IFFAsia First Youth Pastoral Team - Journey of China Summer Camp

Fondacio Asia was invited to conduct a Summer Camp in Northern China, which was organised for university students and high school graduates. More than 350 youth attended this 2-week camp. We were a team of 7 animators composed mostly of IFFAsia graduates from China and Malaysia sent on this mission trip. This is the first time for most of us to be there.

During the time in China, we shared food and experiences with the young, we helped them to discover themselves as the beloved children of God, to know the attitudes in building a community and how to face the challenges in daily life and in community. We journeyed together with faith, walked through the pilgrimage of Exodus Walk, searching and experiencing God's greatest Love from the ancient to the modern world.

Despite our differences and challenges, we experienced together the Spirit of Communion, witnessing the Love of God in our lives and also sharing our Hopes for the young people of China. May God bless this land and her people. Amen.

(Video presented by Mag Chin, IFFAsia Batch 2006-2007)

China Summer Camp: Random Reflections

Participants to the recently held youth camp in China last July 20 - 31 share their thoughts and reflections on significant moments during the event.

Building Up the Chinese Youth

"This summer camp’s organizational scale and its effects would definitely benefit our country. I have always had this desire “to go on a pilgrimage” and through this camp, it is realized today.

Last July 20, filled with happiness, I boarded the bus for the venue and arriving there, I admired the place and felt so much at home. All the members of the service team, brimming with brilliant smiles, were welcoming the arrival of each participant. Their warmth, patience and attentive serving us took away our initial unfamiliarity. In this extremely friendly environment, I also blended with this group which exuded with Christ’s life and love.

This camp certainly helped so many young people’s faith and love to be nurtured further. Hopefully one day, it will lead the Chinese youth to the Lord allowing them to spread out in every corner and share the Lord’s love and fragrance with others."

Washing Each Other’s Feet

"This afternoon, the group dynamics on the “washing of the feet” touched me deeply. I didn’t have much predominant feelings within as I wash other people’s feet, but when it was the turn for the other person to wash my feet, I really didn’t relish it. In my daily life, the impression of not having the pardon of the Lord and that of my fellow brothers and sisters surface within me. Have I the virtue or the capability to allow others to wash my feet? As I watch my fellow brothers and sisters washing the feet of the others, I think of the future - of how I can use my heart to love and transform each brother, and also at the same time have much hope for my community to be like a devoted and loving big family.

Today, I surrender myself to wash the feet of the other, but tomorrow when I return home, can I wash the feet of my parents? Even though I think of allowing my love to be expressed, the gap between my parents and myself does not allow me to express it!

In this community I let go of myself, becoming a devoted and a loving family member, and tomorrow I take this kind of love to the big group, to my own family and to the whole society. For the moment, I hope that each one of us brothers and sisters, upon returning home, can seriously at least once wash the feet of our own parents."

Related story: Fondacio Asia Conducts Summer Camp in China

Fondacio Asia Conducts Summer Camp in China

Following is the correspondence from Alice, of IFFAsia, who is currently leading a mission team in China.

Fondacio Asia is conducting a Summer Camp in China! The camp is organised by a local diocese for university students and youth in the parishes since some years now.

The theme of this year’s Summer Camp is “Youth, Hope of Families”. Topics include self-discovery, experiencing God, the meaning of love, the importance of family, and bringing hope not only to family but also to society.

The guiding text for this camp is: "You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world".

Schedule for the camp is as follows:
July 20 - 24         Leadership Training Camp (for 80 youth leaders)
July 25 - 31         Summer Camp (for 400 university students)

The team of animators composed mostly of former IFFAsia students from China (Wendy, Becky, and Lina) and from Malaysia (Mag, Nina, and Cecilia), and Alice has been sent on this mission trip to China. It is the first time for most of us to be sent here. The food, water and weather need adapting to. Some of us need to take extra care in terms of what we eat. Thank God, we feel very much being led by the Spirit and our sense of dependency and docility seems heightened.

Now, all of us are so much into speaking Mandarin. I feel that the team is doing well, and each one seems to be improving each day. God is truly with us!

To symbolize our solidarity and communion as one community, we carry the candle from the Fondacio Congress 2008, and will light this during our sessions and prayer time.

We ask you to be with us during this time. Please pray for us. We ask for the grace of docility to the Spirit and communion within our team, with the Church and the community.

In the spirit of mission,
Alice


We encourage each one to pray, most especially during the days of the summer camp, for the success of this mission trip and the well-being of everyone in the team.

Impressions

we sat and prayed along the streets of beijing

the green willows, pine trees and eucalyptus in the morning sun with the blue skies

give peace and beauty

it is a great place

the streets are clean, the place looks orderly

people walking, cycling, riding motorcycles, cars, modern buses

god has blessed us with beautiful encounters

(and stuffed chinese meals!)

the readings of today on 'the vine and branches...

that it is the father's glory that we bear much fruits as disciples...

ask anything in my name and it will be granted...'

these are provocative statements

then why do we not have enough workers?

have we asked enough?

have we believed while asking?

have we asked in his name?

what does that mean?

we will take some time this morning to pray and dialogue among ourselves

truth can only emerge through listening

these are things to pray for - truth, listening, courage...

with love and prayers

Mission Team

News about China visit

We arrived safely at the modern airport of Shenzen on Saturday late morning. We were welcomed by Fr. Shi who is the parish priest in the suburb. He drove us back and took us out for a great Chinese lunch.

From the air we could see the madness of development - hills slashed and flattened. On the ground, it's acres and acres of concrete buildings and roads, all looking alike. It's like a huge industrial area with factories and shops. There are not many cultural or religious structures. The Church is a rented shop building.

Fr. Shi himself is a 'mission-hearted' person. He came out here from the north and has been slowly building up the community. Most people work 7 days a week, 16 hours a day with some time off in between. We met some Catholics who run supermarkets from 7am to 11pm. So, Saturday Mass is in the evening and Sunday mass is at 2pm. They can't go to church as a family; and children and adults lack basic faith foundation. But, the people have been very warm and welcoming, sharing meals with us.

There are many migrants here - coming from the provinces - to find jobs or start businesses. With it come social problems related to jobs, homes, drugs, extortion, etc.

Father recently had two sisters coming down from the north to help him. He spent quite some time sharing with us his parish situation and needs. We were touched by his openness and his 'call' upon us to help him. On Sunday, he spoke of the need for lay workers as witnesses with the right attitude and behaviour - what we call disciples. He also asked if we can help in 2 summer camps for teenagers and children.

We continue to discern God's voice in all these.

With love and prayers

Mission Team