Leaders’ Retreat (31st Dec 2008 – 2nd Jan 2009)
After a year of sweat and hard work, the ET Zone leaders got together to end 2008 with a 3-day, 2-night retreat at Aranda Country Club at Downtown East.
This year, an organizing committee, consisting of the newer leaders like David, Tian Yi, Sandy, Bernice, Kai Lin, Seowshi, Joycelyn and Jing Jing, were tasked with planning all the indoor games and an Amazing Race for the rest of the leaders! A daunting task indeed, as they attempted to shout their instructions to the overly-excited and rowdy audience – majority of whom knew almost every trick in the book, and who used that to their advantage to try and cut corners to score more points!
Jin Lian from N430 commented that the Race in particular was tiring for some of the leaders more accustomed to planning rather than playing the games, yet it was a fun and memorable experience. The games were innovative and well-led. Most importantly, it served as an avenue to create stronger bonds amongst the leaders.
“The games, fellowship and laughter has definitely brought us closer to one another”, says David Ang from E316.
Right before the countdown to 2009, our zone supervisor, Edmund Tay, shared a message using the acronym, “L-O-V-E” – ‘Leadership’, ‘Openness’, ‘Vision’ and ‘ET Zone’ – the building blocks on which the success of our zone stands upon. After all, without “LOVE”, we are nothing (1 Corinthians 13:2-3).
Soon after, we had our Thanksgiving ceremony, where the different leaders were not only honored for their different contributions in 2008, but spoofed for their unique attributes and personalities as well. I suppose that is what makes us all “Extra-Terrestrials” (ET).
Taking a step back from all the confetti and commotion of the countdown, I saw the evident love and strong friendships the leaders had with one another. I believe that these genuine relationships were birthed forth through them continuously serving God and serving one another. Just like what the Bible says in Proverbs 17:17 (The Message), “Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble”. This close-knitted family truly has gone through thick and thin together – from long nights of planning and preparation for various events, to discipleship at Edmund’s house.
In the past few years and even more so recently, we have seen our zone’s leadership grow in numbers. These new faces, according to Jin Lian, is what made this retreat different from the previous years’. But of course, these opportunities to rise up and serve God even more would not have been possible without Edmund and Jia Hui’s love, passion and vision for the zone. So, on behalf of everyone in ET zone, here is a big “Thank You” to Edmund and Jia Hui for being such awesome role models for us all!
Reported by Karen Wong N415
