BACK FROM EXTREME ZERO

Well, I had a blast last weekend at Extreme Adventure Camp!

Extreme Adventure Camp is one of GCF Crossover Ministry's two major out-of-town weekend events. The other one is called Crossover Conference. How are the two different? The Conference, which normally takes place in October is more geared towards spiritual retreat, study and physical respite. Extreme is more of adventure-filled camp at the end of summer-- an Amazing Race of sorts, with games and activities that have spiritual implication, coupled with worship and teaching to corroborate the theme and spiritual implication of the games. My assignment this weekend is to lead a devotional message, man a game station, and facilitate a men's buzz group.

To begin with-- there was this funeral car on the road with a hilarious license plate (LAS 114)! My last name is LAS and finding my name on a license plate of a funeral car just felt a wee bit creepy in a hilarious kind of way!

Rizal Recreation Center is a lush tropical Christan resort and conference center in Laguna run by the Rev. Joe Mauk, together with Cecilio Pedro of Lamoiyan Corporation, and Tom Randall, a Christian athlete/missionary. After 3 hours of driving a scenic route, we arrived at the resort, immediately realizing that there is another camp going on- the college camp of CCF (our neighbor church here in Manila).

Rev. Joe Mauk, a missionary in the Philippines for 28 years now, is known for his collection of and passion for spinning tops! Yes, tops! His largest to is 28 kilos heavy and requires more than 100 kilos of scrap metal hauled up by a pulley on a tree and ten men to spin (see video below)!

We proceeded to the covered court for the morning worship and devotion. The praise and worship was led by Archie Sy. My Gossip Girl/Grey's Anatomy-inspired devotions ended with the people's overwhelming excitement for lunch!
The afternoon games were amazing! Too bad I wasn't able to take photos of the whole event because, like I mentioned, I manned the pool-side activity station which confined me withing the pool area all afternoon!

Our speaker was Col. Mike Asperin (Ret.), an elder at GCF and leader of the JOSHUA Ministry, GCF's arm reaching the Philippines' uniformed men and women. It was a Purpose-Driven Life sort of preaching series that allowed the campers to discover their purposes. Fifty percent of the campers were newbies-- a number of unchurched, a few moving up from the Youth, and a number of church attendees who were never involved in any activity other than attending services.

One of the things the resort is known for over any other resort/camp sites is the buffet! The food got to be overwhelming for me at times. Everyone had to forget about their diet and decided to go on a splurge last weekend.

Over a little conversation with Pastor Chris, he mentioned that the Extreme Camp '08 is his last program with Crossover and he'd praying for a pastor to take the reins of the Crossover Ministry since he's married late last year. He and his beautiful wife Jo-ann are expectant parents. Recently, he was assigned to be Assistant Pastor for the Quezon City District.
Sometime last April, he approached me and asked if I would consider leading the growing and exciting ministry to young adults and singles just as he was being transitioned into district leadership. After some not-so-deep thought about the matter, I figured, my heart and passion is for the Worship Ministry. While I do get excited about ministering to folks my age, my heart cries for worship. I told some of the leaders in Crossover that if ever, I could spend 70% of my time with worship and 30% with Crossover, just as I would have spent my work time at Covenant Presbyterian should it (had it) push(ed) through.

Over my quiet time at camp, I wrote in my Moleskine that in my life as a young adult thus far I have learned two valuable things: 1. Days that begin with a devotional quiet time are better than days that do not; 2. God's sovereign will is inescapable! Whatever God's will is, there is no escaping!