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My classmates and
I will never forget the Thalithakoum retreat with cha Long because it
was our chance to grow, to know, and to love each other. We learned
to discover our “buried” relationship with God and with each other and
learned to “polish” those relationships. And the best part was, we
had fun doing it.
The retreat
helped me grow closer to God and to understand Him better, largely
through reflection time. We were given time to reflect and to think
about all that He has given us and all that He has done for us. We
opened our hearts to Him and sang His praises.
Music was an
integral part of the retreat, and we sang until our tonsils were worn
out. We sang “Here I Am Lord,” and of course, the heavily favored,
“You Are Mine.” Singing with those we have grown close to was the
best part. These songs must have stuck in our heads for at least a
month. Cha Long also brought a library of songs for us to listen to
and to reflect upon. Some songs were Christina Aguilera’s “I Turn to
You” and Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston’s “There Can Be Miracles.”
We should have nicknamed cha “DJ Cha Long.”
Aside from prayer
and reflection, the retreat also had fun games, which cha Long
prepared for us. One of my favorite game involved challenges that led
to a message from Jesus. Another was the Debate which illustrated to
us the power of forgiving.
The retreat also
helped me grow closer to my classmates. We had been in Confirmation
class together for over a year, but we had not known each other well.
At the retreat, we understood each other better, especially after
resolving any misunderstandings we had with each other. This led to
unity among us. We sang together, prayed together, ate together, and
laughed and cried together. By the end of the retreat, I felt a tight
bond with my classmates - a bond which I did not much bother to
develop before. I am grateful for the chance to grow closer to my
classmates.
The Thalithakoum
retreat is, thus far, one of the best experiences of my life. The
retreat had a positive and permanent effect on me. We owe it to cha
Long - making sure we behaved and letting us have fun at the same
time. He led us through a journey that will not be forgotten. Thank
you, cha Long, for an awesome weekend and for putting up with me.
Thank you, my classmates, for sharing this wonderful weekend with me.
Finally, thank you, God, for allowing every piece to come together so
harmoniously.
Trung Tran
5/23/01
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