Lent

This is the season of Lent, where we remember the suffering and death of Christ. We normally associate Lent as a season of soberness, of prayer and fasting, about self-control. I seem to fast more during this period than any other times of the year, and pray more earnestly. Today, I want to share about a guy and his month of Lent.

Two weeks ago, I picked him up to go youth meeting and we got to talking about Lent. He mentioned that his friend told him about Lent and that he (the friend) was fasting for the whole month. No meat for a month. So this friend of mine got to thinking about fasting too. He prayed and decided that he was going to fast from Dota. For this whole season of Lent, he wasn't going to play Dota. He mentioned that the first few days, it was very difficult. But as the days went by, it got easier. And he suddenly found that he had a lot of time on his hands. One day he actually went to sleep at 10pm (which was probably really foreign!) because he had nothing else to do after finishing his homework! I asked him again last Saturday how was his progress and he is still on course of not playing Dota. I am sure he must have gotten flak and teasing and tempting from his Dota playing friends.

I admire him. When he first mentioned it to me, I was really impressed because I know for a lot of the guys, playing Dota means a lot to them. So much so that they are willing to save their lunch money just to play, so much so that they are willing to ignore their homework, their chores just to play. And so much so that they are willing to disobey their parents so they can go to cyber and play. I am not pointing fingers here, but I know and believe there are guys out there who have done the things I've just written about. My friend chose to fast from Dota and I know that must not have been easy. I admire your decision, Luiz, and I know God will honour those who honour Him. You go, man! For all the guys who have teased him about stopping Dota, I encourage you to support him instead, and to think about fasting from something that you love as well.

To Be.. or Not To Be

That is the theme for our youth retreat! After a postponement in December, our retreat is finally on this weekend. I know that some of our youths are unable to make it because they have other camps and tuitions, but still, we have 18 youths signed up now. We really praise the Lord for this number.

This retreat will be a blast, as we have many interesting sessions lined up. AD JY and Ps Moses will be our speakers and I can say they will be really fantastic. We have also planned some fun games for the afternoons and there will be guests joining us during those times.

Do pray for us that the camp will run smoothly and everyone will have fun and learn things and make friends. Pray also for the weather to be excellent, as there are thunderstorms in the evenings these past few days. Pray that the weather will hold up as we play our games and activities. God is good, all the time!

Thousand Apologies

I really must say sorry to all the guys and girls who have been following this blog faithfully. I have not been blogging for a long while, and like our game the other day, I'm lagging. Let me tell you what's been happening in case you want to kill me for not blogging.

Hmmm.. let's see, there's our youth retreat coming up in 2 week's time. We gotta plan the programmes, contact the speakers, the caterers, the game-masters, arrange the halls, mattresses, buckets, sound and music system.. haha, it sounds like we're arranging a gig, huh? But it's not, it's our youth retreat, which you guys must all come! Come on.. you gotta.. YOU GOTTA! Get forms from Jenny if you haven't already, and although the closing date has passed, just for you.. YOU!... we give u chance! So.. quick.. get Jenny on the phone and tell her squeeze you in!

Then I've been busy helping out in our church's 40th Anniversary celebrations. The celebration is in June, 20th June to be precise, but the preparations have begun. I'm helping out in arranging the tee shirts to be printed, I'm targeting everything to be finalised by this week so they can start printing and we can get our new tee shirts end of March.. Yeah!

Then there is this drama that I'm also helping out in, as in doing the script. So far that is almost done, also scheduled for finalising and completion by this week, then we gotta think about casting, and finding people to help in costume, backdrop, drama practice.. wheeeeeeeeeee.. it will be busy...

So, now you see why I've not been blogging.. but while I have really been busy, I will try harder to keep writing ok? Honest to goodness! But you guys can do me a favour and also contribute your posts ok? Those Away from Home haven't been writing ages! Come on guys, tell us what's happening at your end of the world!