Receive the power, To be a light unto the world

500 emails (3 quarters of which are forwards -.-) and close to 20 hours of sleep later, I am only about halfway to recovery from my 10-day long rest and water deprivation. I'll get back to email-replying and day-by-day WYD blog updates (as per requests) once I fully recover... possibly within the next couple of days, although the sloth in me says otherwise. I haven't even fully unpacked everything yet. Heehee.

I am allowing myself to succumb to my laziness for the next few days, the 10-day sleep-deprived trip being my excuse. First week of Sem 2 2008 has officially passed without me attending any classes at all. I guess the promise I made myself last sem to cut down on my truancy has yet to be fulfilled. =D

Just a little about WYD before I go off to lala-land again. Much as I really enjoyed it, I kinda think people should be a bit more respectful at a religious event such as this. There really wasn't much chance to really spend some time with God, what with the crowds cheering and screaming every chance they get. People chattered away while others were testifying, what was meant to be praise and worship was turned into concerts, and once you do settle down to pray or to "receive the power", a ball hits you on the head because some people treated this whole event like a summer camp by the beach. There were also endless complaints about the food and the event venues etc. etc. Let me just say one thing. We registered as pilgrims. As pilgrims, we're supposed to suffer. So what if the food was bad? It's enough that it keeps us full. So what if we had to walk all over Sydney to get from one event to another? Jesus suffered 1000 times more than we did. So what if a lot of the events weren't as properly organised than we had hoped? It must have already taken them tons of effort to have put together such a huge event. Sometimes I feel people just expect too much. It isn't easy accommodating for 270 000 people.

Nevertheless, it was a thoroughly enlightening experience and I don't regret one single tiny bit for participating. I went with no expectations, and therefore, I was pleasantly surprised by every bit of WYD. Given the chance, I would gladly relive it every day of my life. =) It opened my eyes to a lot of things, and showed me that we really can make a difference if we really try, even if we are only one individual in this humongous world.

Did I mention that after days of complaining that Sydney is really hot for winter, I think I much rather have that than the freezing cold rainy winter days of Toowoomba? Brrrrrr. Dear Lord, it would be very nice if I could possibly go back to Malaysia soon. =)

And with that, I'm off to where the flying donkeys prance and rainbow ponies sing. Good night!