Rarely have I attended large-scale events if I don't know anyone there. In fact, memory has only one other instance to conjure up - CAP '04, where I honestly knew not a soul and made some amazing friends of the the most artsy-fartsy variety (where else would you have gatherings at night at the grounds of Yusoff Hall in NUS to sing, or find attending an Indian Dance workshop, a poetry workshop involving each poet writing a poem about a small elephant figurine we were each given, and then attending mime rehearsal all in the same day perfectly normal?)
It's not that I didn't know anyone at YMLC 2009; it's more like if I hadn't known anyone, it wouldn't have made a difference. I consider it a privilege to have met my mentor group mates, along with others who have just casually made a connection, such as at a 6:30am prayer meeting. strains of locally-recorded and sometimes locally-written tracks exuding peace in the background. It is a pity that I have only come to YMLC so late in my church life, but what better time than it's 10th anniversary. Already I can't wait for the next one next year which will commemorate the 125th anniversary of the Methodist Church in Singapore.
Most memorable part of those 3 amazing days? Staying up with 3 of my apartment roomies from all 3 young-persons-ministries just to talk about the past and the prospects before us.
On the outside, we're no different from any other young adults in Singapore. Yes, we are leaders in ministry, and yes, we kind of represent only one part of the social fabric (strata?), and above all, we definitely have our hang-ups just like anyone else, perhaps even more! But in the company of people so passionate, it doesn't matter what crowd of friends you come from or how large or small your church community is; there is a sense of warmth and welcome, of communal fervor and of common cause. We the redeemed, in the afterglow of having met together, have but one belief - that change is gonna come =)
