My Diary & Experience In Damai Rainforest Resort with AMOS Cell Group Members

On 18 Jan 99, 7.40pm, we started our journey to Damai Rainforest Resort! A guy came with Proton Saga to fetch us there. It was really exciting, speeding at the road at night. A bit scary as well. The journey was a bit long, took about 1 hour to reach there. It was almost 9 pm when we finally reached there. Upon reaching there, we parked our car outside. We walked inside and came to Reception Center, asking information on which cabin we were in. We didn’t notice the short notice prepared by Cell Group Members.

It was really dark when we walked inside. When we reached the cabin, I saw a few girls sitting outside the cabin. They waved at us and greet us. They were Jennifer, Chui Chun, Hui Lih and Angela. When asking about our cabin, it was just behind the girl’s cabin, a few steps away. They rent two cabins, one is H4 and the other one is H5. But the actual name for the cabins had been forgotten. Later on, we came back to the girl’s cabin again. I could see a lot of food prepare outside the cabin. Each cabin was air-conditioned and got refrigerator. That’s just like Hotel, just it was inside the forest.

The girls asked me if I was hungry, but I answered not. Anyway, I ate one ‘Tou Sa’ bread. At the same time, I looked upon the wall. There got big ‘poster’ or should say big Manilacard which print the activities of following two days. The design was really great. Upon asking, we realized that the design was done by Hui Lih in her working office. Later on, there came Ing Tung’s family. We went out to help them to carry the things. At the same time, we did also went to the Reception Center again and look for the notice as Ing Tung’s Family did see the notice on the notice board.

The receptor asked us if we need help. He did offer that if we got too many things to carry, there got free service to carry up the things for us by using trolley. But we answered that if we need help only then we will ask for help. After going out the park to get things, we found that there were really too many things to be carry. So, we put the things at the Reception Center and waited worker to help us to carry the things. However, we did carry some important things or expensive things. For me, I carried rice cooker.

Upon reaching the cabin, the girls teased us for doing nothing, went out just to carry water botol back and rice cooker only. Anyway, after a while. the other guys also turned out. They were all four boys together. After a few while, Jenny’s family also turned up, bring a lot of foods as well. Their family consists of one mother, one daughter and two brothers. At that moment, we were playing Joker. Actually we would like to play Scrabble, but Ing Tung’s baby kept disturbing, rather hard for us to play. For the first night, we didn’t have too much activities, just staying in the cabin. We chit-chat and had fun together. We had booked two cabins.

For the first night, I already get to know more friends. We played Joker, Scrabble & Dictionary! These were the games that I had never play before except Joker. It was indeed a great fun. But Ing Tung’s child a bit naughty too, kept disturb us. Anyway, he seemed more prefer to stay with Jennifer. Actually at that moment, we would like to sleep already. But after going back to cabin, seemed a bit boring. Thus, some boys going to girl’s cabin there again and play Dictionary. Really a great fun. The game ended up which the girls were the winners and boys loose.

Among the games that I like the most was Guardian Angel. We choose the name among members in random and take care of each other secretly until the final date of retreat. That night we just ate and play until 1.30 am. Actually we did divvied into three groups. I was not in my cousin group. My group need to prepare breakfast for the next morning. Collin’s friend asked me to sleep earlier and I will be in his group for the next morning.

The next morning, 19 Jan 99, 6.00am, my group wake up early than the others. I was the first one to wake up at my cabin there. I went out the door and saw the girls already been there preparing something. That girl was Hui Lih. And then I walked into the cabin again. Collin’s friend also woke up. But he said he needed to brush his teeth and washed his face first. So, I just wait for him. Later, we went to the girl’s cabin there together. The girls already woke up and just sitting outside the cabin. In my group, still got one guy havent wake up. Maybe he was too sleepy. The air-con last night was indeed cold. He just slept alone outside the room. Really pity for him. And we didn’t call him up as well, let him rest for a while.

For this morning, we need to prepare eggs, breads, marvis, hotdogs, vegetables and drinks. It was my first time to learn how to beat eggs, boiling them, mix with many ingredients. I shall never forget such a great fun that I had. For the first step, we boiled the eggs. But really failure, because the eggs we boiled finally still very soft one. Maybe the method we used was wrong. Angela even kidding and said that the affection might be different from the eggs in city compare to the eggs in ‘kampung’. Hui Lih also claimed that those eggs were good quality actually and were cheaper compare to the price in market now. Anyway, after breaking all the eggs, we put it into the pot and boil again. At the moment, that guy in our group finally turned up. He seemed still so sleepy. Two eggs were badly boiled. Hui Lih kidding that guy and said that those two eggs were his breakfast. He suggested that these two eggs could be mixed together with other eggs while preparing for the mixed eggs.

Hui Lih asked me to break the eggs and beat the eggs. I guess I was rather terrible, kept make the eggs pouring out of the plate. Hui Lih asked me if I had done it before. I answered not. She just kidding that it was good for me to learn. She also demonstrate one time for me to see. That time got some flies and flew into the bowl. Luckily I noticed that and picked it out. That guys even know how to make ‘Teh Tarik’, that’s indeed a good view to see him pull the teh from higher place down to the cups. That’s really fantastic. Actually that guy would like to add more sugar, but the girls said it’s not good for health. So, he gave up. The breakfast was really great. I drank a cup of ‘Teh Tarik’ and some break as well. At the same time, messenger from my angel asked me whether I ate well, sleep well or not. I answered YES! Hui Lih also asked me whether the bread taste nice or not, because just now got the flies flew into the bowl. I forgot the incident and answered not bad. And finally I just realize that what she actually mean! Really foolish of myself!

At 8.45am, we got a program ‘Shout To The Lord!’, singing songs and sharing gospel of bibles. Even got pastor came here and sharing bibles with us! Two assistants came along with him. One of them is Form 4 student, got 7A1C in PMR while the other one is college student who go through F6 and now is a student of UNIMAS who study IT as well. That’s what I knew after the sharing. Before that, we had ‘Have a cup of tea’ (kind of fun game too). At this game, Collin was the winner, because nobody manage to beat him. I was not bad too. I manage to stay at the second place till the end of the game.

When the sharing and game finish, we just waited outside for the lunch. That’s the time I came to know those two guys who came along with the pastor. I could see the girls busy preparing for the lunch. That’s the duty of Group 2. Actually that morning I would to prepare a message for the people that I caring of, Jennifer. But the sharing last for too long. So, the message that I prepare earlier just gave up. Until 12.00pm we had our lunch. And that time, my angel didn’t do anything to me. (That’s what I suppose earlier but finally I just realize that the angel did prepare lunch for me, that’s mee). What impress me deeply was that my ‘angel’ had prepare breakfast and lunch for me…!

From 2.00 – 5.00pm, we were having relax time. Actually plan to swim there, but nobody would like to swim, so just play at the beach! At the same time too, James asked me to go and have a walk with him. I agreed. On the way, we met that guy and walked together. We did met Kong Wet as well. We walked until the end of the park, which is the restriction area, mainly for practice only. Then we walked back. Along the way, we past the beach again. This time, we just went down have a look and then came up again. We walked back to the cabin. And we play Scrabble and Dictionary again! I was quite lucky as well, help the group to win 3 times just the beginning of the games. Afterward, we play Scrabble. The game really exciting. That guy good at stealing words. I was really admire him that he is so good in English. I heard somebody said that he was a University Graduate. Anyway, I manage to make few words as well and manage to steal word as well.

That evening, 6.00pm, we prepare for Barbecue! That’s Group 3 job. My cousin was in Group 3. Really happy to see that everybody so busy preparing for food and chit-chat together. Chung Lang asked me whether good in English or not. I answered quite OK! She asked me to talk to James on behalf of the messenger. She asked me to appreciate for his hardwork and don’t get over-heat by the fire. And then a guy appear, bring an Apron for James to wear. Finally I manage to talk to James as well, just one sentence that the Angel appreciate for his hardwork.

While eating, Jennifer fall down. Those girls just kidding who is her Angel and never turn up to help her. Actually that Angel was me and I just remain quite. But I did do some action as well. I asked Hui Lih to send 2 hotdogs to Jennifer and asked her if she is OK just now. Hui Lih did what I asked but she didn’t realize that I was her's Angel. She even picked one slip of vegetables in the middle. (I prepare 2 hotdogs and 2 chicken wings for the people that I take care of!). And that Jennifer even ask for one chicken wing. As to be nice, I asked Kong Wet to send her two chicken wings instead of one. Really funny!! He kidding that got many Angel send things to Jennifer.

Some Angel just simply send things to other so that nobody would know who is the real Angel. For me, I choose fried rice and chicken wing which is ready prepared. My Angel gave me two hotdogs. Actually I did have one already in my plate. That messenger said that Angel asked me to eat a lot and grow up faster. What a fun!! That night we got pretty activities as well, dancing, treasure hunt, word-guessing in groups! For the hunt treasure, the main character is Ing Tung, Word-guessing most relate to Bibles. We played until 2.30am. Receiving quite a lot of foods and concerning messages from my angel, which I shall never forget. I did prepare something for the people I take care of as well, a glass of orange and a message, 2 hotdogs and 2 chicken wings, sweet and message and 2 pieces of watermelons on the next morning.

From the game of word-guessing, I learnt how to face people in front of public and describe the things! From the Scrabble, I learnt a lot of Vocabulary and from Dictionary, I found out the way to express myself in different ways. For those who participate in this Cell Group Retreat were all Christians. Some of them bring whole family over there and lots of foods, just like my cousin bring me along. I could see clearly how they share their love to each other, as saying in the bibles, caring for each other. That night we chit-chat until 2.30am.

On 20 Jan 99, 8.00am, we were having our breakfast, Mee & Watermelon as well. Then we had ‘Shout To The Lord’ activity again. Then time for us to share the words from Bibles. Around 11.00am, we got ‘Heart To Heart’ program. The final one was to reveal who is the Angel. I like the game of Guardian Angel the most, helping people in secret way and nobody would know it. Until 12.30, we started packing our things and going to leave. Before that, we took quite a lot of photographs as well. We didn’t have our lunch, but all going to Tomsom Center there to have lunch together. That’s indeed a great fun.

What I would like to say from this Cell Group Retreat is that I get to know more friends. My cousin says that he enjoys the activities especially got a chance to converse to others in English. Even though all participates are Chinese, but they all talk in English! I got the same feelings as well. Just found that I manage to express to others in different ways. One of them is System Analyst who was a lecture before as well. Most of them are working, just 20 over something.

Nowadays, I follow my cousin to Trinity Church on Sunday for English Service one. On Friday night, I would join Cell Group. I really find myself change a lot of the way of thinking after joining this Cell Group Retreat. I should say that God did answer my prayer ... once I did pray for a chance to let me joining more Church Activities and get to know more people, now it did come true.