The first time I "attended" the Choice Weekend in 2011, it was also the first time I was a presenter. Yes, I vaguely heard of Choice Programme when I was a young adult (I don't know what happened, but it seems back then, Choice seemed to have reached out to many people, in fact there were weekend every month). I guess despite the popularity, it didn't reach this "pumpkin". Instead, I heard so much about Engaged Encounter and Marriage Encounter, which had nothing to do with me back then (more so now, LOL!). So, with the intention of observing the weekend, I ended become the religious presenter. I was in for a surprise!
Like many others, I used to associate Choice with the Catholic SDU, thinking that it is a programme that help you to choose your partner (my choice friends must be laughing). It is all about making choices in our relationships with the significant people in our lives, be it parents, siblings, friends and even God. (ref: http://www.choice.org.sg/aboutchoice.htm). In the midst of preparing the presentations, I find myself not just giving, but rather receiving, because I learned more about myself and learn from the experiences of others. Not only that, through the sharing, we created a bonding among ourselves, a bond that no words could explain nor define.
Yes, when one participated in Choice, one enters into the Choice family, not only locally but across the borders. I personally experienced this when I was invited to participate in the 13th Choice Asian Conference in Bandung, where the different representatives from countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Hongkong, Taiwan and of course Indonesia, gathered once every 3 years to share their programmes and experiences. You can tell, everyone blended in so naturally, without reservation. It was as though we have known each other for years and we were able to talk about anything and everything. I know that a number of them still continue to keep in touch with one another and when someone came from another country, for sure, there will be a Choice gathering.
For me, somehow, not only I get to know more people, made more friends, but through the 2 weekends I presented, somehow God give me special friends from that group. Again, there is no explanation as to why I become closer to a particular person or persons, but there is a special bond that God has created in us. I believe this is God's gift for me, perhaps as an assurance and sign of His love for me. I don't know where these friendships will lead me to, but I pray that it will be a genuine witness of God's love for me and also for others.
Like many others, I used to associate Choice with the Catholic SDU, thinking that it is a programme that help you to choose your partner (my choice friends must be laughing). It is all about making choices in our relationships with the significant people in our lives, be it parents, siblings, friends and even God. (ref: http://www.choice.org.sg/aboutchoice.htm). In the midst of preparing the presentations, I find myself not just giving, but rather receiving, because I learned more about myself and learn from the experiences of others. Not only that, through the sharing, we created a bonding among ourselves, a bond that no words could explain nor define.
Yes, when one participated in Choice, one enters into the Choice family, not only locally but across the borders. I personally experienced this when I was invited to participate in the 13th Choice Asian Conference in Bandung, where the different representatives from countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Hongkong, Taiwan and of course Indonesia, gathered once every 3 years to share their programmes and experiences. You can tell, everyone blended in so naturally, without reservation. It was as though we have known each other for years and we were able to talk about anything and everything. I know that a number of them still continue to keep in touch with one another and when someone came from another country, for sure, there will be a Choice gathering.
For me, somehow, not only I get to know more people, made more friends, but through the 2 weekends I presented, somehow God give me special friends from that group. Again, there is no explanation as to why I become closer to a particular person or persons, but there is a special bond that God has created in us. I believe this is God's gift for me, perhaps as an assurance and sign of His love for me. I don't know where these friendships will lead me to, but I pray that it will be a genuine witness of God's love for me and also for others.