Done with a week of assignments, a crazy presentation and sailing into a weekend for once after a long while without the thought of what’s next on my reading list and without anything due in the next two weeks. The coming week is also quite promising being my last week on my casual job with Monash Meeting Point. What a luxury of time I will have for myself! Even as I’m blogging right now, I forgotten how much I treasure free time and just having a clear and focused mind for other things which matter in life.
Last weekend OCF Clayton held a leaders training camp and retreat at Snake Valley, about 20 minutes after Ballarat. These training camps are mainly for us to getaway from the distractions of home and to have fellowship with one another. Overnight stays like this do have a profound effect in helping each other to bond. A change in environment is also preferred rather than going back to the same old places.
As for me, I’m just glad I’m somewhere far away with friends.
I was half hoping for a roadtrip. Initially, I was told the retreat was somewhere near Geelong.. which means an opportunity to go fishing. But as I found out – the sea was about 2 hours away. As for a roadtrip, we did stop over in Ballarat town for lunch at the Beechworth Bakery which featured a range of sweetening delicacies. This bakery was probably the 10th “Best Bakery” I’ve visited. I’m starting to wonder which one is true.
Some of us in the Ballarat’s shopping district (Bottom)
Kaitlin about to dig into a whole load of sugar (top left). The words read -” Treat your body like a temple, have another cake” (top right)
In terms of knowledge, it has certainly been a good reminder of why and how we do
things in OCF. This year we were privileged to have Aunty Merrilyn speaking for us during LTC. She’s been with OCF during the crucial years laying many foundations towards how OCF Australia operates today. Aunty Merilyn is also OCF Australia’s Board of Advisor, which commits in giving OCFers spiritual, administrative and miscellaneous guidance. I was inspired by her sharing of her life story, becoming a missionary at a very young age (I think 21) into the jungles of Papua New Guinea and staying there for years. Even now, she regularly goes for missions in Tibet and China. Her heart for young people and international students is also equally inspiring.
This is my third time meeting her, but it’s the first time I had good discussions with her. Among our topics, we talked about the history of OCF Victoria, particularly on Geelong and some of the other older centers. It’s obvious she has a heart for those centers to revive themselves someday, something I’m working on. She also gave some pointers on the State Rep issue, not liking the tone of a “committee”. I’d be getting more insights from her in the days to come as she will be with us in Victoria for a whole month.
I’m very excited for OCF Clayton next year. We have a bigger pool of leaders to work with, especially after this year where a big bunch of returnees graduated and left a huge gap to fill. But I’m glad for leaders like Ivie, Clayton’s chairperson, who did whatever she could to keep the center going. Also really glad for advisors like Chee Kai who is constantly looking after us despite having a family, his own training center and whose time is usually of premium. Naturally, the grassroot members make the center a great place to be – every single person, be it for great leadership, ones with funny or weird ethics, everyone plays a part in the making of a great center. Of course, I thank God for His faithfulness.
Chee Kai leading the second day’s session on the needs of the present generation
OCF Clayton LTC 2009
On the second day of camp, I woke up at 7.30am thanks to my alarm clock while the others slept in till 9. It was freezing cold and I just couldn’t get back to sleep, so I took a nice hot shower and decided to spend some time doing devotion at the lake. Finally, I’m waking up early for the sunrise – something I’ve always wanted to do in my 2 and a half years here in Australia.
Something changed me in this camp. Somehow, the events in the past few weeks are causing me to realign myself towards something more worthy of what God wants. I haven’t been as close to Him as I was a year ago due to the busyness of life. Now I just want to get things straight again and make this last remaining weeks count. To leave another footprint here in Australia.
Proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. Not my favor, but the favor of His Kingdom.
