Even if you were an observer, you won't escape the emotion. There was too much energy (of love) under that roof. Incredible and amazing. Echoes of "La llaha illalah, Muhammadar rasulullah" were heard in the background, inducing forgiveness and affection.
That moment marked the end of the Summer Camp: Motivasi Jati Diri, organized by OGDC and AKRAB. We were told that one quit the night before. In the end, there were 243 'survivors' including my eldest daughter from that camp. Over 100 families assembled under the BIG TOP for that closing, and were witnesses to that LOVE session.
I am extremely proud she survived the camp.
(image source: http://www.bsp.com.bn/ogdc/)When we sent her there on friday morning, we were worried that she wouldn't be able to handle the programme. Starting her days at the camp at 4:30 am is unusual for her. Unusual for a girl coming 9, I believe. Sharing a plate among sisters has been almost impossible at home. Eating 'just basic food' sounded alarming too. We were scared she would not survived it.
But that was the idea. To get her to understand the extreme; conditions she had NEVER experienced before.
Yes, everything was basic. Nothing fancy this camp, and nothing like previous camps organized by OGDC. They don't call it the survival camp, but it has that in essence. Campers before this enjoy buffet food. This time, no buffet. You share your plate of plain rice and one piece of everything else just enough for everyone on a large plate with three or four other campers. No top ups, no desert.
(image source: http://iskandarworld.blogspot.com/)
You stay in a huge tent; sleeping on the ground and close to each other. HOT is what you should feel over the 3 days and 2 nights. Complaint, you should not; cause everything is a test - The test to Robustness.The mission was on character building, that is to creating excellent Bruneians with great morality. The emphasis was on LOVE; love towards God, love towards The Prophet, love towards Parents, love towards Ummah and love towards Excellence, while reinforcing they are the BEST! BEST! BEST!
With the five jum'ah salat obligatory to all campers preceded with a series of religious (motivational) talks during the camp, some may chose to call it the Da'wah camp. So, it is not the conventional camps.
One day out of the camp, I am impressed on my eldest change of behaviour. A lot lot more loving to her younger sisters, is listening, and there has been NO whining. There was no left over on her plate this lunch. She wasn't hungry. She has learned to appreciate every grain of rice put on the table for her. So far so good.
We didnot send her to that camp because she was a problem child. All teens go through a rebellious stage, and shout for independence every moment of time. We sent her:
- So she would become a better person than she was before: A better daughter, a better sister, a better student, a better Bruneian - not just better, but the BEST...BEST...BEST!
- So she would be ready for the unpredictable future
- So she would learn how to become a great leader, and a follower
- So, she knows why love, how to love, when to love, what to love, and where not to love.
It was a tiring weekend, having to go back and forth to Seria. But all worth it. Because of LOVE.
Note. She would like to join the camp again she says. Inda jara kali ah. How great is that! Best... best... best!
P.S. I'm searching for pics momenting the LOVE session on Brunei blogosphere. If you happen to have one, share please. Gracias.
3 comments:
This is a very interesting entry. If this is one of the ways to create positive changes...i will do it everytime. My twins need this sort of positive changes...i think they are getting spoilt and blase with luxuries and material things. Maybe, we (my hubby & I) need to take a step back and not spoil them too much. After 10 years of marriage and no kids and when two popped out at once...you tend to spoil them. I hear you silver fairyangel.
I want my kids to be appreciative of everything. I don't want them to say thank you just for the sake of it but to say it from the heart. I want them to be thanksful and grateful and to treasure gestures and gifts..small or big to heart.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR BEAUTIFUL BLOG AND FOR SHARING.
I'd love to send my girls to one of these, although I'm not too sure about the religious context in which it is set. Would prefer it to be non-religious so that kids can learn how to get along, regardless of race, culture, or creed. Good moral values are, after all universal :)
Hi Anony,
lovely to hear you have twins. It must feel incredible to having them around. Extra incredible for that strong 10 years. I salute you and hubby!
Who don't spoil their kids anyway? We all do. Because love is invisible we subconsciously find alternatives like material gifts as way of showing it. So maybe we ALL need to learn to do the material spoiling in moderation. Instead shower make love more invisible through physical hugs and kisses. Make it more verbal, we often forget to saying "I love you" to our kids, while demanding that from our partners. Let's teach them what appreciation is all about. After all everything begins from us.
Thank you to you too. For reading and sharing.
Hiya AB,
Yes, good morals and positive values are universal. It's not necessary to be in a religious context. But I guess emphasizing it via religion can be stronger, after all an influential element in ethics is religion. I know, I know I hear Kant and his followers arguing that statement.
But I see what you mean; LOVE should also include getting along with people of various background. Organizing it for a specific religion limits that opportunity to interacting with The others. It's paramount to have such integrated camps, cause LOVE is the mean to peace and understanding. Ah! especially in today's world full of bigotry and hatred. Perhaps the next motivational camp should incorporate your thought, it will be a challenge for the Brunei organizers.
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