In God , We Trust...CCC Melaka Y-Me Youth Camp 2014

The people of the camp.....

"Amazing!" "Wonderful!" "Great camp ever!" "Great message!" "I am so blessed!" and the list goes on - These are some of the feedback I received within hours after the completion of CCC Melaka Y-Me Youth Ministry Camp 2014 at Paradise Valley Resort, Broga, Semenyih, Selangor D.E. These accolades and expressions from the hearts of youths meant so much to everyone involved in the planning and running of the camp. From the Camp Coordinator , Kenneth Pang to the Speaker, Bro.Wong Fook Meng, this speaks volume of the close working togetherness and the enthusiastic passion in ensuring this camp to be a successful one. I have said it a million zillion times and I will say it again, when GOD the Father is being honored first and foremost, while PRAYERS ensued continuously, everything will come into place. I must say that fervent prayers from the leaders and friends had helped this camp to be a successful one. I am so honored and humbled to be able to be working along side with some of the finest individuals of people I've ever known. I want to thank each and everyone of them for truly taking the time, sacrifice,initiative, commitment and even put in so much hardwork in ensuring the camp to go on successfully.

The fun filled people of the camp...

Leaders like Kenneth Pang, Jonathan Lim, John Ng, Jenny Liong, Jessica Jonathan, Stephen Raj, Ivy Wong plus special family in  Errol Gan & family and Dinesh & family ( who had been supportive and encouragers in my endeavors with the youths ) are the real deal of leadership and I am very very thankful for their support. I know too that I have many others who had prayed along side us during the camp planning right to the camp proper and it is really an uplifting in the spirit knowing the support is always special.

I am thankful that the camp days were hot, bright and sunny days. I am so thankful for His mighty favour upon this camp. Prior to our camp, the vicinity area of Broga town was hit by waves of heavy downpour of rain for three days. I guess, prayer works and the heartfelt petition of the leaders had been heard.

Inspiring speaker, Bro Wong Fook Meng

What more could I have asked more! I guess, going through the 3 days of grueling fun under a hot sun had toughed everyone a bit but the soothing and meaningful messages from Bro.Wong Fook Meng made a lot of difference to the leaders and young people alike. I reserve my special mention of Bro.Wong Fook Meng as he has not only being a good speaker but he had always been a keen supporter of the ministry and one wonderfully jovial, easy going, humorous and a man of great gifts. I looked up to him and I have heard his messages to be inspiring and I know, it had touched the young peoples' hearts in this camp. Together with wife, Joo Li and daughter, Sophia Joy, they have enlightened our camp so much with their easy going ways, willingness to participate in events and even bringing so much closeness  in our hearts.

Joo Li, Jessica and Abby with their bundles of joy..

I am deeply thankful to the Lord for healing me in time for the camp. Prior to the camp, I had to endure high fever, a bout of sore throat and bad cough. I really fell very ill but I was very determined to recover because I really did not want to miss out the opportunity to be of service to the Lord and a blessing to the young people and the adults alike. It was so awesome for me to be able to attend this camp with the youth leaders team whom I have come to love and respect a lot. Slowly but surely their bond had become much stronger and more solid while young people are being blessed indefinitely. I guess, my heart is brimming with joy now that the leaders knows what it meant to be joyful in the Lord through the Word and the activities. The shouts of encouragements, the pep talks and the discipline of the youths during the camp was fantastic. I give praises to the leaders and adults who were there to constantly give words of encouragements during the activities such as flying fox, wall climbing, abseiling, kayaking, water polo and even the low rope courses. It was such a delight seeing the young and old gel so much during the camp and it soothes my heart a lot.

At the waterfall with SLing

Paradise Valley Resort had been a perfect host for us. They make it so much easier for us as the facilities were wonderful and the landscaping of the resort was breathtaking. The morning view was a scenic change from the hustle and bustle of the city. It was good to have our camp here and I know deep in my heart that this would be a great camp site for the youth's camp the minute I stepped into the resort. I must say that during our initial negotiations, SLing and I were in favour of choosing this camp site as we both felt the peace of God for this place. It wasn't so much of the great facilities and fantastic dorm rooms but the peace of God led us there after our good friend, Comdr. Eddy Law informed us of this great campsite. Thank you, Comdr. Eddy Law of Royal Rangers KL#1 for his willingness to help us locate a good campsite and initially helping us do a reckee of camp sites much earlier before the camp itself.

Throughout the camp, the proprietor's son namely PJ constantly asked me if there was anything we needed or are we comfortable with everything. Sure, we could have had better things from the resort but generally, we couldn't have asked for more and he was very impressed with our young people's behavior and high standards of discipline.

Flying fox sequence capture..thanks to Errol Gan

Even his instructors were surprised that our young people were not only good mannered ( I had ensured that the young people thanked the instructors after every activity. It is a simple gesture of appreciation  and thankfulness which we had discarded every day in our lives! ) but they were willing to listen to instructions and easy to handle. En.Naim , the head instructor praised our youths for their mild mannered ways and willingness to learn of the activities. He informed me that he was impressed by the encouragement given to one another and how well our youths handled themselves during activities whereby even his staffs were impressed that we weren't snobbish nor pampered city slickers. All these compliments the youths and the youth leaders for investing time in correcting manners and behaviours.

The team atop Broga Hill......

I remembered the first day I arrived and after sorting out the dorm and room, PJ had me in stitches of laughter when he asked me where was I sleeping. When I told him that I was sleeping with the boys in the dorm, he looked shocked, shook his head in disbelief and told me that he had not seen any organiser of camps sleeping in the dorm with the youths. He actually wanted to open up another luxury room for me and my family to stay throughout the camp but I declined politely telling him that he has given me a good deal for the youths and had given me the room to our camp speaker, Bro. Fook Meng and his family plus a few others. I am more than happy with that.

Jessica & Errol......lovely couple.

He asked me several times if I would be okay with that. I told him that I am more than happy at where I am with the youths and I only asked that all safety measures for activities be given full attention and ensuring that everything goes on smoothly. He was more than happy to oblige to that and promised me that every safety aspect would be taken care of. During the activities, I had befriended the instructors such as Gary, Tan, Nizam, Wan, Leha, Kelvin, Zami and Fai. Some are quite new while people like Gary, Tan, Kelvin and Nizam were more experienced hand by the way they handled the activities. For this I must thank my old sifu and dearest friend, Vive for instilling this wonderful sense of safety standard in ensuring a good & safe camp. I am very particular especially safety standards for activities as these precious lives of young people meant a lot to all of us.

Caleb ...at abseiling activity.....

For the campers of young people, they had been very happy with the activities and the Broga Hill walk was a great experience for many of them. Their smiling and happy faces says it all. When they were back in the dorms, they chatted enthusiastically about the walk and the climb as they inched closer to the peak and enjoyed the sun rise and invigorating freshness of the air. I guess, it was a sense of achievement feeling for some of them while to some, it was a life learning lesson. As for the waterfall hike, it was a real challenge for some of us especially the adults and the young people whose main waking hours were spent on the computer, electronic gadgets and handphone screens! The hilly terrain made it quite a climb to us while the small waterfall with gushing waters was our consolation after an arduous and muddy hike at some points due to a burst wipe. Great coordination, teamwork and great team efficiency helped made this hike a wonderful experience. Though tiring for some and sore muscles at the end of the day due to two hiking experience, I am so proud of each and everyone for making the effort to enjoy as much as they could at the surroundings they were in. Well, even Ethan, Sophia Joy and Caitlyn enjoyed the scenery and waters very much!

Wall of faith....

All in all, it was a great camp experience for the participants. I couldn't have asked for more, actually. In my heart, I am blessed beyond words by the participants willingness to take part in activities, enjoying the serene environment and most important of all, correlating the Word of the Lord with a special time of night rally. To me, the activities and all the good we have done meant nothing if the Word is not shared or God is not glorified in any way. I am so thankful that God prevailed each time with a seed of message embedded in the heart of our speaker, Bro. Wong Fook Meng and his willingness as a vessel of God helped touched many lives at the youth camp.

I want to record my special thanks to Errol & Jessica and their two daughters, Josephine and Jocelyn for being a constant friend to me and my family. Your words of encouragement and friendship meant a lot to me and SLing. As for Dinesh, Abby and the children, I am ever thankful of your support and your great love for me and my family. To my "brothers-in-arm", Stephen Raj, John Ng, Ivy Wong, Stefanie Sim and Joa Wee, I am forever thankful for your support and love for these young people. Don't forget, Bak Kut Teh Pan Mee is still the best dish to eat in Broga while Iced Passion Fruit with Green Tea is still the best, cool and refreshing drink in Broga!!!!

Flying fox plunge view...6 seconds of thrill and madness....

Yunno, there is nothing more satisfying and a fulfillment of the heart when a parent walked up to you and say, " You are Mr. Ivan Foo? I just want to thank you for giving my daughter a great camp. She thoroughly enjoyed herself. Thank you so much."  To me, you know that the joy is not only yours exclusively but it is a joy for ALL who had made this camp such a great success. And......you know that the ministry is on the right track when smiles are etched on the faces of the young people and the adults.

This is my greatest joy and always will be.........children and youths growing up to be better individuals in life enriched by the outdoor experience and learning the beauty of God's love to each and everyone of them as the grow in Him steadfastly. Thank you everyone for a great camp! Your reward is already in store for you. Look up there towards the sky...........

Me and my lady, SLing