot of coke, and I was with the Sat people who were playing Truth or Dare. needless to say. The KINKIEST stuff happened here. hahaha. lol. first it was kinda mild. can't remember the first questions, but we were the first to go up, then we were playing again where the food was kept.
Then I left the group to do some other stuff.. But I joined them again. haha. this time David Yung was with them, Jon too. Oh. and shortly after the barbeque, David introduced the term "Shoot, Shag, Marry". haha. it was pretty hilarious. But it was what happened last that was kinkiest. In the guy's room, we were all gathered around the bottle. haha. I think the highlights were Michelle and Jeremy changing shirts in the same room, Melony frenching Sarah... lol. the problem was that, when anything happened, the screams would be heard by everyone. lol. like Edmund telling Pamela that she turned him on. or was that Jeremy. haha. it was one of them. lol.
After truth or dare, I joined Daniel, Cat and Lianne, who were slacking around with the teachers. Uncle Paul and Uncle Tony at least. lol. So Daniel managed to keep us all entertained. hahah. So after a while, at about 3, Daniel, Cat, Lianne decided to turn in. lol. but I went to brush my teeth, and we had already got out sleeping bags in there to talk, Daniel managed to come tell me that they were asleep already!!. haha. so i just went straight to sleep, thankful that there was no "influence" on my sleep this evening.
Day 2. finsihed. feeling sad that it's going to finish already.
changeme.
5:59 AM