What did we do there? The youths part 3

The main reason we were there was to help up in the youth camp. The worship and games were done by the locals while we organized workshops and the talks. Kau Sern and Uncle Aaron were the main speakers and they spoke passionately about topics like "You are special!" "God has a plan for your life" "You can change your world"

It's really amazing to see the youths sit through the sessions and take notes (haha, I myself seldom take sermon notes..) It's really not easy to stay awake after lunch, added with the heat as the sun penetrates the trampoline tent.

But the youths were really supportive towards us! For one of the workshops we actually asked them to draw their own tombstone and write how would they like to be remembered. At first, most were hesistant because in the Buddhist culture it's bad luck to do so. Yet after explaining a bit more to them, they were willing to draw their own tombstone and even come up stage to show their work.

Each of us from the team paired up with another member to handle a workshop. My partner was Debbie Debbie and our workshop was on letter writing. At first, we called up some people on stage and asked them to hear their own heartbeat (that's where my stestescope came in handy).

Then we asked them to write a letter of appreciation to their parents, or people who looked after them (because in Cambodia some are orphans). We told them the significance of writing a letter to thank their parents, gave them some time and then ask for volunteers who wanted to read their letter in front of the crowd (oh yea, another wow thing about Cambodian youths is that, you normally get lots of volunteers! so unlike m'sian..me included..haha).

Debbie Debbie in action......

At first it was 4 youths writing to their parents in which they thanked them for their hard work. Then it was the turn of a boy..maybe around 17 years old.

He was reading the letter he wrote to his sister. He was writing on how his sister loved him and cared for him especially when he was involved in an accident. As he read out the letter, he started sobbing. He was trying hard to control his sobbing because I guess, it was not cool for a 17 year old boy to cry on stage in front of 180+ people. As he read his letter, he started crying even more. He read about how his sister sold of her land just to pay for his hospital bills. He sobbed as he said he was so grateful she cared for him, especially when he felt his parents didn't love him. He continued sobbing as he thanked her in his letter.

By the time he finished his letter, Debbie Debbie was crying too. So were some of the youths. Some of the pastors as well.

His tears changed the atmosphere of the whole workshop. From an activity, it became a testimony. From a simple letter, it became an expression of gratitude.

We ended by challenging the youths to give the letters they wrote to their parents especially those who came from non-Christian families. We wanted the youths to show their parents that being a Christian is a good thing, as some youths get persecuted by their families for being a Christian.