VCF FOC CAMP 2004

It’s been a most wonderful experience. Not only did I find myself much more oriented towards the studying environment as well as the Christian environment over in NUS, I’ve learnt how to get oriented towards God and the moments that I had with God during that time are some things that I pray will never leave my heart and that I will never forget him as my first love and his perpetual first touch.

The first day was a rather unnerving day for me as I did not know what to expect nor expected myself to react in the most complying way as possible. Thank God that once I reached there to meet my other team mates at Harbourfront Interchange, I switched immediately into ‘extroverted’ mode and chatted furiously away with other freshmen who obviously had their reserve and doubts in coming for the camp at first. I hope that I was one reason why they settled into the camp pretty much more comfortably after which. Thank God there was confirmation on the last night when Lydia, Kathleen and I were talking! It’s the little things like that that make me believe, know and understand how God can use a freshman like me even so. Meeting up with the other half of the group of ns-freed guys was a little disturbing at first because they kept sticking to themselves and I suppose once again, that it is not easy to approach girls they have never known after two years of girl-deprived moments! But we managed to anyway, and really well for the record! We were fast friends and those awkward moments (not for me though) of interaction grew to become one of the most enjoyable moments I would say I have never have had for a long time, or never. I believe I would love university life!

Games came and the guys finally showed their prowess- presumably collected over the expense of two years. We girls just had to act busy by running a little here and there when we were essentially redundant- I think (unless we unwittingly acted as non-spontaneous cheerleaders for them by simply being there). The guys were encouraging nonetheless and I must say that their behavior towards the girls was most gentlemanly. I really appreciate that a lot. Although one must always be cautious as a simple act can cause one to think it other than a friendly gesture.

We talked and teased one another like old friends! For every meal (and I’m proud to say my group was the first to impose it) we would wait until everyone was present before we did our ‘traditional’ ‘fastest thumbs-up first’ to see who would be the next to pray. (I had my chance on the last morning during breakfast itself). Talent night was drawing near and we had yet to write scripts with totally absurd compulsory inclusion of lines which the council decided on.

Theme: Stand in awe of God
Group name “ahhh” has to be said at least thrice
Characters involved: Solomon and Cleopatra
Lines:
“Where did you learn that Pilipino accent from, Imelda?”
“Dove shampoo makes my hair so smooth and silky, I feel so loved”
“ Qing da jia zu yi. Wei le ni de an quan, qing zhan zai huang xian hou mian. Xie xie”
I was tickled of course… what absurd mixture of lines and we immediately got to thinking about our plot.

Plot:
NUS freshie says goodbye to friends met at VCF FOC 2004
Takes the train home
Falls asleep on the train and starts dreaming of Solomon writing Ecclesiastes
Solomon thinks of pleasure, wisdom and work as meaningful things to accomplish but finds futility
Pleasure: Cleopatra enters with poise, sexily dressed and driven and does Dove hair commercial
Wisdom: takes out scroll for top ten things to do during a camp. “Take the monorail for ½ hour in Sentosa, who’s the shortest man in the Bible: Peter (he slept on his watch), how many standing committees are there in VCF? Etc”
Work: Servant hits cow while ploughing
Writers’ block for Solomon
Watches TV and sees England versus Argentina match. Hand of God touches Solomon.
He’s inspired and finishes writing his Ecclesiastes
Back to NUS freshie approaching Batu Pahat stop
Soccer is not just about life and death, it’s more than that.
(Pilipino accent) even after attending the VCF Camp, the men just don’t get it.

The performance on the last night was a hit… believe me… I felt so proud of our group in being so united in this…with the men taking the lead for once (mature young men who have been through NS, OCS)

Thank God…

Back to the sessions… although long, they were certainly worth going for. They are down to earth messages that apply to everyone in varsity and we discussed leading meaningful lives for God over meaningless lives for our self gain. I rededicated myself to the Lord, asking him to take charge of my life, as it is not my own and I in my own strength am inadequate in handling it alone. Sharing the vision with the group after which and taking in others’ mindset and thinking set me to go all out for Jesus.

Workshop was fun- BGR. A couple formerly from VCF came and stood as mentors we could look up to and spoke genuinely to us about their struggles before and now. It gave a clearly and larger picture of what it really means to be finding a partner in Christ and to approach marriage and dating with perspectives that were discussed in debate.

We had lunch before departing Harbourfront... it may be our last lunch together, but I hope it will not be. I just pray that we’ll never forget the rapport we had built together and continue to sustain it for as long as God allows it to last.

I’ve really been touched in this camp- by both people and God.