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.



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



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.



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



The fans were at full blast in the plenary hall.



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.



Hey, Anton, Vinny, and Colin.



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.



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.



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.



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.