Sunday, April 09, 2006
back from camp

"Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;
He who guards himself will be far from them.
Train up a child in the way he should go,
Even when he is old he will not depart from it."

-Proverbs 22:5-6

"Write it down and remember that we never gave in
The mind of a child is where the revolution begins
So if the solution has never been to look in yourself
How is it that you expect to find it anywhere else?"

-"Caught in a Hustle" by Immortal Technique

Spring break officially started for me on Friday afternoon, but I didn't head off straight to the airport like hordes of other free'd students and teachers. Instead, I lept right into it by helping out at my church's annual youth retreat (the same one I wrote about on April 10th last year). It started on Friday and ended today.

It's unfortunate, but I think a lot people view working with children / young people as a chore rather than the great privilege it really is (I'm talking about both Christians and non-Christians). They lack the vision to understand how important it is that children are raised up by communities alongside their parents, because most likely, they'll become either one of two kinds of people:

1) half-baked people that will perpetuate the current injustices of the world, most likely in a passive, blinded state.

OR

2) whole people who possess the mental, social, and spiritual maturity to humbly, wisely, passionately, and actively work toward righting everything wrong with our world.


This blog probably contains more than my fair share of complaining of things that I see wrong in this world - racism, poverty, materialism, selfishness, etc. - but I'd like to think I'm convicted enough by my faith and my conscience to do something about it, even if only what I can do is a small act in a greater scheme of things. I know that sounds somewhat vague and very high-minded, but I don't want to live a meanless life, a life that never made a difference. And what bigger difference can their possibly be than helping to change someone else's life?

I think people would be surprised that kids these days (growing up in the environment that exists now) are capable of a very deep understanding of things. They need only the motivation, a little guidance, and the ears of someone who will hear truly them out to achieve that understanding. They need someone who can (and will) ask the right questions to push their thinking, and as insufficient as I am, God fortunately is more than merciful enough to give me the ability to connect with them.



^A pic of the high school students, myself (in the black Kangol with a lollipop stick hanging outta my mouth, haha), and a couple of the counselors. Yes, I know my kids are taller than me. They kept growing from last year. (or did I shrink? hrmmm.)

I'll blog a bigger update + photos later.

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Comments:
Angela>
I'm sure you've made your mark! I mean, how often is it that the students get to meet, a walking, talking Taiwanese American girl who speaks English, Chinese, and Japanese?

Just by knowing you, you've expanded their world, even if they don't say so. =)
 
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in?scrip?tion (n-skrip-shun)n.
1. The act or an instance of inscribing.
2. Something, such as the wording on a coin, medal, monument, or seal, that is inscribed.
3. A short, signed message in a book or on a photograph given as a gift.
4. The usually informal dedication of an artistic work.
5. Jeremiah 31:33

the facts.
name. Gar AKA "that Chinese guy" "Sleepy.McSleeping"
ethnicity/nationality. Chinese/American, 4th gen.
location. Sea-Town, WA, USA Kawanishi, JAPAN
occupation. less-cynical poor grad student
age. younger than you think, older than you know

 



 

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