YFC GAT '09: Forward in Christ and Press On for 2009!
By KRYSTLE ACIDO ANNE CASSAR (YFC Sydney)
This GAT was my third in a row to experience. Of course, going again for my third time was different as each GAT has been; every one in their own ways. Initially, I wasn’t even planning on going again for a 3rd time. I didn’t have enough money to go at the time. But something inside of me was really telling me to go and so I booked my flight without even knowing where or how I would pay for it. But praise God I managed to pay it all off, as I worked two jobs to save enough in time. And it’s funny how as soon as I said yes God was already secretly sending me funny messages even before gat had begun. Like how I was asked to lead GAT for the NSW delegation with a brother who I only discovered a week afterwards, would be my new mission partner for 2009 as cluster heads. You know God is amazing and he works in so many ways to surprise, uplift and help us grow to our full potential. We don’t always see our own potential to the height that God envisions in our own hearts. Saying yes and going on this great adventure, was part of God’s plan for those lives that experienced it.
Some people asked why I was going again, and telling me that I was an addict. My reason for going was, why not? It’s always a blessing to be able to go on mission and get spiritually nourished. I knew what a GAT was like, how it can be challenging, surprising, rewarding and also always unforgettable, thus I was so excited to go on this new adventure again. I knew that going to a GAT is so special because God leaves you with a message to work on and improve within yourself or your service for that following new year.
When GAT began, it was quite overwhelming with the 66 new faces from YFC around Oceania. I was praying and asking God to speak to me and show me why I was there again. I mean I know it was all part of God’s plan that I was able to be responsible in saving enough to pay my own fare again, and so I was excited for my new adventure to begin. But I didn’t realize until I got there how much I actually needed to be there. God truly had a plan for me in this adventure. I realized that my heart for service needed rejuvenating as I had become too comfortable in my service the past few months before hand. God didn’t speak to me straight away in the Philippines, but in his perfect timing I realized and discovered what He Had brought me there to show me.
There were 3 phases of our GAT, which were “Strength, Love & Self Control”. The first phase of STRENGTH was so fitting. I was reminded from our carrying theme verse that “God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but of strength”. In this phase, one of our first activities was the Adventure camp. This was really challenging for me, as I had so much fear and doubt about the tasks given to us, but God reminded me that He had already implanted the seed of strength within my heart and that I just needed to prune it and let it grow. So I completed the scary and uncomfortable tasks of propelling blindly down a tall tall tower with just a rope attached to my waist and crawling in the muddy rocky waters with my clothes on. And at the end I understood what it meant to endure and that “you cannot define what is sweet if you haven’t tasted the bitter”. God also rewarded us, as our group won this first challenge. Also ironically it was during this phase, later on, where I first heard God speak to me and tell me that I had the strength all along. He told me never to think of myself as unworthy and He thanked me for opening up my heart to hearing His message.
The second phase of LOVE was introduced at Illocos Sur. We had our Emmaus Walks with our buddies. This part of GAT always surprises me. It most definitely initially challenges me in many ways, as I am shy and not used to sharing one on one to strangers, but this activity always pushes me to go out of my comfort zones. I was inspired by my buddy’s realisations and in turn I was also able to pray for her. Alternatively, I also realized that this year as a new leader, I am not always going to be spoon fed anymore, and that I need to lead by example, and by doing that I need to show my youth that stepping out of their comfort zones is part of growing. In this phase, we also had a worship workshop and worshipped three times in three different ways. Before this I was still feeling unworthy to be a new leader in my delegation back home, but during the worships we learnt to tap into true honest, spirit led worship, and during that worship, I really felt myself standing in front of Jesus Himself. He embraced me and I truthfully felt like I was being hugged by a loving father - my father. It felt so good to feel his unconditional love like that. The words I was left with from one of the songs was really personal to me: “Spirit of the living God – fill me, change me, empower me”. This was a worship to remember and pray for all my worships to be as honest, sincere and loving as this one. And I thank God for sharing it with me.
The third phase of GAT was SELF CONTROL and it was fitting to have this session planned while we were at the GK site in Batangas. We got to stay two nights with a GK host family in this village. This is always such a humbling experience, as it's not usually physically comfortable, but it was home to us during our stay and they were are loving family and parents. Being in the phase of Self control reminded me to control myself to not complain even to myself, about sleeping on the concrete alone, with bugs and ants crawling everywhere, about showering while standing near an open toilet bowl and so on. I really appreciate how they live so simply, but yet it is enough. We were paired off with our buddies per house, and at first for us, I thought it would be heaps challenging because neither of us could speak Tagalog, only understand it, but somehow we all understood each other and I know now, that is because “Love is a universal language”. They were so grateful and so giving. They gave so much of themselves to us, everything they had, in this sense they are richer than we are and more generous too. The people in GK always surprise and captivate me with their perseverance to still be joyful with the simple lives they have. Each time, they show me humility, generosity and pure love. It warms my heart to be able to be a blessing to them, and also to recognise that they are one to me too.
I’ve come back home to my own delegation, realising again how blessed I am and how God wants me to be a blessing to them still with all that I have learnt, discovered and encountered along my Great Adventure. Even if I may still be a tad overwhelmed, I am also excited to move Forward in Christ! I know God is continuously challenging me in my faith and my service for Him. But I know that if I continue to count my blessings, it will outweigh the amount of struggles I’m faced with. During GAT, God shook my heart and told me to be more than I personally believe I’m capable of, God has challenged me to a change of heart within myself, with the promise that He will never leave me.
I’m going to move Forward In Christ and Press On for 2009!
When GAT began, it was quite overwhelming with the 66 new faces from YFC around Oceania. I was praying and asking God to speak to me and show me why I was there again. I mean I know it was all part of God’s plan that I was able to be responsible in saving enough to pay my own fare again, and so I was excited for my new adventure to begin. But I didn’t realize until I got there how much I actually needed to be there. God truly had a plan for me in this adventure. I realized that my heart for service needed rejuvenating as I had become too comfortable in my service the past few months before hand. God didn’t speak to me straight away in the Philippines, but in his perfect timing I realized and discovered what He Had brought me there to show me.
The third phase of GAT was SELF CONTROL and it was fitting to have this session planned while we were at the GK site in Batangas. We got to stay two nights with a GK host family in this village. This is always such a humbling experience, as it's not usually physically comfortable, but it was home to us during our stay and they were are loving family and parents. Being in the phase of Self control reminded me to control myself to not complain even to myself, about sleeping on the concrete alone, with bugs and ants crawling everywhere, about showering while standing near an open toilet bowl and so on. I really appreciate how they live so simply, but yet it is enough. We were paired off with our buddies per house, and at first for us, I thought it would be heaps challenging because neither of us could speak Tagalog, only understand it, but somehow we all understood each other and I know now, that is because “Love is a universal language”. They were so grateful and so giving. They gave so much of themselves to us, everything they had, in this sense they are richer than we are and more generous too. The people in GK always surprise and captivate me with their perseverance to still be joyful with the simple lives they have. Each time, they show me humility, generosity and pure love. It warms my heart to be able to be a blessing to them, and also to recognise that they are one to me too.
