Inspiring. Great. Amazing.
Just got back from Teenstreet today, left on the 9th, Tuesday.
And my experience there is just fantastic.
I was supposed to go as service team, cos to go as a participant you have to be 17 or under, 18-21 is Service Team, and 21 and above are Coaches. Service team takes care of all the games, and the bookstore, cafe etc and Coaches are like group leaders, where you lead a group of 6 teens.
So being 18 this year I applied to be in the Service Team with Zhen and haha mana tau the quota was filled up so quickly and there was just no more space. Then my cell leader in church, Su-Anne, suggested that maybe we would like to go as Coaches. And my first reaction was like : oh cool ! Like that I still get to go to Teenstreet ! Coach.. so what. coach la, nvm wan, can wan. At least I still get to go yknow (Cos I was really looking forward to it as I had a great experience as a participant last year). Then I realized that, hey, I'm going as a Coach for the wrong reasons. I mean, was I just going as a Coach just so I could go for Teenstreet ? Just so that I can be there and have fun ? My priorities were wrong. Discussed with Zhen and we decided to give it a day or two to pray about it and to really see if this is what we were meant to do. I knew that there has to be a reason for everything, but does the quota for Service team being full up mean that I should go as Coach ?
I was doing my quiet time the next night and through it God spoke to me and showed that deep down, it was clear that I have a passion for working with younger people, to help them and guide them. It was time I stopped doing things I'm gifted with, like sports and athletics (if I were in the Serv Team) and use my other gifts to help others, to give back a little of my time after what I've been blessed so much with. I became an assistant coach to Pauline from SIB Chinese Church KL.
And so my journey began. Reached Teenstreet, and went to meet up with Pauline, who is the lead coach and the girls who are in my group. 4 of them are from Pauline's church and the other two are from Puchong and Perlis. I was so pumped up and excited to meet them, to introduce myself and to communicate and have fun as well as share my experiences to help and guide them. Then... haha.
One of Pauline's first questions was,
"So, Rachel, can you speak Chinese ?"
(you guys who know me know that I can't speak Chinese to save my life haha. Actually, I can understand but speak only a little and read.. nothing haha except a few characters)
So I replied, "Erh. Heh. A bit ?"
"Oh. Cos they all speak Chinese."
*Stunned silence on my part covered up by incoherent mumblings that sounded a bit like "oh... haha... nvm.... can wan... heh... try la... oh dear. Crap."*
How's that for you man.
So I started panicking and was hyperventilating (maybe not so melodramatic la) but yeah, I mean... HOW LA WEI. I wanted so much to connect with them but... hello ? Language barrier to the max lor. I thought, "I can't do this man. I really don't know what to do. How ? How how HOW."
Ah, but you see, God works in marvelously mysterious (or is it mysteriously marvelous ? haha) ways. Sure, day 1 was awkward alright. And yeah, I was stuttering and SO afraid they couldn't understand me even though I could understand them and the first Net time that night (where coaches do bible study with their Net) was a tad uncomfortable for me, and I was worrying and was so nervous and complaining (in my head of course).
But, it got better the next day, and even better the next day and improved the next and the next and ohmygoodness, I really really miss them now just talking about it. My Net members are PehWen, Crystal, Stephenie, Mandy, Oi Kha and Heidi plus Pauline and I. They're in the ages between 12-15. And they are just so great and awesome and such a lovely bunch. Language barrier ? BAH, c'mon, nothing's too great or too impossible for God. I could speak a little and they could speak English too actually. And it didnt matter that they laughed at my Mandarin cos my intonation and everything were funny (haha !) or that they sometimes couldn't understand me when I spoke in English cos, somehow, it all worked out ! Thank God ( :
PehWen on the left, Stephenie (red shirt) with her sister Crystal sitting above her, Pauline in orange, Mandy and Heidi. Oi Kha was at the back still working on her really detailed drawing.
And we bonded so well and we talked like we were just a bunch of young girls even though I was their ass. coach. I guess my age helps me to relate better to them. The other people from Pauline's church are Max, Manson and Daniel, and guys have separate Nets from girls, so I wasn't that familiar with them at first, but by the end of Teenstreet I could talk to Max freely as he's 17 and therefore closer to my age. The other 2 are younger and slightly more reserved but we still talked a little. They're such wonderful people.
There is always, always a reason for something. And this experience being an ass. coach is just so eye opening and a fantastic opportunity for me. The girls were amazing and really fun and so cute ! I can't help but laugh at myself at how I was so worried at first about the Mandarin thing, cos I know now that I should always remember to rely on God's strength and not my own for I am just human and that nothing is impossible with God. I was definitely brought out of my comfort zone for the first time. And that was really mind-blowing and scary for me at first, but it was not so after this experience. I seriously thank God man, that Service Team was closed haha.
I learnt so many things from the girls, and am so blessed that I am their ass. coach and also that Pauline was my coach because I could not wish for a more wonderful person to lead me.
Physically, I am much more tan now haha due to excessive playing of football and ultimate frisbee and captain ball and a lil basketball. Lol and my waist and thighs are aching haha, it was the football la. I would say that this was the first time I just went into a sport, only knowing 1 or 2 people, and ended up being friends with everyone after that just through playing football. We started off as a small group, just Pauline (another Pauline, not my coach) Yvonne, SuLin and we headed to a vast field where there were already 5 or so guys just kicking the ball. There we met this really nice guy, Josiah, from Penang, who was so insane patient with us girls who kicked like.. girls haha. He practiced just passing with us while the others played. I'm okay at kicking cos I used to play futsal with my bro and church but then, goal and field then were much smaller haha. So the keeper was Brian from Brunei and we just played in a small group with Jeremiah (Josiah's brother) as well as younger guys. It was.. about 3pm ? And it was hot haha.
Before I knew it, more and more people came and we decided to start a game. SuLin couldn't play because of her sprained ankle, so it was just Pauline and I. Two girls. Playing with 20 or so guys who seem to be very fast and tall and footbally lol. Scary ? Not a chance ! Haha I normally attack, but found out that I make a good defender too hahaha it was really really fun and Chris the speaker from Germany played with us and he's really good man. Nobody was keeping score I think lol We stopped playing at 430 and the sun was still blazing but haha instead of going back we headed to the hockey field for frisbee lol. Kolej Tunku Jaafar is huge man, the campus is insane. At about 5 plus a few guys managed to push Chris into the pool ! Hhahaha it's tradition I think to get the speakers into the pool lol.
That was yesterday, the last full day of TS, and last night was just so sad cos the last night of TS is always one of mixed emotions. So we tried to do as much and play as much and interact as much as we could. It was extended an hour haha we played a few things with a variety of people. Zhen and I got caught up in a game of Taboo with the Penangites and Bruneians and KCMCs which later turned into charades lol ! and finally the hand thingy game which was super lol man.
All these fun aside, I reflected and found that I would never switch this experience with anything else because it was such an encouraging journey for me.
With Mel, Chris and Max.
The girls with Pauline, Manson, Daniel and I
With the awesome worship team.
Stephenie and Mandy
Haha they're so cute la ( :
I really really like this picture ( : With PehWen
Hahahah it's so great to hang out with them la, the age thing was really not a factor. Of course it took us some time to warm up with each other but once we started, there was no stopping us. They made me feel young again. HAHA.
Rachel Chua who made it into Service team ( :
After the bus dropped us off at Kelana Jaya station before we headed back to out respective homes. With Pauline and SuLin, the ones I played footie and frisbee with, and even pushed Pauline into the pool haha ! And mind you, I met her just that day itself but we clicked :D
I'm so dead tired now. Haha couldn't sleep for 3 days straight over there, no idea why. So yeah. Tonight I'm gona crash man lol. So yeah, going off soon, to my Net if you guys are reading this, I miss you all so much ! Take care, and if you have anything or want someone to talk to, text/email me k or msn, but my msn is weird lol. And I'm really glad I met u guys !
Loves ( :
Just got back from Teenstreet today, left on the 9th, Tuesday.
And my experience there is just fantastic.
I was supposed to go as service team, cos to go as a participant you have to be 17 or under, 18-21 is Service Team, and 21 and above are Coaches. Service team takes care of all the games, and the bookstore, cafe etc and Coaches are like group leaders, where you lead a group of 6 teens.
So being 18 this year I applied to be in the Service Team with Zhen and haha mana tau the quota was filled up so quickly and there was just no more space. Then my cell leader in church, Su-Anne, suggested that maybe we would like to go as Coaches. And my first reaction was like : oh cool ! Like that I still get to go to Teenstreet ! Coach.. so what. coach la, nvm wan, can wan. At least I still get to go yknow (Cos I was really looking forward to it as I had a great experience as a participant last year). Then I realized that, hey, I'm going as a Coach for the wrong reasons. I mean, was I just going as a Coach just so I could go for Teenstreet ? Just so that I can be there and have fun ? My priorities were wrong. Discussed with Zhen and we decided to give it a day or two to pray about it and to really see if this is what we were meant to do. I knew that there has to be a reason for everything, but does the quota for Service team being full up mean that I should go as Coach ?
I was doing my quiet time the next night and through it God spoke to me and showed that deep down, it was clear that I have a passion for working with younger people, to help them and guide them. It was time I stopped doing things I'm gifted with, like sports and athletics (if I were in the Serv Team) and use my other gifts to help others, to give back a little of my time after what I've been blessed so much with. I became an assistant coach to Pauline from SIB Chinese Church KL.
And so my journey began. Reached Teenstreet, and went to meet up with Pauline, who is the lead coach and the girls who are in my group. 4 of them are from Pauline's church and the other two are from Puchong and Perlis. I was so pumped up and excited to meet them, to introduce myself and to communicate and have fun as well as share my experiences to help and guide them. Then... haha.
One of Pauline's first questions was,
"So, Rachel, can you speak Chinese ?"
(you guys who know me know that I can't speak Chinese to save my life haha. Actually, I can understand but speak only a little and read.. nothing haha except a few characters)
So I replied, "Erh. Heh. A bit ?"
"Oh. Cos they all speak Chinese."
*Stunned silence on my part covered up by incoherent mumblings that sounded a bit like "oh... haha... nvm.... can wan... heh... try la... oh dear. Crap."*
How's that for you man.
So I started panicking and was hyperventilating (maybe not so melodramatic la) but yeah, I mean... HOW LA WEI. I wanted so much to connect with them but... hello ? Language barrier to the max lor. I thought, "I can't do this man. I really don't know what to do. How ? How how HOW."
Ah, but you see, God works in marvelously mysterious (or is it mysteriously marvelous ? haha) ways. Sure, day 1 was awkward alright. And yeah, I was stuttering and SO afraid they couldn't understand me even though I could understand them and the first Net time that night (where coaches do bible study with their Net) was a tad uncomfortable for me, and I was worrying and was so nervous and complaining (in my head of course).
But, it got better the next day, and even better the next day and improved the next and the next and ohmygoodness, I really really miss them now just talking about it. My Net members are PehWen, Crystal, Stephenie, Mandy, Oi Kha and Heidi plus Pauline and I. They're in the ages between 12-15. And they are just so great and awesome and such a lovely bunch. Language barrier ? BAH, c'mon, nothing's too great or too impossible for God. I could speak a little and they could speak English too actually. And it didnt matter that they laughed at my Mandarin cos my intonation and everything were funny (haha !) or that they sometimes couldn't understand me when I spoke in English cos, somehow, it all worked out ! Thank God ( :
PehWen on the left, Stephenie (red shirt) with her sister Crystal sitting above her, Pauline in orange, Mandy and Heidi. Oi Kha was at the back still working on her really detailed drawing.And we bonded so well and we talked like we were just a bunch of young girls even though I was their ass. coach. I guess my age helps me to relate better to them. The other people from Pauline's church are Max, Manson and Daniel, and guys have separate Nets from girls, so I wasn't that familiar with them at first, but by the end of Teenstreet I could talk to Max freely as he's 17 and therefore closer to my age. The other 2 are younger and slightly more reserved but we still talked a little. They're such wonderful people.
There is always, always a reason for something. And this experience being an ass. coach is just so eye opening and a fantastic opportunity for me. The girls were amazing and really fun and so cute ! I can't help but laugh at myself at how I was so worried at first about the Mandarin thing, cos I know now that I should always remember to rely on God's strength and not my own for I am just human and that nothing is impossible with God. I was definitely brought out of my comfort zone for the first time. And that was really mind-blowing and scary for me at first, but it was not so after this experience. I seriously thank God man, that Service Team was closed haha.
I learnt so many things from the girls, and am so blessed that I am their ass. coach and also that Pauline was my coach because I could not wish for a more wonderful person to lead me.
Physically, I am much more tan now haha due to excessive playing of football and ultimate frisbee and captain ball and a lil basketball. Lol and my waist and thighs are aching haha, it was the football la. I would say that this was the first time I just went into a sport, only knowing 1 or 2 people, and ended up being friends with everyone after that just through playing football. We started off as a small group, just Pauline (another Pauline, not my coach) Yvonne, SuLin and we headed to a vast field where there were already 5 or so guys just kicking the ball. There we met this really nice guy, Josiah, from Penang, who was so insane patient with us girls who kicked like.. girls haha. He practiced just passing with us while the others played. I'm okay at kicking cos I used to play futsal with my bro and church but then, goal and field then were much smaller haha. So the keeper was Brian from Brunei and we just played in a small group with Jeremiah (Josiah's brother) as well as younger guys. It was.. about 3pm ? And it was hot haha.
Before I knew it, more and more people came and we decided to start a game. SuLin couldn't play because of her sprained ankle, so it was just Pauline and I. Two girls. Playing with 20 or so guys who seem to be very fast and tall and footbally lol. Scary ? Not a chance ! Haha I normally attack, but found out that I make a good defender too hahaha it was really really fun and Chris the speaker from Germany played with us and he's really good man. Nobody was keeping score I think lol We stopped playing at 430 and the sun was still blazing but haha instead of going back we headed to the hockey field for frisbee lol. Kolej Tunku Jaafar is huge man, the campus is insane. At about 5 plus a few guys managed to push Chris into the pool ! Hhahaha it's tradition I think to get the speakers into the pool lol.
That was yesterday, the last full day of TS, and last night was just so sad cos the last night of TS is always one of mixed emotions. So we tried to do as much and play as much and interact as much as we could. It was extended an hour haha we played a few things with a variety of people. Zhen and I got caught up in a game of Taboo with the Penangites and Bruneians and KCMCs which later turned into charades lol ! and finally the hand thingy game which was super lol man.
All these fun aside, I reflected and found that I would never switch this experience with anything else because it was such an encouraging journey for me.
With Mel, Chris and Max.
The girls with Pauline, Manson, Daniel and I
With the awesome worship team.
Stephenie and Mandy
Haha they're so cute la ( :
I really really like this picture ( : With PehWen
Hahahah it's so great to hang out with them la, the age thing was really not a factor. Of course it took us some time to warm up with each other but once we started, there was no stopping us. They made me feel young again. HAHA.
Rachel Chua who made it into Service team ( :
After the bus dropped us off at Kelana Jaya station before we headed back to out respective homes. With Pauline and SuLin, the ones I played footie and frisbee with, and even pushed Pauline into the pool haha ! And mind you, I met her just that day itself but we clicked :DI'm so dead tired now. Haha couldn't sleep for 3 days straight over there, no idea why. So yeah. Tonight I'm gona crash man lol. So yeah, going off soon, to my Net if you guys are reading this, I miss you all so much ! Take care, and if you have anything or want someone to talk to, text/email me k or msn, but my msn is weird lol. And I'm really glad I met u guys !
Loves ( :
