Camp camp camp!

People starting arriving at 230pm on Friday as they had been tasked to clean up areas that would be used for the camp. However, due to the sudden heavy outpour, several members of the team arrived late and work started only at about 330. By 530, the whole of level 3 of the catechism block had been swept and double mopped with Jeypine. Bunnies started pouring in then and at 6, they all went for mass together.

The camp rules were decided after mass and then dinner was served. Bread and water! Most people took half a french loaf each, and ate in the makan room (room 3-2). Next up was the first session, a session on each bunny's growth throughout the year in various aspects of life (personal, family, community and YC). We copied down questions for reflection and spent the next hour answering these questions and setting targets for these aspects of our lives, for us to achieve in 2008.

At 930, everyone gathered back in Prayer Hall A/B to share. The discussion, led by Gene, Roy and Andre, started with different Y1s sharing on different reflection questions. Different views and opinions with respect to family was brought up when a Y1 shared his targets. Slowly, the discussion developed and we touched on a variety of topics, from the reason we were at camp to siblings and some of the most memorable experiences with our family.

"I held my brother in a deathlock!"

"My brother shaved off the hair on my hand!"

"My brother spent years trying to murder me; he tried the following: explosives, poison, knife and axe throwing.... its a miracle I'm alive today!"

The sharing, unfortunately, had to stop at about 11 after saying the Vespers because we all had to bathe and then sleep in preparation for the next day.

530am Saturday morning, RISE AND SHINE! We all said the Lauds, and then went for morning mass. Breakfast was bread and water, and soon after breakfast, session 2 started. Roy and Jac taught us more about lesson plans, what they actually are and what they are made up of.

Fr Luke came in at 10am, escorted by Terence and Xavier, greeted by a line of catechists and youth cats while the Imperial March from Star Wars played.... the unofficial YC theme song...

He taught us about the different types of prayer and the difference between praying and saying prayers.

"Sometimes, I just want to shake the congregation and tell them to start praying instead of saying prayers!"

He left us with a prayer that we can say anywhere and everywhere.. in our brains, out loud, on the bus, while playing ball..

Lord Jesus Christ,

Son of God,

Have mercy on me,
A sinner.

Next up was.. Whacko! we played a special version of whacko, where instead of saying names, we were to say something about the person who was our target. It helped us to get to know each other better.

Lunch was bread and water, and chicken and olive oil and vinegar, bought by Andre who drove out to get it for us. It was the end of our bread and water fast, a decision that our leaders made after someone raised up the point that we should have been informed beforehand. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed lunch and so returned to sessions in the afternoon happily.

Macro-planning, the planning for events in the long run. The whole camp sat down together to do a plan an event that we're having in January, YC Tea Party! Then each group was allocated a lesson and they created the lesson plan, which was to be presented at night. Three hours was the allocated time, and most groups had extra time. Many people spent the time catching up on their sleep.

We went for anticipatory mass, and then had dinner at Ah Seah. Everybody was given $3 from the camp funds to spend for dinner.. Yum! All gathered back in Prayer Hall A/B at 830pm for the presentations. Each group presented their lesson plan and sort of "role played" their lesson, dealing with difficult kids, kids eating chocolate and kids who talk excessively. Roy and Jac were the critiques and all were subjected to their scrutiny. Topics covered include professionalism, servant leadership, basic teaching skills, the Holy Spirit, and apologetics.

Presentations ended at 11pm and we were given till midnight to bathe and get ready to sleep. Story telling began shortly after midnight.

At 2.40am, Sunday morning, the seniors woke all the bunnies up. It was graduation ceremony! Slowly, one by one, the Y1s were led to the prayer hall and presented with a YC shirt. Daniel and Greg, who sadly will be leaving YC at the end of the year, then shared their thoughts on this cohort of bunnies as a whole. Breakfast was at 4am, and by 5.30am, all had been fed with Changi nasi lemak and had tucked into bed.

12pm. The whole camp was awake and we gathered in the boys' room to play card games. In small groups, we went to meet Roy and Jac who told us that all of us had to go through an interview in the afternoon with them, to allow them to get more feedback and further improve the way things are done, and also for us to clarify any doubts or just talk. The interviews started after a scrumptious lunch of Pow Sing chicken rice, chilli and rose syrup. Chicken rice courtesy of Cassie's parents. Whilst each of the Y1s were being interviewed, the rest stayed in the boys' room to sleep and then everyone woke up and started to play games - Polar Bear and Murderer. Later, some of the Y1s who were done with their interview helped to clean up level 3 of the catechism block.

We ended off the camp with a prayer in the corridor, which signifies that we, as YC, are continually journeying. It was definitely an enjoyable camp with new experiences and memorable moments. Many thanks to Roy, Jac, Gene, Fr Luke, all the seniors, and most importantly! God. (:

Photos will be up soon.