Time. Commitment. Being present. These are challenges I expected to come along, especially for the adult volunteers who not only have to juggle our fortnightly meetings, but also our weekly team activities. But week 3, and I see faces of enthusiasm, passion and excitement around me, keen to participate, gear up and go. There is no sense of grudging reluctance, only willingness. For me, these team activities are like an oasis amidst the sometimes-frustrating and stressful work of coordination and liaising. They refresh, recharge me, and remind me the reason why. I am reminded that I am around big-hearted people with so much to give, so much to contribute, and who have so much undying love for humanity to make the world a better place. I am blessed to be touched by these angels who selflessly devote their time and energy to leave their footprints in the sands of time.
Reflecting on our behaviour after the game.
Daphne's patience and gentleness really allows the learning to come through for us.
Testing our communication. Without seeing the shape, structure and layout outside, can we match what's inside...
...with what's outside? Building the vision, yet blind except for directions from our teammates, can we communicate? Can we trust? Can we work together?
Fast becoming a tradition - sharing our heartfelt takeaways and thoughts in the closing circle.
This week, what surprised me was how much the youths "got it". They knew and they understood why they were here, and they were clear about working together, about playing the games and allowing the games to bring about better understanding and awareness of themselves as well as each other. Sky said "Games is not just for fun. It's not about winning or losing the game, it's about how much you learn from the game". So well-said from someone so young. I'm humbled.
What's important this week is we created our buddy teams. We buddied up in 5 small teams so we have a support structure for the rest of the expedition! Strange how colours can say or mean so much. It was a very simple exercise... out of 5 different coloured papers, we each chose our own colour and went to the colour we preferred. And the personalities that gravitated to the same colours were uncannily... similar. So similar I was taken aback. I could see the perfection in the way the buddies teams were formed, and how well the people in each team complemented each other.
Not forgetting, it was Zhan Yang's birthday that day. Never expected him to turn up, or be present, but at 2.30pm, I was surprised to see him walk through the door, with a big grin and instantly bringing his trademark mischief to the team. Earlier in the day, one or two persons commented that without Zhan Yang, it's like the team suddenly seemed so quiet, so serious. I couldn't help but notice that... He is like our energizer and our battery, firing us up with his jokes, cheeky comments and readyness to participate. So, when he wasn't around in the first half of the day, something seemed missing. I've come to grow used to him stirring crazy fun in the team.
There is always learning, there is always growth... but end of the day, we also have fun. A fitting end to our half-day event: The CampVision dance!!! All us CampVision oldies are put to shame... because none of us can remember the dance steps, and it's none other than Kwang Yong leading us in the dance. Haha..
Dance, dance... synchronicity in motion, in heart and in vision. We live, we dream, we create, we inspire.
Till next week.
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