the anticipated camp of the week had passed in its full glory. insya Allah. more than 400 young people joined the RYC camp spread around the island of temasek.

i got the opportunity to ‘visit’ three of the participating mosques, alistiqamah, annahdhah and alfalah. and i was thinking, why don’t they have these camps when i was younger???! or maybe they did, maybe it was just me being an ignorant teen student who thought being a mosque youth doesn’t sound exciting, or plain too ‘alim’ and i was so wrong. well, for one thing, i was a very shy person during my school years and gatherings with unknown people doesn’t appeal to me. IIU changed that part of me.

but anyway, back to the camps. i managed to drop by al-istiqamah, just in time for their community service, which was to distribute the signature bubur masjid to the residents of nearby blocks. joining them were some Girl Guides and NPCC mates from Serangoon Garden Secondary, which i think was a brilliant move. they also had support form the Serangoon RC. which made things easier because the RC had records of their neighbours who are low-incomed and in need.

and then drove to annahdhah, which was a small group but close nevertheless, with the edu manager’s amazing experiences and sharing sessions. i thought i would be in time to deliver one short workshop, but i was late.

and a short meet with alfalah’s youth for a Qur’an Workshop.. Lord, i do not think i was the right person to deliver them. i just hope they might learn something from that one and half hour sessions.

but i have to say, the best part of the whole camp was on sunday where all the participating young muslims gathered at Assyakirin Mosque. while i was waiting outside the hall (was late and didn’t want to disturb the momentum, with the dimmed lights) i could hear ustaz sofyan’s doas and renderings of a child towards parents, as a young muslim, and most important, as His Servant. it was heartbreaking. when this reflective session, i managed to join in, and saw that ALL the young ones were teary eyed and some were still sobbing hard. bless them. hopefully the impact will last and they went back home refreshed re-lived remorsed but ready to start a better life. insya Allah.

same goes for me.

distraught detached and could just feel how much the soul needs. but what’s stopping?!