He was with us during the Youth Exam Service!
03 October, Holy Family Church

Delve into the mind of Andrea Kang of the Genesis II Choir who opens her heart to share with us her heartwarming moments during the Youth Exam Service on 3 October 2003.

Revived, touched and overwhelmed. These were the emotions that were swirling inside me as I left the Youth Exam Service (YES!). Prior to this year's YES! I have only been to one service and if I remembered correctly, we were "forced" by our catechists to attend it, and hence I can vaguely recall my experience then. However, I am sure this year's YES! will stay in my heart and mind for a very long time.

My involvement in the planning all began when I heard the Youth Council's "cries" for help through an email and a bulb in me immediately flickered. I told myself, "You have always wanted to help out in such activities. Here is your chance!" Thus, I volunteered.

Being the only Genesian and with Colin as the only Youth Council member whom I knew, I held my breath as I pushed open the great door entering my first YES! meeting. Within minutes, I was given responsibilities, searching for songs, discussing the seating arrangement, joining in hymns and it was then that I knew I had made the right decision.

And so the big day arrived. Everyone busied themselves with one thing or another. Musicians were checking the sound system, tuning their guitars and messing around with the microphones. The logistics team was carrying chairs and tables, preparing the booth at the entrance, laying mats for the Cross and even scraping off the old wax in the tea light holders. And then, our very first batch of students arrived. Suddenly, everything switched to fast-forward mode and the rest was a blur. It was till the first chord was strummed, with David leading us into a solemn state of worship that everything went calm. Then with the change of a key, praise session began and before long, everyone was up on their feet moving, clapping and singing along with the musicians.

The volume and intensity grew with the passing of each song and the canteen we once knew was immediately transformed into a house of praise and worship. Then before I knew it, all instruments died down and Leonard chanting the "Lord have mercy" was the cue for Alvin and I to come in with the general intercessions. With shaking hands, I took the microphone from Alvin and read the second intention, then the fourth and the fifth. I was thankful when it was over but proud at the same time because for once, there were no hiccups with my animation.

As the lights came on, Father Erbin shared the gospel reading (Matthew 6:25-34) which I felt very much reflected my motto in life. "Live for today and not tomorrow, for today has enough worries for itself." With the gospel said and done, Shireen reluctantly left her seat to begin her exclusive sharing. She admitted regretting to agree on the sharing but decided to do it after all as she was offering it up for her late godmother. This was the culprit for the first bout of steady flow of tears for the night.

Then as abruptly as it all began, the service concluded with a worship session while Father Erbin invited all present to come to the cross, offering up a prayer for their loved ones. With soft music in the background and warm streams coming down my face, past memories and present troubles came flooding back. It is this night that I have succeeded in "Finding Him-o" because I realised that it was at my most vulnerable times in life that I truly felt His presence among us.

Then slowly and reluctantly, the crowd dispersed leaving behind a quiet sense of serenity. A private closing prayer with the Youth Council members, led by Aloysius, marked the end of our service.

Participating in the service with new friends has definitely made this experience an unforgettable one. Only one word can describe this feeling. Inspirational!

The Genesis II choir sings for the Saturday 6pm Mass