Camp Review 2005

The AFC is not a matchmaking event for singles brethrens and neither is it a venue to seek for potential life partners. I was sitting in a conversation at the breakfast table one of the mornings, and it was kind of sad to hear of how the well-meaning objectives of AFC had been misinterpreted and misunderstood. Not only has it caused misunderstandings, but also, to some, personal hurts, due to their involvement with AFC. Well, AFC is basically for unmarried and married singles to have fellowship together in their Christian walk. Honestly, to confess, I also had some wrong thoughts of AFC previously, but it was good to discover the truth for myself when I was there. What attracted me to attend this camp was the fact that there would be a mission exposure trip to the Sea Gypsy village and the thought that it was the first AFC trip to Phuket, and for that sense, abroad. (Previous AFCs had been held in Malaysia).

While over there, we had sessions where the camp speaker taught us from the book of Song of Solomon. For morning devotions, we had a session named "Morning Manna", where we all meet together as a big group and the camp speaker shared with us some personal thoughts and meditations from a particular passage or verse of the Song of Solomon. Morning manna session was something new to me, as most camps that I attended had morning devotions being done personally, in pairs or in small groups. This morning manna session was totally different it was one solid hour of feeding on God's word.

Wow, I enjoyed the in-depth coverage of just one particular Bible verse...it was something like a mini sermon. Our camp speaker was Mr Ung Kim Cheng.

From the book of Song of Solomon, I discovered that the titles "Lily of the Valleys" and "Rose of Sharon" are apt for a feminine form. And the "Apple Tree of the Forest" for a masculine form. Hence, it is not very accurate to give this title of "Lily of the Valley" to Jesus, as in some of the songs we used to sing.

Mr Ung, at his first talk, reminded us countless of times to have a clear mind and clean thoughts before we start on an adventure of discovery as we study Song of Solomon. Personally, at the end of the camp, I find this book study a bold one, as we were taken on a journey of Bible discoveries, and of Solomon's relationship with, possibly, his first love their courtship and sexual relationship. Besides looking at the viewpoint of Solomon's life, it was also shown of how human relationships can be broken due to the doing of our own or others.

Apart from learning from God's word, I also had many "informal" lessons as I listened to the testimonies of the believers in the Sea Gypsy villages of Rawai and Koh Sirae, and the time of sharing with other brethrens when we go for outings, shopping, travelling and eating.

All in all, it was a very meaningful trip for me. I'm glad I decided to go for this camp, despite being the sole camper from my church.