Mount Kinabalu Heritage Resort & Spa 31 August 2008 Part 1

I did not want to wake up early because the weather was so cool and nice to sleep in. Alas I was not there for a holiday but for a retreat. I had to force myself to wake up to have a shower.

We had buffet breakfast but since the time was only after 8a.m., I could not eat too much. I skipped porridge (which I heard was too salty), fried noodles, cereal, luncheon meat and omelette.

I had OJ, tea, sesame seed bun with butter, baked beans, sausages and nasi lemak.



This was the view of the mountain from the meeting room on the 9th Floor at 9.07a.m.




The second session on Merdeka (National) Day was also Canaanland Celebration. Dr. C, Yoke Keng, Dr. C’s mum – Mrs. Lee and Jordan came to join us. Kenny Lim was the Praise and Worship Leader.

Rev. George Ong shared on Jeremiah 1: 4-10.

Compelled by the Call

1. An Amazing Call in the light of insignificance.

When God called us, He does not push us. He compelled us.

i. Before Jeremiah parents existed, God already called him.

That was awesome to fathom.

ii. Appointed not to an easy task.

The call was made at eternity past, before he was even born. Jeremiah never loses his sense of amazement.

2. An Affirmative Call in the light of inadequacy.

i. Fearful of the task (to pronounce judgment on the whole nation). God had to affirm Jeremiah not to be afraid.

ii. Not able to speak properly. v6a – v. 9

iii. Too young v. 6b probably 18-20y.o. v. 7 Age was not an issue to him.

Stop focusing on our inadequacy. “I will enable you”.

3. An Awesome Call in the light of impossibility.

Uproot, tear down, destroy, overthrow – negative aspects

Build, plant – positive aspects

Jeremiah was told to pronounce judgment on the nation before he could bless. He was faithful to his call for 45 years.

When God is on our side, no task is a daunting task.

After Rev. George Ong had shared, we broke into small groups for discussion. At this time Dr. C, Yoke Keng, Dr. C’s mum – Mrs. Lee and Jordan left.

After the discussion, we had a time of fun and games.

Before we started the first game, Kenny Lim told us to blow at least one balloon each. I blew two.



Those who were participating in the first game had to line up into two rows. Each person partnered with another one and got the leg tied up together.







When the music started playing, each pair had to kick the balloon using the leg being tied up from one end of the room to the other end where Kenny stood and came back to the rest of the group before the next pair repeated the same thing until the music finished.

Which group won the game? It was a draw. Group A (the other group) supposed to have won if one pair did not use the leg not being tied to kick the balloon.

The second game of Treasure Hunt was prepared by Beatrice Tai.

We split into four groups and my group members consisted of Sharon Lai, Jerry Ho, Janice Quek and Justin Quek. I found a few of the clues. We did not count properly before we went back up to our meeting room on the 9th Floor. There was a piece missing and somehow all the groups were facing the same dilemma. In the end all the groups were disqualified because we did not follow the order in finding the clues properly.



The clues our group managed to find. Missing the first clue - letter C






This was the view of the mountain from the meeting room on the 9th Floor at 11.49a.m.