Before I allow myself to do anything...check e-mails, blackboard grade (because finals are over), and get myself busy with unnecessary things, I feel like to really penetrate myself into this moment, I need to take a moment to blog about it. Similarly like any Confirmation II retreat, I never want to return to the busyness of life...but what can you say..it's life. Let's start off with Friday. Friday Morning: i woke up at 8:30am. I picked up Bao. We went to get McDonald's breakfast for Cha Lam and Lam. They were going to pick us up at my house at 9:30am. They did. Cha had to stay in town Friday to have dinner with the Cardinal. Michelle was flying in later Friday night. so it was me, Lam, and Bao. I was really tired. Our flight was at ..idr.. :/ but it was delayed..we ended up getting to NC around 6ish. had to hurry and set up. I was worried the materials for the balloon stomp icebreaker was not ready. ribbons were not cut nor were the puzzle pieces cut. so i hurried doing that as Bao got music ready. Then, somone (i later found out it was Chi's mom) asked me if i was tired and if i wanted an apple. so sweet of her. Then, her and a few others helped me. and we started the night off with the icebreaker. Lam shared the moral of the game. Then we did p&w. it was quite awkward. they were very talkative. a lot of them were younger and we didnt have full p&w until Michelle arrived. Then she did. Friday night went down terribly because it felt like we were rushing so badly because our flight was delayed. Then, when Michelle came, it was better but still kinda bad. it took so much manpower we didn't have.
Saturday: Cha arrives in the morning. We start off the morning with the straw tower activity and the holding your laughter game. Then, we went inside. Cha gave a talk. Then we had lunch. After lunch was the t-shirt icebreaker and the mask skit. They all entered and we had p&w. Cha talked. After that, we slowed it down for them to write letters. He also had confession going on. Then we all switched into the church. Inside the church, we stalled time by discussing physical and internal insecurity. Then Cha had a talk. Then we had dinner. After dinner, we performed the numb skit and we separated parent and children talks. After was adoration, and chisel skit. We all went back to Anh Huy's house, and had pho. His wife is so precious and sweet. We had a discussion about death and the chaplain breaking the news to the family member of the deceased, and how to handle it. Lam shared with us the first miracle he ever witnessed.
It was really good being able to serve alongside with Bao and Michelle. Serving with Bao made me see the greatness within him and how much i appreciated him as my boyfriend.
Sunday: Sunday was a relaxed morning because we didn't plan anything until 2:30-4:30. I woke up and we all went to the backyard to see the creek. Anh Huy's backyard is amazing. Michelle stayed inside with his wife making sushi. We all came back and helped her roll sushi. Then we went to church. WE had a slideshow powerpoint and discussed ways to build the community. then at 5, we had mass. mass was quite long. but i enjoyed it. I enjoyed sitting next to Anh Huy's kid, Lam. and Kevin, of course. They gave us the gift. Then we all went to Cha Manh Thu's House to eat dinner. I enjoyed it because i felt like i was a part of an adult conversation. We went to CVS after, bought candy and drinks. went home and watched Tree of Life on the projector. great way to end the night
Monday: we didn't have to leave until late. we went horseback riding. visit duke university chapel. ate at noodles and everything. then went to the airport. flight landed at 730. cha, bao, michelle and i ate at Rudys. then we got home at 10.
Highlight of the weekends:
being able to serve with my boyfriend, Bao.
being able to to be a part of this close-knit community
being away from the chaos of a city-life--work, family, school, friends
growing closer to Cha Lam and Lam
horseback riding
being able to serve
Kevin's conversion
the laughter...making fun of Cha's laugh, betting the Target gift card with Bao that Michelle's been to the house, watching a movie on the projector even though it was a terrible movie
talking to Chi and having hope that she'll be able to join in on other retreats
being away from the internet, social network, and the outside world
sleeping at Anh Huy's house is always so nice and relaxing
meeting Anh Binh, Chi's Parents,
