Wow, today has been pretty awesome, for the most part. Joanna and John haven’t been feeling well, neither has Jonny. Jonny and John are perking up, but Joanna is still feeling a bit unwell – so she’s popped off to see the resident conference doctor to see what advice she can get.
The morning started with one of the country groups leading us in worship – I only caught the end of the session, but the song was beautiful. I don’t know what it means, but I copied the words down:
(mingalabar) x 2 Swe tha har twe myar mingalabar
(mingalabar) x 2 Arr loneku bel mingala lope the notekhon sett par tel.
I’m doing my best to find out what it means – as soon as I know, I’ll post it up here!
I was asked by Adrian to take a group photo of the whole conference today. It didn’t really work – people didn’t turn up on time and so we would take a photo and then another 10 people would turn up! We’re going to try again tomorrow – straight after one of the main sessions so that as many people as possible are in the same place at one time!
Pete and John led a workshop today about Youth Participation – it was interesting, but I don’t want to go into it until I’m back home in the UK and have processed everything – my thoughts on the conference will colour my thoughts on the result of their seminar. It was a good seminar and well run, just the responses need carefully thought about once I figure out more about the context they are coming from!
I’ve been getting on really well with the group from Pakistan – especially Daud, Sehrish, Eric, Mehboob and Raheed. That group is crazy! They love their dancing too!
The talk tonight was interesting – speaker was talking about the dualistic life many Christians seem to lead between their work life and their Christian life. He spent a lot of time and energy encouragin, beseeching us all to not live a double life, but to involve our faith in everything that we do.
He spoke about the protestant work ethic allowing the countries in the west to become rich and prosperous, but at the expense of the faith. That too many people put work before nurturing their faith, that money and riches were the goal, not God. He went on to warn the group to not allow South Asia to fall into the same trap: to make sure that God stayed central as the economies of the countries improved. He said: ‘Our life is not based on a 1 hour weekly Church service, our faith should not be either!’.
He was a very focused, passionate speaker – there were 3 power cuts during his talk and he barely broke stride!
Again tonight, I only caught a part of the worship – one of the delegates was leading the conference in prayer and many people were crying out ‘Hallelujah’ and ‘Amen’ during the prayer – was amazing to hear the passion, to share in it with them. Some folks here have talked about some young people in South Asia only going to Church because they feel it is their duty too, not because they want to worship. After my experience this week, I can’t believe that to be as big a proportion of young people as it is in the west. The passion for worship, for God that the people have shown at this conference is just astounding. One of the things I’m learning here is that I need to take more joy from life. The young people at this conference are amongst the most joyous people I have ever met! Their faces light up in worship, in conversation, in prayer, in dance, it’s beautiful! My faith is definetley being inspired and strengthened by those that I have met this week!
Tonight was pretty awesome! It was the last of the ‘Cultural experiences’ where different groupd can bring a part of their culture to share. The things that stood out for me were the Pakistanis and the UK folks! The Pakistanis did a couple of songs, then a beautiful dance based around a courting couple. They also did some Pakistani dancing (think Punjabi dancing, very fast and big!). I was taking photos of it (as I do!) when Sehrish, one of my new friends pulled me on stage and insisted that I dance with them. That was an experience! Not being the most confident dancer, I felt very exposed on the stage with them, but figured that I”m here to learn and experience South Asian culture. I certainly wasn’t the greates dancer there (the Pakistanis are awesome dancers!) but they appreciated my efforts! The UK addition was: Joanna and I taught eveyone how to do an Orcadian Strip the Willow – that went down a storm! Not everyone really understood what they were doing, or got the moves (I was very confused that everyone was struggling with a dance where, to my mind, you just spin you way down a line! But then, I’m very used to the dance!). Everyone who took part loved it though! Chuli also started to teach some Salsa moves – again, not everyone got it, but everyone loved it. At one point some of the people around me asked me to teach them what to do because they couldn’t see Chuli – so I ended up teaching Salsa to 15 of the delegates – not bad given I’ve never really done it before!!
All in all it’s been a really good day, I’ve had a great time, especially tonight! I’ll be taking Linda dancing when I get home – make up for all those years I’ve been to proud and embarressed!
Peace
So today was interesting!! Firstly Joanna, John and Jonny haven’t been too well and so pray for them to get better for our last day at the conference tomorrow!! And journey back to kathmandu sometime friday! Having a great time still though. We went to some of the bible studies today and one we were spoke to about the Gates in Neh! But things they said i didn’t always agree with – soem things are so old and traditional that we get stuck in that way and don’t ever seem to get out of it or better – so how can we possible help out youth to come to church to christ if our tradtions are not suiting the culture and times?? Our foundation should be based on God but with newer traditions or the old ones made to fit all! So interesting – so I just wrote lots about what i wanted answering!
Anyways we got back in our GupSup grouts and was all good chatting about our encounter visitis yesterday – great to talk to people from different nations on how they see things differently from myself!!
We then had the workshops and I went along to John and Pete’s which was really good and showed some of the people in the conference of how we can start to chance ways in our church to get more youth involved!! Was so great to see people inspired!! Although for most of the session i made a new friend – hehe – a little girl from Nepal and she was three and a half – gorgeous!! Well actually i met her on the playground – yes i was playing as a kid myself!! haha – we had a massive group photo and there was a climbing frame so i was jumping/climbing up and back rolling off – she saw me and wanted to climb with me too – so we climbed up and sat on top – was fun!! 
Her mum was then in the same sworkshop session and so the little girl remembered me and came over and sat with me!! We drew and played with my bag – everything in it came out and back in several times, played with my bangles – got shown how to where them properly she also stole my phone and was properly chatting away on it – hehe soooooo cute!! She drew in my book and was so much fun playing with her – i was made to make time for kids!! Was brill – highlight of my day!! Oh and dancing!!
We had the culture evening tonight and all was good – we were asked to propare something and because we have two Scots – we decided to teach a Scottish dance – we learnt it this afternoon and then i was teaching it this evening!! Haha – the skills of a coach!! Also we did a bit of Salsa with Chuili – was so much fn – i need to learn that dance – lovely!! So a brill evening – very eventful and lots of fun!!!
Anyways thats me off to bed – tired and need to be awake for our last day tomorrow in Pokhara at the conference!! Love to all xxx
