FCBC Winter Retreat: Extreme Makeover

On the second last Sunday night of 2009, I was talking to Sammy online. We were talking about how we finally got to meet up with each other after not seeing each other for 2 months! He was busy with work and family; I had school and school... LOL

We had a Christmas dinner with Fongyi's and Small Group. =) It was great. I just love being with them all. I felt like I was part of that family.

Anyway, back to our conversation. Sammy told me about how he wouldn't be at Fongyi's the following Friday. I was disappointed because I wouldn't get to see him till the week after. It happened that he was going to his church's youth group's retreat - FCBC-YF. A lot of my friends go to YF, most of the basketball players at least. LOL

So I told him I was pretty sad I wouldn't get to see him. I wouldn't get my guitar lessons from him! Then out of the blue, he asked me if I would like to go. I was like REALLY?! I can go? Are you sure? And he was so confident about it and said yes. I was pretty excited. He told me that my neighbors (Vicky & Becky) were going too. =) I asked my parents the very next day if I could go. They were not hesitant at all. They just said yes. xD I was so happy.

Also, I wanted to bring my brother along, but my dad told me to bring my sister instead. She's never been to any camp/ retreat. My brother has. So, he said to give my sister a chance. I'd be able to take care of her too. haha. I didn't mind who'd go with me. I won't bring two though. I don't think I can handle and take care of them both. So one at a time!

My packing was so last minute. LOL. I did everything at night and in the morning. But it was all cool~ I brought everything I need. ;P

Day 1 - Uncle James picked us up around 9:30 am and drove us to church. I was so excited. I walked around the gym and outside the gym, then to Water Plus, then back to church and waited for Sammy outside. While I was waiting, I saw other people there that I knew or have seen around before. Daisy, Amy, Zi, Quan, Yvonne, Jennifer, Jack, Alex... There was a lot of people... There's more, but I don't remember them all. HAHA And OF COURSE~ I met a lot of new people.

We left church around 11am after a devotion. I was in a van with Audrey, Sammy,Vicky, Becky, Julie, Jenny, Danny and Peter. We stopped by the Figueroa McDonald's for lunch. Yum~ I had to fight with Audrey for the ice-cream I bought her. LOL It's okay~ We're cool~

The ride was pretty short. Not that bad. Only about 90minutes. We arrived at Frazier Park Camp AREV around like, 4pm.

You know what? I'm just going to put down our schedule. Way easier! LOL

Thurs -- Dec 31, 09
4:00pm Arrival to Camp
4:15pm Orientation & Cabin Assignments
4:30pm Unload/Unpack
6:30pm Dinner
7:30pm Praise & Worship
8:00pm Evening Message
9:00pm Cabin Sharing
10:00pm Snacks
11:00pm Countdown ...2010!!
1:00pm Lights Out

Fri-- Jan 1, 10
8:00am Rise & Shine!
8:30am Breakfast
9:15am Devotion
10:00am Worship
10:30am Morning Message
11:30 Break
12:00 Lunch
1:00 Play in snow
3:00 Free time
6:00 Dinner
7:00pm Praise & Worship
7:30pm Evening Message
8:30pm Cabin Sharing
10:00pm Snacks
11:00pm Lights Out

Sat-- Jan 2, 10
8:00am Rise & Shine!
8:30am Breakfast
9:15am Devotion
10:00am Worship
10:30am Morning Message
11:30 Break
12:00 Lunch
1:00 Group Picture/ Games
3:00 Free time
6:00 Dinner
7:00pm Praise & Worship
7:30pm Evening Message
8:30pm Cabin Sharing
9:30pm Testimonies
1:45am Snacks
2:00am Lights out! @_@

Fri-- Jan 3, 10
8:00am Rise & Shine!
8:45am Pack & Clean Cabin
9:30am Devotion
10:30am Worship
10:45am Closing Remarks
11:00 Clean up
12:00 Departure
2:00 Arrive at Church

Ummm... I'll talk about the few best parts of camp =)
The count down was awesome. It was my first time celebrating it away from home though. I was with my sister and friends so it was all cool ^_^ I was playing bananagrams with Vicky, Becky and Sammy right before the count down. When the countdown started, you could see everyone stop what they were doing and started counting down. LOL

Playing in the snow was enjoyable to me because my sister was having fun after keeping to herself so much. I guess she wasn't used to the environment and people. When I saw her make her snowman with Cheryl I was so glad she was having fun =) I threw snowballs at people... specifically Sammy, Alex and Amy. LOL Sammy was funny to look at. His lips were pink (I'm jealous). So were his ears and cheeks. HAHAHA It was like so cold when I touched his ears LMAO and he was all like "OOooo so warm!!" LOL Alex was even nicer, he didnt have gloves, so he was freezing his hands off. He did the smartest thing and stuck his freezing arms into the back of Sammy's shirt! LOL Sammy's expression was priceless! LOL

During the second day's cabin sharing, Aunty Penny (the person in charge of our cabin) said something that just caught my attention. Amy asked the question, "What if I'm really successful and God tells me to go to some place in Africa or something?" She said it in a really "I don't want to do something like that tone." Aunty Penny gave a really good answer she said, "Don't you trust God to tell you to do something that you will enjoy? Why would your father who loves you give you something you don't like?" I thought about that, and it is so true. lol

Free-time during my third day was awesome. Sammy wanted to make his "cross necklace." He found sticks and I was about to put it together. BUT OMG~ Just when I was like done, he changes his mind and wants to make a lanyard~ After forever, well actually more when it was finally 4pm, he was done and happy with his cross lanyard. Then we walked around the cabin area like more than 10 times. We had a really good conversation about like EVERYTHING LOL. Yup~

Testimonies were a long long long time. Yes all the way till 2am. My sister was tired so I got her to go to bed early. I sat there with Sammy and I listened to all those testimonies. It was really good. My butt actually started to hurt for sitting in one spot for so long. LOL Sammy kept telling me to go up say something, but I had nothing to say so.. oh well. lol He went up though, it was really inspiring, he always is. ^_^ I was listening to the last testimony when I God started talking to me. Yeah yeah, I sound crazy, but I don't care what people think. It was the most amazing thing during the whole retreat.

The last day there wasn't much to do. So yeah, that's all I'm going to talk about. =D
I might edit if I have more to say. =)
Thank you Sammy! ^_^