Saturday, April 14, 2012

Week 15, 2012: Playing basketball

I wasn't sure if I could make it to the Youth Camp until last Wednesday, after the dreaded 17-part practical examination called the OSCE. The experience was arduous, painful, and tension-filled, so much so that one classmate allegedly pleaded with the consultant, 'Please don't fail me, Ma'am; I'll be a better person when you see me next year.' Her charms worked--she got a 90. But God was gracious in helping me get past the exam. I was praying the entire time. That afternoon I texted Kuya Lito, our youth pastor, that I could make it, after all.

For now, here's the weekly dose of seven-plus photos.

The summer heat was unbearable, if not for the sight of greenery and the occasional breeze.

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The basketball court was one of my favorite spots in Camp Jabez.

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Three of us--Jason, my brother, and myself--were assigned to man the basketball station during a group activity. This photo is proof that I can somehow dribble a ball.

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The kids--they get younger and younger every year--were mostly sleepy on the way to campsite, until we got to South Luzon Expressway when Koji started a thing called The Skyflakes Game. That got everybody's spirits up.

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Some of the youth workers I work with. From right--my brother, Koji, Royden, Kitokits, and Eron.

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The fans were at full blast in the plenary hall.

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I assisted Koji in our cell group which was composed of 8-14 year olds. Usually we would eat on one table during mealtimes. Hello, Russel and Ezra.

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Hey, Anton, Vinny, and Colin.

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On Day One, Kuya BJ Manalo, former basketball star player in the UAAP some years ago, shared the gospel using a sports analogy. We did a lot of push-ups along the way. This session really blessed all of us.

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On our last night, the youth workers--a group of older adults, most of them already working and in their mid- or late-twenties--had a brief meeting which was concluded with stomach-aching laughter, film shows, and midnight snacks. I had sweet, sweet fellowship with them.

From right--Ate Meann and Tal, Kitokits, and Eron.

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From right--Ate Meann, Jopoy, Ate Tal, Kitokits, Jason, Eron, Koji, Kuya Lito, Dale, Banjo, Chrissy, Manong, Frances, Roydel, and Ruel. I promised them I'd post this in my site.

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I'll be writing more extensively about what I learned the camp in the next post. Suffice it to say that the camp, with the theme Kaw Na, Wala Ng Iba, was a proper way of capping my third year in medicine because it reminded me of the importance of having this single passion in life--to live for God alone, to set Him as the foremost consideration and priority in life.

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