Church camp in Kundasang

We attended the annual SIB Likas church camp in Kundasang last weekend.

It was a great getaway from the city. Away from the hustle bustle, away from the sweltering heat (it's been reaaallllyyy hot in KK for the past couple of weeks. Our neighbour just installed air-con yesterday), away from work (OK i confess I did bring some work...). 3 days 2 nights of cool mountain air, lots of friendly people around, just worriless 3 days of sitting and taking in the message from the preacher. Felt like being in heaven.

The invited speaker was Pastor Philip Sung from Bethel Church, Malacca. He's a very focused guy, who had in mind what he wanted in life right from the beginning. He quit Form 6 to enrol into Bible School (crazy ah?!)... but today, he stood before us and told us, he is living a life of no regrets. Given the chance to choose all over again, he would still choose the same choice.

Well, that opening line set the church camp into motion. How many of us can, at this day, say we are living a life with no regrets? I couldn't.

It was great listening to Pastor Philip share his life experiences and how through all these years, he have came to know his God so well. He shared about real life encounters of his God's faithfullness, not heavy theology and mystic theories. Simple, clear words, full of substance.

He gave useful reminders on things that Christians have been hearing all this while, but somehow fail to put into character...

• Avoid the money/materialism trap. How much money does it take to make a man happy? Just a little more.
• If we pray as much as we worry, there will be a lot less to worry about. Worry is the greatest robber of joy.
• The main hindrance to contentment is comparison.
• Do not put hope in wealth, which can be here today and gone tomorrow.
• Decide to overcome bitterness, envy and selfish ambition. Decide to forgive.
• Overcoming temptation and lust. Confess to somebody, have an accountability partner.
• 5 major ingredients to finishing well: Relationship with God. A learning posture. A Christlike character. Strong biblical convictions. Accomplish God's purpose.

Questions to the older people out there... if you could live life all over again, how would you live it differently?

What is a trip to Kundasang without some high country photos...

The schedule of the church camp was quite relaxed. The whole afternoon of second day was free. We followed the Youths to visit a Children's Home at Bundu Tuhan nearby. But the photos are in Bobby's dSLR la.

Irene's brother Ian and wife were in KK for a week. On the way back to Lahad Datu, they dropped by Kundasang to meet up with us.

We took the opportunity to visit the Kundasang War Memorial. The memorial commemorates Australian soldiers who died during the long march from Sandakan to Kundasang (which is really a looonnnnggg trip on foot) under the hands of Japanese army torturers. It was a really wonderful place to visit. Nicely landscaped gardens... and a great view of Mount Kinabalu. Highly recommended! Just avoid going there at noon, with the sun in full blaze.