I hate throw offs, I do. I’m a person that just hates changes to schedules and sudden changes and inconveniences. Maybe I face it so often at work I got sick of it. maybe it’s my ADHD and mainly I blame that but I really get upset and get so cheesed of when that happens to me. And this year has been a lot of that and more importantly when I am at camp. The youth camp this year was such a throw off and honestly I was so boiled up inside I just didn’t know what to do at times. And what more, I hate throw offs at camp, especially at camp. To me camp is vital for inspiration, refilling, just overall goodness must flow from camp. For me camp usually has to be great, and not boring, physically exciting and lots of chill out.
This camp was another great throw off. First was the departure, not only were the people late, well not that late but late enough I was anxious that the traffic will be so clogged because of people travelling and I hate jams. Throw off no. 1. Ok so finally we are ready to go and everyone is here, but the campsite being relatively unknown made it that all the cars had to follow to lead cars and one had to be the tail car. So a convoy and formation was formed, and we rolled out. Throw off no. 2 – apparently our church members have no idea how important it is to keep to predetermined speed limits and formations in a convoy! And the lead car did not think to inform tail cars if there would be a stray or a car turning back. But left us all guessing and trying to catch up. Throw off because I was upset the drivers were just going on their own way which they shouldn’t, but they don’t really care, but I was worried that they won’t find the campsite. Although it is premature because we are on a highway, but I just hate a sudden change of the system and that they did not follow simple explicit instructions.
Well the journey went on and we reached the campsite, after a long while. The journey seemed to take longer than expected, but I enjoyed the view of the drive, and the treasure hunt was also a good way to keep me awake. But upon arrival and a famished stomach because we were to eat breakfast at the campsite; we were greeted by a breakfast so measly it was horrible!!! How can there be not enough food for KKAOG!? LOL we love our food right? But anyways that was just a minor throw off, which lead to throw off 3. Just before we began our service, a vital fuse that regulates power to the block our lodging and meeting hall blew, leaving us with no air-con and in the dark. What a way to start everything.
The resort swiftly rectified that and placed us in a different hall and got power back up really fast. Kudos to the team and management! Then we went out for a caving exploration and jungle trekking. I enjoyed those activities a lot! But I was kinda disappointed with the attitude of some of the people, upon hearing that there will be leeches and ‘natural’ stuff, they refrained and had a million excuses NOT to go, I would go at a whim man! The cave was nothing really too spectacular, but you get to see the wonder of God in different ways and it was something really different and refreshing. It was nice and it felt quite comfortable, it was easy enough for everyone and yet nice, and an eye opener for many. My only complaint is the guide is long winded, maybe it’s just the way of a more laid back culture. The jungle trek was nice it was challenging, more than the many trails I have gone where it was just steps and easy trails. But this was really good trails of logs and thick under growth and just something refreshingly different from the usual boring trails and this had really good nature display, fallen trees, great ancient stones that are not the foundations of great trees, beautiful displays of creation. And the river crossing was just so fun! The water; oh so cool and swift. Not dangerous although the church members made it sound like a raging torrent to thread! Well there were episodes of ‘the attack of the leeches’ but I don’t think these were that great, though the screamed SO loud!!! I think leeches have got a bad press and we really misunderstand them the poor little things aren’t that bad. In fact they are good, it’s just we city slickers can except anything that doesn’t feel or look hygienic and feels urky. What more the idea that it sucks our blood!!! So anyway some were bitten, and this is where I have discovered something quite interesting I have been in the jungle many times and encountered many leeches, but I have never been bitten by them. I would be able to pull it off and get them off before they bite me or they just never sucked me. So any way I picked two leeches to try to coax them to suck me. And I waited. And waited for them to do their natural instinct. But after a long wait, they just would not bite. Maybe leeches find my skin too thick, or protected by a layer of fat that they find hard to penetrate, or just not tasty. Either way they just don’t bite me.
And after the tiring hike and cave we make our way home. Cold and tired we reached home and had our dinner. And while getting ready, the electricity to the entire resort was cut off, the main line blew. At that point I had enough. I was pissed, annoyed at some people and just have quite a bad day. The meeting went on though and some of us had no chance to get freshened up for the service. Throw off no 4. And next was the biggest throw off in the camp – God moved! That service, God decided to move in such a way no one can deny Him being there and the weight of the glory of God could be felt in such a tangible way! Knees wwere bowed, tears were cried, a parable was shared and many lives were changed from that moment on because they came face to face with the Living God! One word – Amazing! Describes it all.
The next day things went on fine with the tour of the cottage industries which included a peanut factory, tou foo factory, mushrooms, then a elephant sanctuary and a deer sanctuary. Nothing short of tiring and the weather was beating down on us hard with each stop. And frankly some people just annoyed me. And throw off no 5. The bus upon faithfully serving us the entire day broke down! 30km from the resort. A distance near to behold but too far to imagine. LOL. But the replacement was really fast and comfy. Throw off no. 6 was the paintball at the end of the camp. They were delayed by an entire hour and the marshal was just too longwinded for my taste. Or I was just anxious to shoot people. but sadly not everyone was a good sport and could take the pain. And I have to admit I am also not the best of sports but the pain was not that bad for me. But among the people we had some really interesting surprises in Chris Chin and Aunty Michelle! They were amazingly good and while my team lost miserably in the championship match, we still had fun.
I still hate throw offs, and although good that has come from the throw off seem clearer now u still find them hard to deal with. But if it wasn’t for the throw off I don’t think God could have moved so greatly. He had to throw us off so we were just expectant; He had to throw us off so that we would focus on Him. I believe now that if not for the throw offs I would not see some people in different lights, I would not see people not normally talking chatting away. I would not get to know people I normally do not have the chance to catch, I would not see families coming together, I would not see people that were more particular than me in always such good cheer, I would not have seen things in a different light and God may not have been able to move that wonderfully and we experience him so marvellously, ministering so deeply. Still I hate throw offs, but I am learning o cope with them. The lessons learnt were far deeper than I can digest and is a big challenge for me. I look forward to learn them and apply them, for one I must walk my talk and talk my walk more. I must embody Christ and not just live a form without the true power! I hate throw offs, I do, but I can learn to love them too! J
