So we finally got to go for the famed CMS Summer School just in early 2017.
It's 7 days of talks and fellowship, quite different from other camps I've been to, namely
a) the program is from 9am to 12, then 7 to 9.30 - with free time in between (its normally whole day program)
b) everyone finds their own accommodation (I'm used to people all staying together at one place)
c) no food provided! (we have to find/cook own meals)
d) 7 days! that's long!
Things I've really enjoyed
1.Talks
I'd not heard of him before, but William Taylor's talks on Genesis 12-23 on promises to Abraham were really excellent. 7 days means that the speaker got to take his time to expound the scripture, slowly develop the theme. Talks were profound, in depth, thoughtful, challenging. Oh, how I've missed in depth teaching.
Get them here: http://cmsnswact.myshopify.com/
2.Catching up with people - new
The thing that is done at Summer School with all the free times and self organized meal times, is to invite people over. So we got to lunch with James & Celia Toose one lunch (I work next to James, but know nothing of him really, so it's nice to get to know them); and our minister Gary Koo and fam over for dinner.
Lunch with my colleagues, I got to know my colleagues father-in-law who turns out to be Anglican Bishop of North WA- I got to learn about the Christian scene over there, and the structure of Anglican Diocese.
3.Catching up with people -old
Since coming back, I've been wanting to catch up with Joshua Ng, who has been in fellowship with me since leaving Uni. So I was quite pleased to bump into him one morning, and had a quick catch up. We arranged for lunch (as people do @ Summer School), but didn't get a chance (more later). We used to 'Library Lawn" regularly, and I remember trying to share the gospel with my broken Mandarin, his Cantonese - hilarious like chickens talking with ducks. What I will always remember was his parting words to me, as I headed back to Singapore "Don't trade your inheritance for a bowl of porridge", as we looked at Jacob and Esau, words which have held meaning all these years.
Then another morning, I walked by a guy with name tag "James Warren", doubled back, and I had to say hi! James was the MTS worker who followed me up in 1993/1994, when he led Focus whilst Joshua was away in Chicago doing some theological degree. I remember I was going through all the modules of School of Christian Ministry (SOCM) run by Unichurch, and when I finished all of them, he suggested reading the bible 1 to 1 with me on a weekly basis, which I really enjoyed.
And of course he had no recollection of me! sob sob.
Well, it has been 23 years.. but I was so pleased to meet someone so key in helping me grow as a Christian, been wanting to since I came back to Sydney.
2 days later, I bumped into Stuart Milne - MTS worker Commerce Christians in 1992, then FOCUS in 1993. I became a Christian in June 1992, during the MYC, and Stuart was my mentor, following me up, teaching me, and even encouraging me to lead a bible study group (which I thought he was nuts!) which I think we did Colossians. Thankfully, he remembered me and even remembered that I play the piano by ear - amazing!
I was blown away that I got to meet all 3 people who were the key people who started me on my walk with God (besides Philip Jensen who preached when I accepted Christ) - they were the people who labored, faithful in their ministry, and getting to see the "fruit" so many years later. Thank you for your ministry, thank you God for your faithfulness - I am ever in your debt (all of you, esp God!).
4. Challengers
One of the biggest challenge was that the format of the camp, was hard on my boys.
My older son didn't have a program for him, and so he didn't enjoy sitting with adults, and left to go back for Sydney after only attending 1 session.
This also had a negative impact on my younger son, who was left "without" a friend to hang out with.
In the past, when everyone stayed together in a hotel, kids could just hang out in other people's rooms, not dependent on parents for transport and logistics. And our kids didn't have the privilege of years of Summer School-ing like other kids.
Broke our hearts. And we cancelled our plans to meet Joshua/Karen, and the Brammalls, and others.
Well worth spending the day with CJ, and thankfully we got to meet another family with adopted children, and our kids got on really well together after that! CJ was "happier" to go back to the program with another friend - so thank you God for providing. It was a lesson for us to always be mindful of how our kids are adapting, and we always have to look out for them.
DY surprisingly got on well with the program, and getting to know friends.
5.Meeting New People (part 2)
So we got to know another family with adopted kids, and uncannily, the dad was the previous Treasurer of where I work! He's a legend, having worked with the branch and Federal side for maybe 30 years in all! He built the finance foundation of everything I do at work, so it was a real privilege to meet him! What a small world.
CMS Summer School is like a big gathering of Sydney's Evangelicals - everyone kinda knows everyone. I've met people who have been coming to 30-40 Summer Schools? Amazing.
6.Mission and Missionaries
The last thing I really appreciated is hearing a different side from the missionaries. Often at work, I know of the problems, but what was good was to hear of their ministry, and that gives me a much more holistic view and a better appreciation of what they do, who they are, and the work I do. What a privilege.
And great that my wife can meet the people I work with, and see what my work is about from the people directly.
All in, it was a tiring week, but really good and encouraging week.
I've also learned that my introverted side of me gets more "significant" the older I get. After a week of meeting people, I spent my weekend after just recovering at home. Surprising to many, I get my energy from being alone, whether it is reading, working on my computer, playing computer games, I need that down time - interesting huh.
A Big Thanks to the organizers of Summer School. I'll be back, see you in 2018! What a great start to the year.
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