Dream Your Dreams

article by ds /st

photos by Claire Andrew

Sungai Manila : Sunday, May 20, 2012, Anna Teresa Amandus and Sharon Tan from the Diocesan Youth Apostolate together with Claire Andrew visited the students of University Malaysia Sabah  and the youth of St. Peter's Church Sg Manila, some 25 km from Sandakan. A short but fruitful event for the day, themed "I Have A Dream" was carried out. The purpose of which is to promote cordial relationship, prompting a way to truly belong.

After the prayer service, a pot-luck luncheon fellowship in conjunction with 'Pesta Kaamatan' was held at the open space at the entrance of the Church. A variety of local and traditional dishes were served. Such occasion brings the people closer.

The 2-hour program after the meal, commenced at around 1.30 pm in the Church. The action songs 'awakened' and brought 'energy' to the young people. The 'praise and worship' slot made them more focused and drew them nearer to God. 

The game,  "Who Am I?" required each participant to fix a a card onto their head and went around to ask the other members a 'yes-or-no' questions to determine, 'Who am I?' The activity enabled  the youth to be more courageous to speak up and to relate to one another with confidence.

I dream to be an astronaut

I just want to go round the world

We have dreams too....

But the fun did not end there.  After playing games, everyone was asked to draw out their dream, a desire we constantly think about. Participants, displaying their drawings to everyone were to shout out loud so that everyone could listen to their dreams. The rest of the participants would then encourage each other to achieve their dreams.

“To dream anything that you want to dream. That's the beauty of the human mind. To do anything that you want to do. That is the strength of the human will. To trust yourself to test your limits. That is the courage to succeed.” - Bernard Edmond.

The session for the day ended at 3.30 pm, followed by the prayer of Divine Mercy led by Clauvia, an undergraduate of  UMS.

“Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do.” -  Pope John XXIII