12 -15 JUNE, CHURCH CAMP

i joined a church camp from 12 - 15 june. i joined because it was complimentary. it's been quite a while since i could not afford any holidays now like last time i used to indulge.

it was a short trip to kuala lumpur, THE PALACE OF THE GOLDEN HORSE resot.

cousin peter would be bunking with me. his family was taking another adjoining room. in the end, i had the whole room to myself. peter bunked with his wife and 2 kids. the european cup was on. maybe he didn't wanna intrude my sleep. he rather intruded his family's instead. what a guy!

peter and i grew up from the same kampong. went to the same primary school in the same school bus. when we were resettled into hdb we remained as neighbours in opposite blocks. however, we were quite drifted apart unlike the kampong era until now - thanks to his church. after he married and shifted out, we even hardly communicated until now.

there wasn't much to write about the camp actually. it was rather boring. all the while was spent inside this sterile resort that has nothing much to offer. eat, listen to preaching and then sleep. that's what mainly the activities were all about.

it was only on a saturday afternoon, that we were brought either to SUNWAY LAGOON, MINES SHOPPING or KLCC where we could shop or eat for a couple of hours before it was back to more churchy matters.

6.15am i gotta be up cos. breakfast was 7.30pm. thanks to the hotel room's powerful desk alarm, i never failed to awake. i needed at least half an hour to poo. pai seh.....i also need to read the news, take my diabetic medication and morning tea. it's my morning routine.

at the camp, it was buffet breakfast. yep! in fact all meals were BUFFET! to think it took my the last 3 mths to lose about 3 kg, it was all coming back with vengeance!

the ambience there was friendly and congenial. i sat around with other participants who i barely knew. some of them knew me cos they were in either one of the church field trips which i undertook or from the gardening class. so yes, i acquainted with many but i think it would be quite embarrassing again when we meet cos i might not be able to recall their names. (in fact, i ve forgotten many names already ....;9(

unknown to me, i was very fortunate during one of the meals to sit next to PASTOR BENNY HO. i even joked with him and revealed that i was "much older than he" until the other diners at the table told me he was the preacher for the camp.

at the same table, was this lady, i think she was FLORENCE who introduced herself as a missionary worker in chiangmai. i felt she was a remarkable grandma still passionate in christian work to a foreign ulu place in mountainous chiangmai. she told me she needed expertise in gardening and hoped i could visit there. i was told there the church would be organising a trip there this DEC. well, like they say....i would await the 'will of God to lead me'.

the best happening during this church camp would be the ingenuinity of the organisers to arrange for a pickup load of durians driven up to this resort. everyone was thrilled and feasted on the very solid oomph! durians. it was a durians buffet!

one of the best thing, i learned from this camp was the atmosphere of love, care, concern, patience and friendliness of everyone displayed to each other. many had been touched by the HOLY SPIRIT and rightfully this retreat was named GE08 or God Encounter '08.

as for me, well, i was touched by one of the song AMAZING GRACE in an added version with a chorus that goes something like this:

my chain is loose...
i was set free..
the love of god
has come to me
the flood of fire....
has set me free
the love of god,
amazing grace...

(hope i got all the lyrics right)

the church would be fully upgraded in 2008. i hope my affinity with it would continue. it's my journey of spiritual discovery. i was a on/off church goer. i can't called myself a christian. now i m more into buddhism as it has enlightened and brightened up my life with more 'absolute' happiness. i m poor now and yet there is certain intrinsic joy in me which i didn't experience last time when i was many times richer running my garden business.

EMPTINESS IS FORM....FORM IS EMPTINESS...

this phrase is simple and yet complex. it contradicts itself yet if u think deeper, it seems to make alot of sense.

when i was rich, i tot i got happiness. but did it?
now that i was poor, i tot i would be sad. but am i?

when i was rich, i indulged. in the end i was blessed with diabetes.
now that i m poor, i realise the value of money. but strangely, i have never felt lighter in all my life with lesser attachments. when one feels light, he should be feeling a tinge of happiness.....;9)

a quote from the rinpoche in a buddhist seminar before i attended this church camp:

if you are a buddhist, u can still believe in other religion such as christianity, islam and etc....but once u become a christian or muslim, you shall not be allowed to indulge in buddhism.

what does that mean?

i think buddhism is accepting the nature of things as it is while many other religions fail to do that. maybe buddhism isn't a religion after all. it's a living philosophy to help us live harmoniously and happily with others. ornitoufo....;9)