Prior to the World Youth Day which was held in Sydney, I was one of the lucky youths gathered from all across Sabah to be part of a somewhat grand Sabah Youth Day-2. I participated in this second one after I witnessed the success of the first SYD held in Keningau 4 years ago.

I have been planning to join the celebration a year ago and I was lucky that my leave application was granted. Many may have doubted the real goal of this particular occasion but not me. I have always believe that everything happens in HIS will and I know it was not easy for the Main Organizing Team to make this happen without HIS help. So I would like to congratulate the MOTs for their hard work and I would like to thank the never ending assistance that they have received from above.

Maybe people say that this is just like the other activities, camps and seminars organized by the Church and maybe its true, but just like all the other activities mentioned. There I found peace within. Yes, there were many who attended but it does not mean that they are in your face at all time. You will have the time and space you need to be alone hence the opportunity of reflecting on life "with HIM". There, I was able to have a time off of my responsibilities as a son, a brother and an uncle in my family and as an employee at my workplace.

Because of such deep respect and love that I have for my church,I was also able to minimize the output of sin compare and maximize my prayer input to when I am outside the camp. It really was an experience that I have always looked forward to update in the diary of my life. Here and there and bit by bit it adds up to the construction of my short life on earth.

If it was not mentioned by a friend, I would have never noticed this. It was the first time in my life and maybe the first time in the history of our new Archdiocese that all three bishops were standing in the same church, on the same altar, shoulder to shoulder in front of 2000++ youths from all over Sabah in an event of such. I was honoured to be there. and not to forget. One of the bishops was there, stayed there for the whole period of the annual gathering. He even expressed his emotion he had with us, in tears,in his sermon during the closing mass. "Tremendously blessed". That is the word to describe the whole situation.

"Dare to be different!"

I am looking forward for the next Sabah Youth Day which will be held at Tambunan in 2012. Hopefully I will not feel too old for it then. In God's will i will be there.

Holla and shalom to everyone!!!!....

great to know that everyone is so supportive on the run here.....

please lookout for other threads in this forum such as the program after SYD thread... share with us what you thik of it and share some ideas on the matter....

may God bless us all...

im very thankful sebab ramai yang support program syd ini...sia sendiri bertuah sebab dapat join in...apa pun, sia bharap dapat bjumpa lagi kawan2 di syd-3 nanti...tapi sia pasti dalam menunggu syd-3 mesti ada byk aktiviti2 lain yang disediakan digereja kan kan kan...harap organiser tidak berputus asa untuk uruskan lagi...hehe...congratulation to all yang menolong untuk menjayakan syd ini & melibatkan diri dalam semua persediaan syd-2...sia memang enjoy...