wiputra.com

Those 3 days of teens’ bible camp felt like one very long day with a couple of two-hour breaks in between 20+ hours of sessions.

But what was more important wasn’t the time I spent, but how I have witnessed empowerment from God, coming down in the form of somewhat rowdy but highly energetic teenagers of Surabaya, Bali, and Makassar. When I listened to them singing in sessions, accompanied by a hand-beaten drum and acoustic guitars… just the songs they sing are worth the fighting that we have all endured for the past 3+ months.

(The girls at work, at the preliminary fundraising subproject for the tri-city Teens’ Bible Camp 2009, way back in early April 2009)

Not to mention the extent and the topics of which the speakers discussed on. Their discussions are down to earth, and would have fit well even for adults.

(Ida briefing some of the group facilitators, just days before the camp. I was away taking care of the booklet with Gide)

I could not find great words to describe the experience. It was so exhilarating, that when I thought of the events leading to the camp itself, I’d say, well, I’ll do it all over again if I were given the opportunity.

(The large group picture, with the hills of Mount Bratan as backdrop, and with everyone wearing the signature yellow T-shirt, signifying ‘Be the Light’ theme – I must say well done to Gide for such a great picture)

One thing I regretted was not having enough time to socialize with the teenagers (other members of the work team enjoyed being amongst teenagers, because it’s what they were supposed to do). But in the midst of hectic and compressed schedule, it was hardly a priority. There were many, many other things to take care of.

There were, of course, little things that went out of control. We are not a perfect bunch. Nobody is. I told a story to the church attenders about me being left behind by the bus that was supposed to take me to the site, and how just five minutes after I learnt of my little oopsie, one of the speakers, Preacher Albert Rumbo, called me out of the blue to ask me to join him in his car. I arrived no later than 15 minutes after the kids arrived.

The projector screen was also left behind and only arrived with the last wave of the transportation. This led to the first session using a makeshift screen from white cardboards.

(Preacher Albert Rumbo speaking about being the light of the world. On the left / behind, one of the musicians worked together with a working team member to fix the makeshift projector screen made of white cardboards. The actual projector screen had just arrived prior to this picture being taken, and there was not enough time to install it properly)

But overall, all of the objectives of this camp were met. Many accepted Lord Jesus Christ as their saviour for the first time, many returned home with a promise to renew their lives, to forgive their parents, and with a strengthened desire to serve the Lord. The local Bali satellite was also grateful to welcome one of the teens who gets the calling from within to serve God full-time.

I am grateful for God’s constant presence throughout the preparation and the execution of the camp. In a way, the camp mega-project also strengthened me. Now there’s just a couple of sub-projects left to take care of… the presentation video and the conclusion and disbanding of the work team.