By Polo Miguel Dela Cruz This was the first time I felt incomparable happiness. Lahat ng activities is relatable to every youth, yung tipong mabe-bless ka ng sobra kasi ang saya ng lahat ng gagawin niyo.
Ito rin yung moment na nag-sync in sakin na nasabi ko nalang na, “Ito na yun. Magse-serve na ko at magbabago na ko.”
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By Trippee Velasco My first ever Camp Calye way back 2014 will always be treasured in my heart, as this camp served its very purpose of leading my mind, heart and soul to Christ; where I began to become passionately closer to God, where I felt Jesus truly in my life, and where I experienced real freedom through the Holy Spirit. This was the time where I finally found my One true love, Jesus.
The camp became my eye opener, that I was able to see and appreciate all God's creation as something beautiful and perfectly made. And every time I wake up, I am still and always be in awe of how His unconditional love molded me into every fiber of my being, perfectly planned! I am not perfect but solely by His grace, I am saved and always be loved by a perfect God! Thanks Jesus for Camp Calye! <3 By Charie Gemao It was year 2013 that I joined Camp Calye. Since then, my life was never been the same.
Like any other youth I was challenged by the world at an early age. Thus, I didn’t have a colorful childhood. As I grow into a fine lady, all that I wanted is a company of friends who will love me despite of my shortcomings and brokenness. I guess, we all want it and we all yearn for it – the sense of belongingness. And true enough, I gained it. In fact, I gained more than friends – but a family. I used to label myself as a “product of a broken family” but now I don’t. For God has made me whole and He gave me an extended family – a spiritual one, whom I know will not give up on me as much as I don’t give up on life. And by the way, my youth leaders before who encourage me to join the Camp are now my spiritual parents. I don’t call them mommy or daddy, but with all my heart I can feel that they love and treat me as their own daughter. PS. YUNG IBABAYAD MO SA CAMP, MAY SUKLI PA – mga kaibigan na di maglalaon ay iyo ring magiging pamilya na uunawa sa mga pagkakamali’t pagkukulang mo, maniniwala sa mga pangarap mo at magmamahal ng buong buo sa’yo! By Eondelle Brilliantes "GO EONDELLE!!! KAYA MO YAN!!! CONQUER YOUR FEARS! KONTI NA LANG!"
Sa camp natuto akong lumaban sa kabila ng takot. Sa camp, natuto akong magpatuloy sa kabila ng hirap at pagod. Sa camp, natutunan ko na hindi ako nag-iisa sa laban na kinakaharap ko. At sa camp, natutunan kong tapusin ang bawat laban na nasimulan ko. Sa huli, kung mayroon man akong baon mula sa camp na hinding hindi ko makakalimutan, yun ay ang mga leksyon na humubog sa pagkatao ko ngayon. Sa camp, nabago ako ng dahil sa pagmamahal ng Diyos. By Biencarlo Maloles Noong ininvite palang ako para mag camp, sobrang ayaw ko kasi nakakatamad. Mayroon pa daw registration tapos pre-camp at madami pang iba. Naisip ko rin na parang sasayangin ko lang yung 4 days ng summer ko. Tapos noong naghahanda na ako para sa camp, habang hinahanda ko na lahat ng kailangan kong dalhin, gusto ko talaga mag back out kasi parang ang corny. Once na pagkapasok ko ng camp site, mayroon pa ring feeling na "ang corny naman nito" at "MATURE na masyado ako para dito eh".
Pero after some time ng araw na yun, sobrang pinagsisihan ko kung bakit ko sinabi o kahit inisip yung ganoong opinion sa camp. First day palang, sobrang SAYA na naming lahat. Parang sobrang magkakakilala na kaming lahat na nasa camp. Well, lalo na yung day 2-4 as in SOBRANG ENJOY na namin at andun yung feeling na "sana 1 MONTH nalang ang camp!" Hindi lang ako nag enjoy o nagkaroon ng mas madami pang kaibigan, kung hindi MAS NAPALAPIT RIN AKO SA DIYOS. Dahil sa experience na ito, nagustuhan ko mag serve para sa Kanya. Ang masasabi ko lang ay ang experience na ito ay yung tipong paguusapan niyo parin ng mga kaibigan niyo kahit ilang linggo (or buwan) na ang nakalikipas. HINDI mo talaga ito pag-sisisihan at talagang SULIT NA SULIT ang 4 days 3 nights mo!!! Kaya ano pa hinahanap mong activities para sa summer, full package na itoooo? Enjoy ka na, blessed pa! KAYA SAMA NA!!! by Gerline Inocencio It has been 2 years already since I first joined Camp Calye and I am still in awe of how it had affected my life. Call it an unforgettable experience or the "best summer ever", but those aren't enough to describe the feelings. An understatement, as one may say. Have you ever felt waking up every morning and wishing for the day to end already? That's how my life was. If I never attended that camp, I would continue being a zombie - living a dead life. However, after joining the camp, there was never a chance that I've regretted being part of it. In fact, I've always asked God this question, "Lord, bakit ngayon lang? Why not few years earlier?" The story behind this question is because I felt like I wasted few years of my life walking endlessly on the wrong road. Well, when you walk an endless road, you eventually become tired. The worst thing that happened is that I have dropped out from my supposedly last 3 semesters in college. The reason? I don't know. Just kidding. Hard to admit but I lost the will to live anymore, feeling like I have no more reason to do the stuff that I should do. I lost my dreams, my passion, became devoured by my own negatrons (or negative thoughts). To spare you the details, I'll conclude it this way. Camp Calye which was titled Lipad during that time made me really soar up high: in my relationships with family, friends, self, and with God. It also made me aim and achieve high in my career and studies. Now, I am about to finish what I left hanging with only one semester left. Hooray! Not just that, I learned to never take things for granted. In school and in life, I make sure to always learn. One thing I am sure of: God emptied me only to fill me up. He filled me up even more to make me share His grace, love, and blessings to other people. One last awesome story that I really want to share with you. Even after being immensely blessed as a camper, Camp Calye continued blessing me. Now, as a youth servant, a camp facilitator, opportunities to build more friendships are in front of me. From "walang forever" to "may forever (with full conviction)," I can testify to many things that last forever! It only takes one step of courage to leave the comfort zone. That one step to allow God to lead us in His mysterious way of blessing us to the fullest. Just enjoy the ride even if the road ahead is a little bit bumpy. Because at the end of a long and winding road, there awaits a paradise that God wants us to see. by Dessa Delos Santos God chooses his servants and he calls them by name. I was called. I’m sure my name was called. How? Because I was led to him, through the youth camp. Camp Calye Lipad during the summer of 2013 was the very first time I went out of my comfort zone. Joining the youth camp was not something I gladly decided on. It wasn’t my choice in the first place. This was my parents’ “solution” to my then walled up social life. They say it was about time I expand my horizons and make friends as I was supposed to be living my teenage life the way it should be lived. The camp turned out to be more than just a simple socialization experience. Instead it was a deep and enriching spiritual ride. During the camp I came to fill the emptiness I didn’t even know existed in the first place. Hearing the stories of my group mates I realized how much I complained about things that didn’t even matter and I was made to see how much blessings I actually had. My eyes were opened to what was more of the world. Most importantly, I established my relationship with the Lord. The youth camp was the door that opened me to the LOJ community. It led me into countless opportunities to offer greater service to the Lord. As the camp was ending, I couldn’t believe how sad I was to be parting with the people once strangers to me four days ago. I didn’t make friends, instead I made a family. I was truly blessed after the camp. It lit a fire inside me to serve the Lord. I make sure I keep this fire burning for as long as I could. Right now, I happily serve the Lord through the dance ministry. I wouldn’t be here at this point in my spiritual journey without the youth camp that started it all. by Jasper King
It was in 2012 when I first joined Camp Calye. Hindi ako pinilit nila mama like the other kids. I was the one who asked my parents to pay for my camp fee together with the 3 of my cousins because I really wanted to have an adventure for summer. It was a one heck of ride, I experienced the awesomest slide, which is the mud slide, yes we love mud. And that very crazy obstacle course. Today, I’m just 17 years old, but I have experienced a lot of things in life. I was an alcoholic, a smoker and a easy-go-lucky, go-with-the-flow kid. Yes, that is a lot for a teenager, and that WAS me. I looked for true joy and true companion in life. God brought me to the Feast, wherein he led me to the registration booth for Camp Calye. Now, I am an intercessor who loves through prayers, a dancer, who ministers through my moves and a loving servant who disciples through relationships. I am ashamed of what I have done. But I am proud of what God has done in my life. From that crazy kid, who first joined that camp without any expectations aside from having fun. To this strong, brave, faithful, loyal and loving gentleman writing his testimony on how God has changed him. God’s love and grace has turned my world UPSIDE DOWN. He has turned my mourning into dancing, He has turned my sorrow into joy. Improvement will not happen overnight, it is a life long journey. Just like what happened to me. J I am Jasper King M. Casimiro, a living testament of God’s grace, love and healing power. Hello guys! I’m Adrian. This is my short testimony about my Camp CALYE experience!
Philippians 3:14 “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” There’s always a place in my heart for first experiences. A friend of mine asked me if I would like to join Camp CALYE Flight P314 just to unwind, to experience new things, meet new kinds of people, and to know more about my faith with God, and his only beloved son Christ. I did the right choice to join the said event/activity. It gave a huge impact in my life. I was able to reflect the flow of everything around me, made me feel that I am loved, and let me speak up with my thoughts and ideas. I was truly in a cloud nine, enjoying life to the fullest without thinking the problems outside the camp; just enjoying the social gatherings, the activities, and every moment that will be cherished for the rest of my life. Weeks passed after the camp, I can still feel the joy. Pure happiness can be seen on my face. I was definitely able to release the stress that was built up on my body; I was able to become a new version of myself. I am a living proof that by joining Camp CALYE, it will make you a better person by transforming your old bad habits to a good one... Flight P314 was my first Camp CALYE! This year will soon be my second and I hope to see you there! For those who would want to join this year’s Camp CALYE, don’t hesitate! Experience this social activity and embrace God’s love because Christ will strengthen us! by Alyssa Kalaw, Parañaque Before, I was just a girl with a heart disease who only thought of when would I be on my deathbed. I was only 12 years old when I joined this summer camp called Camp CALYE: No God, No Glory. My aunt and registered me for this camp that I didn’t even want to attend- I mean, what’s a girl with a heart disease will do? But still, I attended and at first I thought to myself “What am I supposed to do here? Sit on the bench?” but as the four- life changing -days passed by, I knew the reason behind my attendance to this summer camp. During those four days, I met new people, gained new friends and had a group of loving and caring people to call my family. I also met a new person to call my mommy and she is one of the reasons why I stayed at the Feast. I met a bunch of people who made me enjoy life more, who made me realize that a heart disease won’t kill me at such an early age, that there’s more to life than this disease of mine and through these people, I felt His love for me. It’s not only the people I have interacted with but also because this camp taught me how I can express my love for Him. It made me realize that God is always with us, through thick and thin, and whatever it is, He will always be there. And with that I guess I could say that camp CALYE definitely changed my life and more importantly me because now I am His servant at the LOJYouth PICC and I have attended five camps, three where I was an attendee, one for a leadership camp called ALAB and the most recent wherein I was one of the facilitators who was also called mommy. Now, I am a girl with a big heart who trusts in Him and believes that everything happens for a reason. Before, I was just a girl with a heart disease who only thought of when would I be on my deathbed. I was only 12 years old when I joined this summer camp called Camp CALYE: No God, No Glory. My aunt and registered me for this camp that I didn’t even want to attend- I mean, what’s a girl with a heart disease will do? But still, I attended and at first I thought to myself “What am I supposed to do here? Sit on the bench?” but as the four- life changing -days passed by, I knew the reason behind my attendance to this summer camp. During those four days, I met new people, gained new friends and had a group of loving and caring people to call my family. I also met a new person to call my mommy and she is one of the reasons why I stayed at the Feast. I met a bunch of people who made me enjoy life more, who made me realize that a heart disease won’t kill me at such an early age, that there’s more to life than this disease of mine and through these people, I felt His love for me. It’s not only the people I have interacted with but also because this camp taught me how I can express my love for Him. It made me realize that God is always with us, through thick and thin, and whatever it is, He will always be there. And with that I guess I could say that Camp CALYE definitely changed my life and more importantly me because now I am His servant at the LOJ Youth PICC and I have attended five camps, three where I was an attendee, one for a leadership camp called ALAB and the most recent wherein I was one of the facilitators who was also called mommy. Now, I am a girl with a big heart who trusts in Him and believes that everything happens for a reason. |
AuthorThese articles were written and sent in by young people who experienced Camp CALYE. They were blessed immensely. And they want you to experience that same blessing too. Archives
April 2016
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