Youth Leadership Camp, Sihanonuk Ville, Cambodia

Sihanouk Ville, Cambodia - Where the Camp Took Place

6:30a.m.

An absolutely tranquil setting. A sunny blue sky above with birds chirping and singing their good morning tunes while soft ocean waves hitting against the rocks creating soothing sounds.

Sitting under a palm tree on a set of patio furniture craved out of the Cambodia hard wood, I am writing the last blog entry before I leave this beautiful resort town of Sihanouk Ville, a five hour car ride from Phnom Penh.

 Sihanouk Ville is like another world compared to the hustle and bustle of Cambodia's capital city.
It is a small, but very pretty, quiet, tourist town. There are a number of nice resort hotels built along the water and we chose to stay at the New Beach Hotel, not the most modern resort hotel, but the best price for its value. The Grace Church also rented the conference room for the youth leadership and children's camp here for the week, therefore, it has been very convenient for us.

Introducing the Youth Camp Leaders

We got here last Sunday evening, unloaded our luggage along with many props and gifts that we brought with us. We even had time to decorate the conference room, hang our wall murals and different posters turning this spacious room into a kid friendly and welcoming place.

We worked with over seventy youth leaders from five different local churches - one group of youth traveled over thirteen hours in a crammed church bus on bumpy roads to get to our camp site! By the time we got to the conference hall the first morning, all the youths, seventy five of them, were already there and started their songs and worship.The room was electrified, pumping with energy and emotions.

Youth Leading the Singing

The youths were singing in Khmer, naturally, we could not understand a word but we could feel the intense emotions in their singing. I closed my eyes and immersed myself in their beautiful angelic songs. Though I did not know the meaning of the songs, I felt their deep emotions. They were singing a prayer song for Cambodia. Their singing was sincere, inspiring and touching, an earnest prayer to God.

I thought I heard the Angles Sing at the Conference Hall

There was so much power, and emotions in every word the it touched the core of my heart. These young people love their country; they are the next

generation, the hope of Cambodia. Their love and earnest prayers for their county was obvious on their faces and every word they sang, they did it with their hearts and souls.

Tears streaming down my face; I started to pray for these youths and Cambodia. Knowing how much the country and its people have gone through in recent history, I have a great respect for the Cambodian people and their tolerance for life's mishaps and little inconveniences.

Dividing the Youths into Different Teams

The entire mission team from Canada was introduced to the youth leaders at the camp's first meeting and the youths were curious about our different background. I wish I had provided a couple of family pictures to the introduction ppt.

 The purpose of  this two day training camp was to provide some intensive training to the participants so that at the end of the leadership camp, the youths would be ready to assist and lead many of the activities for the two hundred kids taking place in the children's camp right after the training camp.

Pastor Teresa Leading a Workshop with a Translator

We had quite a tight schedule and there were many activities going on. Each of our mission team member was responsible for certain specific tasks at the training camp. There were numerous training sessions including leading songs, games, sports, using puppets to tell bible stories, making balloon animals to entertain kids, seminars and drama workshop etc. I was responsible for a workshop about  speaking with confidence in front of a large audience.

Youths were Eager to Learn & Participate

The participants were mostly senior high school and university students and they participated with enthusiasm and energy. They were polite, friendly, cheerful, helpful and anxious to learn as much from us as possible. These were a teacher's dream students and they were definitely a pleasure to teach.

Youths Practising What They have learned in Small Groups

We were all energized today and looking forward for the next few days working with the youths and kids at the camp.




R.T.
Sihanouk Ville, Cambodia
Nov. 2012